Notes on the Recruiting Trail....

Well, we have one final week to go before all college coaches will be going back to their schools armed with scouting reports, highlight film, transcripts and a whole lot more. Here are some notes on the players that are in our top-10 and go from there....

1. Antoine Arnold (Ath. Chaparral) -- He has offers but there is not one college coach that has expressed confidence that this kid is going to make it. A lot of the offers that are on the table are "conditional" offers and the basis that if he makes it, he'll have a scholarship. He has talent to play on Sunday, but he could very well be playing JC ball next year if he doesn't get his academics in order.

2. Devon Blackmon (WR/DB, Summit) -- Has been offered seemingly by everyone in the country. In talking to people in the know, they have no idea where he wants to go. So if you read an Internet article saying that this kid is leaning to this school or that school, it's so wrong. This is a player that truly can wait until signing day to make his decision.

3. Ifo Ekpre-Olumu (DB, Chino Hills) -- The leader clearly is Oregon and it's also the best offer on the table. But he seems like a scheme fit kid. I find it extremely interesting that Washington hasn't offered the kid (and they have one of the best up and coming DB coaches in the conference in Demetrius Martin) and I had one Mountain West Conference school tell me that they are not going after the kid because they question his speed to play in their scheme at corner. I don't see an offer coming from USC nor UCLA... he might just have to be all over that Oregon offer..if I was counseling the kid.

4. Junior Pomee (TE, Rancho Verde) -- His best offer to date is UCLA, but word has it that he is going to Arizona's one-day camp on Sunday June 6th. I find it interesting that he is going to that camp instead of the UCLA one-day camp. But don't put a lot into it. UCLA has another skills camp on Sunday, June 20th. Rancho Verde has had a strong pipeline to the University of Arizona, so UCLA may have a big-time fight on their hands if they want to this kid's services....

5. Kelsey Young (RB, Norco) -- It looks like this prospect is a strong Stanford commit. There is no talk from anyone that this kid is wavering in his word to Stanford.

6. Todd Handley (RB, Riverside King) -- Now this one shocks the heck out of me. I can't believe for the life of me that this kid doesn't have an offer. He has run an electronic 40 yard dash in 4.54 FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS and he has some of the best film that you will see. I think he is just as fast and just as good as Loyola RB Jared Baker (who has an offer from Arizona on the table). This kid is good and whoever gets him will be getting such a great RB. It's a shame that he doesn't have an offer right now.

7. Devante Wilson (DE, Corona) -- If I had a category for players that are losing steam, he would head the list. First came an "questionable" hamstring injury at the Nike Combine and then his non-performance at the Nike Camp had people (like myself) very much concerned. College coaches are really starting to watch the game and realizing that this kid takes way too many plays off their liking. You would have thought that a kid of his size and ability would have at least 20 offers on the table...as of right now, he only has two in Arizona and Colorado.

8. Darius Gulliory (WR, Chaparral) -- Last year we really liked Corona Roosevelt WR Austin Hill because he was just a stud. When time came for CR to make a play, they went to Hill time and again. Well, to the class of 2011 version of Austin Hill in this guy. He just comes up so well on film, it's not funny. He has offers from Nevada Reno and San Diego State. I don't think he'll be a Pac-10 guy, but he is an awfully nice football player.

9 Josh Armstrong (CB, Redlands East Valley) -- This begins the first of the many players that I think could get offered when many coaches get back into their offices to meet as a staff. I just love this kid and the way that he plays -- and he is getting a lot of stuff from a lot of DB coaches. I am sticking with my high grade on this kid. I can see a school like San Jose St. coming after this player. He is very solid.

10. Dominique Williams (WR, Garey) -- This is another kid that is very quietly getting a lot of attention from WR coaches. I had one Mountain West Conference school that is in love with the kid. Now, he has some academic issues that he has to clean up (but they are not as bad Arnold...trust me). He is one of my sleepers for the class of 2011. I found him first!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Updated Top-10 For Class of 2011 -- Spring Edition

Here is our updated top-10 as we hit the midway point of the evaluation period...



Quick notes about the top-10....

* Reports are coming in that Chaparral WR Antoine Arnold might not qualify for any offers due to his grades. He would be wise to take the route that ex-Centennial LB Vontaze Burfict took to get qualified....

* I get the feeling that Devon Blackmon will end up at BCS school outside the west coast... I just get the feeling from talking to the people on the inside from Summit...

* Olumu is the top recruit on a lot of board. But there is one Pac-10 school that has a low grade on him... such a shame. The kid's highlight tape is legit...

* If I was a betting man, I'd say that Pomee will end up at UCLA....

* Can't believe that no one has thrown down an offer to Handley. Whoever gets him is getting a gem!!!... He's that good....

* Wilson is losing some steam from teams that are concerned that he doesn't want to compete at the highest level...

* In our opinion, Guillory has the right offers from the right schools....

* And we are sticking to our guns in regards to REV CB Josh Armstrong. We gave him a high grade and we are sticking by it. He has a nice highlight tape....

Third Tier of Prospects 21-30

Here are our third "tier" of players ranked from 21-30.



This is where you'll find a lot of offensive prospects - which includes several QB's that we are going to follow very closely in 2010.

Our Second Ten....

Here is our second Top-10 (call it our second tier on our board) from 11-20.



As you look at our second tier, take note of the fact that we have three offensive lineman that we really like. It's kinda of unheard of to have this many lineman that we like early that are highly rated.

Tonight, we'll post our third tier of players..

Updated Top-10 For Class of 2011

Here is our first top-10 list of college prospects for the class of 2011. Our "second 10" from 11-20 will be up tomorrow.



The two prospects that I think will blow up during the early evaluation period are Kelsey Young of Norco and Taj Teague of Pomona. Young is from a great stable of running backs at Norco and Teague looks the part of film and on paper.

We always have a kid that is a nominally with us and this year that kid is Wilson of Corona. I've said that he is this year's version of George Uko. Takes plays off, but when the light flips on, he can be a great player. He does have an offer from Colorado following their summer camp last summer, but I will be very interested to see how it goes.

Derrick Brown - Could the Wildcat be in his future?

As we begin the 2011 recruiting cycle, I've been asked more than a few times about Vista Murrieta quarterback Derrick Brown.

Well, after simmering about this for the past couple of weeks, I have come to the conclusion about this kid that he is only fit for one offense... the Wildcat.

We watched nine games on this prospect last season, and there are some compelling evidence to think he can make it to the next level. Among those factors are:

1) Size
2) Toughness

But, when it comes to the position of quarterback, you need more than that. You need to throw the ball really well and be consistent with it. With Brown, you don't get that. He misses receivers in the short to intermediate zone consistently and his ball seems to be going all over the place. Plus, we question whether he can throw the deep ball with any accuracy.

But, he is really tough to tackle, can get the tough yards and manages a great game. But, to be successful at the next level, you need to really good at the HS and he is clearly not there yet.

So will a college spend a scholarship on a kid that is a "Wildcat" offensive QB. Time will tell. But, he is one heck of a punter!

WAC Recruiting for Class of 2010 in IE....

And finally - here is how the WAC is shaping up in the IE....



You can bet that there is some information not being reported. We will stay on it as much as possible.

As you would expect, Fresno State has to be considered the team that has done well in the area. The kids that they wanted they either got...or lost to the Pac-10. Losing the recruiting battle for Scott of Colony had to hurt - but they finished very strongly.

Nevada Reno also did pretty well - winning some battles - and losing some too! But, in this conference, you have to take your shots.

New Mexico State was choosy with their offers and came up a bit short. Yeah getting Darian Johnson was huge, but I thought they could have competed a lot better for some other players.

San Jose State was another school that finished very well with their kids that they offered late. If they get either Fafita or Dash, I think you can consider 2010 a success.

Hawaii came up strong. And for the first time that I can remember neither Idaho or Boise St. will sign a player in the area. Don't look for that to last long next year.

Information is courtesy of Rivals.com and Scout.com