As recruiting for the class of 2010 hits full stride, programs nationwide are focusing their efforts on their biggest needs. Sometimes for a coach, landing a star player at a position where there is a little team depth is a major victory. Other times, getting a commitment from a recruit can have as much impact away from the field as it does on it.
Here are the top five most vital targets for the 2010 class;
5. Jackson Jeffcoat, Plano West (Plano, Texas) - University of Texas
The state of Texas is prime recruiting territory for the University of Texas, not to mention Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and Baylor among other in-state teams.
However, Texas recruits have also been a major staple for the Longhorns’ Big 12 rival, Oklahoma. In fact, Oklahoma has gone head-to-head with Texas in recruiting battles over players from the Lone Star State and come away victorious.
Last year, Lufkin defensive tackle Jamarkus McFarland was embroiled in a controversial, highly-publicized recruiting war before ultimately settling on Oklahoma. Further, one of the most famous recruits of all-time, Adrian Peterson, was a legend at Palestine before deciding to cross the Red River and head to Norman.
Jackson Jeffcoat, son of former Dallas Cowboy defensive lineman Jim Jeffcoat, will likely be at the heart of another Texas vs. Oklahoma recruiting face-off.
Jeffcoat followed up a second team all-state performance as a sophomore for Plano West with a 94-tackle, seven-sack junior performance that landed him on the first team all-state roster. He’s arguably the nation’s most impressive defensive player.
Texas will start three seniors on the defensive line, and are already without current Washington Redskins rookie Brian Orakpo. Jackson has a chance to contribute very early on and can provide the type of pass rush that the Longhorns could use against a spread offense, like that run by Texas Tech.
It would also be a mental victory for Mack Brown and staff to nip Bob Stoops’ crew in the race to land perhaps the Lone Star State’s best player.
4. Jordan James, Corona (Calif.) - UCLA
The 2008 season presented many challenges for UCLA. After an exciting, season-opening overtime victory against Tennessee, the Bruins dropped their next three games. Rick Neuheisel’s squad would go on to win only three mores games—against Washington State, Stanford, and Washington—before punctuating the season with a 28-7 loss to rival USC.
Quarterback Kevin Craft threw for over 2,300 yards, but was intercepted 20 times. Opposing defenses were able to sit back in pass coverage, since the Bruins never proved they had a legitimate rushing attack. In fact, UCLA’s 993 rushing yards were fourth fewest in the country, behind San Diego State, New Mexico State and Southern Methodist.
Across town, Pete Carroll has already locked up a nice stable of running backs, including D.J. Morgan and Dillon Baxter. He has a puncher’s chance at landing Lache Seastrunk.
UCLA should be a logical choice for Corona star Jordan James.
James’ stock only continues to rise. He rushed for over 1,400 yards as a sophomore. The Corona High School star was injured for much of his junior year, but dominated when healthy, averaging 226 yards per game.
UCLA did not adequately address the running back position in the class of 2009. In 2010, in order to help rejuvenate a beleaguered ground game and regain credibility both locally and nationally, UCLA must not let James get plucked out of Los Angeles by an out-of-state suitor.
3. Anthony Barr, Loyola (Los Angeles, Calif.) - Notre Dame
In the final game of Notre Dame’s season, Jimmy Clausen tossed for 401 yards and five touchdowns to give the Fighting Irish a victory in the Hawaii Bowl. It gave Notre Dame fans a glimpse of what they hope Charlie Weis’ potent air attack will look like for years to come.
Clausen will only be a junior this year, while playmaking wide outs Golden Tate and Michael Floyd will be a junior and sophomore, respectively. However, Notre Dame’s ground game needs some serious help. Ranked 100th nationally in yards per game last season with 109.7, the Fighting Irish may get some help from true freshman Theo Riddick and Cierre Wood, though neither seems to have the ceiling of Loyola bruiser Anthony Barr.
Barr rushed for 1,809 yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior. Barr has serious ties to Notre Dame, as his father Tony Brooks, and uncle Reggie Brooks, both played in South Bend. It appears that Notre Dame has a great shot at Barr, which is extremely important for the run-thirsty Fighting Irish.
Jesse Scroggins, Lakewood (Calif.)
Photo by Dirk Dewachter
Before Lane Kiffin arrived in Knoxville, the Volunteers were prepared to ink Phoebus (Hampton, Va.) star quarterback Tajh Boyd, an extremely agile dual-threat signal caller that rated as one of the top players at his position for the class of 2009. When Kiffin took the helm, Boyd decided to go elsewhere, and Tennessee has since been on the hunt for a quarterback to Kiffin’s system.
The Vols whiffed on Phillip Sims, Jake Heaps and Andrew Hendrix. As the summer carries on, Tennessee fans are getting restless. They need a quarterback, and they need one fast.
Enter Jesse Scroggins, a 6-foot-3 quarterback from Lakewood High School. He’d be the perfect answer to Kiffin’s on-field needs. He was remarkably productive for Lakewood last year, playing against some very stingy defenses. Scroggins would likely shoot up the depth chart in Knoxville rather quickly. He would also be a boost to Tennessee’s status on the national recruiting scene.
Scroggins' other two choices, USC and Florida, are already well established and can recruit anywhere. Landing a major quarterback from USC territory would be a big boost to the Vols’ momentum. Not to mention, during an offseason filled with jabs between the Gators and the Vols, any victory over Florida—even on the recruiting trail—is a celebrated one.
Marcus Lattimore, Byrnes (Duncan, S.C.)
Photo by Don Wessel
Tiger fans have extremely high hopes for the 2010 recruiting class. While Nick Saban has had his pick of the litter in Alabama and elsewhere for the past few seasons, Gene Chizik has made great strides in changing that in the short time he’s been head coach.
Results are clear: the Tigers have already received a verbal commitment from in-state wide out Jeremy Richardson, one of the country’s best at his position. While Richardson is a great pick up, Auburn has its sights set even higher.
Chizik is zeroing in on two of the nation’s most elite recruits, running backs Marcus Lattimore and Lache Seastrunk. Lattimore, MaxPreps’ National Junior of the Year, led Byrnes to a state title last season. Seastrunk, a human highlight reel, hails from Temple. Both are strongly considering Auburn.
It’s no secret that Auburn has had great success putting running backs in the NFL. Chizik would surely find a way to balance carries between Lattimore and Seastrunk. That would be a great problem to have for any coach.
For all of its offensive perks, nabbing Lattimore and Seastrunk would shift the statewide (and national) spotlight from Alabama to Auburn. Landing both players would be an absolute coup. Signing one of the pair would still be a steal. However, missing out on both would be an unabashed disappointment.
