Midwest prospects seek first offer

TheMidwestisseeingatalentsurgeintheclassof2012,andschoolsfromeachofthesixBCSConferencesappeartobeincreasingtheirpresenceintheregion.Despitetheincreasedattentionintheregion,therearestilltalentedprospectsawaitingtheirfirstoffer.HereisalookattencurrentlyunofferedprospectswhoshouldbesigningwithBCSschoolsnextFebruary.

Midwestprospectslookingforoffers

V'AngeloBentley,cornerback

Cleveland(Ohio)Glenville

Glenvilleisloadedwithdefensivebacktalentonceagainin2012,butonlyDe'vanBogardlistsanofferatthisstageoftheprocess.The5-10,170-poundBentleyhasprimarilybeenplayingoffenseduringhiscareerwiththeTarblooders,movinguptovarsitymidwaythroughhissophomoreseasonandsplittingcarrieswithToledo-boundbackRobertWaltonasajunior.Bentleyshowedhecouldhangwiththenation'sbestcornerbacksinSanAntoniothispastJanuary,pickingupsecond-teamall-combinehonorsattheU.S.ArmyJuniorCombine.

CoyBrown,runningback

Wakarusa(Ind.)Northwood

The6-0,205-poundBrownrushedforover1,200yardsandscored13touchdownsasajunior.HeplayedfullbackwhenNorthwoodrantheVeeroffenseandtailbackwhentheywenttoanI-formation.Brownalsodoubledasalinebackerondefense,butwilllikelyplayrunningbackincollege.Lastsummer,BrownhadseveralimpressivesummercampoutingsatplaceslikeNotreDame,KentuckyandIndiana.HefeelsIndianamaybeclosetooffering,andhewillmakeatripovertoBloomingtonforajuniordayonMarch26.

TraeClark,defensivetackle

Cincinnati(Ohio)Colerain

The6-4,320-poundClarkiseverythingcoacheswantatthedefensivetacklepositionfromanumbersstandpoint,andheearnedsecondteamall-conferencehonorsforhisplayasajuniorshowingthathisgamehadrespectfromopposingcoaches.Heisabig,run-stuffingdefenderwhowilltakeupspaceinthemiddleoftheline.Thosetypesarealwaysinhighdemand,soitissurprisingClarkhasnotreceivedanofferatthisstageoftheprocess.Ifhedoesnothavetheoffershewantsbeforesummer,heplanstoshowcasehisskillsatcollegecamps.

SeanDraper,cornerback

Cleveland(Ohio)Glenville

AconsistentproducerofDivisionItalent,Glenvilleprospectshavenoproblemwithexposuretocollegecoaches.Theissuethe6-0,177-poundDraperfacesisthathemadeamajorpositionswitchinthemiddleofhisjuniorseasonandhaslittlegamefilmtoshowcollegecoaches.Draperwasprimarilyanoffensiveplayercomingintolastfall,butwasadvisedhecouldbeastandoutcornerbackifhetriedthatposition.ByJanuaryhewasplayingthepositionwellenoughtoearnfirstteamall-combinehonorsattheU.S.ArmyJuniorCombine.

JonathanHarden,defensivetackle

HardenhighlightsClickHeretoviewthisLink.

St.Paul(Minn.)Cretin-DerhamHall

WereHardenthreeinchestallerhewouldprobablyholdadozenormoreoffersatthisstageoftheprocess.Asitis,the6-0,300-poundprospecthastofightquestionsabouthisheightwhenevercollegecoachescomecalling.Onfilm,Hardenappearstoplaywithsomethingtoprove,andhecollected15tacklesforlossamonghis68totaltacklesasajunior.Hardenplanstobeveryactiveonthespringcombineandsummercampscene,easingcoachesconcernsabouthisheightandprovinghecanbeeverybiteffectiveastallerdefensivetackles.

LamontiezIvy,quarterback

IvyhighlightsClickHeretoviewthisLink.

EastSt.Louis(Ill.)

Adual-threatquarterback,Ivyhasgreatsize(6-3,225pounds),athleticismandspeed.Hedisplaysthearmstrengthandpocketpresencetodevelopintoaneffectivedistributorofthefootballaswell.WhatIvydoesnothaveisascholarshipoffer.Apparentlytherearequestionsaboutwhetherheiscloserto6-0or6-3,butcoacheswillbeabletoseethatforthemselveswhentheyareintheschoolduringtheSpringEvaluationPeriod.Ifheightistheonlyquestionmarkremaining,thenheshouldbeabletoanswerthosequestionsstartingnextmonth.

JackLynn,outsidelinebacker

LakeZurich(Ill.)

The6-3,205-poundLynnhelpedleadLakeZurichtotheClass7Astatechampionshipgameasajunior,andhashadimpressiveperformancesatwintercombines.Lynnhasagreatframefortheoutsidelinebackerposition,herunswellandisathletic,butthevideoqualityonhisfirsthighlightfilmwaspooranddidnotgivecollegecoachesachancetoadequatelyevaluatehisabilities.Hehasrecentlysentoutahigherqualityfilm,andthatcouldhelpgeneratehisfirstoffer.

HunterMatt,outsidelinebacker

MatthighlightsClickHeretoviewthisLink.

Wyandotte(Mich.)Roosevelt

Matthasadded30poundssincelastsummer,andnowmeasures6-2and217pounds.Thatissuretoelevatehisstockintheeyesofcollegecoacheswhentheystartmakingtheroundsduringthespringevaluationperiod.AttheU.S.ArmyJuniorCombineinJanuary,Mattshowedhisweightgainhasnothamperedhisathleticismorspeed.Hewasarguablythebestlinebackerincoverageagainstthenation'stoprunningbacks.Matthasgreattechniqueandinstinctsatthelinebackerposition,andpossessesanexceptionalworkethic.

EfeScott-Emuakpor,widereceiver

Scott-EmuakporhighlightsClickHeretoviewthisLink.

EastLansing(Mich.)

The6-5,180-poundScott-Emuakporcaught64passesfor774yardsasasophomore,butthenspentthenexteightmonthsplayingbasketball.Heisatalentedwingprospectonthehardcourt,butScott-Emuakpor'spotentialinfootballishigherandoncehedevoteshimselffull-timetothatsporthehasachancetobeanelitewidereceiverprospect.Scott-Emuakpor'sathleticismisexceptionalforabigwidereceiverandheisanaturalpasscatcher.Hehasreceivedinterestfromthetopfootballprogramsacrossthecountry,butnonehavepulledthetriggeronanofferyet.

ScottTaylor,offensiveguard

Taylor highlightsClick Here to view this Link.

Marian (Ill.) Central Catholic

The 6-4, 270-pound Taylor has seen his stock rise steadily in recent weeks and he hopes that translates into a scholarship offer in the near future. He received positive vibes from the Wisconsin coaching staff during a junior day visit to Madison in late February and is also hearing from the likes of Wyoming, Western Michigan and Western Kentucky. Marian Central Catholic was the school that produced recent first round draft pick Bryan Bulaga and current Notre Dame starting nose guard Sean Cwynar, so they know how to develop linemen.

Others to watch for:

Shane Barron, ATH - Flint (Mich.) Carmen-Ainsworth; Adam Cole, DT - Pickerington (Ohio) Central; Perez Ford, DE - Romeoville, Ill.; Ronzell Mills-Foster, S - Cincinnati (Ohio) Anderson; Tyler Goble, LB - Plymouth (Mich.); Mario Jones, OL - Chicago (Ill.) Hubbard; Sam Lee, OL - Blue Earth (Minn.) Area High; Roger Lewis, WR - Pickerington (Ohio) Central; Marshall Peterson, WR - Huber Heights (Ohio) Wayne; Jason Spriggs, TE - Elkhart (Ind.) Concord Community

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