Top 100 recruits: Mid-season analysis

Is James Wilder still the No. 1 recruit in the country?

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound running back/linebacker from Plant (Tampa, Fla.) has certainly had his ups and downs this season. He struggled in a preseason loss to Manatee, a game in which he missed time due to injury and Plant lost soundly.

Wilder bounced back with an impressive performance at running back against Abilene, where he rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns.

However, he was injured again in an Oct. 1st game against rival Armwood and has yet to fully recover.

While he has mostly lived up to his billing when healthy, Wilder is getting a challenge for the top spot in Tom Lemming's updated Class of 2011 Top 100, which will debut after the season.

South Pointe (Rock Hill, S.C.) defense end Jadeveon Clowney, currently ranked No. 2, has been making his case to be No. 1.

He started where he left off last season by recording three sacks in his first two games. While he’s continued to wreak havoc on opposing backfields, he’s displayed the full breadth of his athletic gifts by taking some handoffs on offense.

In fact, Clowney has rushed for touchdowns in each of South Pointe’s last two games. Two weeks ago against Nation Ford, he also returned a fumble the distance for a 58-yard score.

South Pointe head coach Bobby Carroll gives glowing reviews of his star defensive end.

"In my 28 yards of coaching, he stands alone," Carroll told MaxPreps. "He's an absolutely phenomenal player."

Clowney appears to be Wilder's biggest threat for the No. 1 ranking.

Offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio, currently No. 3, has been riddled by injuries this season, and his team has struggled offensively at times. Stephone Anthony, ranked No. 4, is a linebacker who has also spent time in the backfield this season. He has been compiling a ton of tackles, but hasn't made as many big plays as Clowney.

Lemming ranks Patterson (La.) running back Kenny Hilliard No. 5. Hilliard has been slowed by a nagging ankle injury this season, and has yet to cross the 1,000-yard mark. Future LSU teammate Jeremy Hill has been more effective this season.

One long shot to challenge Wilder could be Serra (Gardena, Calif.) wide receiver George Farmer. The 6-2 receiver is averaging more than 100 receiving yards per game and has hauled in six touchdowns.

A well-known commodity since his freshman year, Farmer is blessed with exceptional speed, a well-built frame, and natural play-making ability. He's extremely dangerous after the catch and can be tough to bring down.

Several other players are in line for a rankings boost.

Mike Bellamy has been simply unstoppable for undefeated Charlotte (Punta Gorda, Fla.). In seven games, he's amassed a stunning 29 touchdowns. At his current pace, he could top 3,000 yards on the season. Currently 40th, he very well could see his ranking elevated.

Don’t be surprised to see Marquise Williams climb a little higher. He's currently No. 25, but he’s been every bit as impressive as Kiehl Frazier and Braxton Miller, the two dual-threat quarterbacks ranked ahead of him.

Nickolas Brassell, a standout for No. 2 South Panola (Batesville, Miss.), has been electric this season, averaging 16 yards per catch. He has caught eight touchdown passes, including seven in the past four weeks. He may move up from the No. 80 spot.

Not all the news is good for current Top 100 recruits, however.

Last year’s MaxPreps Junior of the Year, Christian Lemay, is one player whose ranking could slip. The No. 12 ranked recruit has sat out the entire season, but will be enrolling at Georgia in January.

Brennan Scarlett, the No. 83 recruit, could also be due for a fall. He caught only four passes in his first three games before suffering a broken collarbone that has had him sidelined since September. It's not the first time Scarlett has missed time due to injury. As a sophomore, Scarlett broke his leg and last season tore ligaments in his knee.