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Special QB class in Houston

The 2009 quarterback class in Greater Houston is as deep as it has been in decades.
While two have committed, four more Bayou City quarterbacks have Division I offers and several other prospects are emerging. Madison High School's Vince Young is the standard that all Houston signal callers try and live up to. Will anyone grab the torch from him in this class?
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The Headliners
Cypress Ridge quarterback Russell Shepard has verbally committed to LSU with the understanding that he has a shot at being the Tigers' quarterback.
"I just want a shot at the position," Shepard said. "I don't want to be given anything. I just want the shot."
Fort Bend Hightower's A.J. Highsmith has verbally committed to Miami with the prospect of playing defensive back.
"A.J. has only been playing quarterback since his freshman year," father Alonzo Highsmith said. "Miami said that he can play wherever he wants, but I really think he's a safety at the next level."
Friendswood's Jacob Karam has offers from Houston, Arizona and Stanford, while Cypress-Falls' Kolby Gray has an offer from Rice University.
Eisenhower's Kenny Guiton has been offered by Northwestern and Kansas, and Dayton's Cody Green has been offered by Baylor, Houston, Texas Tech, Miami and Texas A&M. The 6-foot-4 Green is also being pursued by the likes of LSU after suffering a knee injury in the fall.
The Sleepers
So we know who the headliners are, who are the sleepers to awaken this upcoming fall?
Andy McCloud of The Woodlands has waited his turn to play quarterback at the tradition-rich school. The 6-foot-1 McCloud threw for more than 2,000 yards for the Highlanders' junior varsity team, and has earned the endorsement of his quarterback coaches Steve Calhoun and Steve Clarkson.
"I'm ready," McCloud said. "I thought I was going to start last year and they went with the senior. I was disappointed, but I got to learn a lot of the mental stuff. I've been trained in the classroom and on the field. I've got the footwork and I have been trained to see the whole field. I'm ready."
McCloud is receiving interest from the likes of Houston, North Texas, Stephen F. Austin, Texas State, West Texas A&M and Louisiana-Lafayette.
McCloud attended the NIKE Combine in Dallas last weekend and will be going to the NIKE Training Camp at Stanford and in the coming months.
Also on the north side of Houston is Concordia Lutheran's Joshua Christian, a 6-foot-4 prospect with three years of varsity of experience.
"We have not had a Division I athlete here at Concordia Lutheran," coach and father Bruce Christian said. "I think that he's going to break down that wall this year. He can make all the throws, he can run and he can play defense."
Christian was an all-state selection at quarterback, and an all-district defensive back with four interceptions. His brother Caleb plays defensive back for Abilene Christian University.
News and Notes
Fort Bend Clements' quarterback Derek Carr is rumored to be moving back to California for his senior season. The brother of NFL quarterback David Carr is mobile with an accurate arm. Elkins' quarterback Broderick Thomas Jr., has transferred to Madison High School, home of Vince Young. Thomas possesses the football pedigree (his father is former NFL player Broderick Thomas) and tremendous running skills but has gotten behind on his academics. Dickinson High School's Brody Trahan is the brother of former Texas Longhorn and Baylor Bear assistant coach Beau Trahan, who was a star special-teamer for Mack Brown. Trahan has command of the huddle and has a chance at a Division I offer. Nimitz quarterback Zerick Rollins is receiving interest from Nebraska, and at 6 feet 2 could play receiver at the next level.
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