Klein loaded with stars, sleepers
Klein High School could be this year's Fort Bend (Texas) Marshall High. Marshall signed seven Division I athletes in 2007, and Klein could come close to matching their mark in 2008.
Headlining the class is J.B. Shugarts, who has been offered by nearly every Top 25 program in the country.
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The biggest sleeper in the class is junior defensive end John Youboty (6-4, 250-pound), the brother of NFL defensive back Ashton Youboty who starred at Ohio State.
"He's a big kid who can run," Klein coach Stan Labay said. "He has great grades and tremendous upside. Not to mention a great bloodline."
Youboty is going up to Ohio State's junior day with hopes of getting a significant look.
While Klein has two bookends on either side of the spectrum, the Bearkats have several prospects that fit into the mid Division I range.
Kicker Randy Bullock ranks as one of the top kickers in the country. Bullock has been to Texas Tech and Texas A&M's junior day and will be taking in Michigan's in weeks to come.
"I really like Texas A&M and Tech, but I want to see some schools to make the right decision," he said.
Bullock finished second at Randy Rodgers' Lone Star Kicking Camp last year.
"He can make all the kicks and is just a great guy to have in the program," Labay said. "He's a special kid."
Linebacker Brian Moore has been invited to Tennessee, Northwestern and Ole Miss' junior day and is nearing an offer from Illinois.
"I can play anywhere from safety to defensive end," Moore said. "I'm a versatile player with 4.5 speed. I'm open right now with the recruiting process."
Offensive lineman Clay Hebert has been to junior days at Texas A&M and Texas Tech, and will be going to check out Iowa State and Rice. Both prospects have been invited to Arizona State's junior day as well.
"I really liked Texas Tech and could see myself going there," Hebert said. "I'm playing guard right now but could see myself as a center in college."
After having a slow junior season, running back C.J. Palmer is primed for a breakout senior year. Palmer rushed for over 1,000 yards as a sophomore and played some defense last year.
"C.J. is that power back with strong legs and powerful hips," Labay said. "He's going in as our number one in the spring. He's also a physical defensive player at linebacker."
That makes six, but there's another sleeper like Klein's Matt Tomlinson in their somewhere.