Whilesizecertainlyhelpsaprospectrackupthestarsbyhisname,itisn'ttheonlyfactor,asahandfuloftop-levelhighschoolstarshaveproven.

Rivals.com'srecruitinganalystsbreakdownthetop10small-but-mightystarsamongthetopprospects.

Top10shorteststars

10)ATHBillBelton

School:Atko(N.J.)WinslowTownship

Buzz:Beltonisado-everythingguyinhighschoolthatcouldplayreceiver,cornerback,safetyorrunningbackincollegedependingonwhatPittsburghneedsatthetime.Althoughhis5-foot-9framequalifieshimforthislist,heisthickerandstrongerthanmosthissizeanditmakeshimlookbigger.

9)RBBishopSankey

School:Spokane(Wash.)GonzagaPrep

Buzz:Sankeyhasbeenasuperproductivebackinhighschoolandthere'snoreasontoquestionhisdurabilitydespitehis5-foot-9frame.Itwon'tmakehimtheeasiestreceivertohitoutofthebackfield,butheisverywell-built,issurprisinglypowerfulandheisexcellentinspace.Unlikesomeothersonthislist,hecanbeanevery-downbackandwon'tsimplybeaspecialistorchange-of-paceguyatWashingtonState.

8)WRTacoiSumler

School:Miami(Fla.)Columbus

Buzz:SumlerisjustaticktallerthanChevelleBuiedespitecheckinginacouplepoundslighter,buthe'soneofthetoptwoorthreefastestplayersinthecountryandaperfectfitfortheOregonoffense.LikeBuie,hewillbeaninstantimpactguyonreturnsandbeutilizedintheoffenseasaslotreceiver,andsomeonewhotakesinsidehandoffsandreverses.

7)WRDamiereByrd

School:Sicklerville(N.J.)TimberCreek

Buzz:Byrdhasgrownabitsincehecheckedinat5-foot-9and156poundsattheU.S.ArmycombinelastJanuary,buthe'sstilloneofthesmallerplayersinthecountry.ButwithByrditdoesn'tmatterbecauseofhisspeed.Asub-10.5-second100-metertrackstar,Byrdcantakeawidereceiverscreenandturnitintoatouchdown.He'satoughkiddespitehislackofsize.

6)RBRemoundWright

School:FortWayne(Ind.)BishopDwenger

Buzz:WhenyouseeWright,youdon'tthinkofhimasshort.He'scertainlynotsmallashelookstoweighmorethan200poundsandappearstobecloserto5-foot-10oreven5-foot-11thanhisactual5-foot-9.Apowerful,durablerunner,WrightisaworkhorsewhowillhavenoissuecarryingthemailatStanfordaslongashegetsachance.

5)APBChevelleBuie

School:Cocoa(Fla.)

Buzz:Buieisthesmallestoftheplayersonthislist,whichisnosmallfeat(ok,badjoke).Withhisspeedandabilityinspace,hewillcertainlyimpactasareturnmanincollegebuthe'llalsobeadangerousthird-downbackandweapononinsidehandoffsandbubblescreensaswell.

4)RBAndrewBuie

School:Jacksonville(Fla.)TrinityChristian

Buzz:Buie,norelationtoChevelle,hasaverygoodbuildandisverystrongdespitehis5-foot-9status.Eventhoughhe'snotthetallestplayeronthefield,hecouldstillendupasareceiverincollegebecausehehasgoodhandsandaknackforshakingdefenders.Cornerbackisalsoanoption,asisrunningback,andnomatterwhatpositionheendsupplaying,youcanbethisheightwon'tfactor.

3)RBMikeBlakely

School:Bradenton(Fla.)Manatee

Buzz:BlakelyisoneofthethickestoftheshortpeopleonthislistandhasabuildreminiscentofMichaelDyer,thefive-starbackfrom2010whoisnowastaronanundefeatedAuburnteam.Blakelycanbounceofftackleslikeabiggerbackandhehasthicklegsandastrongupperbody.Withhisnaturalleverage,Blakelyuseshis5-foot-9frameaswellasanyone.

2)APBDemetriusHart

School:Orlando(Fla.)Dr.Phillips

Buzz:Themostexplosiveplayerinthecountryinch-for-inch?ThatcouldbethecasewithHartwhoisaperfectfitforMichigan'soffenseanduseshislackofheighttohisadvantage.WhenHartisn'trunningawayfromdefendersasarunnerorevenasareceiver,he'sduckingbehindlinemenandstayingofftheradaruntilheseesthehole.

1)ATHDe'AnthonyThomas

Thomas highlightsClick Here to view this Link.

School: Los Angeles Crenshaw

Buzz: Thomas may be only 5-foot-9, but on this list that means he's shopping at big & tall stores. Despite his lack of height, Thomas plays much bigger than his size, especially at cornerback, where he has exceptional instincts and timing. He isn't afraid to take on bigger receivers or bigger runners when a tackle needs to be made.