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Feb. 4, 2000 |
By Rick Kimbrel & Pete Dal Bello
PrepStar Magazine
Call this recruiting season, "Keeping up with the Johnsons."
T O P N E W S
SportsLine and PrepStar have identified 25 of the best of the best from the high school ranks … and three of them are named Johnson.
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We have wide receiver B.J. Johnson, who just might be the top prospect in the recruiting hotbed that is the state of Texas. And we have Travis Johnson, a monster of a defensive lineman from Sherman Oaks, Calif. And then we have Teyo Johnson from San Diego, one of the nation's most remarkable athletes for football and basketball.
Fourteen of this group of 25 are holdovers from the SportsLine/PrepStar preseason All-American team, including a pair of teammates. They are Teyo Johnson and linebacker Amon Gordon from Mira Mesa High in San Diego.
Typically, more Division I-A recruits come from California than any other state, and that part of the country is well-represented on our list with six players. Florida is next with three. Georgia, Michigan, Texas and Louisiana each have two.
Here, then, is the SportsLine/PrepStar High School All-America Team:
Offense
| QB Brock Berlin (6-2 200 4.7) Shreveport-Evangel, La. |
| Signed: Florida |
| Berlin's storybook career at Evangel ended when he led his team to a 21-14 victory over West Monroe in the New Orleans Superdome for the school's fourth straight state championship. Berlin, who passed for 13,902 yards and 145 TDs with only 33 interceptions in his career, chose Florida over Kentucky and Georgia. Berlin is very smart and makes good decisions, and should fit in perfectly with the Gators' high-octane offense. |
| RB Marcus Houston (6-2 208 4.37) Denver-Jefferson, Colo. |
| Signed: Colorado |
| Houston's running style has been compared to NFL Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson. He had offers from every major college in the country. Houston rushed for 1,750 yards and 24 TDs, even though opposing teams were often lining up nine players in the box specifically to stop him. He is also a threat out of the backfield, catching 15 passes for 350 yards and two more TDs. Houston's talent is so immense that if he didn't make this All-American team at running back, he would have as a defensive back. |
| RB Sam Maldonado (6-2 220 4.47), Harrison, N.Y. |
| Signed: Ohio State |
| Maldonado is the all-time leading rusher and scorer in New York State history -- rushing for 7,581 yards and 99 TDs. His unconfirmed point total is believed to be 620. This season, he rushed for 3,253 yards and 38 TDs. Maldonado, a power runner with great speed, also had offers from Florida State, Colorado, Wisconsin, Penn State and a host of others before selecting the Buckeyes. |
| WR "B.J. Johnson (6-1 190 4.3) Grand Prarie-South, Texas |
| Signed: Texas |
| Johnson had received 55 offers from around the nation -- nearly half of the Division I-A schools -- but Texas kept possibly the best player in the state at home. This season, Johnson caught 71 passes for 1,790 yards and 24 TDs, giving him 156 receptions for 3,458 yards and 52 TDs in his career. He specializes in catching the short ball and turning it into a big gain. It came down to Texas and Tennessee, with the Longhorns carrying the winning hand in this key recruiting battle. |
| WR Charles Rogers (6-4 190 4.45) Saginaw, Mich. |
| Signed: Michigan State |
| Rogers is a playmaker. This season for the 12-2 state champions, Rogers caught 40 passes for 870 yards and 14 TDs. In his high school career, he had 126 receptions for 2,644 yards and 39 TDs. He had offers from UCLA, Florida State, Michigan, Michigan State, Tennessee, Ohio State, Penn State … and many more. |
| TE Eric Knott (6-5 230 4.58) Detroit-Ford, Mich. |
| Signed: Michigan State |
| Knott is the complete package as a TE -- a threat catching the ball and a terrific blocker. Knott caught 42 passes for 696 yards and 10 TDs this season. |
| OL Kwame Harris (6-5 300 5.0) Newark, Del. |
| Signed: Stanford |
| Harris is the best of the best on the offensive line, and is one of the most highly recruited players in Delaware history. After being recruited coast-to-coast, he accepted Stanford's offer ... and he might bring his brother with him a year from now. Orien Harris, maybe the best DE on the high school level, has indicated he would like to play college football with his brother. |
| OL Mike Munoz (6-7 290 5.0) Cincinnati-Moeller, Ohio |
| Signed: Tennessee |
| Munoz is the son of former USC and Cincinnati Bengal great, Anthony Munoz. Mike had offers from everyone, but chose Tennessee, where his sister Michelle will play basketball for the Lady Vols. Tennessee over Ohio State, Michigan, Texas and Florida State, among others. Mike is an overpowering blocker who set the school record with 109 pancake blocks. |
| OG Jason Respert (6-4 294 5.1) Warner Robins-N'Side, Ga. |
| Tennessee, Georgia and Florida |
| Respert lists Tennessee and Georgia as his top schools, but don't look for an early commit from this talented lineman. Respert told PrepStar that he might wait until signing date to make up his mind. Respert graded out at an 88 percent average and has offers from the likes of Florida State, Georgia Tech, North Carolina State, Auburn and Tennessee. |
| OL Wes Sims (6-6 300 4.9) Weatherford, Okla. |
| Signed: Oklahoma |
| Sims was heavily recruited, but ended the recruiting process early when he committed to the Sooners over the summer. He's a four-year starter for Weatherford and helped his team capture the 4A state title with a 12-2 record this season. Not only is Sims big, he is also strong, quick and physical. The Sooners won this battle over Ohio State, Nebraska, Texas A&M, Texas and UCLA. |
| OL Shannon Snell (6-6 305 5.1) Tampa-Hillsborough, Fla. |
| Signed: Florida |
| Snell entered the season as one of the nation's top OL prospects and the Gators are pleased to get him. He had offers from virtually every Div. I-A college in the country, including Florida State, Miami, Syracuse, UCLA, Michigan, Georgia, Clemson and Notre Dame. He only gave up one sack in three years. |
Defense
| DL Travis Johnson (6-4 265 4.57) Sherman Oaks-Notre Dame, Calif. |
| Signed: Florida State |
| On signing day, Johnson picked the Seminoles over Michigan, where his good friend and former high school teammate, RB Justin Fargas, plays ball. This season, Johnson had 104 tackles -- 32 for loss, including 17 sacks. He also blocked four punts, two field goals and two extra points. On offense, Johnson rushed for six touchdowns in short-yardage situations. |
| DE Darrell Lee (6-5 235 4.5) St. Louis-Kirkwood, Mo. |
| Signed: Florida |
| Lee had offers from over 50 schools. He was very impressed by the Gators back in September, but wanted to take some trips before making his decision ... and then committed to Florida. Lee fought through double and triple-teams all season long and still ended up with 26 tackles for loss. |
| DE Raymond Mann (6-2 227 4.6) Hampton, Va. |
| Commit: Virginia |
| Talk about talented: Mann made the All-State team on both sides of the ball. He is a tremendous player who has great all-around athleticism. To wit: He has a 38-inch vertical jump, benches 395 pounds and, of course, has great speed for his size. The Cavaliers were able to win this tough recruiting battle over in-state rival Virginia Tech and ACC-foe North Carolina. |
| DE Antwan Odom (6-6 255 4.65) Irvington-Alma Bryant, Ala. |
| Signed : Alabama |
| This guy is one of the true superstars in this year's crop of talent, able to dominate a game with his aggressive style of play. Although he is the cousin of former Alabama and current New Orleans Saints LB Andre Royal, he patterns his game after NFL superstar Greg Lloyd. Odom chose the Tide over Auburn, Kentucky, Florida, Florida State and Mississippi State. |
| LB Amon Gordon (6-4 280 4.6) San Diego-Mira Mesa, Calif. |
| Schools: USC, Stanford, Miami |
| Football recruiters like Gordon just as much as his close friend and fellow PrepStar Dream Teamer Teyo Johnson. The talented linebacker and running back rushed 217 times for 1,353 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also caught seven passes for 122 yards. |
| LB Eric Moore (6-5 220 4.7) Pahokee, Fla. |
| Signed: Florida State |
| Moore is the state's top player at his position and is coveted in part because he shows the ability to play strong side, weak side or middle linebacker. He's an impressive physical specimen who comes from a strong program. This came down to the Seminoles and Vols. |
| LB D.J. Williams (6-2 225 4.45) Concord-De La Salle, Calif. |
| Signed: Miami |
| If you're picking a Player of the Year, Williams is probably it. All he did this season is win another Championship for Concord High, which has now won 100 consecutive games, a national record. He had 123 tackles and rushed for 1,974 yards. He also tied the school record for TDs in a season with 38. Williams had offers from Florida State, Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, UCLA, USC, Miami, Cal, Colorado, Nebraska and a lot more. |
| DB Yohance Buchanan (6-1 210 4.5) Atlanta-Douglass, Ga. |
| Signed: Florida State |
| The brother of WR Shamari Buchanan (Alabama), Yohance is clearly the No. 1 player in the Peach State and the top strong safety in the South. He has been compared to a prep version of Ronnie Lott or Steve Atwater. Even though he committed to Florida State, Buchanan has mentioned Ohio State, Michigan, Tennesee and Alabama as possible official visits. |
| DB Matt Grootegoed (6-0 205 4.5) Santa Ana-Mater Dei, Calif. |
| Signed: Southern California |
| Grootegoed has all the skills to succeed on the next level; he is an explosive hitter who blows plays up in the offenses' face. Grootegoed is a very intelligent player and he has good football speed. USC won this battle over UCLA. |
| DB Bryant McFadden (6-1 182 4.4) Hollywood-McArthur, Fla. |
| Signed: Florida State |
| Many of our sources say Bryant is the best cover cornerback in the country. He was in on 70 tackles and had two interceptions, one that he returned 94 yards for a TD. McFadden had offers from Ohio State, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Florida, Boston College, Georgia, Syracuse, Missouri, USC, Auburn and Clemson. |
| DB Lawrence Richardson (5-10 165 4.45) Galveston-Ball, Texas |
| Signed: Arkansas |
| Richardson defines the word athlete. He could play any position in the defensive backfield. He has great closing speed, which makes him very explosive and excellent in pursuit. He might the best pure corner in the nation. |
| PK/P Chris Kluwe (6-5 225 4.8) Los Alamitos, Calif. |
| Signed: UCLA |
| Kluwe was upgraded to PrepStar Dream Team status following a clutch performance when he kicked a 60-yard field goal in the final seconds in the quarterfinals. That tied the game at 20, and his team ended up winning the game. For as good as that performance was, he projects as a punter and had a 46.6-yard average last season. Kluwe committed to UCLA over Michigan and Cal. |
| ATH Shyrone Carey (5-8 165 4.35) Marrero-Shaw, La. |
| Signed: Tennessee |
| One of the most versatile players in the nation, Carey reminds many of Warrick Dunn. He rushed for more than 1,900 yards, while scoring 29 TDs on the ground. Shyrone also passed for 1,147 yards and 15 TDs. Although Carey played QB for Shaw, he projects as a RB on the next level. This talented all-around athlete was selected All-State, Metro MVP and District MVP. |
| ATH Teyo Johnson (6-6 256 4.5) San Diego-Mira Mesa, Calif. |
| Schools: Houston, Stanford, USC, Miami |
| Johnson is being heavily recruited for both football and basketball. Johnson has played QB, TE and DE. USC, Miami were among the schools showing interest in him at QB. In his first time in a wide-open offense, Johnson completed 61 of 119 passes for 1,068 yards and 11 TDs. |
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