Updated Tom Lemming Top 100

By Staff Report Jul 12, 2011, 7:52am

A total of nine new players enter the Class of 2012 Top 100.

By every measure, it appears that the 2011 season will be a special one in Northern California.

The state has more top-level talent than seemingly ever before, according to MaxPreps/CBS Sports recruiting analyst Tom Lemming.

"I think it's one of the best years I've seen in NorCal in a long, long time," Lemming said.

In fact, of the 12 players from the Golden State in Lemming's updated 2012 Top 100, eight hail from the northern part of the state.



One of those eight is previously unranked Aziz Shittu from Buhach Colony (Atwater, Calif.), who now checks in at No. 60. The 6-foot-4, 265-pound defensive lineman had 76 tackles and 6.5 sacks as a junior.

"I watched him against Turlock and he was fantastic," Lemming said. "He stops everything up the middle and gets a great push. He's one of the best defensive tackles in the country."

Another top Californian who hails from above the traditionally fertile talent-producing grounds of Southern California is Deontay Greenberry, from Washington Union (Fresno, Calif.).

"He catches everything within reach," Lemming says of the 6-3, 188-pound receiver who runs 100 meters in less than 11 seconds.

Northern California is well-represented in the preseason edition of the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings. Bay Area power De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) is ranked No. 3 overall, thanks in large part to the play of quarterback Bart Houston, who enters the rankings at No. 78.

"He's a big surprise. He's the best quarterback in California," said Lemming, who ranks Houston over San Ramon Valley signal-caller Zach Kline, already committed to California. "He completed 77 percent of his passes in the playoffs, which is phenomenal."



There were other shifts in the rankings involving non-California players as well.

Mallard Creek (Charlotte, N.C.) offensive lineman D.J. Humphries rises from No. 15 to No. 12, while Lakes lineman Zach Banner drops to No. 17 from the No. 12 spot.

Hillcrest (Springfield, Mo.) receiver Dorial Green-Beckham still checks in at No. 1.

If any player is going to challenge him for the final overall top ranking, it could be quarterback Gunner Kiel, or defensive ends Noah Spence or Mario Edwards, according to Lemming.

However, Lemming expects Green-Beckham will be hard to dislodge from the top spot.

"I don't think anyone is going to knock him off," he said. "He's too big of a talent."



Updated list, including commentary from Tom Lemming, of the players who moved in to the new Top 100.

RankNameStarsNotes
1Dorial Green-Beckham, WRHillcrest (Springfield, MO)6-6/220 

2Gunner Kiel, QBColumbus East (Columbus, IN)6-4/216 

3Cayleb Jones, WRAustin (TX)6-2/190 
Texas
4Noah Spence, DLBishop McDevitt (Harrisburg, PA)6-3/230 

5Mario Edwards, DERyan (Denton, TX)6-3/270 
Florida State
6John Theus, OLBolles (Jacksonville, FL)6-6/301 

7Ellis McCarthy, DLMonrovia (CA)6-4/300 

8Johnathan Gray, RBAledo (TX)6-0/195 
Texas
9Landon Collins, DBDutchtown (Geismar, LA)6-1/205 

10Barry Sanders, RB/CBHeritage Hall (Oklahoma City, OK)5-11/195 

11Rushel Shell, RBHopewell (Aliquippa, PA)6-0/215 

12D.J. Humphries, OLMallard Creek (Charlotte, NC)6-6/265 
Up three spots
13Jarron Jones, OLAquinas Institute (Rochester, NY)6-6/310 
Up two
14Stefon Diggs, ATHOur Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, MD)6-0/178 

15Andrus Peat, OLCorona del Sol (Tempe, AZ)6-7/280 

16Travis Blanks, DBNorth Florida Christian (Tallahassee, FL)6-1/195 

17Zach Banner, OL/DLLakes (Lakewood, WA)6-8/295 
Down five
18Eddie Goldman, DTFriendship Collegiate Academy (Washington, DC)6-4/295 

19Geno Smith, CBSt. Pius X Catholic (Atlanta, GA)6-0/165 

20Shaq Roland, CB/WRLexington (SC)6-2/180 
South Carolina
21Jameis Winston, QBHueytown (AL)6-4/196 

22Nelson Agholor, ATHBerkeley Prep (Tampa, FL)6-2/180 

23Matt Jones, RBArmwood (Seffner, FL)6-3/215 
Florida
24Keith Marshall, RBMillbrook (Raleigh, NC)5-11/190 

25Davonte Neal, WRChaparral (Scottsdale, AZ)5-10/180 

26Ron Darby, ATHPotomac (Oxon Hill, MD)5-11/175 

27Arik Armstead, OL/DLPleasant Grove (Elk Grove, CA)6-7/285 
Up five
 USC
28Connor Brewer, QBChaparral (Scottsdale, AZ)6-2/195 
Texas
29Dante Fowler, DLLakewood (St. Petersburg, FL)6-3/235 
Florida State
30Zeke Pike, QBDixie Heights (Edgewood, KY)6-6/230 
Auburn
31Kwon Alexander, LBOxford (AL)6-3/215 

32Jordan Simmons, OLCrespi (Encino, CA)6-5/200 
Down five
33Terry Richardson, DBCass Tech (Detroit, MI)5-9/170 

34Kent Taylor, TELand O'Lakes (FL)6-5/205

35Tee Shepard, CBCentral (Fresno, CA)6-1/190 
Notre Dame
36J.J. Denman, OLPennsbury (Fairless Hills, PA)6-6/310 

37Darius Hamilton, DLDon Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ)6-4/255 
Up 23
38Brian Kimbrow, HB/CBMemphis East (Memphis, TN)5-9/170 

39Shaq Thompson, DBGrant (Sacramento, CA)6-1/185 
California
40Joel Caleb, ATHClover Hill (Midlothian, VA)6-3/205 

41Jordan Diamond, OLSimeon (Chicago, IL)6-6/310 

42Malcom Brown, DT/TEBrenham (TX)6-2/280 

43Josh Garnett, OLPuyallup (WA)6-4/300 

44Quay Evans, DLMorton (MS)6-3/318 

45Evan Goodman, OLLakeland (FL)6-5/280 

46Tommy Schutt, DLGlenbard West (Glen Ellyn, IL)6-3/300 

47Durron Neal, WRDeSmet Jesuit (St. Louis, MO)6-0/190 
Oklahoma
48Byron Marshall, RBValley Christian (San Jose, CA)5-10/191 

49Ifeadi Odenigbo, DECenterville (OH)6-4/210 

50Michael Moore, DLDeMatha (Hyattsville, MD)6-4/260 

51Trey Williams, RBDekaney (Houston, TX)5-9/178 

52Josh Clemons, LBLowndes (Valdosta, GA)6-5/200 

53Trae Elston, DBOxford (AL)6-0/180 

54Vadal Alexander, OLBuford (GA)6-6/310 

55Devin Fuller, ATHNorthern Valley (Old Tappan, NJ)6-0/185 
Up 25
56Eli Harold, DLOcean Lakes (Virginia Beach, VA)6-4/220 

57Adolphus Washington, DETaft (Cincinnati, OH)6-5/250 
New: Has a very impressive highlight tape, a tape that shows the 19 QB sacks he had in 2010. One of the best pass rushers in the country.
58Avery Johnson, WREly (Pompano Beach, FL)6-3/200 
LSU
59Jessamen Dunker, OLBoynton Beach (FL)6-5/315 
Florida
60Aziz Shittu, OL/DLBuhach Colony (Atwater, CA)6-4/275 
New: I interviewed Shittu in mid-April and all I needed to see was the Turlock game to know I was watching someone special. A premier DT with enormous strength, quick feet and an aggressive style of play.
61Kyle Kalis, OLSt. Edward (Lakewood, OH)6-5/300 
Michigan
62Chris Black, DBFirst Coast (Jacksonville, FL)6-0/175 

63Sevon Pittman, DL/TEMcKinley (Canton, OH)6-5/245 

64Jonathan Taylor, DLJenkins County (Millen, GA)6-4/295 

65Deon Bush, DBColumbus (Miami, FL)6-1/180 

66Jaquay Williams, WRHeard County (Franklin, GA)6-4/201 
New:
A year ago he was timed in a 10.5 in the 100 meters, not bad for a 6-foot-3 1/2 inch WR, and he averaged 25 yards per catch in 2010.
Committed to Auburn
67Dan Voltz, OLBarrington (IL)6-4/290 
Wisconsin
68T.j. Davis, DBGodby (Tallahassee, FL)6-1/173 

69Freddie Tagaloa, OLSalesian (Richmond, CA)6-8/290 

70Cyler Miles, QBMullen (Denver, CO)6-4/215 

71Leonte Carroo, WRDon Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ)6-2/200 

72Bennie Coney, QBPlant City (FL)6-3/210 

73Matt Davis, QBKlein Forest (Houston, TX)6-2/200 

74Deontay Greenberry, WRWashington Union (Fresno, CA)6-3/187 
New: In person he looks like an NFL WR and on film, he looks like the high school All-American that he is. A big, strong receiver with a great vertical and the desire to catch everything within reach.
Committed to Notre Dame
75Ty Darlington, OLApopka (FL)6-3/274 

76Troy Hinds, DLDavis (Kaysville, UT)6-5/230 

77Jelani Hamilton, DLSt. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL)6-5/250 

78Bart Houston, QBDe La Salle (Concord, CA)6-4/205 
New: A QB at one of the country's more storied programs, he's tall with great arm strength, poise and he's a player who plays big in big games. He has completed 66 percent of his passes in his prep career and 77 percent in the playoffs.
Committed to Wisconsin
79Erik Magnuson, OL/DLLa Costa Canyon (Carlsbad, CA)6-7/280 
New: If you're looking for a LT who is quick, aggressive and smart, look no further than Mr. Magnuson. He has the frame to weigh 320 in college and has proven to be an all-around tackle who can run and pass block. Committed to Michigan
80Jordan Watkins, DEWoodward Academy (College Park, GA)6-5/260 
Down 25
81Jordan Payton, WR/SOaks Christian (Westlake Village, CA)6-3/200 

82Greg Garmon, RB/DBMcDowell (Erie, PA)6-2/200 

83Dillon Lee, LBBuford (GA)6-4/225 

84Anthony Alford, QBPetal (MS)6-1/211 

85Tyler Matthews, QBMcPherson (KS)6-3/210 
TCU
86D.j. Foster, ATHSaguaro (Scottsdale, AZ)6-0/185 

87Javonte Magee, DLHouston (San Antonio, TX)6-6/260 

88Cyrus Jones, ATHGilman (Baltimore, MD)5-11/190 

89Ricky Parks, ATHCallaway (Hogansville, GA)6-4/225 

90Yuri Wright, DBDon Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ)6-2/190 

91Jonathan Williams, RBAllen (TX)6-0/195 
Missouri
92Justin Thomas, ATHPrattville (AL)5-10/175 

93Trey Granier, LBThibodaux (LA)6-1/225 
LSU
94Mario Ojemudia, DEHarrison (Farmington Hills, MI)6-3/215 
New: One of the top two prospects in the state of Michigan, he plays DE in high school and should wind up playing OLB in college. He recorded 12 sacks and 20 tackles for losses in 2010.
Committed to Michigan
95Vince Biegel, LBLincoln (Wisconsin Rapids, WI)6-3/215 

96Dwayne Stanford, WRTaft (Cincinnati, OH)6-4/195 
New:
The consummate red-zone receiver, he catches everything within range and has averaged 20 yards per catch in his prep career. A big target with great hands, speed and desire.
97Jordan Jenkins, DLHarris County (Hamilton, GA)6-3/230 

98Anthony Standifer, DBCrete-Monee (Crete, IL)6-2/185 
New: The fastest riser among the top 100 players, he has had not only MAC interest heading into spring ball but now has a good number of major schools in hot pursuit. He's a tall, athletic corner who picked off nine passes in 2010.
Committed to Michigan
99Malin Jones, RBCatholic Academy (Joliet, IL)6-2/210 
Northwestern
100Mario Pender, RBIsland Coast (Cape Coral, FL)5-11/188 
Florida State