2007 standout can get to the QB

It's never too early to look ahead and one player who should be heavily recruited out West next season is Los Angeles (Calif.) Verbum Dei defensive lineman Akeem Ayers. Ayers is a tremendous pass rusher and is already hearing from schools all over the country.

Ayers, 6-2, 215 pounds has been putting up big numbers on both sides of the ball this year. On defense, Ayers has 52 tackles, 15 sacks and four forced fumbles in just four games thus far. This is coming off of a sophomore season that saw him rack up 18 sacks. At receiver, the athlete has caught 15 balls for 357 yards and five touchdowns.

"He's an explosive player with a great first step," Verbum Dei line coach Owen Brown said. "He's a playmaker, he's always looking to make a big play somehow. We haven't played a team yet that could block him, he really is unstoppable coming off the edge."

Ayers is already receiving recruiting letters from just about the entire Pac 10 including UCLA, Oregon, Arizona and Arizona State plus Texas A&M, Tennessee, Boise State and San Diego State.

"I like UCLA a lot right now," Ayers said. "They're my top school followed by USC, Oregon, Florida State and Tennessee, that's my top five right now. Of course it's really early so I'm just going to sit back and play things out."