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Center of attention Byers headlines TheInsiders.com's first Hot 100 for 2004Posted: Thursday July 03, 2003 2:06 PMUpdated: Thursday July 03, 2003 7:23 PM
TheInsiders.com released its first edition of the National Hot 100 this week. As usual, three states dominated the 100, Texas, Florida and California. Combined, they accounted for 35 players among the nation's 100 best at this point. The big surprise was the state of Pennsylvania, which had nine prospects on the list, including six in the top 35. Let's now break down the top 10 prospects in America. The country's top prospect is center Jeff Byers. That's right, a center. Byers, from Fort Collins (Loveland) High School in Colorado, is the best offensive line prospect I have ever seen. Byers, 6-4 and 270 pounds, also plays offensive tackle and is a standout defensive tackle as well. Byers has scholarship offers from every college that made their way through Fort Collins, Colorado this past spring. Since the spring, he has unofficially visited a ton of schools -- USC, UCLA, Notre Dame, Michigan, Nebraska, Iowa, Oklahoma, Colorado, Stanford, Texas and others and he remains open to this point.
Checking in at No. 2 is running back Adrian Peterson from Palestine, Texas. Many feel that Peterson is the best back from the Lone Star State in years. This kid has it all -- size, speed, power, vision and elusiveness. Peterson, at 6-3 and 205 pounds, runs in the 4.4 range and a few months ago ran a blazing 10.33 100 meters in track. LSU, Miami, Texas, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma are his front-runners right now. Last season as a junior, Peterson rushed for 2,051 yards and 28 touchdowns. Dan Connor is the top-rated defensive prospect at No. 3 overall. Connor is a linebacker prospect from Wallingford (Pa.) Strath Haven High School that could play inside or outside at the next level. Connor, 6-3 and 225 pounds, plays the run and pass exceptionally well. He is also a dynamite fullback prospect. In fact, he is one of the most complete linebackers we have seen recently and just a super player on both sides of the ball. Last season in 15 games, he rushed for over 1,500 yards and 29 touchdowns and recorded 170 tackles. Connor has pretty much narrowed down his choices to Notre Dame, Penn State and Michigan and a decision could come between now and the start of the upcoming football season. Randy Estes grabbed the No. 4 spot and he is the top-rated prospect from the state of California and was the top defensive player even as a junior. Estes, from Los Alamitos High School, is a hard-hitting safety who is exceptional in run support and in pass coverage. Some feel he is the state's best defensive back since Ronnie Lott. That's saying a lot. Estes, 6-2 and 195 pounds, recorded 111 tackles and three interceptions last season. Right now, he says he is wide open between USC, UCLA, Miami, Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Ohio State. At No. 5 is linebacker Willie Williams from Miami (Fla.) Carol City High School. Williams, 6-2 1/2 and 225 pounds, runs a legit 4.5. He is athletic, physical and can play any of the linebacker positions. As of now, Williams is ineligible to play high school football this season because he played in the Dade/Broward All-Star Game this past January. That will not affect his recruitment whatsoever. Everyone wants Willie and he could play for anyone in the country. It will be very difficult for anyone to get him out of the state of Florida but Auburn, Oklahoma and Ohio State are trying to lure him away from the Sunshine State. Last season Williams played for Miami Pace and he racked up 173 tackles, 10 sacks and four interceptions. Early Doucet is the most exciting player from the state of Louisiana since Kevin Faulk. Doucet, No. 6 in our Hot 100, is from St. Martinsville High School. He is a quarterback in high school but projects as a receiver in college. Doucet, 6-1.5 and 210 pounds, runs in the 4.4 range and is blessed with incredible football instincts. Simply put, he is magic with the ball in his hands. Doucet is so dangerous and is an extremely gifted open field runner and is at his best when a play breaks down. Recently, he was voted the MVP at Miami's summer football camp. It looks like this could end up a battle between LSU and Miami. Brandon Miller is No. 7 on the Hot 100 and he is an extraordinary talent from South Georgia. Miller, 6-4 and 200 pounds, plays a number of positions -- running back, fullback, wide receiver, linebacker and defensive end. He most likely projects as an outside linebacker or defensive end, but he would also love to play wideout. This battle could come down to Florida State and Georgia, but Georgia Tech, Auburn and others are fighting hard for his signature. At No. 8 is Glen "Big Baby" Davis and this big man dazzles on film. Davis, from Baton Rouge (La.) Southern Lab High School, is 6-6 and 340 pounds and he plays fullback, tight end and defensive end. Last season as a junior, he rushed for 707 yards. Watching him is not like watching William "The Refrigerator" Perry, formerly of the Chicago Bears. You should see the big man move. He also has exceptional hands as a tight end and is a super defensive player. Will Big Baby ever seen the gridiron at the next level? He happens to be one of the top high school basketball players in America among the Class of 2004. Davis projects as an offensive or defensive tackle if he decides to play football. LSU could prove tough to beat. The top rated quarterback in America is Anthony Morelli from Pittsburgh (Pa.) Penn Hills High School and he checks in at No. 9 overall. Morelli, 6-3 1/2 and 208 pounds, has a big-time arm and lots of talent. Last season as a junior, he passed for 1,880 yards and 21 touchdown passes. He narrowly edged Chad Henne (West Lawn, Pa.) and Rhett Bomar (Grand Prairie, Texas) for the top QB spot. Morelli has over three dozen scholarship offers. Notre Dame, Florida State and Pittsburgh appear to be the front-runners at this point. The top rated defensive tackle in America is Demario Pressley and he rounds out the top 10. Pressley, from Greensboro (N.C.) Dudley High School, is a beast in the middle. Last season as a junior, he recorded 97 tackles and 14 sacks. Pressley is wide open at the moment and he likes North Carolina, N.C. State, Miami, Georgia, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Florida State and others. More Recruiting Hot News from TheInsiders.com
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