Category rankings: Athletes
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The Rivals.com recruiting experts have broken down countless hours of film and racked up plenty of frequent flyer miles to see the top prospects compete at events across the country. In the process of evaluating overall talent, several prospects gained notice for their mastery of specific skills.
We've selected the best of the best in each category for every position and ranked them. Rivals.com recruiting analyst Barry Every breaks down the athletes.
FASTEST
5. DAVID WILSON, Danville (Va.) George Washington
Wilson highlightsClick Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 5-11/192
THE BUZZ: One of the top indoor 55-meter runners in the Atlantic region.
Robinson highlightsClick 4. JOSH ROBINSON, Plantation (Fla.) High Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 5-10/178
THE BUZZ: His best clocking in the 100 meters is 10.52 seconds.
Wingo Jr. highlightsClick 3. RONNIE WINGO JR., St. Louis Saint Louis University High Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-3/212
THE BUZZ: As a freshman, won 200 meters at AAU Junior Olympics.
Robinson highlightsClick 2. DENARD ROBINSON, Deerfield Beach (Fla.) High Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-0/179
THE BUZZ: Finished third in the 100 meters (10.92) in Florida's largest classification.
Smith highlightsClick 1. DEVON SMITH, Waldorf (Md.) Westlake Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 5-7/140
THE BUZZ: Placed sixth at U.S. Junior Olympic Trials with a 10.59 clocking in the 100 meters.
OTHERS: Drayton Calhoun, Tucker (Ga.) High (LSU commitment); Larry Raper Shelby (N.C.) High (Clemson commitment); Ryan Swope, Austin (Texas) Westlake (Texas A&M commitment); Dennis Thames, Louisville (Miss.) High; Damien Thigpen, Manassas (VA) Stonewall Jackson (Tennessee commitment).
BEST BALL SKILLS
Reid highlightsClick 5. GREG REID, Valdosta (Ga.) Lowndes Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: Florida
PARTICULARS: 5-9/175
THE BUZZ: Touches the ball as a running back, cornerback and return man, and has excelled at all three.
Hall highlightsClick 4. PATRICK HALL, Ventura (Calif.) St. Bonaventure Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: USC
PARTICULARS: 6-1/181
THE BUZZ: In the past two years, he has played cornerback, wide receiver, running back and returned kicks, looking like a natural at every position.
Reid highlightsClick 3. JAMAL REID, Mayo (Fla.) Lafayette County Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-1/175
THE BUZZ: With nine picks and 42 receptions, he seems to have a real knack for the ball.
Thomas highlightsClick 2. LOGAN THOMAS, Lynchburg (Va.) Brookville Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-6/233
THE BUZZ: Even with a broken finger, he looked great catching the ball at the Chapel Hill Nike Camp.
Brown highlightsClick 1. COREY BROWN, Monroeville (Pa.) Gateway Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: Ohio State
PARTICULARS: 6-1/180
THE BUZZ: He demonstrated great balls skills while winning defensive back MVP honors at State College Nike Camp.
OTHERS: Adam Hall, Tucson (Ariz.) Palo Verde Magnet; Prince Kent, Norcross (Ga.) High; Byron Moore, Harbor City (Calif.) Narbonne (USC commitment); Dennis Thames, Louisville (Miss.) High; Kyle Van Noy, Reno (Nev.) McQueen.
MOST ATHLETIC
Wilson highlightsClick 5. DAVID WILSON, Danville (Va.) George Washington Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 5-11/192
THE BUZZ: One of the top triple-jumpers in the country.
Boyd highlightsClick 4. JAMES BOYD, Los Angeles Jordan Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: USC
PARTICULARS: 6-4/211
THE BUZZ: He has played every position on his team except offensive line.
Gallon highlightsClick 3. JEREMY GALLON, Apopka (Fla.) High Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: Michigan
PARTICULARS: 5-8/165
THE BUZZ: Talented two-way starter ran for 1,613 yards with the moves of a sidewinder.
Armstrong highlightsClick 2. RAY RAY ARMSTRONG, Sanford (Fla.) Seminole Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-4/218
THE BUZZ: He played several positions – quarterback, tight end, wide receiver, safety, linebacker and defensive end.
Tate highlightsClick 1. DONAVAN TATE, Cartersville (Ga.) High Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-2/195
THE BUZZ: Many experts project him as one of the top baseball players in the class of 2009. He is the son of former Georgia and NFL running back Lars Tate.
OTHERS: Patrick Hall, Ventura (Calif.) St. Bonaventure (USC commitment); Quintin Hunter, Orange (Va.) Orange County (Virginia commitment); Lonnie Pryor, Okeechobee (Fla.) High; Denard Robinson, Deerfield Beach (Fla.) High; Corey Brown, Monroeville (Pa.) Gateway.
BEST JUMBO ATHLETE
Klein highlightsClick 5. STORM KLEIN, Newark (Ohio) Licking Valley Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: Ohio State
PARTICULARS: 6-2/220
THE BUZZ: Tough two-way starter played with a lacerated kidney in the state championship game.
Pratt highlightsClick 4. DEXTER PRATT, Navasota (Texas) High Here to view this Link.
COMMITMENT: LSU
PARTICULARS: 6-2/227
THE BUZZ: He was district co-offensive player of the year after rushing for 2,054 yards and catching 12 passes for 365 yards.
3. RAY RAY ARMSTRONG, Sanford (Fla.) Seminole
Armstrong highlightsClick Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-4/218
THE BUZZ: He projects at three positions at the next level – linebacker, weakside defensive end and tight end.
2. RONNIE WINGO JR., St. Louis Saint Louis University High
Wingo Jr. highlightsClick Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-3/212
THE BUZZ: Huge running back with legitimate track speed.
Thomas highlightsClick 1. LOGAN THOMAS, Lynchburg (Va.) Brookville Here to view this Link.
PARTICULARS: 6-6/233
THE BUZZ: Two-way starter excelled at wide receiver and linebacker last season, but will play quarterback this fall.
OTHERS: James Boyd, Los Angeles Jordan (USC commitment); Matt Coffee, Fort Walton Beach (Fla.) High (South Carolina commitment); Montrell Conner, Monroe (La.) Ouachita; Damario Jeffery, Columbia (S.C.) High; Kendall Gregory-McGhee, Aurora (Colo.) Cherokee Trail.
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