National Notebook: Battle brewing for Barr

Anthony Barr doesn't get easily distracted.

Despite getting attention from coast to coast, the 6-foot-4, 230-pound four-star athlete from Los Angeles Loyola hasn't let the recruiting process get him sidetracked. Instead of sorting through recruiting attention from major programs such as Notre Dame, Stanford, UCLA, Tennessee, California, USC and others, he's remained focused on his track season.

"I've not been able to go around to a bunch of schools like other players because track has kept me busy," said Barr, the nation's No. 19 player. "Track is important to me, so I've not had a chance to dive too much into the recruiting. Once track is over with, I'll start working on my recruitment more."

Even though Barr isn't working too much on recruiting, that doesn't mean schools aren't working on him. With the spring evaluation process starting to heat up, Loyola is becoming more and more of a popular stop with recruiters.

"A lot of coaches have called and said they're coming by the school," Barr said. "They're really looking forward to seeing me, and I'm looking forward to seeing who will come by. It's kind of exciting thinking about what schools will show up."

Barr said a few teams have been recruiting him harder than others.

"The most active schools so far have been schools like Notre Dame, UCLA, Stanford, Tennessee, Cal and USC," Barr said. "I'm still considering everybody, but those are the ones that have been pursuing me the most aggressively. I've really enjoyed getting to know the coaches that I've been talking to."

And when they do talk to him, one of the biggest topics of conversation is where Barr will play at on the next level. After rushing for 1,890 yards and 20 touchdowns as a junior, Barr is also being recruited as a potential defensive prospect.

"A lot of coaches want me at running back," he said. "I know USC, UCLA, Stanford, Cal, Oregon [and] Colorado all think I could play running back for them. Notre Dame is talking to me about defensive end, and they think that's a position I could excel at. But I like running back. I really enjoy it and that's probably the best natural fit. But as far as growing out of the position, that's out of my control."

In the end, what position he's being recruited at likely will play a factor in his decision.

"I'm going to have to be on the watch out for schools that will tell me what they think I want to hear in order to get me," Barr said. "I think most of them are pretty sincere. If they're consistent with their answers and what they're telling me, then I feel like they're pretty real."

2006 RANKINGS A SMASHING SUCCESS

Ranking high school football prospects isn't an exact science. But after last weekend's NFL draft, Rivals.com's 2006 rankings will have to go down as one of the most accurate ever.

Four of the top six players in the Rivals100 from 2006 were taken in the first round, including top pick Matthew Stafford, who was the No. 6 player in the nation back in high school.

The top-ranked player in that class was Florida's Percy Harvin, and he went to the Minnesota Vikings at No. 22 overall. No. 2-ranked Andre Smith went to the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 6, and No. 3-ranked Chris Wells went to the Arizona Cardinals at No. 31. The number would have been higher if No. 4-ranked Gerald McCoy had left Oklahoma early as many had expected. The No. 5-ranked player, Texas' Sergio Kindle, should contend for All-America honors as a senior.

Overall, 18 of the 32 players chosen in the first round were ranked four stars or higher coming out of high school, and the average of the players selected in the first round was 3.38 stars.

BUCKEYES ADD ANOTHER QUALITY IN-STATE STAR

Recruiting in-state has always been top priority for Ohio State, and the Buckeyes landed another solid in-state commitment over the weekend from linebacker Scott McVey. He joins defensive ends J.T. Moore and Jamel Turner and offensive tackle Andrew Norwell as early in-state grabs for Ohio State.

Moore, Turner and Norwell are all ranked as four-star prospects, and McVey is one of the top players in Ohio. Even though he's only 5 feet 11 and 215 pounds, McVey is ultra productive and earned scholarship offers from Boston College, Michigan, Michigan State, Stanford, West Virginia and Iowa before picking Ohio State.

McVey exploded onto the scene during St. Ignatius' run to the Division I state title this past fall. He finished with 93 tackles, 35 tackles for loss and 17 sacks in 15 games.

ETC.

• One of the nation's top kickers is off the board. Cade Foster of Southlake (Texas) Carroll committed to Alabama on Monday, picking the Crimson Tide over an offer from Washington and heavy interest from a flew of Big 12 and SEC programs. "Physically, Cade has the tools to be an outstanding football player," kicking analyst Chris Sailer said. "I have also worked with former USC kicker David Buehler, who just got drafted in the fifth round by the Cowboys, and Cade has his ability."

• SMU added a commitment from 6-2, 215-pound inside linebacker John Bordano from New Braunfels, Texas. Bordano recorded 94 tackles as a junior and was getting attention from Arkansas, Baylor, Kansas, Stanford, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Rice.

• Oklahoma State gained a commitment from Rowlett, Texas, defensive back Deion Imade. The 6-0, 185-pound Imade was also being recruited by Rice, SMU, Iowa State and Kansas. Imade is the seventh pledge for the Cowboys' 2010 recruiting class.

• Akron jumped on the board with a commitment from Hannibal (Ohio) River dual-threat quarterback Dylan Potts. The 6-0, 190-pounder threw for 1,200 yards and 13 scores as a junior.

• Elyria (Ohio) Elyria Catholic defensive end Josh Russ is heading to Cincinnati. Russ, the eighth commitment for the Bearcats, was also recruited by Illinois, Michigan State, Ohio State, Pittsburgh and Bowling Green. He had 691 yards receiving and six touchdowns on offense, but he projects as a defensive player in college.

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