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Checking in on elite prospects
Updated: Tuesday July 17, 2001 5:46 PM
Here are some details and updates on the college preferences of nine youngsters named to the SuperPrep Preseason Elite 100 team. For more detailed information on these and other players, visit SuperPrep. Drew Stanton, QB, 6-3, 210, 4.7, Farmington Hills Harrison, Mich. Stanton was born in Michigan but has only been back a year since returning from Portland, Ore., where he lived since the third grade. Last season Stanton threw for 1,911 yards and 25 TDs against only four interceptions while also rushing for 85 yards rushing and three scores. Stanton also had 30 tackles and four picks on defense. "This guy could also play wide receiver or defensive back for us but we think he's a fantastic QB prospect," said one recruiting coordinator. Stanton definitely sees himself as a signal caller. "I'm good at decision-making," he said. "I can drop back and throw on the run, but I need to work on throwing on the run to the left." He favors MICHIGAN STATE (approximately 45 miles away, dad attended MSU and played baseball, childhood favorite, attended July camp, "They told me I am their No. 1 recruit overall, but they probably tell that to a lot of people," he said. "They don't have much of a lead. I like my top three schools a lot and they are all very close.") slightly over UCLA (will visit later this month while attending the Elite 11 camp in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., "UCLA was always a team that I liked and I've always liked L.A. and the Rose Bowl. I idolized Cade McNown. He went to West Lynn High School for one year while I was going to Lake Oswego in Oregon. We were in the same league. UCLA said they are looking for two QBs this year.") and OREGON ("They have offered four QBs and they told me they will take whoever commits first. I know they also like Ben Olson and Matt Gutierrez. I liked it a lot when I went to camp there in June. I kind of grew up liking the Ducks and their offensive style. It's a nice spread offense and the coaches seem very personable and they make you feel like you shouldn't be afraid to ask questions. Coach [Mike] Bellotti is really a good teacher. He's the same person both on and off the field."). NORTHWESTERN and COLORADO also have impressed Stanton. As for the home-state Wolverines, he said: "I can also play baseball [SS, .560] and MICHIGAN offered me for that sport, but not for football. I watched a MICHIGAN spring practice, but they think, like most do, that I'm going to choose MICHIGAN STATE and they aren't recruiting me hard for football. But I probably would choose MICHIGAN STATE over MICHIGAN, and I think I'll probably just play football." Carl Tabb, WR, 6-1, 175, 4.4, Ann Arbor Huron, Mich. Last season Tabb had 20 receptions for 500 yards and six TDs. He also had 42 solos tackles and four interceptions -- one returned for a score. Tabb denies a leader but favors MICHIGAN ("It's always nice to be close but it won't be a main factor," he said. "It's gonna boil down to wherever I feel the most comfortable," attended June camp), NOTRE DAME ("The atmosphere is great. They have excellent academics. The coaches seem very personable and are easy to talk to," June camp), NORTHWESTERN, PURDUE and VIRGINIA. Tabb has already unofficially visited all of his favorite campuses. "All the schools are recruiting me for wide receiver and none are recruiting me for defense)," said Tabb. "I prefer wideout but I enjoy defense too. "My parents aren't telling me who they like because they don't want to bias my decision. I've never had a school I've always wanted to go to. I may run track too [10.4 100m; 21.5 200; 50.4 400], but I'm not sure." Michael Johnson, RB, 5-9, 184, 4.4, Newport News Heritage, Va. Johnson rushed for 2,028 yards rushing and 44 TDs last season. "He's very elusive," said one college assistant. "He has amazing feet and speed." "I have great agility and speed. I'm like a little Barry Sanders with way I make people miss," said Johnson. "My weakness is that I tend to overrun my blocker. I'm too impatient sometimes. "I don't think I'll decide early. I'll probably wait until after the season ends. I'd also like to run track [10.4 100m/21.3 200], but football is my main focus." Johnson favors VIRGINIA (attended camp, recruiting the hardest, "I like the coaching staff," he said. "I like that they run an NFL-style attack. I'm gonna watch them close in the fall and see how they do. I don't want to go to a losing program.") slightly over MIAMI ("I don't remember who it was, but somebody told me that the MIAMI coaches think that I'm too small. It was just a rumor, I think, but it bothered me. I'm not sure what I think."), and both lead big over PENN STATE, FLORIDA and MICHIGAN STATE. "I'll probably decide about a week before Letter-of-Intent Day," said Johnson, who is attending summer school. "I'm trying to get everything straightened out so I qualify." Vickiel Vaughn, FS, 6-0, 183, 4.5, Plano West, Texas "This guy really plays with his pads downhill," said one college recruiter. "He also really gets in the alley. He's one heckuva ballplayer who will take over a game: a ball hawk who is also great against the run. We think he's one of the top five players in Texas." Vaughn, who had 66 tackles and six interceptions, favors ARKANSAS (childhood preference, "I used to live in Arkansas for 14 years," he said. "I was born in Little Rock and most of my family is from there.") slightly over UCLA ("I've been to L.A. and I have family in L.A. too. I like that it's a diverse campus with a good mix of people."), NOTRE DAME, TEXAS A&M (three hours away -- not a factor), WEST VIRGINIA (will officially visit for VIRGINIA TECH game on Oct. 6) and USC. Vaughn's twin sister, Rochelle, is being recruited for basketball by NOTRE DAME, COLORADO, GEORGIA, ARKANSAS and others. "We're looking at possibly going to the same school," Vickiel said. "But usually, schools good in basketball aren't good at football. It's 50-50 right now. But I won't make a decision until she's made one too. I hope to also play basketball in college but I'm not 100 percent sure yet. I'll see how it goes." Rodrique Wright, DL, 6-5, 320, 5.0, Alief Hastings, Texas Last season Wright had ten sacks despite missing two games with a right ankle sprain. "I have good speed and strength," said Wright. "I like to bull rush and use my strength to get through the line. I hope I can improve my footwork and quickness." Wright favors TEXAS (attended camp, two to three hours from home -- "I don't want to go too far," he said. "I want my family to come to my games. The coaches are great. They are real nice and have strong teams each year.") slightly over TEXAS A&M (two hours away, "They have good tradition and are a solid program. They looked good last year and came close to beating OU."), OKLAHOMA and LSU." "I want to look at the college season and see how the teams do," he said. "I want to win a national championship and I want to go to a school that will compete." Travis Leitko, DE, 6-6, 255, 4.9, The Woodlands, Texas "This guy is really put together," said one college coach. "He's a good pass rusher who has a great change of direction. This kid's very active." Leitko favors MICHIGAN ("They have a well-ranked aerospace engineering program," he said. "Also, they have great tradition and are well-respected.") slightly over TEXAS (three hours away, "I've grown up around them and they have a very successful team and academics. I'm really looking for a combination of the two."), NOTRE DAME ("They have me as their No. 1 defensive recruit and so do TEXAS and A&M."), TEXAS A&M (first to offer in December), STANFORD and PENN STATE. "Distance and climate aren't a factor. I'll acclimate if I have to," said Leitko, an exceptional student with a 3.9 GPA and a 1510 SAT. No parental or childhood preference. Jason Allen, RB/DB, 6-1, 198, 4.45, Muscle Shoals, Ala. This fast, powerful back rushed for 1,300 yards and 20 TDs last season on 219 carries. He also scored four touchdowns on kickoff returns and caught nine balls for 47 yards and another score. On defense Allen had seven interceptions and 26 solo stops. Allen favors TENNESSEE (June 9 camp, "I like the whole atmosphere," he said. "It feels family oriented and they seem to stick together.") slightly over GEORGIA (June 13 camp, "After my sophomore year I went to the GEORGIA camp and fell in love with it. I was ready to commit at that point but didn't. Now they are still up there. I like coach [Mark] Richt and feel they are a team on the rise. Coach Rodney Garner is still there and I think he is a great person. It's just football between the hedges there, and I like that football is a year-round thing."), GEORGIA TECH (June 16 camp), ALABAMA (July 13 camp) and LSU (July 22 camp). "I'm graduating in December and will enroll in January," said Allen. "I want to commit before the season but will probably take a few trips before I decide." Kedric Golston, DL, 6-4, 285, 4.9, Tyrone Sandy Creek, Ga. "He's fast and athletic and gets off the ball very well," said one college assistant. "He was the best player in the state last year and plays the game like it's supposed to be played. He's the real deal: a great pass rusher who shows intensity, effort and tenacity. Probably the best defensive lineman in the country. Golston is everything you are looking for." Golston (88 junior season tackles, 12 sacks) favors FLORIDA STATE (childhood preference, "You know you're gonna get good exposure and to play there you have to be at the top of your game," he said. "If you play here you know you could start anywhere.") slightly over FLORIDA (childhood preference, "I like their defense. They play all the best teams in the SEC and FLORIDA STATE. They seem to give their defensive linemen control and want them to make plays."), GEORGIA (attended camp, first to offer during sophomore year), AUBURN (camp) and TENNESSEE. "I have good footwork and good movement. I'm also really aggressive," said Golston, who benches 355 and squats 530. "I could get faster and quicker and I need to work on keeping my intensity up. I'm gonna commit after the season and make my official trips." William Blackmon, RB/WR, 6-0, 180, 4.5, Warwick Bishop Hendricken, R.I. "I'm a smart runner and I think I'm very shifty," said Blackmon. "I idolize Barry Sanders. I need to become stronger. I'd like to be able to run over guys." Blackmon, who has been clocked at 4.1 in the shuttle, missed three games with a back injury and still rushed for 700 yards and 11 TDs. He also picked off six passes. "This guy will light you up," said one college coach. "He's a super athlete who is really tough and has good feet." Blackmon favors BOSTON COLLEGE (RB, June 20 camp, "I've been to their camp the last two years and I feel pretty comfortable there, but I'm nowhere near knowing which school I'll go to," he said. "I need to visit all my faves and hopefully get more offers.") slightly over FLORIDA ("I just recently started to look into them and I'd like to get recruited by them. They have an excellent balance of football and academics."), MICHIGAN STATE (RB), WISCONSIN (RB) and SYRACUSE. "ARIZONA likes me a wide receiver and PENN STATE is looking at me as a corner," said Blackmon. "I'm really open right now and I don't' see myself deciding until Signing Day." Allen Wallace, the country's most renowned college football recruiting expert, is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com. For more, visit SuperPrep.
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