Football recruiting roundup: The next Tony Dorsett?

The reigning MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year has already proven that his ninth-grade campaign was no fluke.

Hopewell (Pa.) running back Rushel Shell exploded for 257 yards in a 47-6 victory over Saxonburg. He had only 13 carries but registered scoring runs of 4, 70, 66 and 56 yards in his first game as a sophomore.

Shell was simply amazing as a freshman, bursting onto the Western Pennsylvania scene by rushing for 1,515 yards and 14 touchdowns despite not earning a starting job until the sixth week of the season. The 6-foot, 210-pound back has elite speed (in the 4.4-second 40-yard dash range) and has incredible strength for a player so young. He can already bench press more than 300 pounds.

While fellow 2012 running back Barry Sanders Jr. is a more well-known commodity at this point, Shell isn’t far behind. Colleges are aware of him, and are beginning to line up for his services. He has already taken the short trip to visit Pitt, and the Panthers have verbally offered him a scholarship.

Shell continues to draw comparisons to a former Hopewell (Pa.) star, Tony Dorsett, who went on to win a Heisman Trophy at Pitt. In fact, when Shell and the rest of the Vikings play host to Mars on Friday night, they’ll be taking the field at Tony Dorsett Stadium.

With an opportunity to play on defense this year, Shell will have a chance to display his versatility and overall athleticism. He’s already on pace to crack the MaxPreps Sophomore All-American team, and will continue to emerge as a major recruit.

Injury bug hits top juniors

Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford showed that injuries can happen at any time, as the Heisman Trophy winner left the Sooners’ season opener with a shoulder injury. The same holds true on the high school level, as several top juniors were sidelined by early-season injuries.

Crenshaw (Calif.) running back De’Anthony Thomas missed chunks of the second half of his team’s surprise upset over Lakewood due to an ankle injury. The electric Thomas had to watch from the sidelines as Crenshaw scored a late touchdown to knock off the Lancers.

Thomas, a member of the MaxPreps Class of 2011 Top 100 Watch List, is shaping up to be one of the top players in the country by the time he graduates. There is little word right now on where he may be leaning for college, but it’s not a stretch to say that USC and UCLA will both pressure him to stay home.

Another Class of 2011 Top 100 Watch List selection also went down in his season opener when Lincoln (Fla.) running back Buck Allen broke his femur in a loss to Niceville. Allen is a bruising running back, but showed his big-play ability as a receiver. Before his injury, Allen caught three passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns. According to Lincoln staff, Allen is hearing from nearly every major program, though no word yet on what offers, if any, have come in yet.

Mallard Creek (N.C.) quarterback Marquise Williams also suffered an injury this weekend, receiving a concussion in the closing minutes of his team’s win over East Mecklenburg. In a play that has stirred some controversy in the Tar Heel State, Williams was hit as he was taking a knee near midfield. It’s unclear when Williams will be able to return to action. Williams got his junior season off to a fast start. In his first game, he passed for four touchdowns in a blowout win. Against East Mecklenburg, he totaled nearly 300 all-purpose yards and two scores.

Mallard already has several offers from SEC and ACC schools. Given the depth of the quarterback position in the Carolinas in 2011, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Williams or some of the other top junior signal callers think hard about out-of-state destinations.

Five things we learned this weekend

Tevin Williams is really, really good: Trinity (Texas) running back Tevin Williams had a breakthrough sophomore season in 2008 for the Trojans, but received less attention than some of the other 2011 running backs in the Lone Star State. He had 22 carries for 210 yards and three touchdowns en route to a win against Utah’s Bingham.

Skyline plays defense: Recruiting fans are very familiar with Skyline (Wash.) quarterback Jake Heaps and receiver Kasen Williams, but the Skyline defense really stood out in an opening win against Jesuit (Ore.). Linebacker Anthony DeMatteo led a shutout against the Crusaders, and could be emerging as a Division I prospect.

Khiel Frazier can play: Frazier led an amazing comeback for Shiloh Christian (Ark.) over Evangel Christian, showing that he has leadership skills to accompany his immense talent. Although Fayetteville (Ark.) junior quarterback Brandon Allen appears to be locked in on Arkansas, the Razorbacks are also targeting the dual-threat signal caller.

Lake Travis may have another stud QB: With Lake Travis (Texas) alum Garrett Gilbert now backing up Colt McCoy at Texas, Michael Brewer has stepped up and taken over the Cavaliers’ offense. He’s led Lake Travis to two victories, throwing for more than 800 yards, with five touchdowns and no interceptions. He’s only 6-1, but may have all the other marks of a future star.

Ohio State will have a loaded 2011 class: When Wayne (Ohio) and McKinley squared off Saturday night, two star recruits who are both considered Buckeye leans faced off against one another. Wayne quarterback Braxton Miller threw for 221 yards while McKinley defensive end Steve Miller had a mere three tackles, one of which was a sack. Ohio State is in good shape for both MaxPreps Class of 2011 Top 100 Watch List selections.

Five to watch this week

Max Wittek, QB, Mater Dei (Calif.): The Monarchs struggled mightily against Carson in their opener, managing only two points. Wittek, the heir apparent to Matt Barkley, completed only four passes and threw an interception. He’ll need to improve his play against Cypress this week, before Mater Dei’s annual showdown with Centennial.

Skyler Mornhinweg, QB, St. Joseph Prep (Pa.): The earliest commit in the class of 2012, Mornhinweg made a mid-summer pledge to Stanford. In the Hawks’ season opener against McKeesport, Mornhinweg led an incredible comeback, as the team rallied for two late scores to come away with a victory. This week, Mornhinweg will be tested by a talented St. Peter’s Prep (N.J.) secondary.

Kody Walker, RB, Jefferson City (Mo.): The whole country will get to see Walker’s talents, as Jefferson City will take on Fayetteville (Ark.) in a game televised by CBS College Sports. As a sophomore last year, Walker had 10 touchdowns and more than 700 rushing yards in five games before an injury ended his season. As a junior, he is poised for a breakout year.

Kyle Prater, WR, Proviso West (Ill.): Fresh off announcing his commitment to USC, Proviso West receiver Kyle Prater will participate in one of the top Illinois rivalries when he and his teammates take on Proviso East and standout defense back Corey Cooper.

Driphus Jackson, QB, Cedar Hill (Texas): Jackson has led Cedar Hill to a 2-0 record, outlasting DeSoto in the season opener and blowing out Rider. Trinity, fresh off a three-touchdown win against Bingham, will be perhaps the team’s biggest challenge. Reading the Trinity defense and showing his ability to run the Longhorns’ offense will certainly catch the eye of college scouts.