One of Sacramentos best Likes USC

Junior to Watch: Lamar Heron

School: Sacramento (Calif.) Natomas

Position: Athlete

Size and Speed: Heron stands 6-foot-0, weighs 190 pounds and runs the 40 in 4.4. His bench is 300, squat 365, cleans 285 and has recorded a 32-inch vertical jump. Heron carries a 2.8 GPA.

Honors: Heron was an all-state selection as a wide receiver as a sophomore. For his junior season, Heron was named all-league and all-city as a running back.

Statistics: Heron rushed for over 900 yards and scored 20 touchdowns as a junior. He also caught over ten passes for over 300 yards and averaged over 30 yards per catch. As a defensive back, Heron had four interceptions as a sophomore. The word of his ability as a strong safety spread like a brush fire because he was rarely challenged by the quarterbacks his junior season. That being said, Heron still picked off two passes.

Favorite Colleges: Top four schools are USC, Washington State, Texas A&M and Oklahoma. "USC is a slight favorite right now but I'm still pretty open." Heron attended USC’s junior day. Other schools that are showing interest in Heron are ASU, UCLA, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, Nebraska, and Colorado.

Skinny: Heron could be the number one prospect in the Sacramento area this season. He is a tremendous all-around athlete. He has at one time or another played wide receiver, defensive back and running back during his high school career.

There is a chance that Heron might play quarterback for his senior season. If he doesn’t play QB he will return to his more natural position wide receiver.

Heron is also a standout on special teams. He returns punts and kicks.

“Lamar has a great work ethic,” Natomas head coach Terry Stark said. “He has had to overcome a lot of obstacles in his young life and he has become a better person.”

“Lamar is just a great kid,” Stark said. “He’s extremely coachable. Lamar will do whatever you ask of him and more.”

"I'll make a decision probably at the end of my senior season,” Heron said. "I grew up a fan of Florida State and I’m a really big fan of Peter Warrick. I want to go to a school where I can try and work my way into a starting position."

"I'd like to play wide receiver but if I can't do that then I definitely want to play strong safety,” said Heron. "I played some wide receiver last season. I was basically like Randy Moss they'd throw the ball up to me and I'd out jump everyone to go get it. I also like Santana Moss in that I have great vision and can run well after the catch."