Ransom headlines junior college ranking
Before Blinn (Texas) Junior College played its first game last season, Buccaneer assistant Keith Browning pointed across the field to receiver Dexter Ransom and said, "That kid over there is going to be special."
Advertisement
Browning's words meant a lot because Blinn was loaded with talent last year, including Utah's new starting quarterback Terrance Cain.
Ransom's ability has led Rivals.com to rank him as the nation's top junior college prospect.
"His combination of a 6-foot-4 frame and his speed separates him from the rest," Browning said. "He does a good job of getting the football when it's in the air instead of waiting on it. You can't find anybody else out there that has that size, speed and ball skills. He's the complete package."
Last season, Ransom had 36 catches for 734 receiving yards with 10 touchdowns. Ransom, who graduates in December, has an extensive offer list that includes Arizona, Auburn, Baylor, California, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Tulsa, UAB, Utah and several others.
"When you see him walk on the field you go 'Whoa'," Browning said. "I mean, the kid is just built like no other receivers out there. He's probably a good comparison physically to Larry Fitzgerald just because of his size. He's such a mismatch for every DB he goes up against."
USC doesn't recruit heavily on the junior college level, but when it does it goes after the best of the best. So it's no surprise to see San Marcos (Calif.) Palomar C.C. offensive tackle Brice Schwab at No. 2 in the rankings. Schwab is a monster at 6-8 and 320 pounds, and he has a good combination of size and speed.
"I think my size is a great strength and that caught a lot of coaches' attention," Schawb said. "There were rumors out there being spread that I was really only 6-foot-5, but I'm a legit 6-foot-7½. The coaches just told me to stay under 320-pounds, and I'm at 315 right now. From there schools got to see my desire to compete and the technical side of my game. If I have one great strength, I would say it's my run-blocking. I really pride myself on being dominate downfield."
Georgia commit Jakar Hamilton of Milledgeville (Ga.) Georgia Military College comes in at No. 3 in the rankings. The 6-2, 196 pounder turned down offers from Alabama, Auburn, Illinois, N.C. State and West Virginia to pledge to the Dawgs.
Ole Miss pledge Randall Mackey of Scooba (Miss.) East Mississippi C.C. comes in at No. 4. The four-star athlete is 6 feet and 190 pounds and plays quarterback at East Mississippi, but easily could project at a number of spots. Look for Houston Nutt to use him a lot in the "Wild Rebel" offense. One Mississippi junior college coach said Mackey is a threat to score every time he touches the ball.
The top five is rounded out by another massive offensive tackle prospect from California. Fullerton (Calif.) C.C. tackle John Cullen has Auburn, Tennessee and Utah after for him. At 6-6 and 280 pounds, he also has offers from Hawaii, Kansas, Louisville, Oklahoma State and USF.
The top ranked players out of the Jayhawk Conference are Fort Scott (Kan.) C.C. teammates Lavonte David at No. 8 and Jermarcus Hardrick at No. 10. David, an outside linebacker, has offers from FIU, Kansas, Kansas State, North Texas and Tulsa, and Hardrick is already heading to LSU.
Tennessee has two four-star commitments from the junior college ranks - Walnut (Calif.) Mt. San Antonio C.C. linebacker Bruce Irvin at No. 11 and Booneville (Miss.) Northeast Mississippi defensive tackle John Brown at No. 30.
[rl]