Compiled By Jason Hickman
MaxPreps.com
First Team Offense
QB Jimmy Clausen
6-3/200/Senior
Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.)
Notre Dame's next "Golden Boy," Clausen threw for 2,778 yards and 30 touchdowns as a junior, leading Oaks Christian to a 13-0 record and a Section title.
RB Noel Devine
5-8/180/Senior
North Fort Myers (North Fort Myers, Fla.)
The nation's most electrifying player, Devine averaged 11.1 yards per carry a year ago en route to a 1,933-yard, 24-touchdown campaign.
RB Caleb King
5-11/195/Senior
Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.)
King has powered Parkview's offense over the past two seasons, accumulating over 4,500 all-purpose yards and 39 touchdowns.
WR Arrelious Benn
6-2/205/Senior
Dunbar (Washington, D.C.)
Benn has emerged as the top receiver in the class of 2006. The 6-2, 205-pound blue chipper hauled in 50 passes for 1,147 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior, helping Dunbar to a 9-2 record.
WR - A.J. Green
6-4/190/Junior
Summerville (Summerville, S.C.)
A year from now, we might be talking about Green as the top prospect in the class of 2008. SI.com has already dubbed him the top junior-to-be in the country after the receiver hauled in 75 passes for 1,422 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2005. The Summerville star was a first team All-State selection as a freshman and sophomore.
TE Aaron Hernandez
6-4/235/Senior
Bristol Central (Bristol, Conn.)
Already committed to Florida, Hernandez hauled in 67 passes for 1,807 yards (26.9-yard average) and 24 touchdowns as a junior. He also recorded 12 sacks at defensive end.
OL Tray Allen
6-4/300/Senior
South Grand Prairie (South Grand Prairie, Texas)
Regarded by many to be the top college prospect in Texas, Allen has already made the decision to stay at home and play for Mack Brown's Longhorns.
OL Josh Oglesby
6-8/320/Senior
St. Francis (St. Francis, Wis.)
A towering tackle prospect, Oglesby earned first team All-State honors as a junior. Oglesby is verbally committed to the University of Wisconsin.
OL Ryan Miller
6-6/280/Senior
Columbine (Littleton, Colo.)
A first team All-State selection as a junior, Miller helped Columbine to a 10-2 record and put up over 36 points per game. Miller has narrowed his college choices to Colorado, Miami, Fla., Notre Dame, and USC.
OL John Elliott
6-5/295/Senior
East Meadow (East Meadow, N.Y.)
Elliott paved the way for an East Meadow rushing attack that churned out over 260 yards per game in 2005, earning first team Class AA All-State honors.
OL Nick Jenkins
6-2/290/Senior
Good Counsel (Wheaton, Md.)
After dominating both sides of the ball as a junior, the accolades poured in for Jenkins. He was named the Washington Catholic League's top defensive lineman after recording 58 tackles and two sacks, while being named to Maryland's Big School All-State first team as an offensive lineman. Whether it be offense or defense, Virginia landed a stud when Jenkins committed to the Cavaliers over the summer.
First Team Defense
DL John Brown
6-2/285/Senior
Lakeland (Lakeland, Fla.)
Brown anchored a Lakeland defense that surrendered just 93 points in 15 games (6.2 per game) en route to a 5A state title in 2005. The 285-pound tackle recorded 93 tackles and an unbelievable 36 tackles for loss.
DL Marvin Austin
6-3/290/Senior
Ballou (Washington, D.C.)
Austin has been a dominant force on the Washington, D.C., scene over the past two years, earning All-DCIAA honors as a sophomore and junior. Last season, Austin tallied 12 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and forced five fumbles.
DL Joseph Barksdale
6-5/305/Senior
Cass Tech (Detroit, Mich.)
Detroit's top prospect will have his choice of colleges after dominating the city's Public League to the tune of 83 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, and eight sacks as a junior.
DL Torrey Davis
6-5/285/Senior
Armwood (Seffner, Fla.)
We didn't go out on too much of a limb for any of our first team defensive linemen, but you don't have to when they are as dominant as this foursome. Davis rounds out the line selections after recording 17 tackles for loss and 12 sacks for one of Florida's premier programs as a junior.
LB Chris Strong
6-2/240/Senior
South Panola (Batesville, Miss.)
The catalyst for one of the nation's best teams, Strong led South Panola with 81 tackles and had four sacks last season. Strong was the state's Player of the Year in 2005 and is committed to the University of Mississippi.
LB Allen Bailey
6-3/250/Senior
McIntosh County Academy (Darien, Ga.)
A huge and ultra-productive linebacker at the high school level, Bailey is projected to play with a hand on the ground in college. But for now, Bailey will look to improve on an impressive junior season where he racked up 138 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and three sacks.
LB Chris Galippo
6-2/230/Senior
Servite (Anaheim, Calif.)
Galippo was a tackling machine in 2005, recording 92 in the first six games of the season alone. The Servite linebacker was the Serra League's Co-Defensive Player of the Year as a junior and is committed to Pete Carroll's USC Trojans.
DB Major Wright
6-2/190/Senior
St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
All All-Broward County pick by the Miami Herald last season, Wright is a feared hitter who recorded 45 tackles, forced two fumbles, and blocked three punts. Wright also picked off five passes and broke up 13 others for the 13-1 Raiders.
DB Lamark Brown
6-3/215/Senior
Hazelwood West (St. Louis, Mo.)
A great all-around athlete who also excels in basketball and track & field, Brown recorded 55 tackles, three interceptions, and recovered a fumble from his safety position as a junior. Brown also rushed for over 1,200 yards, earning an all-purpose nod to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-Metro team.
DB Eugene Clifford
6-2/190/Senior
Colerain (Cincinnati, Ohio)
One of the top overall prospects in the Buckeye State, Clifford tallied 137 tackles and six interceptions, warranting a spot on Ohio's Division I All-State team. Clifford helped Colerain limit opponents to under 10 points per game en route to a 10-2 record.
DB Jerimy Finch
6-2/210/Senior
Warren Central (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Finch is the top returning player for one of the nation's premier programs. The Michigan pledge was an Associated Press first team All-State selection as a junior after picking off a state-best 10 passes, helping the Warriors to a 14-1 record and the state title.
All-Purpose
RB/WR/KR/PR Joe McKnight
5-11/185/Senior
John Curtis Christian (River Ridge, La.)
McKnight was Louisiana's Player of the Year as a junior and led John Curtis Christian to the 2A state title. The versatile speedster reached the end zone via the ground (9) and air (5), returning punts (4) and kicks (1), and even took three interceptions to the house for a total of 22 touchdowns five different ways.
RB/DB/PR/KR Shane Vereen
5-11/175/Senior
Valencia (Valencia, Calif.)
California's top all-purpose performer, Vereen racked up 2,805 rushing, receiving, and return yards, and 35 touchdowns last year. Defensively, Vereen added 43 tackles and three interceptions.
RB/PR/KR John (J.J.) Diluigi
5-9/175/Senior
Canyon (Canyon Country, Calif.)
Diluigi was the all-purpose sparkplug for Canyon's Section Championship team in 2005. Headed to Brigham Young University, Diliugi rushed for 1,870 yards and 36 touchdowns while catching 33 passes for 519 yards and six more touchdowns in his spare time. If that wasn't enough, the 5-9, 175-pound back had another 517 yards in the return game.
Second Team Offense
QB Willy Korn
6-2/200/Senior
Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.)
A future Clemson Tiger, Korn passed for 4,164 yards and 53 touchdowns in 2005, while adding 763 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
RB Quan Warley
5-11/185/Senior
Thomasville (Thomasville, N.C.)
Nobody could stop Warley in 2005, as the North Carolina Player of the Year rushed for 3,304 yards and 43 touchdowns, leading Thomasville to a 16-0 record and a state title. Over the past two seasons, Warley has accumulated over 5,300 yards and 67 touchdowns.
RB Bradley Stephens
5-11/185/Senior
McAllen Memorial (McAllen, Texas)
The Lone Star State's most productive returning back, Stephens tallied over 2,600 yards and 34 touchdowns as a junior, and has over 5,500 rushing yards over the past two seasons.
WR Cody Bruns
5-11/165/Junior
Prosser (Prosser, Wash.)
Bruns was record-setting quarterback Kellen Moore's primary target as a sophomore last year, catching 98 passes for 1,647 yards and 23 touchdowns despite missing two games due to injury.
WR Daniel Ifft
6-2/180/Senior
Dover (Dover, Ohio)
Ifft isn't a major name on the recruiting circuit, but his production on the field is difficult to ignore. As a junior, Ifft led Ohio in receiving with 92 receptions, 1,506 yards, and 21 touchdowns. The 6-2, 180-pound pass catcher will have the luxury of teaming up once again with Ohio's leading passer from a year ago, quarterback Perci Garner.
WR Dez Bryant
6-1/195/Senior
Lufkin (Lufkin, Texas)
Bryant is the go-to target for Lufkin, a team hoping to stake its claim as Texas' best in 2005. As a junior, Bryant caught 48 passes for 1,025 yards and 16 touchdowns and will team with quarterback Jeremy Claybon to form a dangerous pass-catch combination.
TE Blaine Irby
6-2/220/Senior
St. Bonaventure (Ventura, Calif.)
Irby doesn't play a traditional tight end for St. Bonaventure, but a Californian good enough to catch the eye of Texas head coach Mack Brown - who rarely goes out-of-state - needs a spot on the MaxPreps All-American team. As a junior, Irby caught 42 passes for 658 yards and seven touchdowns, also reaching the end zone three times on the ground.
OL Lee Ziemba
6-7/295/Senior
Rogers (Rogers, Ark.)
The Arkansas big man was an AAAAA West All-State selection at both offensive and defensive tackle as a junior. He's also a standout in the classroom, taking a 3.5 grade point average into his senior year. Michigan, Notre Dame, and USC are all in pursuit of his services.
OL Anthony Davis
6-5/340/Senior
Piscataway (Piscataway, N.J.)
Davis was an All-Group 4 second team selection last season, contributing to a strong Piscataway team that compiled a 9-3 record. College football's heavy hitters are intensely courting the massive tackle.
OL J.B. Shugarts
6-6/290/Junior
Klein (Klein, Texas)
Shugarts was the only sophomore named to the District 14-5A first team offense a year ago, a rough-and-tumble alignment that also included Lufkin and The Woodlands. Already a striking physical specimen, Shugarts is one of the top lineman in the class of 2008.
OL Stefen Wisniewski
6-3/270/Senior
Central Catholic (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Pennsylvania Football News tabbed Wisniewski as a first team All-State selection in 2005. The son of former Penn State and NFL lineman, Leo Wisniewski, Stefen is a key performer for a Central Catholic team with huge expectations in 2006.
OL Matt Romine
6-6/275/Senior
Union (Tulsa, Okla.)
Romine is the top returnee for one of the nation's premier programs. Romine enters his senior campaign with two state titles on his resume after helping pave the way for a 13-1 Union squad that averaged 42 points per game in 2005.
Second Team Defense
DL Joey Nunez
6-1/215/Senior
San Benito (San Benito, Texas)
Nunez was named first team 5A All-State after racking up 148 tackles, including 12.5 sacks, as a junior. The undersized defensive lineman helped San Benito capture the District 32-5A title and compile a 12-1 record.
DL Will Blackwell
6-4/290/Senior
West Monroe (West Monroe, La.)
Those in the know down in Louisiana believe Blackwell is the best senior in the state. The monster tackle was a first team Class 5A All-State selection in 2005 after tallying 52 tackles, six tackles for loss, and four sacks, helping West Monroe capture its sixth title since 1993.
DL Akeem Ayers
6-3/215/Senior
Verbum Dei (Los Angeles, Calif.)
A pass rushing phenom, Ayers recorded 23 sacks as a junior, not to mention 116 tackles, five fumble recoveries, and an interception. Ayers was also a standout tight end and handled kickoff duties for Verbum Dei. As a sophomore, the Los Angeles product recorded 18 sacks, giving him 41 over the past two years.
DL Eric Brunner
6-1/260/Senior
Greendale (Greendale, Wis.)
Players like Racine Park's John Clay and St. Francis' Josh Oglesby dominate the headlines in Wisconsin, but Brunner was the only underclassmen to earn first team All-State honors on both sides of the ball in 2005. Brunner's dominant play on the offensive and defensive lines helped Greendale to a league title and 10-2 overall record as a junior.
LB Chris Colasanti
6-2/220/Senior
Brother Rice (Birmingham, Mich.)
A sure tackler and relentless sideline-to-sideline defender, Colasanti recorded 125 tackles, including seven for loss, for Brother Rice's 2005 state championship team. The future Penn State Nittany Lion earned first team All-State honors.
LB Nigel Bradham
6-2/220/Junior
Wakulla (Crawfordville, Fla.)
We're forecasting a bit here, but Bradham should emerge as one of the top 'backers in Florida in 2006. Truth be told, he probably already is after racking up nearly 140 tackles as a sophomore, despite missing a game after being injured in a car accident.
LB Jermaine Love
6-0/205/Senior
North Garland (Garland, Texas)
The argument could be made that Love is the most underrated player in the state of Texas. As a junior, the North Garland 'backer collected 135 tackles and nine sacks, good enough to earn a spot on Dave Campbell's Texas Football defensive "Super Team."
DB Niles Paul
6-1/200/Senior
North (Omaha, Neb.)
The nephew of former Nebraska standout Ahman Green, Paul is an all-purpose performer who excels in the secondary. Paul picked off a pair of passes as a junior, earning All-Metro honors and a scholarship offer from the Cornhuskers, which he accepted.
DB Ronald Johnson
6-0/185/Senior
Muskegon (Muskegon, Mich.)
If Johnson had played in 2005, we could have penciled him in to the first team. But an ACL injury kept him off the field, preventing him from helping Muskegon defend its 2004 state title. Johnson picked off 10 passes and was also the team's best receiver two years ago as a sophomore.
DB Malcolm Williams
6-3/205/Senior
Garland (Garland, Texas)
Williams missed a good portion of his junior season with an injury, but is one of the big reasons people in Texas have Garland pegged as a contender at the 5A level. His impact for head coach Jeff Jordan's Owls might be a little more visible on the offensive side of the ball, but he is also a stalwart on defense and on special teams.
DB Nate Oliver
6-0/205/Senior
St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio)
Ohio State has a recent tradition of great defensive backs. St. Edward's Nate Oliver could be next in line. The St. Edward senior was an All-Ohio Division I pick as a junior, as well as a member of The Cleveland Plain Dealers' "Best of the Best" squad. The same publication called him the No. 1 "must see athlete" in the Cleveland area for 2006-2007. The future Buckeye helped his squad to a 12-1 record last season, accumulating 70 tackles, with 12 coming behind the line.
All-Purpose
QB/LB/DB Austin Box
6-3/215/Senior
Enid (Enid, Okla.)
Operating from the quarterback position, Box piled up over 2,200 yards and 28 touchdowns as a junior, but will likely play on the other side of the ball when he dons the Crimson & Cream of the Oklahoma Sooners.
RB/KR/PR/DB Logan Dold
6-1/195/Junior
Garden Plain (Garden Plain, Kan.)
Garden Plain's Dold can find the end zone from anywhere on the field. As a sophomore, Dold was an All-Kansas first team selection after running for 1,859 yards and 26 touchdowns. He also had a touchdown reception and returned a pair of punts for scores. Dold had 11 touchdowns on plays of 40 or more yards.
DL Everson Griffen
6-3/262/Senior
Agua Fria (Avondale, Ariz.)
Griffen was an impact player on both sides of the ball for Agua Fria as a junior, rushing for almost 800 yards and eight touchdowns from his fullback position, and tallying 47 tackles and five sacks as a defensive end.
RB/WR/DB Dennis (D.J.) Shoemate
6-1/205/Junior
Servite (Anaheim, Calif.)
California's top sophomore in 2005, Shoemate totaled 1,534 rushing and receiving yards with 21 touchdowns. The junior-to-be also recorded 22 tackles on defense, including two sacks, and blocked a pair of punts.