Compiled By Jason Hickman
MaxPreps.com
QB/DB/PR/KR - A.J. Alexander
5-10/170/Junior
Altoona (Altoona, Pa.)
Alexander was the only sophomore to earn Pennsylvania Football News All-State honors at the AAAA and AAA level in 2005, getting the nod at quarterback. The speedy junior clocked a 10.71 and took fourth in the 100 meter at the Pennsylvania state track meet last spring. He puts that speed to use in a variety of ways on the gridiron for Altoona.
RB - Darius Ashley
5-8/170/Junior
St. Xavier (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Ashley racked up 1,647 yards and 26 touchdowns as a sophomore, helping St. Xavier capture a state title in Ohio's rugged Division I. The speedy tailback will be on full display against national No. 1, Lakeland, Fla., in September's Kirk Herbstreit Ohio vs. USA Challenge.
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.
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.
RB - Jarid Caesar
5-8/165/Junior
Riverside Academy (Reserve, La.)
Caesar was a first team All-State 2A selection after piling up nearly 2,000 yards and 22 touchdowns as a sophomore. One of the most exciting players in the New Orleans area, Caesar is also a dangerous kick and punt returner.
RB - Austin Deck
5-10/200/Junior
Meridian (Meridian, Idaho)
Deck has a chance to build a memorable legacy at Meridian, where he helped the Warriors capture Idaho's 5A title last season. He's back for his junior campaign after running for 1,104 yards and 10 touchdowns, while catching 24 passes for 244 more yards. The Idaho Statesman named him to the first team All-State 5A team.
QB - Ivan Delgado
6-3/180/Junior
Killeen Ellison (Killeen, Texas)
Delgado guided Ellison to the 4A regional semifinals by passing for over 2,000 yards and rushing for nearly 900 more. His 24 combined touchdowns as a sophomore carried the Eagles through the difficult District 16-4A schedule.
QB - Riley Dodge
6-0/180/Junior
Carroll (Southlake, Texas)
A lot is going to be expected of Dodge, the son of Southlake Carroll head coach Todd Dodge. The Dragons have captured 5A titles in three of the past four seasons and consistently light up the scoreboard with one of Texas' most potent offensive attacks. Dodge contributed to Carroll's 2005 state title in a variety of ways, finishing with over 700 passing and rushing yards.
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.
RB - Jason Ford
6-0/205/Junior
Althoff (Belleville, Ill.)
Ford exploded on the scene as a freshman by rushing for 1,702 yards. His encore was impressive, as well, producing 1,391 yards on the ground and 20 touchdowns.
DE - Jamal Graham
6-3/200/Junior
Gateway Tech (St. Louis, Mo.)
A St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-Metro third team selection as a sophomore, Graham racked up 20 sacks and collected 57 tackles.
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.
QB/DB - Will Hill
6-2/180/Junior
St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City, N.J.)
As a sophomore, Hill led St. Peter's Prep to a perfect record and a state title, throwing for nearly 800 yards and nine touchdowns, and running for 533 more and two scores. Defensively, the junior tallied 56 tackles and three interceptions.
WR - Wes Kemp
6-4/200/Junior
DeSmet (St. Louis, Mo.)
Helped DeSmet capture Missouri's Class 6 title by bringing in 46 passes for 1,062 yards, and seven touchdowns.
LB/RB - Devin King
5-11/190/Sophomore
DeSmet (St. Louis, Mo.)
It would be tough to find a freshman who had a better season than DeSmet's Devin King did in 2005. Playing middle linebacker for a championship team, King recorded 109 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and eight sacks. He also scored four touchdowns on the ground as a running back, earning St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-Metro Newcomer of the Year honors.
RB - Milton Knox
5-9/205/Junior
Birmingham (Lake Balboa, Calif.)
Knox was a workhouse for Birmingham in 2005, piling up 1,606 yards and 26 touchdowns on the ground. He was also a threat in the Patriots' passing game, catching 21 passes for 336 yards and three additional scores.
DE/TE - Kavario Middleton
6-6/245/Junior
Lakes (Lakewood, Wash.)
Middleton would likely be the top college prospect in the Northwest on potential alone if he was entering his senior season. At 6-6 and 245 pounds, Middleton moves extremely well and flashed soft, sure hands from his tight end position as a sophomore.
RB - Darriet Perry
5-7/185/Junior
Lowndes (Valdosta, Ga.)
Perry is back for Georgia's defending AAAAA state champions after tallying over 1,000 all-purpose yards and double-digit touchdowns as a sophomore. The dangerous Perry is giving Lowndes fans hope for 2006 Viking squad despite losing 31 seniors.
WR - Chris Polk
6-0/190/Junior
Redlands East Valley (Redlands, Calif.)
Polk will take over as the featured offensive threat for the Wildcats after compiling 1,600 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns last season. The junior did most of his damage at the receiver position as a sophomore, but was the team's top producer on the ground, as well.
QB/DB - Gerell Robinson
6-4/210/Junior
Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)
From a physical standpoint, Robinson is going to remind a lot of people of Vince Young. He has a long way to go in terms of being that type of player, but he did account for over 1,200 passing and rushing yards as a sophomore with 11 touchdowns along the way. He was also a solid contributor for a strong Desert Vista hoops team that compiled a 26-7 record. NOTE: Robinson has transferred to Hamilton High School in Chandler for the 2006-2007 year.
RB - Jacquizz Rodgers
5-7/170/Junior
Lamar Consolidated (Rosenberg, Texas)
Rodgers is the Texas 4A classification's leading returning rusher after putting up 2,278 yards and 34 in 2005. Along with brother James, Rodgers will look to help Lamar Consolidated improve upon an 11-1 record in 2005 and possibly capture the 4A state title.
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.
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.
RB Debrale Smiley
5-11/225/Junior
Thomas County Central (Thomasville, Ga.)
Smiley is a budding superstar on the Georgia scene and earned first team All-State at the AAAA level as a sophomore. His play helped power Thomas County Central to a 10-2 record.
