While the high school careers of many of the nation’s top recruits in the class of 2010 are starting to wind down, the recruiting process continues to heat up.
The high school season will come to a close in late November and early December in most states. The college bowl season will conclude Jan. 7 with the BCS National Championship Game. Once that happens, it will be an all out frenzy in the subsequent four weeks until National Signing Day on Feb. 4.
For now, the most sought-after players in the class of 2010 will continue to focus on the remainder of their prep careers before signing on the dotted line and officially committing to the college of their choice in February.
Here is a look at the top 10 recruits in the class of 2010 according to Tom Lemming and how their senior seasons are going thus far:
1. Seantrel Henderson, OL, Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul, Minn.)Henderson and the Raiders wrapped up a 7-1 regular season by beating Woodbury in a rare Tuesday night game last week. The team will have a first-round bye this week and awaits the winner of the Eagan vs. Hastings match up.
By all accounts, it’s been a fine senior year for Henderson, as Cretin-Derham Hall has not had many problems putting points on the board, producing both on the ground and through the air.
In a testament to his athleticism, Henderson has also played on the defensive side of the ball this season, doing whatever he can to help the Raiders shoot for a AAAAA state title.
2. Lache Seastrunk, RB, Temple (Texas)Few players in recent memory have been as exciting as Lache Seastrunk. The prolific, explosive running back has a highlight tape that would make Reggie Bush blush.
Heading into Friday night’s win against Bryant, Seastrunk had rushed for 710 yards on the season, putting him on pace to crack the 1,000-yard mark for the third consecutive season.
Seastrunk is on pace to finish his career with over 4,000 yards. However, he has only rushed for 100 yards in four games this season and he has a total of 10 touchdowns this year, modest numbers for the nation’s top running back.
3. Marcus Lattimore, RB, Byrnes (S.C.)Playing for the country’s No. 2 team, Lattimore has followed up an outstanding 2008 season with impressive numbers in 2009.
He has 17 total touchdowns for Byrnes, who is fresh off a 17-10 victory over Dorman. Lattimore led the way with two scores.
Lattimore did struggle in Byrnes’ marquee showdown against St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), fumbling three times in the Rebels’ only loss this year. Still, he is poised to lead Byrnes to yet another 4A state title in South Carolina.
Plano West defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat.
Kyle Dantzler
The nation’s top defensive player, Jeffcoat has been well-known since his sophomore season. He is the son of former Dallas Cowboys lineman Jim Jeffcoat and has been terrorizing opposing quarterbacks just like his father.
Jeffcoat had 47 tackles and 6.5 sacks heading into Plano West’s game against Plano East on Friday, in which Jeffcoat snagged an interception. Despite teams developing game plans to run away from Jeffcoat’s side of the field, he’s still been a difference maker.
5. Darius White, WR, Dunbar (Fort Worth, Texas)It has not been a spectacular year for White. Dunbar has played well, but the team’s air attack has struggled at times. White has had showed flashed of brilliance, but has had a hard time establishing consistency.
To compound matters, the flu sidelined White in Dunbar’s game against Trimble Tech this weekend. Colleges remain unfazed in their pursuit of White, however, as he’s one of the country’s top uncommitted players.
6. Blake Bell, QB, Carroll (Wichita, Kans.)Carroll is undefeated at 8-0 thanks in large part to sensational quarterback Blake Bell, the nation’s No. 6 recruit.
The 6-foot-6 Bell has displayed an ability to make things happen with his legs this season, showing that his athleticism may be an added bonus for the Oklahoma Sooners, to whom Bell is verbally committed.
Bell hopes to close his career on a high note by leading Carroll to a 5A state title.
7. Anthony Barr, RB, Loyola (Los Angeles, Calif.)Barr’s season was cut short by an ankle injury in September. Since losing Barr, Loyola has gone just 2-3.
As a junior, Barr rushed for 1890 yards and 20 touchdowns. His recruitment has been unaffected by his injury.
8. Jakes Heaps, QB, Skyline (Sammamish, Wash.)It’s been an average season for Jake Heaps—literally. The Skyline quarterback has made a habit of compiling prodigious stats and 2009 has been no different.
Heaps has thrown for 23 touchdowns versus only four interceptions, three of which came in one game against Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.). Heaps averages 215 yards per game and tossed for a season-high 329 yards on Friday night against Redmond.
Skyline is favored to win a title in 4A before Heaps heads off to BYU next season.
9. Devin Gardner, QB, Inkster (Mich.)It’s been a rollercoaster ride for Gardner this season.
Inkster started the season 0-2 after receiving a good deal of preseason hype as one of Michigan's top teams.
Since then, Inkster has gone 5-1 thanks in large part to the play of Gardner, who secured the team’s biggest win of the season on Friday night, as the Vikings beat Steubenville (Ohio) 36-29.
Trailing 29-28 with 1:19 left, Gardner connected with Vorheese Zanders on a 63-yard TD pass to give the Vikings an improbable win. Gardner finished with five total TDs, and the win clinched a playoff spot for Inkster. The loss for Steubenville ended its 60-game home winning streak.
10. Robert Woods, WR, Serra (Gardena, Calif.)Playing both receiver and defensive back, Woods has done his part on both sides of the ball to help Serra to a perfect 7-0 record.
Offensively, he’s performed consistently well, compiling 543 yards and seven touches on 35 receptions. On defense, Woods has disrupted many air attacks, snagging five interceptions and deflecting a pair of other passes. He’s also made 38 tackles from the secondary.
Woods has yet to have a true breakout performance, but that’s partly due to the presence of fellow receiver George Farmer, another skilled target who has a big role in the Cavaliers’ offense.
10 juniors to watch (class of 2011):Aaron Green, RB, Madison (San Antonio, Texas)
Jermauria Rasco, DE, Evangel Christian (Shreveport, La.)
Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Pointe (Rock Hill, S.C.)
Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Northwestern (Miami, Fla.)
Colt Lyerla, ATH, Hillsboro (Ore.)
Jarvis Landry, WR, Lutcher (La.)
James Vaughters, LB, Tucker (Ga.)
Christian LeMay, QB, Butler (Charlotte, N.C.)
Antonio Richardson, OL, Ensworth (Nashville, Tenn.)
Braxton Miller, QB, Wayne (Huber Heights, Ohio)
10 sophomores to watch (class of 2012):Rushel Shell, RB, Hopewell (Pa.)
Barry Sanders, RB, Heritage Hall (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
Michael Rose, LB, Rockhurst (Kansas City, Mo.)
Reggie Ragland, LB, Bob Jones (Madison, Ala.)
Dorial Green, WR, Hillcrest (Springfield, Mo.)
Fernando Villanueva, TE, Independence (San Jose, Calif.)
Noah Spence, DE, Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg, Pa.)
Davonte Neal, WR, Chavez (Laveen, Ariz.)
Rhahiem Ledbetter, DB, Crest (Shelby, N.C.)
A.J. Leggett, DB, Washington (Miami, Fla.)
Freshmen to follow (class of 2013):Kelly Hilinski, QB, Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.)
LaQuintas Wallace, RB, Lee (Tyler, Texas)
Jared Alwan, LB, St. Joseph Prep (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Aaron Bailey, WR, Bolingbrook (Ill.)
E.J. Levenberry, ATH, DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)
