Recruiting "guru" roundtable

[Buckskin86]

I just want to know where Nutty is?

http://www.floridatoday.com/recruiting/

This week’s question: Who is the top high school football player in America and which way is he leaning?

Jeremy Crabtree, Rivals100.com

“I’ve seen a lot of great athletes over the years, but Derrick Williams from Greenbelt (Md.) Eleanor Roosevelt is one of the most complete athletes that I’ve seen in the last five years. He’s our No. 1 player in the nation - not just because he can run in the 4.3s in the 40-yard dash. He’s a great competitor, great leader and most importantly he’s a game breaker. When it’s crunch time, Derrick is at his best and we see him doing the same thing on the next level.

“Derrick’s list still is somewhat long, and he’s expected to reduce his list to a final eight to 10 teams here in the next week. But schools like Florida, Florida State, Penn State, Maryland, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia all have great shots at getting an official visit from him.

“It’s going to be tough to really predict where he’ll end up, but anybody that counts out Florida, Penn State or Maryland in this battle might be surprised come signing day.”

Jamie Newberg, national recruiting analyst, TheInsiders.com

“I don’t know if there is one clear-cut guy that you could say is the No. 1 prospect in the country this season. You could make a strong case for several players like wide receiver/cornerback Derrick Williams (Greenbelt, Md.), defensive tackle Callahan Bright (Bryn Mawr, Pa.), wide receiver Fred Rouse (Tallahassee) and quarterback Ryan Perrilloux (Reserve, La.).

“TheInsiders.com selected Derrick Williams as our No. 1-rated prospect and that was more of a consensus among our recruiting team. Right now, Florida, FSU, Miami, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Oklahoma, Texas and USC are all in contention. He will graduate early and have to take his official visits this fall throughout the season and just after. It’s really hard to say who has the inside track. Williams wants to play wide receiver and given the opportunity early. Based on that, he may very well end up on a team that doesn’t have much receiver depth. So it could be a surprise team in the end like Virginia Tech, Virginia or Penn State. At the same time, you can never discount Miami, FSU, USC and Oklahoma and his former teammate, Derrick Harvey, signed with the Gators this past season.

“In my opinion, the top prospect is Callahan Bright, TheInsiders.com’s No. 2 overall player. Bright likes a wide range of schools - LSU, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, USC, FSU, Miami, Ohio State and USC. Early on, I thought Miami had the inside track, but now it appears he has opened things back up.”

Bobby Burton, Rivals100.com

“There’s probably a little bit of difference between who the best ‘player’ is and who the best ‘recruit’ is. I think the best player is Jerrell Powe, a defensive tackle out of Waynesboro, Miss. I’ve been around a long time in this business, and I don’t know that I’ve seen a better player at defensive tackle at this stage of a career. At the same time, Powe is a risk to make it academically, which means he may not be the best college prospect in the country. Auburn’s a big leader because the Tigers signed a couple of his high school teammates a year ago, but he’s just as likely to go to a local junior college and then resurface in a couple of years.”

Miller Safrit, East Coast regional recruiting analyst, TheInsiders.com

“I would say that Derrick Williams is the top player in the nation. His explosion off of cuts, versatility, and team presence makes him the ultimate recruit this year. He is looking at 14 schools right now, but I think Florida, Florida State and Oklahoma are the teams to beat, with an outside shot of Virginia.”

Greg Biggins, recruiting director, StudentSports.com

“My top player would be Derrick Williams. He’s been clocked at 4.31 in the 40 with a 4.18 shuttle time at the Nike camp in Virginia. Looked incredible in the one on one drills, showing a great burst off the line and very good hands despite playing quarterback as a junior. He rushed for 1,363 yards and 22 touchdowns as a junior and picked off four passes, three of which he returned for scores. Maryland and Florida look good right now over a ton of other schools he’s listing, including Florida State, USC, Oklahoma, Penn State, Ohio State and Tennessee.”

Duane Long, TheInsiders.com

“I think defensive tackle Callahan Bright from Pennsylvania is the best player I have seen this year on tape. He is such an athlete for his size and is one of the most explosive linemen I have seen in the last few years. He is already big enough and strong enough to play as a freshman. He benches 400 pounds and squats 700, packs a real punch at the point of attack and runs so well. When he engages blockers, their heads snap back like they have been hit by Mike Tyson.

“He could be a great guard but I think that would be a waste. He is listed as having a 4.9 40. If that is accurate, it is another testament to football speed over track speed. He carries his speed onto the football field. He is a one-gap tackle in my mind and a sure Sunday player four years from now - if not three.

“He is playing it close to the vest as far as schools are concerned, but I think either Miami, Texas A&M or Nebraska will have his signature.”

[Helpinghand]

Why don't we do our own version of this.....

My house, I will buy the Beer...

[Buckeyejeff]

I have often thought it would be great fun to get a bunch of buddies together and just throw out a recruiting topic and either discuss or debate it over some adult beverages. I unfortunately don't have enough buddies who know enough about recruiting.

[Buckeye737]

No doubt about that Jeff. I can talk Buckeye football to just about anyone, but the recruiting topic just about lost on everyone. I just tell them that we've got the best cover corner since Deon Sanders coming in.

[Buckeyejeff]

Recruiting seems to be a hobby, much like watching college football. The interesting thing to me is that there is a dividing line between the two. All of my friends are OSU football fans. However, if I was to mention the name Rob Schoenhoft only a few would identify him as our most recent commitment and only one of my friends would know that he is a Top 10 QB. The majority of fans don't identify with these players until they have become a fixture on the field. For example, none of my friends know of the name Kirt Lukens, let alone know he's a LB for our beloved Bucks. Two years from now, he might be a household name.

[MyDixieWrecked]

Fire up the big screen, lets watch some video, drink some frosty cold beverages and talk recruiting.

[Buckeyejeff]

Now your talkin'. I've got the big screen.

[MegaWoody]

You all are making me homesick. Living in Ohio, you can talk 'Buckeyes' to just about anybody all year long. I'm living in Maryland, outside Washington DC, and have to search out true believers. They're here, but they're way harder to find.

Count your blessings.

[BuckeyeNation27]

they arent that hard to find. i heard once that if you are in a public place and yell "O-H" it is almost a guarantee that somebody will return the favor. i gave it a shot this weekend at six flags darien lake (buffalo, NY).

while waiting for the superman ride to be fixed for the 3rd freaking time that day i gave out a good ol fashioned "O-H" and got a few friendly "I-O"'s in return.

[Oh8ch]

The last few years I have taken several hiking trips to the Adirondacks, Black HIlls, Grand Canyon, and Utah. My hiking wardrobe always includes an OSU T-shirt or Sweatshirt. I never fail to get a comment from another of the Buckeye Nation. Had a lot of great conversations that way.