Ok, so it may be shameless self promotion on my part, but the early consensus is that it does. Some interesting thoughts in my latest at GoMids.com.

With the United States finding itself in arguably the greatest economic recession since the Great Depression, the value of a football scholarship has become much more than a luxury for hundreds of American families; it has become a necessity. Yet for a university like the Naval Academy, does the country’s economic downturn hold previously unforeseen recruiting benefits?
According to some it does, as both the prospect of a free college education and post graduate job security have attracted more high school football recruits to consider taking their skills to the likes of Army, Navy, and Air Force. Count Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo amongst those who say they have seen an upturn in interest for the three programs since the economy went south last year, as the second year headman recently testified to his belief that the poor economy had “opened up doors” for his own team in recruiting bigger, faster, and stronger athletes.

“I think the economy has helped us,” said Niumatalolo during a recent interview. “Before [the economy went south] there were people who would not even talk to us. There were some parents who would say ‘my son is not going to a military school’ but now they are like ‘hey this might not be a bad option.’ I think that has opened up other doors that in prior years were closed.”

While recruiting experts aren’t certain of the exact level of increased interest on the part of recruits in attending service academies, they do admit that Niumatalolo’s assessment stands to reason given the country’s current economic circumstances. Not only does the incentive of a free education make sense in winning parents over to the idea of sending their sons to a service academy, but the recruiting “sells” commonly associated with schools like Army and Navy take on increased significance given the prevailing job market for college graduates. This dynamic, say experts, gives schools like Army and Navy a “leg up” in recruiting forward thinking young men to the gridiron, as more recruits realize that a degree from similar academic institutions may not automatically assure them of immediate post graduate employment.

 I think it is a dynamic to keep an eye on over the next few years. Don’t get me wrong - I’m not saying a return to the days of Army and Navy notching up national titles is immanent - but may could see a rise in win totals for all three schools in the near future.

…Hello, my name is Adam, and I have been free of the college football recruiting hype machine for oh about 37 minutes now.

I won’t lie. It has not been easy getting off the bandwagon of the ceaseless array of YouTube highlight films, early morning google news searches, and wall-to-wall coverage of the subject on just about every website I would ever bother to read. But somehow, someway, I find myself slowly letting go of the rush that comes with each fourth of February.

We kid ourselves about our attachment to this thing called National Signing Day. It has even become cliché for us to throw in a few self-depreciating comments about our priorities as a half-hearted gesture before each foray into the subject. Heck I guess you could call it a tradition, one which seems to not only grow anew this time each year, but one which continues to rapidly expand and push the boundaries of NCAA compliance laws and college fandom as we know it. Our attachment to our favorite school’s recruiting class has become not only a practice of off-season following for many of us, but a singular obsession that now gives way to multi-million dollar companies and “insider” subscription services.

It is, to be frank, getting out of hand, and we all know it. In my own case that burgeoning obsession has manifested itself in a select few athletes, whose impending college declarations seemed to be the most important thing in my very limited world over the past two or three weeks. It’s the reason why sometime after the conclusion of Lost last night I found myself back at my computer, scouring the web for any relevant stories regarding my favorite NCAA football team and its potential future stars. Never mind that my team - Navy - does not even participate in the “official” process of letters of intent. I just wanted to know who the next Reggie Campbell would be. My searches were however somewhat in vain. Despite well-crafted phrases that helped to pick up wire reports on recruits from seemingly every small-town paper around, I failed to determine the final destination of a select few recruits who I had been hoping would have made their decisions to more media acclaim. So, like the proverbial eight year old who gets nothing but socks and savings bonds on Christmas Eve, I went to bed last night with a tinge of disappointment over my failure while still holding out an expectation for better things to come.

Yet sometime as I was making the rounds (in vain again, I should add) this morning it hit me. Here I was, albeit under much different circumstances, just a few years removed from the same gut wrenching decision that this particular young man had either just made, or was still in the process of making. Suddenly I could remember the overwhelming anxiety of it all, recalling how the very thought of just choosing (never mind actually attending) a University could likely determine anything and everything about me and my future over the next four years. For some people I understand a decision like this is greeted with open arms and a willingness to move on, yet as I remembered my own case I suddenly began to question the motivations for why this particular young man had not made his decision.

Did he like the schools that offered him a scholarship? Had he not been offered by the school he wanted to go to? Was he waiting for another offer? Did he feel constrained by the options before him; no matter how appealing they may have looked, or seemed to have looked for you or I?  I thought back again, and slowly I found myself not only beginning to feel a good deal of sympathy for this young man, but a good deal of empathy as well. No, I hadn’t been recruited by anyone for anything coming out of high school, and no, I sure didn’t have anyone stepping up to give me an all-expense paid pass to higher education. Yet I hated my college choices, and remembered feeling angry and trapped by my own options as I neared the final day of decision for choosing a school. And heck, I was only going to go to whatever school I chose; it wasn’t like I was being expected to come in and be the next great football star for that University. Now I’m not saying this young man “hated” his college options like I did, nor am I saying he may have felt “trapped” by the process. But the more I began to think about and remember my own case, the more I began to understand why hitting the refresh button every ten minutes on my google news search seemed pointless and not the least bit unfair to him.

I’m not here to tell you to step back from the hype that comes with college football recruiting. We all know that as long as we partake in the thrill of Saturday afternoons in the fall we are going to have to live with - and more than not embrace - the off-season happenings which feed and cultivate our beloved game. Yet when we consider the decision making of seventeen and eighteen year olds when it comes to where they will take their God-given ability and years of hard-work and after school sacrifice, perhaps it’s best to remember our own situations. Choosing a college is the biggest decision most 18-year olds will make up to that point in their lives, and despite however we may feel about their choice in college options, it’s probably best if we all take a collective step back and let them leave the decision making process to those who care most about their well-being.

Throughout the day I will be posting my comments and some news that happens during the first day that the 2009 High School class can sign their letters of intent. Usually we have a few shockers and a few switches, so we could be in for a long ride. All times posted are EST just for your information. So if you are stuck at work, keep hitting the refresh button and I will keep you posted all day.

5:11 PM EST- Trent Richardson, one of the best running backs in the nation, is going to play for Alabama and not join his friend Sam Montgomery at LSU.

4:59 PM EST- Markish Jones has done it AGAIN. This two-star JUCO recruit has sent in, not one, but two LOI’s for the second time. He sent one in to Colorado and another one to Cal.

4:15 PM EST- The Austin American Statesman has a great article to keep the “numbers” of National Signing Day in perspective. Those who read the blog on a regular basis know I am highly skeptical of reported 40 yard dash times, often because they are self-reported and quite frankly, highly inflated. It’s good to see reporter Alan Trubow set the record straight when it comes to this issue.

Mansfield Timberview running back Eric Stephens — the No. 36-rated recruit on the Fabulous 55 — is 5-11, 200 pounds and has 4.38 speed on texasfootball.com. On Rivals.com, the Texas Tech-bound Stephens is 5-8 (three inches shorter), 177 pounds (nearly 25 pounds lighter) and, according to the site’s analysis, “doesn’t have home run speed.”

Stephens, insists Timberview coach Terry Cron, is 5-8, 200 pounds and runs about a 4.56.

“I don’t know where some of these guys get their numbers from,” Cron said. “It seems like they heard it from a guy who heard it from a guy who heard it from a guy, and that’s good enough to report.”

I encourage you to read the rest of the article, which deals with the “magic” number of a sub 4.6, which many prospects know they must report to even be considered for a FBS offer. Frankly, this whole obsession over 40-times as THE basis for evaluating and offering players is getting out of hand (posted by Adam Nettina.)

3:57 PM EST - Receiver Kenny Bell adds to Alabama’s late day push by pick the Tide over LSU.

3:55 PM EST - Rivals.com is reporting that the choice that Trent Richardson makes in about an hour will decide which team wins the #1 recruiting class between LSU and Alabama. As noted earlier Richardson is good friends with Sam Montgomery and that could be a reason why he chooses LSU.

3:47 PM EST - Marlon Brown picks Georgia.

3:43 PM EST - Wide receiver Marlon Brown is up next. Earlier today I heard that Ohio State was making a big push, but in the end I think he ends up with Georgia.

3:28 PM EST - With news slowing down a bit, the famous LSUFreek made a video that is his Ode To Signing Day.

3:07 PM EST - Dre Kirkpatrick who is a big time CB prospect, especially with his size picks Alabama over Texas. The Tide are going to start challenging LSU for the #1 class.

3:04 PM EST - Oregon gets an LOI from a 4 star WR Tyrece Gaines who picked the Ducks over the Sooners. One of my contacts mentioned how it is amazing that Oklahoma can’t get a top WR to come to Oklahoma with Sam Bradford coming back.

2:55 PM EST - Kendall Kelly picks Alabama and now his teammate Dre Kirkpatrick is up next.

2:43 PM EST - The wide receiver commitments keep rolling in as CSN is reporting that Je’Ron Stokes has picked Michigan over Tennessee.

2:42 PM EST - After striking out earlier with Jenkins, Penn State got a commitment from Justin Brown who is a 4 star wide receiver from Delaware. He chose the Nittany Lions over Rutgers, and he DID NOT use a coin flip.

2:40 PM EST - Xavier Su’a Filo an offensive tackle from Utah picks UCLA over BYU, Utah, LSU, and USC. Big pickup for Slick Rick!

2:18 PM EST - In the craziest way to commit to a school, I noted earlier that Ka’Lial Glaud picked Rutgers over West Virginia, but what I didn’t tell you is how he did it. Glaud decided that a coin flip would be the best way to pick his school, so that’s what he did. Now how many want to bet he transfers before he graduates>

2:11 PM EST - Houston Nutt gets his quarterback for this class as four star QB Raymond Cotton picks Ole Miss.

2:05 PM EST - I have learned from my mistakes and will just let Vols fans know that people close to Michigan are quite optimistic that WR Je’Ron Stokes will sign with them over Tennessee.

1:56 PM EST - Rueben Randall signs with LSU. Also four star WR Kenny Bell is a verbal commit to LSU, but there have been talks the past few days that he is considering Alabama.

1:48 PM EST - Well I got some apologies to make to Tennessee fans. I thought Nu’Keese Richardson signed with Florida but he has announced AND signed for the Vols. That’s the last time I listen to ESPN Radio. The Vols also add three star LB Robert Nelson.

1:43 PM EST - You have to love Houston Nutt’s theory of just trying to sign everyone and anyone possible. As of now, Ole Miss has 34 commits. Any guesses on how many won’t qualify?

1:38 PM EST - I jumped the gun a bit earlier by saying that DE Jarvis Jones was going to Georgia, but he has indeed signed with USC. A good get for USC considering what they have lost today.

1:29 PM EST - In the soap opera that is the recruitment of Rueben Randall, he is going to announce today which means all signs point to LSU. This has been posted a few other places like at EDSBS, but if you are stuck at work and want to watch some ESPNU coverage, check it out here.

1:25 PM EST - The Vols get plucked two more times as Damien Thigpen signs with UCLA after previously commiting to the Vols, and OT Morgan Moses picks Virginia over UT.

1:13 PM EST - Nu’Keese Richardson ends up signing with Florida (ESPN) while considering Tennessee. There are also a lot of rumors floating around about Trent Richardson…they have him going anywhere from Alabama, to Georgia, to LSU.

12:41 PM EST - The news is slowing down but here are a few recent LOI signees…Defensive Tackle Sheldon Richardson picks Missouri after a roller coaster last few weeks. Jarvis Jones, a 4 star defensive end is rumored to be down to USC and Georgia.

12:18 PM EST - Manti Te’o takes his place at the signing table and chooses Notre Dame over UCLA, BYU, and USC. Big get for the Irish and another huge blow to USC. Alabama gets a commitment, which is good cause their fans were going to start jumping off bridges, as Eddie Lacy a 4 star running back commits to Saban.

12:12 PM EST - Te’o’s announcement has overshadowed fellow Hawaiian and four star offensive guard Stan Hasiak who surprised us and picked UCLA over Washington and USC.

11:57 AM EST - As noted earlier Vontaze Burfict, flips from USC and signs with Arizona State. Also, Xavier Su’a Filo is down to two schools, USC and BYU.

11:45 AM EST - Lane Kifflin and Coach O are proving to be a thorn in Urban Meyer’s side getting Marsalis Teague to commit to Tennessee. Teague was a Florida commit but changed at the last minute.

11:37 AM EST - With committing DeAngelo Benton to Auburn, there are strong rumors saying that Rueben Randall has told Oklahoma that he is going to go to LSU.

11:32 AM EST- Need a break from all the ESPNU hyped-up press conferences? Here’s a feel-good commitment out of Arizona, where Notre Dame Prep Running back Patrick Foley passed up offers from several FBS schools (including Stanford) to take his services to the University of Pennsylvania and its business program. Foley is an all-state selection in the 100 meters in track while also an all-region selection at running back in football. Best of luck Patrick! (via Adam Nettina)

11:20 AM EST - I forgot to note this earlier but Trent Richardson is looking like he is going to switch from Alabama and add to that great LSU class. Montgomery said that him and Richardson are close and want to go to the same school.

11:09 AM EST - After a long winded speech and describing the matrix him and his family created to pick his school…going against the school that is noted as Linebacker U, Jelani Jenkins chooses to go to Florida and play there. He would have been a great get for the Nittany Lions. Four star athlete Denard Robinson from Florida decides to play at Michigan.

10:59 AM EST - As reported in my initial post this morning DeQuinta Jones picks Arkansas over Michigan.

10:54 AM EST - Stand out safety from Atlanta, Georgia Darren Myles picks Tennessee over LSU, and Alabama. Myles makes a prediction that he will be a freshman All American. Texas Tech is another school quietly putting together a decent class getting 4 star DT Pearlie Graves and big time JUCO DT Myles Wade.

10:39 AM EST - Defensive tackle Sam Montgomery chooses LSU over North Carolina and Tennessee. Also, Rutgers is quietly putting together a good class getting Ka’lial Glaud who will play LB and picked Rutgers over WVU (HT:Logan). The Scarlet Knights are also hoping that Justin Brown, a Wide Receiver from Delaware will pick them over Penn State.

10:34 AM EST - Big news out of Alabama has WR DeAngelo Benton picking Auburn over LSU which might seal the deal for Rueben Randall to come to LSU. Benton was a previous LSU recruit who did not qualify and now that he has, he has decided to spurn the Tigers of LSU for Auburn.

10:19 AM EST - Patrick Patterson, a big 6 foot 4 in wide receiver from Mississippi stays in-state and signs with Ole Miss. If you are following any of the coverage on ESPNU, Rivals, or Scout you are seeing a trend that I think will only get worse as the years go on. More and more you will start seeing recruits waiting till after LOI day to sign.

10:10 AM EST - Byron Moore kicks off the coverage on ESPNU picking USC over Colorado and Notre Dame. Moore did the hat trick but again I hate the hat trick. He had his high school coach pick the hats for him; throwing the ones he wasn’t going to over his shoulder.

10:04 AM EST - I know there are some of you out there checking out the live blog. A few questions for you guys: Who do you think will be the big impact freshman in 2009? And what do you think will be the biggest switch today from a recruit going from one school to another?

10:01 AM EST - Nu’Keese Richardson has reportedly changed his commitment from the Gators to the Tennessee Vols. Richardson is a 4 star wide receiver from Florida.

9:57 AM EST - A little hint to the readers out there and for those calling into Rivals Radio, please don’t eat while talking on the radio. No one can understand you, so put down the donuts before you talk.

9:49 AM EST - Rueben Randall has officially postponed his decision to a later date as reported by ESPN Radio. Strong word is that Randall wants to sign with LSU, but is feeling family pressure to sign somewhere else.

9:45 AM EST - Wide Receiver Emory Blake from Austin Texas has decided to sign with Auburn over Colorado and Texas Tech. Sam Montgomery is looking like he is going to go to North Carolina. Finally, right now Ronnie Wingo has stuck with his original commitment and stay with Arkansas.

9:33 AM EST - More word about USC is that Randall Carroll could end up going to Westwood and it is sound more and more likely that they will lose ILB Vontaze Burfict to Arizona State. This makes Te’o even more important for the Trojans, and maybe we’ll find out more on Pete Carroll’s twitter.

9:25 AM EST- A little chink in the armor of the USC Trojans as Alshon Jeffery has switched USC’s and has signed with the South Carolina Gamecocks. Big time receiver decides to not go to the Trojans and stay in state with Spurrier. The word on Rivals Radio is that both USC and Florida could lose some key recruits today.

9:22 AM EST- This isn’t much of a surprise, but after his super performance in the Army All-American game, Clemson fans can rest as Tajh Boyd has sent in his LOI to the Tigers.

9:18 AM EST- Any Razorback fans out there who want to follow the commitments of Arkansas should check out this site. (HT:MJ4H)

9:14 AM EST- I was wrong with my early prediction of Marlon Brown going to Georgia, as reports are coming out he is going to sign with the Ohio State Buckeyes. Although, Mike Farrell of Rivals.com thinks that he will still sign with Georgia.

9:12 AM EST- Kraig Appleton, a 4 star wide reciever has switched his choice from Illinois to Wisconsin.

8:58 AM EST- Aubrey Phillips faxed his LOI to Florida State.

8:45 AM EST- Talk About getting no respect. After leading the state of Arizona in rushing last year (2,570 yards, 42 TDs) and posting very respectable numbers at a Scout.com combine over the summer (4.55/40, 34′ vertical), St. Johns’ Shad Bride was holding out for an FBS offer before signing day. But his recruitment will end today as he faxes in his LOI to Big Sky up-and-comer Northern Arizona after the 5′11 senior failed to garner any FBS interest. What more does a kid like this have to do?

8:38 AM EST - I don’t know whether to laugh at this or shake my head. But in an NY Times article Brian Butler who is the “advisor” for Bryce Brown stated, “he would explore the possibility of Brown’s skipping college and going to the Canadian Football League next season. He mentioned the idea of a team paying Brown $5 million a year for three years. But the salary cap for entire C.F.L. teams is $4.2 million Canadian. ”

8:31 AM EST - There is growing speculation on the net and the Radio that Rueben Randle will not sign today. He and his family is strongly concerned with the growing competition on the LSU depth chart and might wait and see who all signs with the Tigers. Right now he is down to LSU an Alabama.

8:25 AM EST - Safety Bradley McDougald, from Dublin, Ohio faxed his LOI to Kansas. McDougald had verballed to Ohio State earlier in the year.

8:18 AM EST - Michael Carter who announced at the Army-All American Bowl that he wanted to spend the next 3 years at West Virginia, has decided that he would rather spend those 3 years at Minnesota. Strong rumors coming out that Manti Te’o will be a Trojan.

8:15 AM EST - On Rivals Radio there is a strong feeling that Je’Ron Stokes will actually sign with the Wolverines, spurning the Vols. Also Pearlie Graves, a big DT prospect will pick Michigan over Texas Tech, but the only bad news for them is Sam Montgomery will not pick them .

8:08 AM EST- Grumblings around the boards and this story on Scout.com point to Justin Green, who is the #9 ranked cornerback, switching his verbal commitment from Ohio State to Illinois.

8:00 AM EST- The Washington Post is reporting that 5-star linebacker Jelani Jenkins, will choose Florida over Penn State.

7:57 AM EST- Looks like we will go another signing day where the #1 overall recruit for Rivals.com does not sign with a team. Running Back Bryce Brown is going to follow in the foot steps of Terrelle Pryor and not sign on signing day. In that report, it says he has one official visit left, and USC, Tennessee and Auburn are still in the running for that.

7:45 AM EST- While most of us will be glued to the “big three” of ESPN, Rivals.com, and Scout.com today, fans of players in the Buckeye State can follow all the latest commitments from Ohio’s top prospects over at ScoutingOhio.com. Because those MAC schools need to get some love too, don’t ya know.

7:42 AM EST- It is confirmed that Aubrey Phillips has committed to Florida State. I am also hearing that four star wide receiver Marlon Brown is going to end up at Georgia. Most say he is between Georgia and Tennessee, but it seems last night that he told both Ole Miss and Tennessee that they are out, leaving Georgia as his leader.

6:45 AM EST- Four star defensive tackle DeQuinta Jones, who was a soft verbal to Michigan, is reportedly leaning towards signing his LOI with Arkansas. Also, Aubrey Phillips, soft Tennessee verbal, supposedly committed to Florida State last night at the basketball game.

As if the prospect of grown men sitting around on a “sick day” to watch the college football declarations of 18 year-old young men high school seniors wasn’t potentially pathetic enough (and trust me, I include myself in the aforementioned category), I submit to you this final thought before we give ourselves over to the likes of the many “experts” we will be hearing from throughout the day on Wednesday.

The Associated Press reviewed the top 50 recruits as named by Scout.com and Rivals.com from 2002-04, two services that essentially began as start ups but sold in recent years for tens of millions of dollars.

The AP found that when picking the 10 players with the brightest football futures, the services were right a little more than half the time, based on whether a player started 20 games or more in college, his recognition for awards or whether he made it to the NFL.

When it got to picks 11-50, the services were even more hit and miss.

Recruiting is not an inexact science. It is a crapshoot. Careful inquisition to why one prospect receives no FBS offers while a seemingly ‘lesser’ prospect can receive multiple FBS offers will lead you down a road of but one conclusion; the “experts” are often as clueless as the rest of us, and more often subjected to long standing biases and scouting “hunches.”

So enjoy your school’s recruiting class. Celebrate the accomplishments of your school’s assistant coaches and proud tradition. Greet the glory of your University’s next group of gridiron greats. But remember that when it comes to signing day you never hear ANYONE say “my school’s class sucks.” Let us just hope you won’t be so inclined to disagree in four years.

As mentioned before, tomorrow is National Letter of Intent Day, and here on the In The Bleachers Blog we will be following it the entire day with a Live blog. If you would like to get a little more familar with the happens of LOI Day and who has still not verbally committed, there are plenty of links below which should get you all caught up.

I will add some variety since we all know that recruiting is not an exact science. Plus we can keep an eye on who will win the ever most sought after Recruiting National Championship.

Rivals.com Announcement Watch - Times the uncommitted 3, 4, and 5 Star will Announce.

Expert Predictions

Scout.com’s Latest 50 Commits

Scout.com Top 100 Prospects

Rivals.com Top 100 Prospects

ESPN’s Top 150 Prospects

Team by Team Commitment List

Rivals.com Team Rankings

Scout.com Team Rankings

In exactly one week, recruiting fanatics all over the country will be hitting their refresh buttons, hundreds…maybe thousands of times on sites such as Rivals.com and Scout.com to see if the 5 or 4 star recruit actually did fax in his LOI to their school. Or did he pull an about face and send it to their rival?

Remember, keep checking this blog because I will be running a live blog the entire day of Signing Day, February 4, 2008. I will post the rumors that I have been hearing and any signings for flips that occur during the day.

Checking out the Rivals.com Top 100 prospects, you’ll notice that the majority of them have verballed to a school (which we know means nothing as of not), but there are a few out there that are totally undecided or just want to wait till signing day to announce. Here is a list of 7 in the Top 50 who have yet to announce where they want to go to school:

#2 Rueben Randle - Rueben is the 2nd overall ranked prospect and the top wide receiver prospect in the nation. You can tell why because of the size and speed he has going for him. As of now he has a list of 3 schools, LSU, Alabama and Oklahoma, who are finalists for his services.

#10 Jelani Jenkins - Jenkins has a knack for finding the ball and can really lay a good hit on the ball carrier. He is the best (outside) linebacker left uncommitted. If you watched the Army-All-American Game you would have come away very impressed with this young man. Jelani has his choices down to both Florida and Penn State, and will announce at his school next Wednesday.

#11 Dre Kirkpatrick - In 3 years as a started in High School, Dre has 17 interceptions, which is why he is Rivals.com #1 ranked defensive back. As receivers get bigger and bigger, DB’s need to also, and Kirkpatrick has the size at 6′ 2″ to man up with any receiver in the country. It seems to be down to Alabama, Florida and Texas, for Dre.

#12 Manti Te’o - Manti has been an interesting person to follow the past few weeks. There were some who thought he was BYU’s to lose because of his beliefs, but recently information has come out about his trip to BYU and his subsequent souring on the Cougars. Te’o has narrowed his choices down to Notre Dame, USC, and possibly BYU.

#27 Greg Reid - Reid is the 4th ranked DB by Rivals.com, he might have the same speed as Dre Kirkpatrick, but he isn’t quite as big. That doesn’t mean that the teams vying for him won’t be happy to get this stud. Bobby Bowden has been down to visit Reid in the past week because he knows Florida State is in his final list, but so are Georgia and Alabama. I’m hearing there is some interest in Tennessee and Miami, but I believe those two schools to be long shots.

#49 Morgan Moses - Morgan is the highest rated offensive lineman still non-committed. He has the size at 6′ 7″ and 350 lbs, and the strength to possibly be a staple at left tackle for 3 or 4 years. Virginia, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Ohio State are the teams left on his list.

#50 Patrick Patterson - Size and speed are what Patterson has at 6′ 3″, 215 lbs and a 4.5 second 40 yard dash. The word I am getting is that he is starting to lean towards the school in his home state, Ole Miss. But I am sure Tennessee, Alabama, and Southern Mississippi won’t let him go away without a dogfight.

A few weeks ago I briefly touched on the effects of Jim Harbaugh’s recruiting efforts at Stanford, and how the program was defying conventional wisdom when it comes to getting both quality football players and top-notch student athletes. Since then Harbaugh has reeled in another top prospect, this time getting the commitment of California’s own Mr. Football in Cathedral Prep running back Tyler Gaffney. Gaffney, who ran for 2,866 yards and scored 56 touchdowns this past season for the undefeated Dons, chose the Cardinal over offers from USC and Notre Dame, who recruited him primarily as a fullback. Let me repeat that. Who recruited him primarily as a fullback.

They weren’t alone in their assessment. ESPN.com’s Scouts Inc.had this to say about Gaffney:

…he currently lacks the vision, suddenness and feel for the cutback lane to project well as zone runner at the next level. Struggles picking and sliding through traffic, slipping through the small creases and making something out of nothing. A true north-south back that could continue to develop the size and strength necessary to wear down a defense as a college runner and occasionally break off a long run with his good top-end speed. Overall, Gaffney could be productive in the right downhill, power running system or potentially make a slide down to fullback or over to defense as an outside linebacker with his great size to speed measurables…

Flattering to an extent, but not exactly the most stellar review for a guy who rushed for more yards in a high school single season than former Heisman trophy winners Marcus Allen, Ricky Williams, Reggie Bush or Rashaan Salaam. Yet all worn-out jokes about white running backs being “power runners” aside, Gaffney’s commitment to Stanford shows, in my mind anyway, the limits of even the best college football recruiters. And make no mistake about it; when it comes to recruiting young men to play football in college, Pete Carroll and Charlie Weis are second to none. While I don’t presume to know exactly what Gaffney was thinking when he made his commitment, it does not take a rocket scientist or professional physiological analyst to figure that after literally having unprecedented success rushing the ball in high school that Gaffney would want to continue that success - or at the very least go somewhere with the opportunity to do so - in college. And what better place to do so than Stanford, which currently features another “bruising” yet athletic back in Toby Gerhart, who oh-by-the-way holds the California career high school rushing record at over 9000 yards. Gerhart’s story is almost the mirror image of Gaffney’s, especially considering that the 6′1, 236-lb Gerhart was also listed as a fullback by many scouting services out of high school and also was a two-sport star who wanted the chance to play college baseball. Yet Gerhart received comparatively little interest from school’s as a runner, and ended up signing with a swooning Stanford program which was trying to rebuild itself under Walt Harris. A major injury and a couple of losing seasons later and Gerhart was all but forgotten by college football, that is until a 2008 campaign in which he returned to lead the Cardinal offense with over 1100 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns while splitting time with Anthony Kimble, another potential NFL running back.

Now if I’m Gaffney, where would I rather go? The up-and-coming program which will give me a chance to play my natural and preferred position while also playing college baseball, or the perennial power where I can go mash shoulder pads with linebackers for four years while some dude who rushed for half as many yards as me in high school gets all the glory? The answer is - and I think we can all agree - quite simple. I’d choose the former, especiallyknowing Stanford’s recent history with Gerhart. After all, why let Rivals.com or Scout.com or whoever tell me who and what I am as a football player, especially when my ridiculous production at the high school level should speak for itself? Let’s be honest here people, these young men (despite a few and often very noteworthy exceptions) are not stupid. If they’ve been a playmaker all their life their natural instinct is to want to go to a program which will feature them in that same capacity, and one which will give them the opportunity to show their talents in the best way possible. And how can you blame them? Isn’t it natural for anyone to want to receive maximum exposure doing what they do best?

Therein lays the limits of selling a player on a program - however strong - if you’re only going to promise him the chance to be a role-player. And for as much as you can sugar coat the fullback position with promises of short-yardage carries or H-back status, the position remains one of such ignominy that it practically screams glorified offensive lineman in most pro style offenses. Never mind that most programs now run spread offenses and would shuffle a player of Gaffney’s ability into a defensive role. And you know what? It’s not just productive running backs being forecast at fullback either we’re talking about. It’s tweener defenders who get typecast as “hybrids” at the college level, or undersized wide receivers who are given the chance to walk-on to programs as the proverbial special teams “demon” when they’ve really been excelling at catching passes their entire careers.

My point here isn’t to fault Gaffney or others like him. In fact it’s just the opposite. While there is much to be said for the inflated egos of the high school football superstar, the reality is that player’s should understand their own value in the recruiting process. For as many times as we see high school athletes let the “star” ratings go to their heads we see player’s like Gaffney or Gerhart get slotted down to role player status because they may not conform to prototypical and often unrealistic standards those same scouting services have defined for their position. Yet given the right offense and the right coaching staff player’s such as these can often thrive at the next level, taking advantage of their natural ability and not letting it go to waste in a program which fails to accurately define that player’s inherit value. And that my friends is why parody will continue in the college game. Because as long as recruiters and scouts continue to misunderstand the value of player’s and offer them only on the basis of being a “role player,” the more we will see highly talented athletes like the Tyler Gaffney’s of the world sign with rising program’s like Stanford over a traditional heavyweight like USC.

Ever since February 7, 2008, there has been a race on to get the jump start on the 2009 recruiting season which will culminate on the 2009 version of LOI Day. As of this moment Texas as 19 verbal commitments and USC has 15, and the 2008 season hasn’t even started.

Many people who follow recruiting know that there is a good possibility that a few of those commits will go back on their word and choose another school by the time the LOI is signed and faxed. This causes a lot of heartache and anger in coaching staffs across the nation because just when they think they have their class just the way they want it; their 5-star athlete jump ship for another school in their conference.

With that being said, it seems that year after year there is more of a calling for an early signing period in college football just like in college basketball. When you quickly glance at the subject, it sounds great on paper. Especially for coaches since they can lock up players and have their class figured out, but for high school kids, it can be a huge gamble.

First remember that nothing in recruiting is biding, not the verbal offer, verbal agreement, or even written offer letter until LOI Day. There are ways for schools to get out giving an athlete a scholarship even after they sent a written offer letter to the kid. There is fine print in there that states that the school can pull the offer if it sees a dip in the kids production on the field. Well that right there covers a broad spectrum.

If you read recruiting publications like Rivals.com or Scout.com you are most notably reading about visits, whether they be official or unofficial, by kids to numerous schools. Most of the time you will hear the phrase “I felt comfortable there,” or “I felt really good about the coaching staff.” These are 17/18 year old kids who are going to be leaving home for the first time in their lives, a good part of their choice is to go to a school where they feel they will play and that they feel at home for the next 3 to 5 years of their lives.

Insert an early signing period in December. Now look back at the 2007 season and look at that month and the amount of coaching changes that happen during that month. How is it fair to a kid who just recently signed a binding contract to attend your school to play for a coach who just got fired, or better yet, jumped ship for another school?

Imagine the impact it would’ve had at a school like Michigan. The style of offense under Lloyd Carr is completely different than what will be run under Rich Rod. But under that binding contract, the recruit, if he chose to transfer, would be required to sit out a year. Where as a coach can hop from job to job without sitting out any time. Most of the time they don’t even honor the contract they signed at a school, because if they want out, they can find a way out.

You are probably saying, well the NCAA could rule and allow waivers. The NCAA moves at a snails pace most of the time. Look at what has been going on with the Reggie Bush/USC investigation. Also, each year you hear about a recruit’s eligibility in question because the NCAA has not passed them through the Clearinghouse. I for one do not trust the NCAA in this matter to rule swiftly and justly.

There is so much pressure right now on these 17 and 18 year old kids. This decision for college is probably the biggest one they have made in their lives to date, and maybe one of the most important decisions they will make in their lives. Coaches continually pressure them to verbally commit, without a full commitment on their part as I stated above.

I just hope the NCAA doesn’t listen to the little murmur that has been going around and keep the recruit schedule the way it is right now. By February the coaching staffs are 99% of the time set and there is no need for an early signing period. If a kid is set on a school he will honor that commitment and feel safe that he is making the right decision for his future.

Last week Bill Conley of ESPN.com/Scouts Inc. wrote an interesting article on the importance of team sponsored summer camps in identifying under-the-radar talent at the high school level. Conley, as I’m sure some of you know, spent nearly two decades as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Ohio State, finally retiring in 2004 to work as a media analyst. Needless to say, this guy has been around the scouting block a time or two (as opposed, to you know, some washed up backup from a I-AA team.) Conley uses the example of former Ohio State safety and current Tennessee Titan Donnie Nickey as a player who came out of virtual obscurity to impress coaches at a summer Ohio State camp, earning his way to a scholarship and eventually stardom. Nickey’s story, while one of the more prolific examples in recent memory, is not the only illustration of an unheralded recruit who gets a big boost in his recruitment thanks to a strong camp showing, and this summer dozens of rising high school seniors will go through similar situations.

Having attended the Naval Academy’s summer camp as a high school underclassman in 2003 I have some familiarity with the subject, although I’d be lying through my teeth if I said I was ever in a position to be recruited, much less even compete in touch seven-on-seven’s (note to aspiring youngsters; 5’4, 130-lb cornerbacks do not match up well against even legitimate Division III level talent.) Still, despite all too frequent burnadge and an inability to understand even a simple two deep zone coverage, I left with a better understanding of the process and what the older kids (that is those with actual ability) went through in their quest to pick up a Division I-A football scholarship offer.

High school camps are still tremendously important in today’s recruiting landscape, but over the last few years we’ve seen a real growth in the prominence of independent Scouting combines. There’s the NIKE/SPARQ combines, the National Underclassman Combine, and the new look Scout.com/Under Armor combine. Over the course of May, Under Armor and Scout.com sponsored four of these combines, held in the cities of Charlotte, Cincinnati, Phoenix, and Los Angeles. Today another combine will take place in my home town of Baltimore, while combines in Kansas City, Oakland, and Atlanta will take place later in the month. While there had certainly been a good deal of hoopla surrounding the top prospects entering the Under Armor sponsored combines, there have also been some ‘sleeper’ prospects who have really improved their stock in recent showings, just like Nickey did years ago at the Ohio State camp. These players, many of whom came into the month with only a few Division I offers (if any at all) proved their abilities in a series of standardized physical tests as well as one-on-one competition. Here are seven under-the-radar players (all currently 1-star rated prospects by Scout.com) from recent combines who posted strong enough performances to make their case as the next Donnie Nickey.

RB Shane McCullen, Apache Junction (AZ) - This may very well be your first time hearing about the rising senior from Arizona, but I can guarantee you it won’t be your last. Coming into last week’s Phoenix combine McCullen had already established himself as one of the best mutli-purpose backs in the state, but even his already impressive on-field performance in 2007 couldn’t have prepared scouts for what they were about to see. The 6’2, 191-lb McCullen ran an amazing 4.35 40 yard dash (highest at the combine) to go along with a 4.10 shuttle (second highest) and 35.4-inch vertical leap. Already a state track standout in the 100 meter, McCullen had curiously garnered only four offers before the combine, with only one coming from a BCS conference program. With amazing athleticism and plenty of room to fill out his 6’2 frame, expect McCullen’s scholarship offers to double or even triple over the course of the summer.

EDIT: Since writing this, McCullen has picked up offers from Utah and California. See, I told you.

WR/S Steve Hull, Sycamore (OH) - A relative unknown coming into the Cincinnati combine, Hull’s performance and attitude earned him both an on-the-spot offer from the University of Cincinnati and numerous double-takes from the so-called recruiting experts who overlooked him. Already an impressive performer at both safety and wide receiver on tape, Hull posted solid measurables with a 4.44/40 (second amongst wide receivers), 4.16 20-yard shuttle, 7.00 Three-Cone Drill (an agility and quickness test; highest at the combine) and a 9-10’ standing broad jump (second amongst receivers.) More telling perhaps was his performance in the one-on-one drills, where Hull out-muscled and out worked some of the best defensive backs in the area. Illustrating the importance of a good combine, Scout.com analyst Bob Lichtenfels went so far as to say that the single day performance by Hull probably helped him move from being a “MAC type player” to an “upper level Big Ten” prospect at the wide receiver position.

DT Jordan Stepp, Ben Davis (IN) - Is this the next Trevor Laws? Consider for a moment that of the thirteen safeties who ran the 40 yard dash at the Cincinnati combine, only two ran times faster than a 4.62. Now consider Jordan Stepp, who as a 280-lb interior lineman ran faster than those eleven players. Stepp, while undersized at just a hair over 6’0, showed elite level quickness with a 4.41 short shuttle, while posting one of the highest vertical jumps for a defensive tackle at all the Scout.com combines with a 33’ effort. Already being recruited by several MAC schools, Stepp’s strong showing in Cincinnati should garner him increased attention from some of the big boys.

WR Jeremy Dang, Peoria (AZ) - Before his MVP performance at the Phoenix combine, Dang was getting the usual interest-but-no-offer looks from schools throughout the west. At 6’2, 209 there were never any questions about his size, but a self-reported 4.67/40 yard dash (really though, it’s not that bad) likely kept some schools from offering despite solid junior year production. While he ran an average 4.80/40 at the combine, he posted a ridiculous 4.03 20-yard shuttle, which some scouts consider to be the most indicative physical test of a player’s quickness and explosion. His 37.0-inch vertical jump and a 10.5 standing broad jump were the highest at the combine regardless of position. Since his performance in Pheonix, Dang has picked up offers from Big Sky conference contenders Northern Arizona and Montana State, as well as Colorado State.

OT Taylor Lewan, Chaparrel (AZ) - Thanks to the evolution of passing offenses and the speed many top defenses have, offensive tackle has really become the new “it” position in the game over the past fifteen years. While scouts are certainly looking for players upwards of 6’5 to watch their quarterback’s blind side, they’re also looking for dynamic type athletes with the quickness to deal with the game’s best rush ends and outside linebackers. You’d think anyone with those qualities would garner tons of interest from big-time schools, but Chaparrel’s Taylor Lewan has been a relative unknown throughout the recruiting process and isn’t even ranked at his position by Scout.com. Amazingly, Lewan straight up dominated the Pheonix combine, impressing in one-on-one’s and in the physical tests. A 4.72/40, 7.60 three-cone drill, and 8-11’ broad jump were all tops for offensive lineman at the combine, a feat made all the more impressive considered his 6’6 frame. Weighing in at 252 he’s fairly light, but scouts are likely already drooling over getting this kid in a college weight room. He went into the combine with a single offer from lowly Utah State, but I’m predicting he goes into his senior year of high school with maybe a dozen offers from some of the interior west’s best.

RB Brent Michaels, Lake Havesu (AZ) - Statistically speaking Michaels has been one of the best running backs in the state of Arizona over the past two seasons. A standout with a great highlight reel, concerns over his competition level have kept many teams from offering. While McCullen rightly stole the show in Phoenix, Michaels quietly compiled a very strong resume to include a 4.41/40, 4.29 short shuttle, and a combine position leading 7.32 second three-cone drill. I honestly don’t know how many more FBS offers Michaels will receive, but he certainly showed he has the meaurables to play on the BCS conference level even if he does not attend a BCS conference school. Expect some more teams to offer over the summer and for Michaels to continue to dominate in the fall.

CB Byron Best, Greenwood (SC) - Best came into the Charlotte, North Carolina combine with no FBS offers but sure turned heads when he ran a combine leading 4.37 40-yard dash. At only 5’9, 180 size concerns may have hurt his early recruitment, but aided by his 40 time at the combine and a position leading 38.0-inch vertical leap he has since earned a scholarship offer from North Carolina. Greenwood is a highly respected South Carolina program that turns out FBS prospects with the best of them, so don’t be surprised to see more ACC programs jump into Best’s recruitment over the summer.

Other Sleeper Prospects from the May Scout.com/Under Armor Combines to Watch: RB Shad Bride, St. Johns (AZ), WR Kyle Larimer, Green Valley (NV), Joumeel McLaurine, CB Columbus East (OH), S Winston Hines, Pulaski County (KY), WR Luke Swift, Center Grove (IN), RB Ali Alaboody, Dearborn Fordon (MI).

Full List of Combine Results:
[Charlotte]
[Phoenix]
[Cincinnati]

So you think you know who the best high school football players in America are? Chances are you probably do, but just in case names like Matt Barkley or Cierre Wood don’t mean much to you, here are five top prep players to keep an eye out for in 2008 and beyond.

QB Kevin Newsome, Chesapeake Western Branch (VA): Michigan

Michigan may have lost out on Terrelle Pryor in 2008, but the new look Wolverine offense figures to get a good one in 2009 with the recent commitment of Virginia quarterback Kevin Newsome. Newsome is an intriguing player because while the athleticism is certainly there, he’s not strictly an option quarterback, and displays very good arm strength and solid pocket fundamentals. While he may not be as explosive or shifty as Pat White he has deceptive straight line speed for his size (6’3, 217) and quick enough feet that defenders have a hard time getting a clear shot at him. Probably will need to adjust to spread option reads at the next level as well as improve his delivery and accuracy with short-midge range throws, but definitely has the physical skills to succeed in 2008 and beyond.

MLB Tom Wort, New Braunfels (TX): Oklahoma

Wort doesn’t just play like a Tomahawk missile, the guy literally is one. Originally hailing from across the pond in England, Wort is one of those kids who opposing players’ moms have nightmares about. That’s because he plays the game with nothing short of a violent and relentless intensity that shows itself in every tackle he makes. His highlight film has already been called the defensive equivalent of the infamous “McGuffie Mixtape,” and has become something of a minor internet sensation over the past several weeks. I know he’s a bit undersized at 6’1, 210, but he projects as an outside linebacker at the next level and could even play strong safety. A physical specimen in terms of speed, strength, and pure hitting ability, Wort’s high-intensity style of play should make him an instant fan favorite when he gets to Norman in 2009.

RB Brandon Wegher, Sioux City Heelan (IA): Undecided

One of the Midwest’s most explosive offensive players, Wegher is a complete back with the strength, speed, and vision that you love to see in a Division I prospect. The Iowa star currently holds scholarship offers from 16 different schools and is expected to narrow his list to five over the summer. As you can see from his highlight video, he shows great cutback ability and a fluid running style which allows him to navigate through the second level of defenses almost untouched. A legitimate sub 4.5/40 guy (Also runs a 10.8/100) Wegher has the ability to blow up defensive angles once he gets to the sideline, and has enough upper body strength and leg explosion to also run through tackles. One thing I love about Wegner is his combination of work ethic and natural athletic ability. Often times you’ll see a guy with one or the other, but rarely will you find a guy who is motivated enough to continually improve.

WR Andre DeBose, Sanford Seminole (FL): Undecided

A dynamic all-purpose athlete who has drawn comparisons to Percy Harvin, Debose is ridiculously smooth in the open field and makes opposing defensive players look like their running through jello. This kid is a pure athlete all the way and has exceptional straight line speed as well as good cutback ability and lateral quickness. He’s exceptionally versatile in that while he projects as a wide receiver on the college level he can be lined up at several positions. He reminds me a lot of Harvin as well as former Purdue wide receiver and return man Dorian Bryant. One drawback I may see in his game is that he’s far from polished as a pure wide receiver and will likely need to play in a spread style offense to make an immediate impact. Translation? Don’t go to Florida State.

DE Sam Montgomery Greenwood Greenwood (SC): Undecided

Montgomery is a really exciting prospect not just because he has the “measurables” which give him unlimited potential on the next level, but because he has displayed outstanding overall production at the prep level. At 6’5 he has ideal size coming out of high school at the defensive end position, and with a 4.65/40 time he boasts more than enough speed to make an immediate impact as a rush end once he gets to college. You’d like to see him attack the weight room a little harder his senior season, but you can’t argue with 20 sacks as a junior in 2007. The amazing part of it? 2007 was his first year playing football, which means with refining he should be able to put up monster numbers down the road.