Prep rankings: Metoyer still on top
The Rivals.com postseason prep rankings are out and while Chatham (Va.) Hargrave Military Academy wide receiver Trey Metoyer remains on top, there have been a few changes near the upper half of the list.
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Ohio State commitment Michael Thomas from New Berlin (N.Y.) Milford Academy is one of four new four-stars in the latest rankings.
Everything starts at the top with Oklahoma commitment Trey Metoyer, a 6-foot-2, 198-pounder who was a five-star out of high school but was signed and placed after he didn't qualify.
"Trey is a great route runner, that's what stands out about him," said Hargrave head coach Troy Davis of the nation's top prep prospect. "He also had great hands and is explosive with speed, but guys don't usually come out of high school so capable of sticking routes the way he does. He reminds me of Martavis Bryant who we had last year in that regard. He's a rarity."
New Berlin (N.Y.) Milford Academy defensive back Gerod Holliman remains No. 2 on the list. The 6-foot, 185-pound Louisville commitment had a big year for undefeated Milford Academy.
"He's a great safety and a leader," said Milford head coach Bill Chaplick. "He's also tough, he played much of the season with a separated shoulder. He was a big part of why we were undefeated for the first time in my years here because he was the quarterback of the defense. And his ball skills are excellent. He had a few big interceptions for us."
Moving up a slot to No. 3 is Fork Union (Va.) Fork Union Military athlete Jerell Adams. The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder played quarterback in high school but made a successful transition to tight end at prep school.
"He was our best athlete on the team," said FUMA head coach John Shuman. "He had around eight touchdowns, 30-plus catches and was really tough to check for defenses. We had him playing tight end and h-back and once he got the ball and got his speed going, he couldn't be stopped. He can play many positions in college if needed - safety, quarterback, tight end, h-back. South Carolina is getting a great athlete."
Fellow Fork Union standouts Michael Thomas and Isaiah Battle check in at Nos. 4 and 5, respectively, on the list. Shuman liked both of them this season.
"Thomas is a premiere athlete," he said of the 6-foot-4, 203-pound Ohio State wideout commitment. "He's rangy and explosive and he picked things up quickly for us despite coming in late. He has some big catches for us including a few key touchdowns.
"Battle was our left tackle and he played defensive end as well. He showed a lot of talent at defensive end which shows his athleticism and he was steady at left tackle in run and pass protection. His upside is excellent."
Battle is a 6-foot-7, 265-pounder who is committed to Clemson.
Three new four-star prospects round out the prep top eight as Milford's Carlos Carvajal, Hargrave's Kevin Dodd and Fork Union's Robert Lockhart all had big years.
"Carvajal is the best tight end we've ever had here," said Chaplick of the 6-foot-7, 215-pounder who is committed to Purdue. "He has great hands and a great will to get open and get the football. He always gives 110 percent on every play and he's going to be a matchup nightmare in the Big Ten."
"Dodd has a great get-off, he's explosive and he really improved the use of his hands," said Davis of the 6-foot-5, 277-pound Clemson commitment. "He could be a big defensive end or a defensive tackle in college so his versatility is strong, kind of like Corey Crawford last year. Clemson is very excited about the versatility."
"Lockhart is very fast and shifty and he can do a lot of things with the football," said Shuman of the 6-foot-2, 180-pounder who is committed to Virginia Tech. "He can be a special teams guy for Tech, as well as a deep threat wide receiver because he's so fast."
A few other players of note include Hargrave linebacker Christian Russell and Milford running back Montrell Dobbs, who check in at Nos. 14 and 15, respectively.
"Russell was our most physical player," said Davis of the 6-foot-1, 240-pounder who is committed to North Carolina. "He played defensive end and running back for us but he could play linebacker or even be a three-technique guy. He loves to hit whether it's on offense or defense and I think he will be a linebacker in college who will be one of the heaviest hitters in the ACC."
"Dobbs is a D-I back all the way and we've had some great ones here like LeSean McCoy, Shonn Greene and others," said Chaplick of the 5-foot-11, 185-pounder who was once a Connecticut commitment but is trying to find a home. "He's a top 25 running back talent because he has a great work ethic, he's a downhill runner and he runs hard all the time. Grades are the issue, not talent, but he will end up at a D-I school some place and he will be a steal."
Other notables in the top 15 include Worcester (Mass.) Worcester Academy linebacker Steven Daniels, a Boston College commitment who dropped to No. 9 after struggling with weight issues. Fork Union offensive linemen Taylor Gadbois (Miami) and Jamar Lewter (Marshall) make the list at Nos. 10 and 11, respectively, and Ohio State commitment Cardale Jones, also at Fork Union, is at No. 12.
Offensive lineman Justin Senior (Mississippi State), defensive back Charles Davis (Rutgers), quarterback Ashton Broyld (Syracuse), defensive back Jevonte Pitts, wide receiver Adrian Gamble (Virginia) and wide receiver Tevaun Smith (Iowa) highlight the second half of the list and are headed to BCS schools.
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