Missouri, Minnesota state rankings released

Put two more state rankings in the book.

Rivals.com released the state player rankings for Missouri and Minnesota Wednesday. At the top of the Missouri list is four-star receiver D.J. Hord from Kansas City powerhouse Rockhurst High School. Minnesota’s top player for 2005 is Eden Prairie defensive tackle Walker Ashley.

Hord, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound do-it-all receiver, headlines the Missouri Top 20, a list littered with early commitments.

“I guess I just use my size and my speed to make a lot of plays,” Hord said. “I’ve worked hard to add some weight and keep my speed where it’s at. That way I can no only be a deep threat, but also a possession type receiver.”

There are seven players on the list that have already made commitments, including five players that have made commitments to the Missouri Tigers. The Tigers’ top in-state get is the No. 2 player receiver Chris Brooks of Hazelwood East. The Tigers also have high-profile pledges from the No. 4 player, North Kansas City defensive lineman Tarell Corby, and No. 5 player, Kearney linebacker Brock Christopher.

Iowa State has snagged Missouri’s No. 11 player in Bonne Terre North County tight end A.J. Haase. Stanford has a commitment from the No. 12 player, Kansas City Pembroke Hill tight end Ben Ladner.

Ashley leads off the Minnesota Top 10. Ashley was an all-conference, all-metro, and all-state selection his junior season. His father Walker Lee Ashley played for Penn State and in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings.

The state’s No. 2 player is Roseville Cretin-Derham Hall offensive lineman Rafael Eubanks. The 6-foot-3, 290-pound offensive guard is also ranked as a four-star prospect. Tight end Joey Hiben comes in at the No. 3 spot. He has major offers from teams all over the nation, after earning all-county honors as a junior.

Minnesota has three commitments on the list. The Golden Gophers top in-state get to this point is James Laurinaitis, a linebacker from Plymouth Wayzata. The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder is the state’s No. 5 player.

To view all of the state rankings that have been completed to this point, please follow this link to the Rivals.com recruiting rankings page.