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The Best of Rivals

The Best of Rivals

With nearly 20 years of experience we take a look back at the best that SoonerScoop.com saw in its time with Rivals.

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 • Josh McCuistion
Five-Star History: Texas checks in at No. 2

Five-Star History: Texas checks in at No. 2

Zachary Evans is the latest five-star standout from the Lone Star State.

 • Adam Gorney and Mike Farrell
LSU's top 10 safety commits of the Rivals era

LSU's top 10 safety commits of the Rivals era

LSU has had some top safety recruits through the years. See where 2017 commit Grant Delpit falls.

 • Mike Farrell
Recruits who frequently flop dont always fail

Recruits who frequently flop dont always fail

UCLA recruit Jordan Payton flipped his commitment three times before signing with the Bruins. How have past frequent flippers fared? Get inside to fin

 • Steve Megargee
Five-Star Tracker: A look at the last five years

Five-Star Tracker: A look at the last five years

Which Class of 2012 five-star recruits will have the biggest impact next season? History tells us it will be the skill-position players like Clemson's

 • Steve Megargee
Jackson talks recruiting

Jackson talks recruiting

Houston, Texas is home to a star safety that got his time in the spot light his senior season. Come inside WarhawkReport to find out about his future

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 • Dusty Thibodeaux
Signing Day Blitz: Ranking the SEC

Signing Day Blitz: Ranking the SEC

The SEC has 10 of its 12 teams ranked in the Rivals.com top 25 after National Signing Day. Alabama and LSU had a good battle for the nation's top clas

 • Jamie Newberg & Barton Simmons
Past vs. Present: Look back at the best

Past vs. Present: Look back at the best

Matt Barkley is the top-rated pro-style quarterback prospect in the 2009 class, but where would he rank among the top QBs from past classes? We took t

 • Bobby Burton
Category Rankings: The best of the best

Category Rankings: The best of the best

Rivals.com recruiting analysts work year-round to compile the most extensive and accurate prospect rankings and evaluations you will find. In the proc

 • Rivals.com recruiting staff
Under Armour All-American awards

Under Armour All-American awards

A week full of action in the Sunshine State came to an end Sunday night with the Under Armour All-American Game at the Citrus Bowl. Brian Perroni was

 • Brian Perroni
UA All-American Game position battles

UA All-American Game position battles

On Sunday night, 80 of the nation's best prospects will display their talents at the Citrus Bowl in the Under Armour All-American Game. With well bala

 • Chris Nee
UA All-American Game: The matchups

UA All-American Game: The matchups

ORLANDO, FLA. – Some of the country's top high school football talent is set to compete in the Under Armour All-American Game on Sunday at the Citrus

 • Brian Perroni
UA Daily Rewind: Loston makes his choice

UA Daily Rewind: Loston makes his choice

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.– Friday brought the first commitment of the week at the Under Armour All-American Game, as the nation's top safety decided to t

 • Brian Perroni
UA recruiting notes: Loston gets ball rolling

UA recruiting notes: Loston gets ball rolling

With six announcements scheduled to take place at Sunday's Under Armour All-American Game, the excitement kicked off on Friday with perhaps the least

 • Brian Perroni
Loston finally a Tiger

Loston finally a Tiger

Five-star DB Craig Loston ended what most of the nation already knew - he would eventually be an LSU Tiger. The highly rated star from Texas picked th

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 • Michael Langston
Video:  Loston talks LSU commitment

Video: Loston talks LSU commitment

TigerBait.com exclusive video of new LSU commitment Craig Loston as he discusses the news that he is now verbally committed to LSU. Loston is the na

 • Michael Langston
Loston chooses LSU

Loston chooses LSU

The LSU football program picked up another huge commitment that further boosts it's already Rivals.com number one ranked recruiting class. Rivals.com

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 • Mike Scarborough
Loston announcement at hand

Loston announcement at hand

Several prospects at the Under Armour All-American Game will be participating in a skills competition Friday afternoon. Most eyes will not be trained

 • Chris Nee
UA Daily Rewind: Position battles taking shape

UA Daily Rewind: Position battles taking shape

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA.- Position battles are starting to take shape after two days of practice at the Under Armour All-American Bowl. Rivals.com looks

 • Brian Perroni
Under Armour Thursday Black Hot 11

Under Armour Thursday Black Hot 11

MORE:

 • Barton Simmons
Under Armour Thursday White Hot 11

Under Armour Thursday White Hot 11

MORE:

 • Barton Simmons
Under Armour Daily Rewind: Light first day

Under Armour Daily Rewind: Light first day

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA. – Rivals.com looks at the top five news items from the Under Armour All-American Game in Orlando in the Daily Rewind. Day one w

 • Brian Perroni
Sizing up the Under Armour All-American rosters

Sizing up the Under Armour All-American rosters

Stars from across the country are gathering at Disney World this week as 80 top prospects are set to do battle in this weekend's Under Armour All-Amer

 • Brian Perroni
Recruiting heats up for Hargrave prospects

Recruiting heats up for Hargrave prospects

The Hargrave Military Academy football program has long been known for heavily recruited players, but no one had attracted more recruiting attention t

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 • Mike Farrell
Loston impressed by AM visit

Loston impressed by AM visit

This past weekend, Texas A&M hosted 17 official visitors. However, there was not a bigger name on hand than Aldine Eisenhower five-star safety Craig L

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 • Brian Perroni
National Notebook: Can LSU stay on top

National Notebook: Can LSU stay on top

When the updated Rivals.com player rankings were released for December, LSU catapulted up the charts to No. 1. The Tigers have 20 commitments – includ

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 • Jeremy Crabtree
Loston breaks his silence

Loston breaks his silence

For nearly two months Craig Loston of Eisenhower High in Aldine, Texas has had people around him indicate the nation's No. 1 safety was either committ

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 • William Weathers
From the Road: Scary defenders

From the Road: Scary defenders

Rivals.com's Mike Farrell got a good look at Olney (Md.) Good Counsel's Jelani Jenkins who proved to be too much for Washington (D.C.) St. John's Coll

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 • Rivals.com recruiting staff
Firing affects Loston

Firing affects Loston

Clemson's coaching staff reeled in a huge commitment in April when five-star defensive back Poppa Loston of Aldine (TX) said yes, spurning over 40 off

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 • Ryan Bartow
Okafor enjoys game experience at AM

Okafor enjoys game experience at AM

Bellaire junior defensive end Joseph Okafor made his second trip to A&M in less than a week on Saturday to watch the Aggies take on Miami. While A&M c

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 • Brian Perroni
In Focus: Eisenhower vs. Hightower

In Focus: Eisenhower vs. Hightower

On Friday night, two of the top teams in the Houston area met in a season-opening game. Hightower defeated Eisenhower 35-21 in a match-up that feature

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 • Brian Perroni
Loston eyeing five for official visits

Loston eyeing five for official visits

Aldine Eisenhower safety Craig Loston has been a hot topic among Longhorn fans ever since the five-star prospect made a surprise visit by the Forty Ac

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 • Gerry Hamilton
A closer look: Eisenhower trio

A closer look: Eisenhower trio

Aldine Eisenhower enters the 2008 football season as one of the top ranked teams in the state of Texas in 5A. The Eagles will get a stiff test zero we

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 • Gerry Hamilton
Five star warming up to Texas

Five star warming up to Texas

The Texas Longhorns have been a dominating presence in recruiting in the Lone Star State in 2009, with 12 of their 19 commits ranking as four-star pro

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 • Geoff Ketchum
Nations top safety gives the latest

Nations top safety gives the latest

It's not always glamorous for some of the nation's top football recruits. The No. 1 safety prospect in the country is laid up in a hotel in Detroit, M

 • Matt Malatesta
Category rankings: Safeties

Category rankings: Safeties

Rivals.com continues to rank the best prospects in each specific category for every position. Craig Loston deserves mention on three lists and sits at

 • Rivals.com recruiting staff
Poppa commits to Clemson

Poppa commits to Clemson

As first reported by Tiger Illustrated the Clemson Tigers have landed a huge verbal commitment in Aldine (TX) five star safety recruit Craig "Poppa"

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 • Ryan Bartow
Five-Star Academies produce plenty of highlights

Five-Star Academies produce plenty of highlights

Now that the Rivals.com Five-Star Academy has made its final stop of the year, it's time to reflect back on some of the top talent that made this year

 • Jeremy Crabtree
Updated Rivals100 sees some big movers

Updated Rivals100 sees some big movers

The latest Rivals100 has been released, and the number of five-star prospects has risen from 15 to 24. While the top four players remain in order from

 • Mike Farrell
OW Game Unofficial Visitor Photo Gallery

OW Game Unofficial Visitor Photo Gallery

Dozens of prospects were on hand for Clemson's annual Orange & White game over the weekend. In this photo feature <i>Tiger Illustrated</i> releases 2

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 • Cris Ard
Poppa arriving Friday

Poppa arriving Friday

This weekend the nation's No. 1 safety recruit, Craig "Poppa" Loston, will be in Clemson. What's the latest with the Aldine (TX) star? What origin

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 • Ryan Bartow
Loston puts recruiting on hold

Loston puts recruiting on hold

Safety Craig Loston said last week that he has narrowed things down to two schools. He spoke with TigerBait.com on Sunday and seemed to be in no hurry

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 • Justin Rowland
Poppa down to two

Poppa down to two

The nation's No. 20 prospect, regardless of position, will choose from two schools next month. Which two programs remain for Craig "Poppa" Loston, t

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 • Ryan Bartow
Loston adds SC offer

Loston adds SC offer

Aldine (Texas) Eisenhower safety Craig Loston is the best defensive back in the Lone Star State for 2009, and his growing list of scholarship offers s

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 • Gerard Martinez
Loston likes the SEC

Loston likes the SEC

Aldine (Texas) Eisenhower safety Craig Loston has been the talk of Houston since he came on the scene as a freshman.

 • Matt Malatesta
Irish in crowded field for Texas safety

Irish in crowded field for Texas safety

Charlie Weis never backed away from a recruiting challenge. In fact, in the case of four-star safety Craig Loston, the Notre Dame head coach met it fa

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 • Pete Sampson
Super stars highlight Houston

Super stars highlight Houston

HOUSTON – They call it Super Sunday for a number of reasons. Sunday at the University of Houston, the second-stop on the Rivals.com Five-Star Academy

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 • Jeremy Crabtree
Texas talent set for Five-Star Academy

Texas talent set for Five-Star Academy

Recruiting for the class of 2008 is not yet in the books but college coaches are already thinking about the class of 2009. In turn, Rivals.com couldn'

 • Barton Simmons
Loston considering offers from around the country

Loston considering offers from around the country

Aldine Eisenhower safety Craig Loston is one of the more coveted junior prospects in the country. The 6-foot-1.5, 208-pound hard hitter is coming off

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 • Gerry Hamilton
Loston barely loses family fued

Loston barely loses family fued

For two of the best players in Texas for the class of 2009, the family reunion didn't end with Thanksgiving dinner. In fact, for Rivals.com 100 to wat

 • Barton Simmons
Loston talks about his return visit to Norman

Loston talks about his return visit to Norman

Many of the football world's greatest safeties earned reputations as 'silent assassins' for their combination of vicious hits and quiet demeanors. It

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 • Josh McCuistion
Timmons and teammates hit Norman

Timmons and teammates hit Norman

With Oklahoma already holding sixteen commitments for the class of 2008, it's no surprise that a lot of focus has already turned to another flock of t

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 • Josh McCuistion
Big games in Greater Houston

Big games in Greater Houston

With the regular season winding down for Texas high school football, several big matchups loom in the final two weeks of the season. With district cha

 • Brian Perroni
One of Texas best ready to see Norman, again

One of Texas best ready to see Norman, again

In this day and age of recruiting, early commitments are becoming the norm, and as such more and more breaking of commitments seems to also be standar

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 • Josh McCuistion
Top 2009 prospect opens things back up

Top 2009 prospect opens things back up

The Texas A&M football program has not received much good news in a while. Less than a week after a disappointing loss to Texas Tech in Lubbock, one o

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 • Brian Perroni
USC gives Davis a yell

USC gives Davis a yell

While top rated defensive tackles are hard to find on the West Coast, they terrorize quarterbacks in almost every high school league and district in t

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 • Gerard Martinez
Willis commits to Buffalo

Willis commits to Buffalo

Aldine Eisenhower athlete Darius Willis wants to play quarterback on the Division I level. Willis committed to a progam and a coach who knows somethin

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 • Matt Malatesta
Thomas visits Big Ten

Thomas visits Big Ten

With the likes of Aldine, Eisenhower and Stratford grabbing the headlines in District 19-5A in Houston, one of the city's biggest surprises has been A

 • Matt Malatesta
Loston finally ready for role as upperclassman

Loston finally ready for role as upperclassman

Aldine Eisenhower safety Craig Loston is ready for the season to begin. The Texas A&M commit is coming off of back-to-back all-district seasons and is

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 • Brian Perroni
Eisenhowers resurgence in full force

Eisenhowers resurgence in full force

In the mid-90's, there was no team in the Houston area that was more feared that the Eisenhower Eagles. However, a few lean years have had the Eagles

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 • Brian Perroni
Photo Feature: Davis and Loston ready for 07

Photo Feature: Davis and Loston ready for 07

Texas A&M picked up two commitments in late-January from two of the top prospects in the state. They also happen to be high school teammates. Aldine E

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 • Brian Perroni
Aggie Game Night: Kyle Field

Aggie Game Night: Kyle Field

This past weekend Texas A&M held it's first-annual "Game Night" camp with over 70 the top propects of the classes of 2008 and 2009 in attendance. Ye

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 • Brian Perroni
Aggie Game Night: Afternoon Session

Aggie Game Night: Afternoon Session

This past weekend Texas A&M held it's first-annual "Game Night" camp with the top propects of the classes of 2008 and 2009 in attendance. AggieYell.

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 • Brian Perroni
Texas tidbits: Sooners have big week

Texas tidbits: Sooners have big week

Oklahoma is no stranger when it comes to recruiting the state of Texas and that success in the Lone Star State is continuing in the 2008 class. The So

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 • John Talman
Loston addresses rumors

Loston addresses rumors

Texas A&M grabbed one of the earliest pledges in recent memory when 2009 Aldine Eisenhower safety Craig Loston verbally committed to the Aggies in lat

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 • Brian Perroni
AM commitments prepare for Friday nights

AM commitments prepare for Friday nights

Texas A&M picked up verbal pledges from two Aldine Eisenhower teammates in early March. Despite offers and attention from schools all over the countr

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 • Brian Perroni
Video feature: Loston one of Texas best in 09

Video feature: Loston one of Texas best in 09

Texas A&M recruiting is off to a quick start in 2008 and 2009. The Aggies not only have fourteen commitments this year, but one of the state's op pro

 • Rivals.com AMP
Eisenhower duo happy with AM decisions

Eisenhower duo happy with AM decisions

Texas A&M picked up two commitments from its first Junior Day from Aldine Eisenhower. Defensive tackle Rod Davis became the eighth commit in the class

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 • Brian Perroni
Houston Junior Day: An early look

Houston Junior Day: An early look

HOUSTON - After a solid showing of prospects at the Rivals.com Junior Day at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, the Sunday event in Houston wasn

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 • John Talman
Video: Craig Loston gets physical

Video: Craig Loston gets physical

Video: Craig Loston gets physical

 • Rivals.com
Texas AM raising the bar in 2008

Texas AM raising the bar in 2008

Recruiting seems to move faster every year and schools like Texas A&M are not wasting anytime on next year's class. The first junior day of the year w

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 • John Talman
Teammates commit to AM for 2008, 2009

Teammates commit to AM for 2008, 2009

With a big weekend behind them, the Aggies coaching staff was excited to learn about a 2007 commitment. But, not soon after, a 2008 recruit committed

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 • Brian Perroni
OSU camp brings in names

OSU camp brings in names

Rain couldn't keep over 130 Houston-area athletes like Marcus Mendoza away from Delmar Stadium, the site of Oklahoma State's one-day camp.

 • Matt Malatesta