3yardsandacloud
Administrator Emeritus
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Do Badgers have a shot at Worthington? - Rivals PREMIUM
January 24, 2005
Do Badgers have a shot at Worthington?
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Bill Kurelic
BadgerBlitz.com *
Athol Springs (N.Y.) St. Francis defensive end Doug Worthington, who made an official visit to Wisconsin, gives the latest on his commitment situation. What school might be his second choice behind Ohio State? And what's his status on taking another official visit?
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Big-game Coach On the Way (Lawrence Wilson) - Scout
Big-game Coach On the Way
By Mike Frank**
Date: Jan 24, 2005
While the final results of the 2004 recruiting season are far from concluding, it’s quite obvious to most Irish fans that this class likely won’t be ranked among the top five of recruiting classes in the nation. However, Notre Dame fans landed their top-ranked recruit in 2004, Charlie Weis, and boy does the future look bright.
Watching the Patriots last night had to get Irish fans salivating, and some fans of opposing teams worried.
There has been much said about the talent, or lack there of, on the Patriots roster, and especially on offense over the past few seasons.
The Patriots don’t have a Marvin Harrison, Terrell Owens or a Michael Vick on offense, but they do have some very good players all working towards one common goal—the same goal they’ve accomplished two out of the previous three years—winning the Super Bowl. They now have the chance to earn their third.
With the salary cap in the NFL, it’s rare you see any team in the position the Patriots are currently in. Most predicted there would not be the dynasty teams we’ve seen in the past in the NFL because of it. But then you have the Patriots, who continue to win and defy those odds.
Weis and his offense dominated the No. 1 defense in the NFL last night and scored 34 points--the most any team has scored on the Steeler defense all season. The Steelers defense had surrendered 30 or more point just twice during the season, and surrendered 20 or more points just seven times in 16 games.
More importantly, we believe, is the fact that Weis usually has his offense playing their best games in the big games—like the 41 points they scored last night, and the 32 points they scored against the Panthers to win the Super Bowl in 2003.
It’s been awhile since Irish fans had a big-game coach to rally around, and Weis continues to prove that he can outsmart the best defensive minds in the NFL.
It’s common knowledge that the best minds in football are usually in the NFL, and Weis, with what many believe to be limited talent, continues to dismantle whatever defense is put in front of him.
The Irish offense finished the season ranked No. 81 in total offense in 2004. I think it’s a safe bet to think the Irish are going to dramatically improve that ranking in 2005 and beyond under Weis and his staff.
While watching the game last night, I was reminded of a curious quote that Akron, Ohio defensive end Lawrence Wilson said to me earlier this month.
"I'm still considering Notre Dame," Wilson said. "I watched their bowl game and that kind of had a bad influence on me. They just weren't getting it done out there. They didn't impress me much."
Considering Weis’ success in the playoffs, I doubt very much Irish fans will be hearing that quote from prospective recruits too often in the future.
Sure quarterbacks, running backs, tight ends and receivers will likely be jumping at the chance to play in this offense in the future, but people need to understand the magnitude of what Weis has done.
Irish fans are not only getting a great offensive mind in Charlie Weis, they’re getting a big-game coach.
Regardless of what happens in the Super Bowl this year, although the Patriots will likely be favored, Weis beat, no dismantled, the No. 1 ranked defense and second-best team this year (the Steelers) already—all the while trying to balance two jobs at the same time.
Think of that…. The NFL’s best defensive minds still can’t beat Weis even when he’s trying to do two jobs at the same time.
What Weis has done is quite remarkable considering the demands any coordinator has in the NFL. To continue to win with the Patriots and still do what he’s done at Notre Dame is extraordinary.
So don’t fret this recruiting season or where the Irish end up being ranked, Irish fans. The Irish already landed their top recruit in Weis.
Once Weis does his magic on the Notre Dame sidelines; I don’t think you’ll have much to worry about in recruiting anymore.
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Gators steal Seminoles recruit - College Sports
Gators steal Seminoles recruit
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By Eric Esteban Independent Florida Alligator
Gainesville, FL (U-WIRE)
... A fifth recruit committed with UF late Sunday night -- Eric Sledge, a 6-foot-3, 180 pound receiver out of Apopka, is expected to sign on Feb. 2 ...
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USC, Clemson slow down recruitment drive (James McKinney, Eric Sledge, Carlos Thomas) - The State
... From USC’s list: defensive back Avery Atkins to Florida State, defensive back Richard Raglin to North Carolina, defensive end Jonathan Hanna, who is also on Clemson's board, to N.C. State, linebacker Dakota Walker to Virginia Tech, offensive lineman Quinton Brown to Florida, and committed wide receiver Eric Sledge to Florida.
From Clemson's list: committed running back Demerick Chancellor and his brother, defensive back Chris, to South Florida, defensive back Tillman Millhouse to Western Carolina, defensive end James McKinney to Oklahoma and wide receiver Derrick McPhearson to Virginia Tech ...
... Wide receiver Carlos Thomas (6-1, 182) of Atlanta is firm with his USC commitment after canceling visits to Ole Miss for this past weekend and Florida for this coming weekend ...
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Kyle McCarthy Commits to Notre Dame, Nelson to Florida - UHND
Kyle McCarthy Commits to Notre Dame, Nelson to Florida
UHND.com* - Frank Vitovitch
1/24/2005
Notre Dame, Ind (UHND) – While Notre Dame had a light visit list this weekend, it netted a commitment from its lone visitor, defensive back/quarterback Kyle McCarthy (6-0, 170). Offered a scholarship earlier this week, McCarthy committed to the Irish over the weekend and became the 14 th commitment in this class. Meanwhile, former commit David Nelson committed to Florida after his visit there this weekend.
McCarthy's quick acceptance of his late offer from Notre Dame speaks a lot about how much he wants to be at Notre Dame. McCarthy is from Youngstown , Ohio and committed to the Irish without meeting new head coach Charlie Weis. Weis was the one to make the offer to McCarthy, but the two have not met in person yet.
McCarthy did it all for Cardinal Mooney this year while playing quarterback and defensive back. As a signal caller, he did more with his wheels than his arm. McCarthy ran the ball extremely well and proved to be hard to tackle. On defense, McCarthy played defensive back and showed excellent athleticism.
He appears to have some excellent speed and is listed with around a 4.4-4.5 40 yard dash time. His future at Notre Dame most likely lies in the defensive backfield with Evan Sharpley also in this class. McCarthy is an excellent athlete and a great pick up for Notre Dame in this class.
Nelson to Florida
Former commit David Nelson committed to Florida this weekend after his official visit to Gainesville . Nelson always said he was still a soft verbal to Notre Dame, but it was clear that his interest in Notre Dame was pretty low after the firing of Willingham.
What makes this situation more interesting is the fact that the Notre Dame coaching staff did not seem to put the same effort in keeping his commitment as they did with Lawrence Wilson. Was the new staff not as high on Nelson as the previous? The Irish did get a commitment from DJ Hord and have a few new names popping up at the position. Maybe they just weren't as high on Nelson or maybe they felt he was not that high on them and looked for alternatives.
It's also interesting that the New England Patriots tallest regular wide receiver is David Givens at 6-0 with 5-10 Troy Brown, 5-9 Deion Branch, and 5-11 Bethel Johnson.
New Name at Wide Receiver
A new name popped up at wide receiver this weekend in David Horton from Allentown , PA. Horton goes to Allentown Central Catholic, the same high school that produced Ed McCaffery and the excellent author of the article you are reading. Horton has some good speed. He's had interest in Notre Dame for some time and his hearing from them lately.
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Irish get one recruit, lose another - South Bend Tribune
January 24, 2005
Irish get one recruit, lose another
By BOB WIENEKE
Tribune Staff Writer
The names may have changed, but the number remains the same.
Notre Dame added one player to its recruiting class of 2005 this weekend with the verbal commitment of Youngstown, Ohio (Cardinal Mooney) athlete Kyle McCarthy. But the Gainesville (Fla.) Sun is reporting that Wichita Falls, Texas (Rider) receiver David Nelson, who committed to the Irish last summer, has now committed to Florida.
That leaves the number of players committed to ND at 14.
The 6-foot, 180-pound McCarthy, who picked the Irish over Ohio State and Northwestern, committed while on his official visit. McCarthy couldn't pinpoint one thing that sold him on Notre Dame.
"It just gave me the feeling that everyone talked about," McCarthy said late Sunday. "That was all I needed."
Because of McCarthy's size, Cardinal Mooney coach P.J. Fecko heard constant questions about McCarthy's ability to play Division I football.
"He's certainly proved everybody wrong," Fecko said. "You ask anybody that's played against him. They would say the same thing."
The Ohio Division IV state championship would be a good starting point. In that game, which Cardinal Mooney won, McCarthy returned an interception 93 yards for a touchdown, ran for a TD and passed for another.
As a senior, he played quarterback, but is expected to play in the secondary and return kicks at ND. He also could wind up at receiver.
It wasn't until last week that McCarthy received an offer from the Irish.
Fecko said McCarthy had begun to receive interest from Notre Dame shortly before Tyrone Willingham was fired, but his recruitment heated up after Charlie Weis was hired.
College coaches cannot publicly comment on a prospect until the player has signed a national letter-of-intent. The first day players can sign is Feb. 2.
McCarthy, who is not listed among recruiting analyst Tom Lemming's top 75 players in the Midwest, ran for more than 1,100 yards and passed for close to 700 last season. Those passing numbers may not look huge, but they are at Cardinal Mooney.
"We throw the ball about three times a game," Fecko said.
Nelson could not be reached on Sunday, but the thought that he could land somewhere other than Notre Dame had been a strong possibility since Willingham was fired.
The 6-6, 195-pound Nelson, ranked the No. 57 player nationally by Lemming, caught 91 passes for 1,648 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior. In addition to Florida and ND, Nelson had also been involved with Iowa.
Also Sunday, the father of Akron, Ohio (St. Vincent-St. Mary) defensive end Lawrence Wilson said his son will announce his decision on Saturday.
Lawrence Wilson has pared his list to Ohio State, Florida and Notre Dame.
Wilson committed to the Irish last fall but decommitted on the day Willingham was fired. At the time, however, he did not rule out the possibility of playing for Notre Dame.
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Ohio high school senior commits to Notre Dame - Fort Wayne News Sentinel (AP)
Posted on Mon, Jan. 24, 2005
Ohio high school senior commits to Notre Dame
Associated Press
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - A high school senior from Ohio who plays quarterback and in the defensive secondary has committed to play at Notre Dame next fall.
Kyle McCarthy of Cardinal Mooney High of Youngstown, Ohio, picked Notre Dame over Ohio State and Northwestern, the South Bend Tribune reported Monday.
The 6-foot, 180-pound McCarthy committed while on his official visit over the weekend, but said he couldn't pinpoint one thing that sold him on Notre Dame.
"It just gave me the feeling that everyone talked about," McCarthy said. "That was all I needed."
Because of McCarthy's size, Cardinal Mooney coach P.J. Fecko heard constant questions about McCarthy's ability to play Division I football.
"He's certainly proved everybody wrong," Fecko said. "You ask anybody that's played against him. They would say the same thing."
In the Ohio Division IV state championship, McCarthy returned an interception 93 yards for a touchdown, ran for a TD and passed for another. As a senior, he played quarterback, but is expected to play in the secondary and return kicks for the Irish. He also could wind up at receiver.
The Irish also have lost a commitment. Receiver David Nelson of Rider High School in Wichita Falls, Texas, has committed to Florida, The Gainesville Sun reported. The 6-6, 195-pound Nelson originally committed to Notre Dame, but changed his mind after Tyrone Willingham was fired as coach.
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Tucker defender Kearney picks UGA - Atlanta Journal Constitution
Tucker defender Kearney picks UGA
Will play either linebacker or safety
By MICHAEL CARVELL
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 01/24/05
Tucker defender Tavares Kearney, one of the nation's fastest-rising prospect over the last month, has committed to Georgia.
Kearney, who will play either linebacker or safety in college, picked the Bulldogs over Ohio State, Florida and South Carolina. Kearney is nicknamed "TKO" by his teammates after knocking five quarterbacks out of games this year.
"It was a tough decision between Georgia and Ohio State, but Georgia just felt the most comfortable to me," Kearney said.
Interest from Kearney didn't really peak until late because of his size (6-foot-1, 205 pounds) and due to he didn't take SAT until last month. Prospects are unable to take official visits until they have a test score on record.
When Kearney got his score in late December, he found out he was very close to meet college entrance requirements. Therefore, the hard-hitting senior almost overnight became one of the state's hottest commodities among college scouts.
"Georgia got a great player," Tucker coach Bill Ballard said. "He has a great motor and runs as fast as any player I've ever coached. And everyone knows about how physical he plays the game of football."
Kearney had already made trips to South Carolina and Ohio State, and he traveled to Georgia this past weekend. Kearney's recruiting host was former Tucker standout Thomas Brown, who plays tailback for the Bulldogs. When Georgia coach Mark Richt finally offered a scholarship on Sunday night, Kearney quickly accepted.
"I think once Georgia decided they wanted Kearney, there was really no doubt about where he was going to go," said Scott Kennedy of Scout.com. "Georgia has done very well with players out of Tucker over the years."
According to Ballard, Kearney will likely be given a look first at safety and then at linebacker. Georgia is looking for immediate contributor at both positions with the early NFL departures of Thomas Davis and Odell Thurman.
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Trojans starting to streak up Rivals.com rankings - Rivals
January 24, 2005
Trojans starting to streak up Rivals.com rankings
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Jeremy Crabtree
Rivals100.com Editor *
Here come the Trojans. The Men of Troy at USC are quickly leaping up the recruiting rankings, and last week was a monster week for them. First Pete Carroll reels in Patrick Turner, the nation's No. 2 player, and then he follows it up by landing a commitment from five-star junior college defensive tackle Gabe Long. But USC wasn't the only mover and shaker, as Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Jeremy Crabtree breaks down the entire updated Rivals.com top 25 team rankings.
School Total Commits Stock Last Week Points Breakdown
1 Tennessee 21 2 2,213 Losing Patrick Turner still stings, but this Vols class is the best in the nation right now .
2 Oklahoma 22 1 2,108 WR Juaquin Iglesias committed last week, and might end up being a steal of the year for the Sooners.
3 Nebraska 28 3 2,038 Nine junior college players is something new for the Huskers, but they're all players that could really come in and make an immediate impact.
4 Michigan 20 6 1,878 Marques Slocum committed to the Wolverines last week, helping push UM over Iowa in the Big 10 rankings and also in the national rankings.
5 Iowa 22
5 1,751 Along with the studs in Illinois, this Iowa class has gone to Florida, Texas, New York, Ohio and everywhere else on the map to land kids.
6 Texas A&M 24 4 1,699 There is no question that Dennis Franchione went after speed and skill in this class, and it looks like he hit a home run for the Aggies.
7 Southern Cal 13 17 1,695 Landing Patrick Turner and Gabe Long, both five-star prospects, capped off a great week for the Men of Troy.
8 Georgia 17 8 1,624 Bryan Evans had been a long-time UGA lean and he pulled the trigger last week, giving the Dawgs a boost toward the top of the SEC rankings.
9 Ohio State 15 7 1,462 Despite all of the off-field distractions, this Ohio State class still has a very good shot at finishing somewhere in the top-10 range.
10 Miami-FL 14 13 1,457 Typical Miami: The Canes are making a late push toward the top of the rankings based on their ability to recruit South Florida and dominate on the national front.
11 Auburn 18 16 1,423 Losing two four-star prospects this past weekend stings, but this Tigers class still has a shot at finishing at the top of the SEC rankings, but that all depends on how they close.
12 Texas 14 12 1,414 The Horns don't have a ton of scholarships to give out this year, but Mack Brown and Co. always seem to close strong and make a push up the rankings. Expect more of the same this year.
California 19 19 1,414 The Bears still are the No. 2 team in the Pac 10 behind USC, but that's not such a bad thing because of all the talent that's out West.
14 Alabama 30 14 1,395 This is a huge week for the Tide as many of their remaining targets are expected to announce one way or the other.
15 Virginia Tech 19 11 1,379 Deveon Simmons still might go down as the biggest commitment of the year for the Hokies.
16 Arizona 22 9 1,354 Arizona is about done with this class, and it's a great effort for Mike Stoops and his staff, considering the struggles on the field this year.
17 Florida 16 NR 1,328 Here comes Urban Meyer. Stealing Ryan Stamper from Auburn was huge. Getting a pickup from receiver David Nelson was just as huge. The Gators are finally starting to make some waves with the new staff in place.
18 Maryland 22 18 1,301 Melvin Alaeze is the crown of the Terp class, which kind of makes missing out on Derrick Williams a little easier to swallow.
19 Virginia 21 10 1,296 The former long-time No. 1 class has slid down the rankings as other teams have caught up with them.
20 Clemson 23 15 1,232 Many national analysts still don't know how good Rendrick Taylor really is.
21 UCLA 22 22 1,107 UCLA has a great shot at closing strong and jumping up several spots in the rankings. Aleksey Lanis is still ranks as one of the nation's best OL.
22 LSU 10 21 1,070 Les Miles is finally starting to make a move in the recruiting rankings. The big news could be if the Tigers can land Ryan Perrilloux.
23 Florida State 11 20 976 Every year we see FSU at the bottom of the top 25 about this time of year. They don't end up there, though. Count on this happening again this year.
24 Penn State 16 NR 966 Derrick Williams still is huge from a national perception. But landing Lydell Sargeant might have been just as key for the Lions.
25 Purdue 19 25 953 The Boilers have been all over the country recruiting players, plus they've dipped into Georgia for some surprising success.
Down but not out for long:
South Carolina: Steve Spurrier and Co. didn't have a full year to go out and recruit and other teams, especially in-state Clemson, had a head start. Still they've made some good strides the past few weeks, including landing Rivals100 receiver Carlos Thomas.
Arkansas: Houston Nutt does a great job done the stretch and the Hawgs usually end up with a few guys that you never expected. Could that be the case again in 2005? If they can land Roy Upchurch that might be the case.
Oregon: People outside the Northwest don't understand how big of a recruiting victory landing Jonathan Stewart, the nation's No. 1 running back, was. Beating Wazzou, UDub and countless others for him sends a real statement as to who the power in the region for the future will be..
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Lions need to lock up a few more recruits (Walker Ashley) - York Daily Record
Lions need to lock up a few more recruits
Frank Bodani
Monday, January 24, 2005
The next 10 days will provide an important insight into the supposed rebuilding Penn State football program.
The final 10 days of the recruiting season.
The final chances to turn a really good recruiting class into a great one.
The Lions already have locked up the talent they need at the spots most lacking. The class has overwhelming speed. It has two diamonds in program-changing recruits Justin King and Derrick Williams.
And yet, you must always take advantage of the situation.
There are still four or five scholarships left to lock up by Feb. 2, the first day recruits can make their verbal commitments binding.
So the Lions must strike on their recent good fortune — nearly their entire impressive defense returning in the fall; winning their final two games of the season; luring nationally-treasured talent in King and Williams.
The Lions must take advantage.
They have received only one commitment since landing Williams, arguably the nation's top recruit, and William Penn speedster Knowledge Timmons a month ago.
And that pickup is a mediocre offensive tackle.
There are still 10 days to convince the best talent left to come to Penn State.
Like linebacker Brian Cushing from New Jersey. He seems to have the same kind of potential as Lions' young stars Dan Connor and Paul Posluszny.
Lure talent like gigantic offensive tackle Jared Gaither, who is at Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia.
Or Jerome Hayes, another New Jersey linebacker. He's not quite as highly rated as Cushing but would be a major pickup at a position where the Lions could always use more bodies.
Like defensive lineman Walker Ashley, whose father played for the Lions.
Or Washington state running back J.R. Hasty.
And, finally, receivers David Harvey (Pittsburgh) and Todd Nolen (Virginia). PSU desperately needs at least one more receiver, its most needy position.
They won't get all of them, but they need to get at least a few.
To add depth. To keep building momentum. To stockpile the kind of talent needed to turn around four losing seasons in five years.
And to send a message: That Penn State is dead-set on matching the recovery projects of USC and Oklahoma.
"You never want your momentum to stagnate," said Phil Grosz of the State College-based Blue-White Illustrated. "If Penn State gets three or four of these kids, it will be one of the biggest stories of recruiting."
"They've made a comeback, you've got to give them credit. Now they just have to finish strong," said Tom Lemming, an ESPN recruiting expert.
It will come down to the end with so many of these kids, most not expected to announce until Feb. 2 or just before.
No matter how hard Joe Paterno and his assistants press, some are longshots, like Cushing and Ashley, who seem enamored with USC.
But the Lions have wonderful chances to get the rest. Gaither is a former high school teammate of Derrick Williams. Harvey is a former teammate of PSU quarterback Anthony Morelli. Hasty has been recommended to Penn State by former Lions Curt Warner and Bobby Engram, friends of the family.
Nolen, whose mother is from Pennsylvania, will likely decide between PSU and Virginia Tech. The highly-regarded Hayes has loved Penn State since he was a kid.
It's a nice mix of linemen, receivers and linebackers with a running back thrown in. Lemming calls Hasty "one of the most underrated players in the country."
It's the kind of talent that will mean the difference between Penn State bringing in a top-20 class and a top-10 class.
Maybe the difference between the Alamo Bowl and the Orange Bowl in a couple of years.
A 4-7 team with a top 10 recruiting class?
So the hope is there.
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Kearney commits to UGA on the air - Rivals PREMIUM
January 24, 2005
Kearney commits to UGA on the air
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Steve Patterson
UGASports.com *
Tavares Kearney, a linebacker from Tucker, announced on the radio this morning that he would be a Bulldog.
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It's crunch time as Wilson narrows field - Rivals PREMIUM
January 24, 2005
It's crunch time as Wilson narrows field
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Bill Kurelic
Rivals100.com *
Although coaches from three schools will be visiting Akron (Ohio) St. Vincent-St. Mary defensive end Lawrence Wilson this week, it looks like a two team battle for his services. Who is coming to see Wilson and when will he pick his college?
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Quick decision for McCarthy - Rivals PREMIUM
January 24, 2005
Quick decision for McCarthy
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Steve Hare
BlueandGold.com *
It came suddenly. Notre Dame made its scholarship offer to Kyle McCarthy on Thursday, and two days later the athlete from Youngstown, Ohio committed to the Irish over Ohio State. In making a verbal pledge to play for Notre Dame, McCarthy fulfilled what he described as a "dream" and gave the Irish their 14th commitment.
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Worthington shares the latest - Rivals PREMIUM
January 24, 2005
Worthington shares the latest
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Bill Kurelic
BuckeyeSports.com Recruiting Analyst *
Athol Springs (N.Y.) St. Francis defensive end Doug Worthington gives the latest on his commitment situation, who might be his second choice behind Ohio State, and his status on taking another official visit.
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Final Rivals100 highlighted by several changes - Rivals 100
January 24, 2005
Final Rivals100 highlighted by several changes
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Jeremy Crabtree
Rivals100.com
The Rivals.com recruiting staff spent 17 days on the road in the past month, taking in the nation's marquee all-star events and getting one last chance to evaluate prospects in the class of 2005. Through coverage of the North Carolina-South Carolina Shrine Bowl, the CaliFlorida Bowl and the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, many players improved their stock and made big moves up the national rankings. Rivals.com
Patrick Turner is now the nation's No. 2 player.After those personal observations, Rivals.com has now evaluated all 100 players in person in the final Rivals100 for the class of 2005.
The most significant move in the national 100 came at the nation's No. 2 spot. Behind Derrick Williams now is Nashville (Tenn.) Goodpasture receiver Patrick Turner. The 6-foot-5, 210-pounder dominated every day of practice at the all-star game in San Antonio, Texas. Turner made headlines last week when he committed to USC, turning down in-state Tennessee in what is still rumored to be an open recruiting battle.
So why is Turner so good?
"There are players you can look at and see them being great, but when you look at Patrick Turner you can't see him not being great," Rivals.com Southeast recruiting analyst Jeremy Patterson said.
"He is the total package. As a wide receiver, he may be the better than anyone in the country in every category there is except for speed. He does have good speed, though. You just don't find many guys as big as Patrick that have that kind of speed. The best thing about Turner is not his athletic ability but his attitude and willingness and desire to learn more. It is that attitude that makes him a can't-miss prospect."
At the No. 3 spot is Plainfield, N.J., offensive tackle and Virginia commitment Eugene Monroe. Making a move up to the No. 4 spot is Melvin Alaeze, a 6-foot-2, 277-pound strongside defensive end. He is heading to Maryland and the Terps are getting a monster of a prospect who should be able to make a big contribution early for the Terps. At No. 5 is the nation's No. 1 inside linebacker, Rey Maualuga of Eureka, Calif. He is heading to USC.
Receiver Fred Rouse of Tallahassee (Fla.) Lincoln comes in at No. 6, followed by quarterback Mark Sanchez of Mission Viejo, Calif., tight end Martellus Bennett of Alief (Texas) Taylor, offensive tackle Reginald Youngblood of Houston Booker T. Washington, and running back Jonathan Stewart of Lacey (Wash.) Timberline.Rivals.com
Jason Gwaltney is now a five-star prospect.Other big moves in this month's ranking were several players that moved up to the five-star status.
This included running back Jason Gwaltney of Long Island (N.Y.) North Babylon, who is now ranked as the nation's No. 15 player overall.
"I don't even know who to compare him to," North Babylon Coach Terry Manning said.
"He's powerful, explosive and dominant. He could be the best player ever on Long Island."
Also moving up in status and way up the Rivals100 was Miami Killian cornerback Demetrice Morley.
The 6-foot, 176-pounder was all over the field at the practices for the CaliFlorida Bowl and the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, proving that he's worthy of the nation's No. 21 spot overall and the No. 2 cornerback spot.
Pahokee, Fla., running back Antone Smith also bumped up from the high 30s to the No. 25 spot and a five-star ranking. Rivals.com
Mohamed Massaquoi moves up to the nation's No. 29 spot.The 5-foot-8, 181-pounder is one of the toughest runners in the nation, plus he has clocked in the sub-4.4 second range in the 40-yard dash.
"He's solid as a rock and has amazing muscle mass," Pahokee coach Leroy Foster said.
"People just hit him and then he bounces off of them. He also has great work ethic."
Just outside of the five-star rankings several players moved up into the national top 30. Charlotte Independence receiver and Georgia commitment Mohamed Massaquoi is at No. 29 spot. Winston Salem (N.C.) Mt. Tabor linebacker Derek Nicholson is now at No. 30.
If Morley made the biggest move up the rankings, he was followed closely by Killeen (Texas) Shoemaker defensive tackle Roy Miller
Miller dominated at the practices for the all-star game in San Antonio and was one of the most impressive players throughout the week. He moves up 40 spots to No. 34. The Texas commitment also moved up to the No. 5 spot in the defensive tackle rankings.Rivals.com
Phillip Dillard is one of four Nebraska commits in the Rivals100.Tennessee commitment Rico McCoy leaps up to the No. 38 spot after sitting at the No. 96 spot in the previous month's ranking. His strong week of practice at the all-star game in San Antonio helped boost his stock.
The Shrine Bowl performance of Jamie Robinson, a cornerback from Rock Hill (S.C.) Northwestern, caused him to move up to the No. 66 spot and the top overall ranking in the state of South Carolina.
Jenks, Okla, linebacker Phillip Dillard is one of four Nebraska commitments in the national top 100. The 6-foot-2, 247-pounder had a monster senior season and then back that up with a great week in San Antonio.
Also making a debut in the top 100 list is running back Roy Upchurch at No. 73, linebacker Anthony Felder at No. 85 and athlete Montario Hardesty at No. 100. Upchurch is still picking, while Felder is heading to Cal and Hardesty has picked North Carolina.
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Youngstown Mooney back chooses Irish over Buckeyes - Columbus Dispatch
Youngstown Mooney back chooses Irish over Buckeyes
Monday, January 24, 2005
Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Kyle McCarthy committed to Notre Dame yesterday, and in so doing, not only dealt Ohio State a setback but also broke his own protocol.
The two-way back from Youngstown Mooney had intended to wait until after returning from his official visit to Notre Dame before making his choice. Instead, the lifelong fan of the Fighting Irish committed on the spot.
"It’s just a great place up there," he said. "The academics, the tradition, the people, the team and the new coaching staff, it’s a great combination for me."
Nine days before national letters of intent can be signed Feb. 2, Ohio State’s class remains at 15 members.
Defensive lineman Lawrence Wilson of Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary said last night that he was down to a final two of OSU and Notre Dame.
"I think I’ll try to make up my mind towards the end of the week," Wilson said.
Running back Jason Gwaltney of North Babylon, N.Y., has said he will choose between OSU and Southern California on Feb. 1. Linebacker Tavares Kearney of Tucker, Ga., reportedly is down to OSU, South Carolina and Georgia and has given himself no deadline.
It’s the same for defensive lineman Walker Ashley of Eden Prairie, Minn., who has several schools in the running, including OSU, USC and Minnesota.
[email protected]
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Florida Record Setting QB Considering OSU - Scout PREMIUM
Florida Record Setting QB Considering OSU
By Steve Helwagen
Date: Jan 24, 2005
Junior Tim Tebow of Ponte Vedra Beach (Fla.) Nease made an unofficial visit to Ohio State for the Penn State game last fall. Tebow then went on to account for a state-record 5,576 yards total offense. Click here for a look at this special prospect.
Do Badgers have a shot at Worthington? - Rivals PREMIUM
January 24, 2005
Do Badgers have a shot at Worthington?
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Bill Kurelic
BadgerBlitz.com *
Athol Springs (N.Y.) St. Francis defensive end Doug Worthington, who made an official visit to Wisconsin, gives the latest on his commitment situation. What school might be his second choice behind Ohio State? And what's his status on taking another official visit?
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Big-game Coach On the Way (Lawrence Wilson) - Scout
Big-game Coach On the Way
By Mike Frank**
Date: Jan 24, 2005
While the final results of the 2004 recruiting season are far from concluding, it’s quite obvious to most Irish fans that this class likely won’t be ranked among the top five of recruiting classes in the nation. However, Notre Dame fans landed their top-ranked recruit in 2004, Charlie Weis, and boy does the future look bright.
Watching the Patriots last night had to get Irish fans salivating, and some fans of opposing teams worried.
There has been much said about the talent, or lack there of, on the Patriots roster, and especially on offense over the past few seasons.
The Patriots don’t have a Marvin Harrison, Terrell Owens or a Michael Vick on offense, but they do have some very good players all working towards one common goal—the same goal they’ve accomplished two out of the previous three years—winning the Super Bowl. They now have the chance to earn their third.
With the salary cap in the NFL, it’s rare you see any team in the position the Patriots are currently in. Most predicted there would not be the dynasty teams we’ve seen in the past in the NFL because of it. But then you have the Patriots, who continue to win and defy those odds.
Weis and his offense dominated the No. 1 defense in the NFL last night and scored 34 points--the most any team has scored on the Steeler defense all season. The Steelers defense had surrendered 30 or more point just twice during the season, and surrendered 20 or more points just seven times in 16 games.
More importantly, we believe, is the fact that Weis usually has his offense playing their best games in the big games—like the 41 points they scored last night, and the 32 points they scored against the Panthers to win the Super Bowl in 2003.
It’s been awhile since Irish fans had a big-game coach to rally around, and Weis continues to prove that he can outsmart the best defensive minds in the NFL.
It’s common knowledge that the best minds in football are usually in the NFL, and Weis, with what many believe to be limited talent, continues to dismantle whatever defense is put in front of him.
The Irish offense finished the season ranked No. 81 in total offense in 2004. I think it’s a safe bet to think the Irish are going to dramatically improve that ranking in 2005 and beyond under Weis and his staff.
While watching the game last night, I was reminded of a curious quote that Akron, Ohio defensive end Lawrence Wilson said to me earlier this month.
"I'm still considering Notre Dame," Wilson said. "I watched their bowl game and that kind of had a bad influence on me. They just weren't getting it done out there. They didn't impress me much."
Considering Weis’ success in the playoffs, I doubt very much Irish fans will be hearing that quote from prospective recruits too often in the future.
Sure quarterbacks, running backs, tight ends and receivers will likely be jumping at the chance to play in this offense in the future, but people need to understand the magnitude of what Weis has done.
Irish fans are not only getting a great offensive mind in Charlie Weis, they’re getting a big-game coach.
Regardless of what happens in the Super Bowl this year, although the Patriots will likely be favored, Weis beat, no dismantled, the No. 1 ranked defense and second-best team this year (the Steelers) already—all the while trying to balance two jobs at the same time.
Think of that…. The NFL’s best defensive minds still can’t beat Weis even when he’s trying to do two jobs at the same time.
What Weis has done is quite remarkable considering the demands any coordinator has in the NFL. To continue to win with the Patriots and still do what he’s done at Notre Dame is extraordinary.
So don’t fret this recruiting season or where the Irish end up being ranked, Irish fans. The Irish already landed their top recruit in Weis.
Once Weis does his magic on the Notre Dame sidelines; I don’t think you’ll have much to worry about in recruiting anymore.
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Gators steal Seminoles recruit - College Sports
Gators steal Seminoles recruit
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By Eric Esteban Independent Florida Alligator
Gainesville, FL (U-WIRE)
... A fifth recruit committed with UF late Sunday night -- Eric Sledge, a 6-foot-3, 180 pound receiver out of Apopka, is expected to sign on Feb. 2 ...
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USC, Clemson slow down recruitment drive (James McKinney, Eric Sledge, Carlos Thomas) - The State
... From USC’s list: defensive back Avery Atkins to Florida State, defensive back Richard Raglin to North Carolina, defensive end Jonathan Hanna, who is also on Clemson's board, to N.C. State, linebacker Dakota Walker to Virginia Tech, offensive lineman Quinton Brown to Florida, and committed wide receiver Eric Sledge to Florida.
From Clemson's list: committed running back Demerick Chancellor and his brother, defensive back Chris, to South Florida, defensive back Tillman Millhouse to Western Carolina, defensive end James McKinney to Oklahoma and wide receiver Derrick McPhearson to Virginia Tech ...
... Wide receiver Carlos Thomas (6-1, 182) of Atlanta is firm with his USC commitment after canceling visits to Ole Miss for this past weekend and Florida for this coming weekend ...
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Kyle McCarthy Commits to Notre Dame, Nelson to Florida - UHND
Kyle McCarthy Commits to Notre Dame, Nelson to Florida
UHND.com* - Frank Vitovitch
1/24/2005
Notre Dame, Ind (UHND) – While Notre Dame had a light visit list this weekend, it netted a commitment from its lone visitor, defensive back/quarterback Kyle McCarthy (6-0, 170). Offered a scholarship earlier this week, McCarthy committed to the Irish over the weekend and became the 14 th commitment in this class. Meanwhile, former commit David Nelson committed to Florida after his visit there this weekend.
McCarthy's quick acceptance of his late offer from Notre Dame speaks a lot about how much he wants to be at Notre Dame. McCarthy is from Youngstown , Ohio and committed to the Irish without meeting new head coach Charlie Weis. Weis was the one to make the offer to McCarthy, but the two have not met in person yet.
McCarthy did it all for Cardinal Mooney this year while playing quarterback and defensive back. As a signal caller, he did more with his wheels than his arm. McCarthy ran the ball extremely well and proved to be hard to tackle. On defense, McCarthy played defensive back and showed excellent athleticism.
He appears to have some excellent speed and is listed with around a 4.4-4.5 40 yard dash time. His future at Notre Dame most likely lies in the defensive backfield with Evan Sharpley also in this class. McCarthy is an excellent athlete and a great pick up for Notre Dame in this class.
Nelson to Florida
Former commit David Nelson committed to Florida this weekend after his official visit to Gainesville . Nelson always said he was still a soft verbal to Notre Dame, but it was clear that his interest in Notre Dame was pretty low after the firing of Willingham.
What makes this situation more interesting is the fact that the Notre Dame coaching staff did not seem to put the same effort in keeping his commitment as they did with Lawrence Wilson. Was the new staff not as high on Nelson as the previous? The Irish did get a commitment from DJ Hord and have a few new names popping up at the position. Maybe they just weren't as high on Nelson or maybe they felt he was not that high on them and looked for alternatives.
It's also interesting that the New England Patriots tallest regular wide receiver is David Givens at 6-0 with 5-10 Troy Brown, 5-9 Deion Branch, and 5-11 Bethel Johnson.
New Name at Wide Receiver
A new name popped up at wide receiver this weekend in David Horton from Allentown , PA. Horton goes to Allentown Central Catholic, the same high school that produced Ed McCaffery and the excellent author of the article you are reading. Horton has some good speed. He's had interest in Notre Dame for some time and his hearing from them lately.
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Irish get one recruit, lose another - South Bend Tribune
January 24, 2005
Irish get one recruit, lose another
By BOB WIENEKE
Tribune Staff Writer
The names may have changed, but the number remains the same.
Notre Dame added one player to its recruiting class of 2005 this weekend with the verbal commitment of Youngstown, Ohio (Cardinal Mooney) athlete Kyle McCarthy. But the Gainesville (Fla.) Sun is reporting that Wichita Falls, Texas (Rider) receiver David Nelson, who committed to the Irish last summer, has now committed to Florida.
That leaves the number of players committed to ND at 14.
The 6-foot, 180-pound McCarthy, who picked the Irish over Ohio State and Northwestern, committed while on his official visit. McCarthy couldn't pinpoint one thing that sold him on Notre Dame.
"It just gave me the feeling that everyone talked about," McCarthy said late Sunday. "That was all I needed."
Because of McCarthy's size, Cardinal Mooney coach P.J. Fecko heard constant questions about McCarthy's ability to play Division I football.
"He's certainly proved everybody wrong," Fecko said. "You ask anybody that's played against him. They would say the same thing."
The Ohio Division IV state championship would be a good starting point. In that game, which Cardinal Mooney won, McCarthy returned an interception 93 yards for a touchdown, ran for a TD and passed for another.
As a senior, he played quarterback, but is expected to play in the secondary and return kicks at ND. He also could wind up at receiver.
It wasn't until last week that McCarthy received an offer from the Irish.
Fecko said McCarthy had begun to receive interest from Notre Dame shortly before Tyrone Willingham was fired, but his recruitment heated up after Charlie Weis was hired.
College coaches cannot publicly comment on a prospect until the player has signed a national letter-of-intent. The first day players can sign is Feb. 2.
McCarthy, who is not listed among recruiting analyst Tom Lemming's top 75 players in the Midwest, ran for more than 1,100 yards and passed for close to 700 last season. Those passing numbers may not look huge, but they are at Cardinal Mooney.
"We throw the ball about three times a game," Fecko said.
Nelson could not be reached on Sunday, but the thought that he could land somewhere other than Notre Dame had been a strong possibility since Willingham was fired.
The 6-6, 195-pound Nelson, ranked the No. 57 player nationally by Lemming, caught 91 passes for 1,648 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior. In addition to Florida and ND, Nelson had also been involved with Iowa.
Also Sunday, the father of Akron, Ohio (St. Vincent-St. Mary) defensive end Lawrence Wilson said his son will announce his decision on Saturday.
Lawrence Wilson has pared his list to Ohio State, Florida and Notre Dame.
Wilson committed to the Irish last fall but decommitted on the day Willingham was fired. At the time, however, he did not rule out the possibility of playing for Notre Dame.
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Ohio high school senior commits to Notre Dame - Fort Wayne News Sentinel (AP)
Posted on Mon, Jan. 24, 2005
Ohio high school senior commits to Notre Dame
Associated Press
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - A high school senior from Ohio who plays quarterback and in the defensive secondary has committed to play at Notre Dame next fall.
Kyle McCarthy of Cardinal Mooney High of Youngstown, Ohio, picked Notre Dame over Ohio State and Northwestern, the South Bend Tribune reported Monday.
The 6-foot, 180-pound McCarthy committed while on his official visit over the weekend, but said he couldn't pinpoint one thing that sold him on Notre Dame.
"It just gave me the feeling that everyone talked about," McCarthy said. "That was all I needed."
Because of McCarthy's size, Cardinal Mooney coach P.J. Fecko heard constant questions about McCarthy's ability to play Division I football.
"He's certainly proved everybody wrong," Fecko said. "You ask anybody that's played against him. They would say the same thing."
In the Ohio Division IV state championship, McCarthy returned an interception 93 yards for a touchdown, ran for a TD and passed for another. As a senior, he played quarterback, but is expected to play in the secondary and return kicks for the Irish. He also could wind up at receiver.
The Irish also have lost a commitment. Receiver David Nelson of Rider High School in Wichita Falls, Texas, has committed to Florida, The Gainesville Sun reported. The 6-6, 195-pound Nelson originally committed to Notre Dame, but changed his mind after Tyrone Willingham was fired as coach.
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Tucker defender Kearney picks UGA - Atlanta Journal Constitution
Tucker defender Kearney picks UGA
Will play either linebacker or safety
By MICHAEL CARVELL
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 01/24/05
Tucker defender Tavares Kearney, one of the nation's fastest-rising prospect over the last month, has committed to Georgia.
Kearney, who will play either linebacker or safety in college, picked the Bulldogs over Ohio State, Florida and South Carolina. Kearney is nicknamed "TKO" by his teammates after knocking five quarterbacks out of games this year.
"It was a tough decision between Georgia and Ohio State, but Georgia just felt the most comfortable to me," Kearney said.
Interest from Kearney didn't really peak until late because of his size (6-foot-1, 205 pounds) and due to he didn't take SAT until last month. Prospects are unable to take official visits until they have a test score on record.
When Kearney got his score in late December, he found out he was very close to meet college entrance requirements. Therefore, the hard-hitting senior almost overnight became one of the state's hottest commodities among college scouts.
"Georgia got a great player," Tucker coach Bill Ballard said. "He has a great motor and runs as fast as any player I've ever coached. And everyone knows about how physical he plays the game of football."
Kearney had already made trips to South Carolina and Ohio State, and he traveled to Georgia this past weekend. Kearney's recruiting host was former Tucker standout Thomas Brown, who plays tailback for the Bulldogs. When Georgia coach Mark Richt finally offered a scholarship on Sunday night, Kearney quickly accepted.
"I think once Georgia decided they wanted Kearney, there was really no doubt about where he was going to go," said Scott Kennedy of Scout.com. "Georgia has done very well with players out of Tucker over the years."
According to Ballard, Kearney will likely be given a look first at safety and then at linebacker. Georgia is looking for immediate contributor at both positions with the early NFL departures of Thomas Davis and Odell Thurman.
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Trojans starting to streak up Rivals.com rankings - Rivals
January 24, 2005
Trojans starting to streak up Rivals.com rankings
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Jeremy Crabtree
Rivals100.com Editor *
Here come the Trojans. The Men of Troy at USC are quickly leaping up the recruiting rankings, and last week was a monster week for them. First Pete Carroll reels in Patrick Turner, the nation's No. 2 player, and then he follows it up by landing a commitment from five-star junior college defensive tackle Gabe Long. But USC wasn't the only mover and shaker, as Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Jeremy Crabtree breaks down the entire updated Rivals.com top 25 team rankings.
School Total Commits Stock Last Week Points Breakdown
1 Tennessee 21 2 2,213 Losing Patrick Turner still stings, but this Vols class is the best in the nation right now .
2 Oklahoma 22 1 2,108 WR Juaquin Iglesias committed last week, and might end up being a steal of the year for the Sooners.
3 Nebraska 28 3 2,038 Nine junior college players is something new for the Huskers, but they're all players that could really come in and make an immediate impact.
4 Michigan 20 6 1,878 Marques Slocum committed to the Wolverines last week, helping push UM over Iowa in the Big 10 rankings and also in the national rankings.
5 Iowa 22
5 1,751 Along with the studs in Illinois, this Iowa class has gone to Florida, Texas, New York, Ohio and everywhere else on the map to land kids.
6 Texas A&M 24 4 1,699 There is no question that Dennis Franchione went after speed and skill in this class, and it looks like he hit a home run for the Aggies.
7 Southern Cal 13 17 1,695 Landing Patrick Turner and Gabe Long, both five-star prospects, capped off a great week for the Men of Troy.
8 Georgia 17 8 1,624 Bryan Evans had been a long-time UGA lean and he pulled the trigger last week, giving the Dawgs a boost toward the top of the SEC rankings.
9 Ohio State 15 7 1,462 Despite all of the off-field distractions, this Ohio State class still has a very good shot at finishing somewhere in the top-10 range.
10 Miami-FL 14 13 1,457 Typical Miami: The Canes are making a late push toward the top of the rankings based on their ability to recruit South Florida and dominate on the national front.
11 Auburn 18 16 1,423 Losing two four-star prospects this past weekend stings, but this Tigers class still has a shot at finishing at the top of the SEC rankings, but that all depends on how they close.
12 Texas 14 12 1,414 The Horns don't have a ton of scholarships to give out this year, but Mack Brown and Co. always seem to close strong and make a push up the rankings. Expect more of the same this year.
California 19 19 1,414 The Bears still are the No. 2 team in the Pac 10 behind USC, but that's not such a bad thing because of all the talent that's out West.
14 Alabama 30 14 1,395 This is a huge week for the Tide as many of their remaining targets are expected to announce one way or the other.
15 Virginia Tech 19 11 1,379 Deveon Simmons still might go down as the biggest commitment of the year for the Hokies.
16 Arizona 22 9 1,354 Arizona is about done with this class, and it's a great effort for Mike Stoops and his staff, considering the struggles on the field this year.
17 Florida 16 NR 1,328 Here comes Urban Meyer. Stealing Ryan Stamper from Auburn was huge. Getting a pickup from receiver David Nelson was just as huge. The Gators are finally starting to make some waves with the new staff in place.
18 Maryland 22 18 1,301 Melvin Alaeze is the crown of the Terp class, which kind of makes missing out on Derrick Williams a little easier to swallow.
19 Virginia 21 10 1,296 The former long-time No. 1 class has slid down the rankings as other teams have caught up with them.
20 Clemson 23 15 1,232 Many national analysts still don't know how good Rendrick Taylor really is.
21 UCLA 22 22 1,107 UCLA has a great shot at closing strong and jumping up several spots in the rankings. Aleksey Lanis is still ranks as one of the nation's best OL.
22 LSU 10 21 1,070 Les Miles is finally starting to make a move in the recruiting rankings. The big news could be if the Tigers can land Ryan Perrilloux.
23 Florida State 11 20 976 Every year we see FSU at the bottom of the top 25 about this time of year. They don't end up there, though. Count on this happening again this year.
24 Penn State 16 NR 966 Derrick Williams still is huge from a national perception. But landing Lydell Sargeant might have been just as key for the Lions.
25 Purdue 19 25 953 The Boilers have been all over the country recruiting players, plus they've dipped into Georgia for some surprising success.
Down but not out for long:
South Carolina: Steve Spurrier and Co. didn't have a full year to go out and recruit and other teams, especially in-state Clemson, had a head start. Still they've made some good strides the past few weeks, including landing Rivals100 receiver Carlos Thomas.
Arkansas: Houston Nutt does a great job done the stretch and the Hawgs usually end up with a few guys that you never expected. Could that be the case again in 2005? If they can land Roy Upchurch that might be the case.
Oregon: People outside the Northwest don't understand how big of a recruiting victory landing Jonathan Stewart, the nation's No. 1 running back, was. Beating Wazzou, UDub and countless others for him sends a real statement as to who the power in the region for the future will be..
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Lions need to lock up a few more recruits (Walker Ashley) - York Daily Record
Lions need to lock up a few more recruits
Frank Bodani
Monday, January 24, 2005
The next 10 days will provide an important insight into the supposed rebuilding Penn State football program.
The final 10 days of the recruiting season.
The final chances to turn a really good recruiting class into a great one.
The Lions already have locked up the talent they need at the spots most lacking. The class has overwhelming speed. It has two diamonds in program-changing recruits Justin King and Derrick Williams.
And yet, you must always take advantage of the situation.
There are still four or five scholarships left to lock up by Feb. 2, the first day recruits can make their verbal commitments binding.
So the Lions must strike on their recent good fortune — nearly their entire impressive defense returning in the fall; winning their final two games of the season; luring nationally-treasured talent in King and Williams.
The Lions must take advantage.
They have received only one commitment since landing Williams, arguably the nation's top recruit, and William Penn speedster Knowledge Timmons a month ago.
And that pickup is a mediocre offensive tackle.
There are still 10 days to convince the best talent left to come to Penn State.
Like linebacker Brian Cushing from New Jersey. He seems to have the same kind of potential as Lions' young stars Dan Connor and Paul Posluszny.
Lure talent like gigantic offensive tackle Jared Gaither, who is at Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia.
Or Jerome Hayes, another New Jersey linebacker. He's not quite as highly rated as Cushing but would be a major pickup at a position where the Lions could always use more bodies.
Like defensive lineman Walker Ashley, whose father played for the Lions.
Or Washington state running back J.R. Hasty.
And, finally, receivers David Harvey (Pittsburgh) and Todd Nolen (Virginia). PSU desperately needs at least one more receiver, its most needy position.
They won't get all of them, but they need to get at least a few.
To add depth. To keep building momentum. To stockpile the kind of talent needed to turn around four losing seasons in five years.
And to send a message: That Penn State is dead-set on matching the recovery projects of USC and Oklahoma.
"You never want your momentum to stagnate," said Phil Grosz of the State College-based Blue-White Illustrated. "If Penn State gets three or four of these kids, it will be one of the biggest stories of recruiting."
"They've made a comeback, you've got to give them credit. Now they just have to finish strong," said Tom Lemming, an ESPN recruiting expert.
It will come down to the end with so many of these kids, most not expected to announce until Feb. 2 or just before.
No matter how hard Joe Paterno and his assistants press, some are longshots, like Cushing and Ashley, who seem enamored with USC.
But the Lions have wonderful chances to get the rest. Gaither is a former high school teammate of Derrick Williams. Harvey is a former teammate of PSU quarterback Anthony Morelli. Hasty has been recommended to Penn State by former Lions Curt Warner and Bobby Engram, friends of the family.
Nolen, whose mother is from Pennsylvania, will likely decide between PSU and Virginia Tech. The highly-regarded Hayes has loved Penn State since he was a kid.
It's a nice mix of linemen, receivers and linebackers with a running back thrown in. Lemming calls Hasty "one of the most underrated players in the country."
It's the kind of talent that will mean the difference between Penn State bringing in a top-20 class and a top-10 class.
Maybe the difference between the Alamo Bowl and the Orange Bowl in a couple of years.
A 4-7 team with a top 10 recruiting class?
So the hope is there.
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Kearney commits to UGA on the air - Rivals PREMIUM
January 24, 2005
Kearney commits to UGA on the air
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Steve Patterson
UGASports.com *
Tavares Kearney, a linebacker from Tucker, announced on the radio this morning that he would be a Bulldog.
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It's crunch time as Wilson narrows field - Rivals PREMIUM
January 24, 2005
It's crunch time as Wilson narrows field
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Bill Kurelic
Rivals100.com *
Although coaches from three schools will be visiting Akron (Ohio) St. Vincent-St. Mary defensive end Lawrence Wilson this week, it looks like a two team battle for his services. Who is coming to see Wilson and when will he pick his college?
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Quick decision for McCarthy - Rivals PREMIUM
January 24, 2005
Quick decision for McCarthy
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Steve Hare
BlueandGold.com *
It came suddenly. Notre Dame made its scholarship offer to Kyle McCarthy on Thursday, and two days later the athlete from Youngstown, Ohio committed to the Irish over Ohio State. In making a verbal pledge to play for Notre Dame, McCarthy fulfilled what he described as a "dream" and gave the Irish their 14th commitment.
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Worthington shares the latest - Rivals PREMIUM
January 24, 2005
Worthington shares the latest
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Bill Kurelic
BuckeyeSports.com Recruiting Analyst *
Athol Springs (N.Y.) St. Francis defensive end Doug Worthington gives the latest on his commitment situation, who might be his second choice behind Ohio State, and his status on taking another official visit.
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Final Rivals100 highlighted by several changes - Rivals 100
January 24, 2005
Final Rivals100 highlighted by several changes
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Jeremy Crabtree
Rivals100.com
The Rivals.com recruiting staff spent 17 days on the road in the past month, taking in the nation's marquee all-star events and getting one last chance to evaluate prospects in the class of 2005. Through coverage of the North Carolina-South Carolina Shrine Bowl, the CaliFlorida Bowl and the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, many players improved their stock and made big moves up the national rankings. Rivals.com
Patrick Turner is now the nation's No. 2 player.After those personal observations, Rivals.com has now evaluated all 100 players in person in the final Rivals100 for the class of 2005.
The most significant move in the national 100 came at the nation's No. 2 spot. Behind Derrick Williams now is Nashville (Tenn.) Goodpasture receiver Patrick Turner. The 6-foot-5, 210-pounder dominated every day of practice at the all-star game in San Antonio, Texas. Turner made headlines last week when he committed to USC, turning down in-state Tennessee in what is still rumored to be an open recruiting battle.
So why is Turner so good?
"There are players you can look at and see them being great, but when you look at Patrick Turner you can't see him not being great," Rivals.com Southeast recruiting analyst Jeremy Patterson said.
"He is the total package. As a wide receiver, he may be the better than anyone in the country in every category there is except for speed. He does have good speed, though. You just don't find many guys as big as Patrick that have that kind of speed. The best thing about Turner is not his athletic ability but his attitude and willingness and desire to learn more. It is that attitude that makes him a can't-miss prospect."
At the No. 3 spot is Plainfield, N.J., offensive tackle and Virginia commitment Eugene Monroe. Making a move up to the No. 4 spot is Melvin Alaeze, a 6-foot-2, 277-pound strongside defensive end. He is heading to Maryland and the Terps are getting a monster of a prospect who should be able to make a big contribution early for the Terps. At No. 5 is the nation's No. 1 inside linebacker, Rey Maualuga of Eureka, Calif. He is heading to USC.
Receiver Fred Rouse of Tallahassee (Fla.) Lincoln comes in at No. 6, followed by quarterback Mark Sanchez of Mission Viejo, Calif., tight end Martellus Bennett of Alief (Texas) Taylor, offensive tackle Reginald Youngblood of Houston Booker T. Washington, and running back Jonathan Stewart of Lacey (Wash.) Timberline.Rivals.com
Jason Gwaltney is now a five-star prospect.Other big moves in this month's ranking were several players that moved up to the five-star status.
This included running back Jason Gwaltney of Long Island (N.Y.) North Babylon, who is now ranked as the nation's No. 15 player overall.
"I don't even know who to compare him to," North Babylon Coach Terry Manning said.
"He's powerful, explosive and dominant. He could be the best player ever on Long Island."
Also moving up in status and way up the Rivals100 was Miami Killian cornerback Demetrice Morley.
The 6-foot, 176-pounder was all over the field at the practices for the CaliFlorida Bowl and the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, proving that he's worthy of the nation's No. 21 spot overall and the No. 2 cornerback spot.
Pahokee, Fla., running back Antone Smith also bumped up from the high 30s to the No. 25 spot and a five-star ranking. Rivals.com
Mohamed Massaquoi moves up to the nation's No. 29 spot.The 5-foot-8, 181-pounder is one of the toughest runners in the nation, plus he has clocked in the sub-4.4 second range in the 40-yard dash.
"He's solid as a rock and has amazing muscle mass," Pahokee coach Leroy Foster said.
"People just hit him and then he bounces off of them. He also has great work ethic."
Just outside of the five-star rankings several players moved up into the national top 30. Charlotte Independence receiver and Georgia commitment Mohamed Massaquoi is at No. 29 spot. Winston Salem (N.C.) Mt. Tabor linebacker Derek Nicholson is now at No. 30.
If Morley made the biggest move up the rankings, he was followed closely by Killeen (Texas) Shoemaker defensive tackle Roy Miller
Miller dominated at the practices for the all-star game in San Antonio and was one of the most impressive players throughout the week. He moves up 40 spots to No. 34. The Texas commitment also moved up to the No. 5 spot in the defensive tackle rankings.Rivals.com
Phillip Dillard is one of four Nebraska commits in the Rivals100.Tennessee commitment Rico McCoy leaps up to the No. 38 spot after sitting at the No. 96 spot in the previous month's ranking. His strong week of practice at the all-star game in San Antonio helped boost his stock.
The Shrine Bowl performance of Jamie Robinson, a cornerback from Rock Hill (S.C.) Northwestern, caused him to move up to the No. 66 spot and the top overall ranking in the state of South Carolina.
Jenks, Okla, linebacker Phillip Dillard is one of four Nebraska commitments in the national top 100. The 6-foot-2, 247-pounder had a monster senior season and then back that up with a great week in San Antonio.
Also making a debut in the top 100 list is running back Roy Upchurch at No. 73, linebacker Anthony Felder at No. 85 and athlete Montario Hardesty at No. 100. Upchurch is still picking, while Felder is heading to Cal and Hardesty has picked North Carolina.
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Youngstown Mooney back chooses Irish over Buckeyes - Columbus Dispatch
Youngstown Mooney back chooses Irish over Buckeyes
Monday, January 24, 2005
Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Kyle McCarthy committed to Notre Dame yesterday, and in so doing, not only dealt Ohio State a setback but also broke his own protocol.
The two-way back from Youngstown Mooney had intended to wait until after returning from his official visit to Notre Dame before making his choice. Instead, the lifelong fan of the Fighting Irish committed on the spot.
"It’s just a great place up there," he said. "The academics, the tradition, the people, the team and the new coaching staff, it’s a great combination for me."
Nine days before national letters of intent can be signed Feb. 2, Ohio State’s class remains at 15 members.
Defensive lineman Lawrence Wilson of Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary said last night that he was down to a final two of OSU and Notre Dame.
"I think I’ll try to make up my mind towards the end of the week," Wilson said.
Running back Jason Gwaltney of North Babylon, N.Y., has said he will choose between OSU and Southern California on Feb. 1. Linebacker Tavares Kearney of Tucker, Ga., reportedly is down to OSU, South Carolina and Georgia and has given himself no deadline.
It’s the same for defensive lineman Walker Ashley of Eden Prairie, Minn., who has several schools in the running, including OSU, USC and Minnesota.
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Florida Record Setting QB Considering OSU - Scout PREMIUM
Florida Record Setting QB Considering OSU
By Steve Helwagen
Date: Jan 24, 2005
Junior Tim Tebow of Ponte Vedra Beach (Fla.) Nease made an unofficial visit to Ohio State for the Penn State game last fall. Tebow then went on to account for a state-record 5,576 yards total offense. Click here for a look at this special prospect.