The Top 10
Following a terrific senior season in which he led the Brookville Bees (Lynchburg, VA) to an undefeated regular season, a district championship, a region championship and runner-up finish in the Group AA, Division 3 state playoffs, Logan Thomas takes over the top spot in TheSabre.com’s Postseason Top 40.
AP Group AA player of the year for his senior season performance, the 6-6, 225-pound Thomas completed 118 passes in 204 attempts, throwing for 1,535 yards and 20 touchdowns. He rushed for 842 yards and 11 more scores. Defensively, he had 51 solo tackles and four interceptions as a safety/linebacker under head coach Jeff Woody.
The Army All-American Bowl selection will play wide receiver at Virginia Tech, the program he committed to over 20-plus Division 1A scholarship offers including Clemson, Florida State, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. A tremendously fluid athlete for his size, Thomas should be able to easily make the transition from quarterback to receiver. Thomas could line up at tight end, in the slot or out wide and create mismatch problems for opposing defenses; it is this versatility that helped him climb to the top in the final top 40 rankings.
George Washington (Danville, VA) running back David Wilson rises a spot from his previous ranking, moving into the number two spot after being ranked third in the Preseason Top 40. The 5-11, 190-pound senior captured several school records in his senior season, rushing for 2,291 yards and 35 scores despite running behind an inexperienced offensive line. Wilson blends big-play speed, quickness, balance and athleticism as the top running back prospect in the state of Virginia. He is also a star in track-and-field, capturing a national championship in the indoor triple jump last season as a junior.
Wilson has committed to Virginia Tech.
Phoebus (Hampton, VA) quarterback Tajh Boyd is number three on this list. The 6-1, 205-pound signal caller, fresh off an impressive MVP performance at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, combines arm strength, accuracy, athleticism, the ability to make plays on the ground and poise. We shouldn’t leave out toughness, either. Boyd played a good part of his senior season with a torn ACL. Despite the injury, he helped a talented Phoebus Phantoms (Hampton, VA) squad to an undefeated season and a Group AAA, Division 5 state title.
A national recruit, Boyd is likely to decide between Ohio State and Oregon within the next few weeks.
Meadowbrook’s (Richmond, VA) massive offensive lineman Morgan Moses falls from the top spot in the Preseason ranks to the fourth spot in the Postseason ranks. I remain extremely high on the potential of the 6-7, 340-pound prospect, an AP Group AAA first-team all-state selection in 2008 and an Army All-American. Moses may have to attend prep school before ending up at his college destination, but the combination of size and athleticism he possesses have made him one of the top targets in the country.
Rounding out the top five is one of the toughest players I’ve seen in this year’s class – Oscar Smith (Chesapeake, VA) linebacker Jerod Askew . Askew may only be 6-0, 230 pounds, but he consistently made big plays as one of the leaders of a loaded Tigers team that captured the Group AAA, Division 6 state title. A sure tackler with terrific speed and sideline-to-sideline coverage, Askew finished 128 tackles including 12 sacks.
Askew plans to sign with Lane Kiffin and the University of Tennessee next month.
Postseason #6 Kevin Newsome started off the 2008 season extremely well, throwing for 466 yards and three scores with no interceptions in Hargrave Military Academy’s first two games, but a hand injury sidelined him for half the season. The 6-3, 205-pound prospect remains one of the state’s top recruits. He will play quarterback at Penn State, but he has the potential to be a standout at a number of other positions if signal caller doesn’t work out. As a quarterback, Newsome is raw but possesses a strong arm, good size and can make plays in the air or on the ground.
Chancellor (Fredericksburg, VA) star Dominique Wallace , who comes in at #7 on the list, capped off an impressive 4-year varsity football career with a tremendous senior season. The 6-0, 225-pound running back/linebacker rushed for 1,893 yards and 31 touchdowns, earning AP Group AA first-team all-state honors at running back. He is also a talented linebacker, showing sub-4.5 40 speed in being able to move sideline to sideline, but he will play running back at Virginia.
Varina (VA) star defensive tackle DeAntre Rhodes certainly made his presence felt in 2008, accounting for 18 tackles-for-loss with 10 sacks in helping the Blue Devils to an undefeated season and a state semifinal appearance. The 6-3, 280-pound prospect, a 4-year starter on Varina’s varsity football squad, has looked impressive on both sides of the ball but will play defensive tackle at Virginia Tech. Some believe he could contribute as a true freshman.
Snyder finishes in the top 10 |
Jake Snyder racked up 24 sacks in 10 games for Deep Run (Glen Allen, VA) this year, and he comes in at #9 in the final rankings. The 6-4, 235-pound prospect, a standout tight end as well as defensive end, earned AP Group AAA first-team all-state honors for his performance on defense. He will play defensive end at the University of Virginia, choosing the Cavaliers over offers from Boston College, Ohio State, Penn State and Virginia Tech, among others.
Brooke Point (Stafford, VA) defensive end Lanford Collins is a stud athletically, having started out his high school football career as a running back/defensive back before growing into his current 6-4, 240-pound frame. Collins has the athleticism to play outside linebacker, defensive end or tight end on the college level. The #10 player boasts double-digit offers but lists Maryland, Penn State, Virginia, Virginia Tech and West Virginia as his finalists.
Overall, this class is one of the deepest in the state of Virginia in recent memory. Over 50 prospects have committed to Division 1A programs, and more will commit before Signing Day. Arguments can be made for certain prospects to be included in the top 40, 30, 20 and 10, making this class so interesting – and so challenging – to rate.
Both in-state programs have enjoyed success in recruiting this class. Virginia and Virginia Tech boast 14 total in-state commits a piece, with Virginia Tech scoring 11 of the top 40 to Virginia’s 10.
—
Final 2009 In-State Top 40
1. Logan Thomas – TE/WR, 6-6, 225 pounds, Brookville
Committed to Virginia Tech
2. David Wilson – RB, 5-11, 190 pounds, George Washington
Committed to Virginia Tech
3. Tajh Boyd – QB, 6-1, 210 pounds, Phoebus
Committed to Clemson
4. Morgan Moses – OL, 6-7, 340 pounds, Meadowbrook
Committed to Virginia
5. Jerod Askew – LB, 6-0, 230 pounds, Oscar Smith
Committed to Tennessee
6. Kevin Newsome – QB, 6-3, 205 pounds, Hargrave Military Academy
Committed to Penn State
7. Dominique Wallace – RB/LB, 6-1, 220 pounds, Chancellor
Committed to Virginia
8. DeAntre Rhodes – DL, 6-3, 265 pounds, Varina
Committed to Virginia Tech
9. Jake Snyder – DE/TE, 6-4, 235 pounds, Deep Run
Committed to Virginia
10. Lanford Collins – DE, 6-4, 240 pounds, Brooke Point
Uncommitted
11. Bryn Renner – QB, 6-3, 190 pounds, West Springfield
Committed to North Carolina
Smith climbed into the top 15 with a stellar senior season |
12. Tim Smith – WR, 6-1, 190 pounds, Oscar Smith
Committed to Virginia
13. De’antwan Williams – RB, 5-7, 205 pounds, Woodbridge
Committed to Rutgers
14. Quintin Hunter – WR/QB/DB, 6-2, 200 pounds, Orange
Committed to Virginia
15. Logan Heastie – WR, 6-1, 190 pounds, Great Bridge
Committed to West Virginia
16. Antone Exum – CB/WR/QB, 6-0, 200 pounds, Deep Run
Committed to Virginia Tech
17. David Wang – DL/OL, 6-2, 300 pounds, Stone Bridge
Committed to Virginia Tech
18. Andrew Miller – OL, 6-5, 275 pounds, Bassett
Committed to Virginia Tech
19. Jordan Love – CB, 6-0, 195 pounds, Deep Run
Committed to Georgia
20. Corey Lillard – S, 5-11, 208 pounds, Liberty (Bealeton)
Committed to Virginia
21. Dominik Davenport – DL/LB/FB, 6-1, 240 pounds, Phoebus
Committed to West Virginia
22. Perry Jones – S, 5-9, 185 pounds, Oscar Smith
Committed to Virginia
23. Telvion Clark – LB, 6-1, 205 pounds, Granby
Committed to Virginia Tech
24. Shawne Alston – RB, 5-11, 220 pounds, Phoebus
Committed to West Virginia
25. Damien Thigpen – RB/CB, 5-9, 170 pounds, Stonewall Jackson
Committed to UCLA
26. William Hill – DL, 6-4, 255 pounds, Lafayette
Committed to Virginia
27. James Gayle – DE, 6-4, 225 pounds, Bethel
Committed to Virginia Tech
28. Theron Norman – WR/S, 6-3, 185 pounds, Hermitage
Committed to Virginia Tech
29. Brian Slay – DL, 6-4, 255 pounds, Stone Bridge
Committed to N.C. State
30. Ross Metheny – QB, 6-3, 190 pounds, Sherando
Committed to Virginia
31. Zach Thompson – DL, 6-5, 250 pounds, Stone Bridge
Committed to Wake Forest
32. Duan Perez-Means – DE/LB/TE, 6-4, 235 pounds, Hermitage
Committed to Virginia Tech
33. Alex Owah – RB, 5-11, 175 pounds, Harrisonburg
Uncommitted
34. Nubian Peak – RB/WR, 5-11, 190 pounds, Pulaski County
Committed to Virginia Tech
35. Luke Bowanko – OL, 6-6, 260 pounds, Centreville
Committed to Virginia
36. Devin Bolling – OL, 6-5, 270 pounds, Brookville
Committed to Wake Forest
37. Hunter Steward – OL, 6-7, 300 pounds, Kellam
Committed to Virginia
38. Mike Privott – S/LB, 5-11, 230 pounds, Lake Taylor
Committed to Louisville
39. Mike Olson – LB, 6-1, 205 pounds, Stone Bridge
Committed to Wake Forest
40. Bradley Johnson – LB, 6-1, 210 pounds, Dinwiddie
Committed to Maryland
Ones to watch
Daniel Allen – RB, Stone Bridge Committed to James Madison
Alex Asher – TE, St. Anne’s-Belfield Committed to Richmond
Brandon Bailey – RB, West Springfield
Chase Barnett – RB, Brooke Point Committed to Liberty
LoVante Battle – LB/S, Phoebus Committed to Virginia
Adrian Cavanaugh – LB, Patrick Henry (Ashland)
Curtis Campbell – DB/WR, Grassfield Committed to North Carolina
Chris Coyer – QB, Oakton Committed to Temple
Michael Graham – QB, Monticello
Zack Glatter – TE, Centreville Committed to Princeton
Frank Figueroa – OL, Edison Committed to Penn State
Bennett Fulper – OL, Gretna Committed to Maryland
Tahron Goods – FB, George Washington
Kory Gough – OL, Liberty (Bealeton) Committed to Virginia Tech
Taylor Grubbs – TE, Amherst
Mark Halik – OL/DL, Maury
John Harris – RB, Patrick County
Sam Haskins – TE/WR, Dinwiddie
T.K. Hester – DB, Varina
Drew Jarrett – PK, Cox
Brian Jordan – DE/LB, Great Bridge
Cody Journell – PK, Giles Committed to Virginia Tech
Connor McCartin – LB, Fauquier Committed to Virginia
Boogie McCray – RB, Lake Taylor Committed to N.C. State
Dexter McDougle – WR, Stafford Committed to Maryland
Jerell McFadden – ATH, Osbourn
Adam Morgan – QB, Dinwiddie Committed to VMi
Matt Muncy – ATH, Tazewell Committted to Wake Forest
Torrian Pace – RB, Chantilly
Garett Patterson – ATH, Monacan Committed to Duke
Sterlin Phifer – RB, Landstown Committed to Boston College
Carvin Powell – ATH, Great Bridge
LaRoy Reynolds – ATH, Maury Committed to Virginia
Stephon Robertson – LB, Edison
James Rouse – DE, Harrisonburg Committed to Marshall
Brandon Scott – LB/DE, Forest Park Committed to Richmond
Dae’Quon Scott – ATH, Robert E. Lee Committed to Richmond
Brandon Sharpe – DE/LB, Ocean Lakes Committed to Louisville
Trevor Springman – OL, Stone Bridge Committed to William & Mary
Clinton Simpkins – LB, Chancellor
Bobby Smith , WR, Varina Committed to Virginia
Javanti Sparrow – CB/WR, Western Branch Committed to Virginia
Jordan Stanton – DE, Robinson
Bryan Stinnie – DE, St. Anne’s-Belfield Committed to William & Mary
Shamarko Thomas – DB, Ocean Lakes Committed to Syracuse
Patrick Thompson – QB, Stone Bridge Committed to Wake Forest
Jack Tyler – LB, Oakton
Jay Weatherington – TE/OL, Woodbridge
Corby Weiss – WR/TE, Brookville
Tyrel Wilson – DE, Hampton Committed to Virginia Tech