The Top 20
By Josh Barr
Washington Post Staff Writer
Web Posted: Friday, March 30, 2007; 5:35 p.m. EST
A first look at 20 Washington-area high school football players who should be the stars of the local recruiting scene as they prepare for their senior year:
1. WR Kenny Tate, DeMatha, 6-4, 225
The All-Met could be the most highly-recruited player ever to come out of DeMatha. Stags Coach Bill McGregor says Tate "can go basically anywhere in the country. You name the school, he has the offer." McGregor ticked off Florida, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan, Virginia Tech and Illinois among Tate’s suitors, a list that also includes Maryland. "I haven’t done anything yet to promote Tate, McGregor said recently. "I got a phone call yesterday from USC. They don’t call all the time you know."
2. OL Jimmy Bennett, West Potomac, 6-9, 285
The mountain-sized All-Met has plenty of "offers from everyone," Wolverines Coach Eric Henderson said, listing Maryland, Virginia and Virginia Tech. Penn State has offered, Michigan State, Boston College and Notre Dame also are in the mix. "Everybody that looks at him wants to offer," Henderson said. "He run a 4.9-second 40. He’s kind of freakish." Don’t expect Bennett to make a decision until he takes some official visits in the fall.
3. RB Josh Haden, Friendly, 5-7, 190
Patriots assistant coach Marcus Berry said Haden holds more than a dozen scholarship offers, including from Florida, Tennessee, Ohio State, Boston College, North Carolina and Virginia. "He’s got everybody," Berry said. Haden’s older brother, Joe, last season’s All-Met Offensive Player of the Year, is enrolled at Florida.
4. RB Ryan Williams, Stonewall Jackson, 5-11, 215
Raiders Coach Loren Johnson said Williams’s list of scholarship offers "is almost too many to name." The top few include Virginia, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Clemson and Notre Dame, Johnson said.
5. RB Lamaar Thomas, Friendly, 6-0, 185
Maryland and Illinois are recruiting him as a running back. Georgia and Tennessee as a defensive back. Everyone else as a wide receiver. He holds scholarship offers from all of the afore-mentioned schools, as well as Virginia, Pittsburgh, Ohio State, Rutgers, Boston College, Connecticut and Louisville.
6. DT Reggie Ellis, Dunbar, 6-2, 275
Holds scholarship offers from Maryland, Virginia and Illinois already and Crimson Tide Coach Craig Jefferies believes Auburn, Clemson and Michigan State "aren’t far behind."
7. WR Rodney McLeod, DeMatha, 5-10, 185
Though he often is lost in the shadow of teammate Kenny Tate, McLeod is also a top recruit. He already holds offers from Maryland, Virginia Tech, Illinois and Syracuse.
8. QB Mike Glennon, Westfield, 6-7, 190
The younger brother of Virginia Tech’s starting quarterback holds scholarship offers from Virginia and Virginia Tech. "He’s being recruited by basically everybody in the ACC," Bulldogs Coach Tom Verbanic said.
9. OL A.J. Francis, Gonzaga, 6-5, 315
Burly lineman returned from national combine in San Antonio and committed to Maryland.
10. WR Kevin Dorsey, Forestville, 6-1, 185
Committed to Maryland last summer. As a junior, had 27 catches for 869 yards and 12 touchdowns. Knights Coach Charles Harley calls Dorsey the hardest worker he’s ever had.
11. DB Cameron Johnson, Gonzaga, 6-4, 225
Two-year starter holds offers from Maryland, Virginia and Duke. He’s being recruited as a safety, but "he could probably do either one, receiver or d-back," new Gonzaga coach Joe Reyda said.
12. OL Zach Kerr, Quince Orchard, 6-3, 295
Academically ineligible as a sophomore, Kerr burst onto the scene this past fall. He has an offer in writing from Rutgers while Maryland, Virginia Tech and Penn State have said they also will offer, Cougars Coach Dave Mencarini said. Colleges like Kerr on either side of the ball "because he’s so big and he can move," Mencarini said.
13. WR Morgan Carter, Hylton, 6-4, 200
Can play many different positions and could be the Bulldogs’ quarterback next season. Likely to be a wide receiver, linebacker or defensive back in college. Holds offers from Rutgers and Connecticut. "He’s got a couple things going in his favor," Coach Lou Sorrentino said. "He’s a big kid and he can run. He’s a great student and has versatility. I told him when different [college] coaches come in here, they might see him in different ways, but that’s only going to help him."
14. S Devin Wallace, Friendly, 6-0, 200
Holds an offer from Virginia. "He looks the part and he can really run," Friendly assistant coach Marcus Berry said.
15. DB Dan Atwood, Gaithersburg, 5-11, 185
A starter every year in high school, he’s being recruited as a safety. Maryland, West Virginia, Penn State and Notre Dame have been in to take a look, Trojans Coach Kreg Kephart said. "Right now he’s taking it all in," Kephart said. "He’s a local kid and could very well like Maryland but he’s not opposed to going far away. His sister is a cheerleader at Hawaii."
16. DB Okechuckwu Okoroha, Eleanor Roosevelt, 6-2, 190
Being recruited as a free safety, Raiders Coach Rick Houchens is confident that Okoroha will be the next in a line of top recruits from the Greenbelt school.
17. OL Quinton Sales, Friendly, 6-3, 280
Holds offers from Rutgers, Connecticut and Marshall.
18. QB Kyle Frazier, Damascus, 6-2, 200
A third-year starter, Frazier is getting interest from Boston College and Connecticut, whose camps he attended last summer. Another strong summer could yield a scholarship offer.
19. LB Darius Hill, Springbrook, 6-1, 215
A two-year starter, has led the Blue Devils in tackles each of the past two seasons. Rutgers, Pittsburgh and Kansas State are the schools showing the most interest in Hill.
20. OL Tony Edwards, Damascus, 6-0, 265
About the only thing separating Edwards from being a big-time recruit is two inches. If he can grow just a tad taller, Edwards has the technique and ability to be a force. His father played on the offensive line at Maryland in the 1980s.
