It is no easy task to rank America's top 101 junior college football
prospects because there is so much talent. We could potentially list
well over 200 athletes, who will sign 1A letters of intent in either
December or February. But through a careful process of evaluations -
which began over a year ago - we have come up with a great list.
In 2002, there are outstanding wide receivers, defensive ends,
safeties, and defensive tackles. Additionally, there several tremendous
running backs one or more of whom could have an impact on their team
like former Butler County CC running back Rudi Johnson had with Auburn
in 2000. By the way, he was drafted early in the second round of last
year's draft by the Cincinnati Bengals.
Going through the JC Top 101 list you will likely recognize
names of kids who were prep All-Americans a couple of years ago but
didn't have all the academic pieces to move on. Many, like defensive end
Mondre Dickerson (Coffeyville CC) signed with Tennessee but didn't
qualify. The same can be said for offensive lineman Brandon Lockheart
(Santa Monica College) who signed with Washington -- and many others.
Additionally, there are a large number of bouncebacks, who are
kids who signed and played at four-year schools but transferred back to
junior colleges.
Not all junior college blue-chippers were of elite status in high
school, however. Take offensive tackle Clint Werth (Garden City CC) for
example. He was a not-ready-for-prime-time player in high school but was
a near 4.0 student and had a great frame and desire to excel. After a
two year at GCCC he is an All-American and committed to Colorado. So
there are many players at this level who were late bloomers -- and
excellent students -- who used JCs to hone their skills and help them
earn a scholarship.
You may be curious about a few omissions, too.
This list does not include athletes who have more or less run out of
1A eligibility, which can happen in a number of ways. We call these
'clock' kids and they usually will opt to play D2 for two years versus
the one they could have at a 1A school. On occasion you will see a
'clock' kid go 1A, such as wide receiver Chad Johnson who signed with
Oregon State out of Santa Monica College in 2000, but it's relatively
rare.
Additionally, we have excluded a number of athletes who will not have
the academics to play at a 1A school -- according to one or more
reliable sources. We hope, of course, that some of the kids in this
category will find a way to get 1A eligible prior to fall of 2002. But
for now they are not on this list.
The JC Top 101 is full of thoroughbred athletes, who are being
recruited by the likes of Tennessee, Washington, Miami, Nebraska, Texas,
and other BCS-ranked teams. Here's a position-by-position breakdown of
the top talents and what makes them special.
Quarterbacks
California is home to two of the top junior college quarterbacks in
the nation this year. Andy Goodenough (6-4, 210) is a two year
starter who has led his Palomar Comets to a 7-1 record so far this
season. He ran a 4.65 forty last May at the JCFootball.com SoCal combine
and displays excellent accuracy and a strong arm. Through seven games he
was 163-248 for 1,961 yards with 19 TDs and 6 INTs. Several D1 schools
would like his services, including Iowa.
Playing in the same Mission Conference as Goodenough is Pasadena CC
quarterback, Nathan Chandler, who is a bounceback from Texas
Tech. At 6-7, 240 pounds, you would think Chandler isn't very mobile,
but he has about 200 rushing yards so far. Chandler has thrown for 1,725
yards and 18 TDs for a team that just lost its first contest of the
year, too. He has acquired all those yards despite only playing a half
in most games. Recruiting attention is coming from Mississippi State (RTH),
San Jose State, Iowa, and others.
In addition to athletic ability both Chandler and Goodenough are of
great character and possess excellent leadership skills.
| Running Backs
There are so many fine junior college running backs this
year, so it's hard to rank them. But we know one of the finest
is Butler County CC (Kans.) tailback, Ronald McClendon
(5-9, 185). McClendon, who was recently named the Jayhawk
Conference Offensive MVP, has his choice of colleges next year.
There were rumors that he committed to Ole Miss, but he could
now end up at either Nebraska (12/6 trip), Arkansas, or
Tennessee (tripping for Vanderbilt game). He may be a running
back now but the future could see him playing wingback and
returning kicks. McClendon is an explosive player and magical
things happen when this former prep All-American has the ball.
It should be noted that McClendon missed a handful of games with
an injury and that he shared time with Jermaine Green
(6-1, 220), who is another JC Top 101 running back. |
Ronald McClendon
141 car. for 1,033 Yards
11 Touchdowns
|
At Butte College in northern California there is a running back named
Chris Bruhn. After high school Bruhn, who is 6-3, 215, signed
with Washington State but failed to qualify. As a freshman last year he
backed up All-American Marty Johnson (Utah) but lit the world up every
chance he got. This year, despite playing behind a freshman dominated
line, Bruhn has been near the top of the state's rushing stats with 135
carries for 783 yards and five TDs through six games. It may take him
until summer to get his AA, but that hasn't stopped some good programs
from calling. Put Washington State in the mix since they're looking for
a JC tailback and signed Bruhn out of high school.
| Wide Receivers
You can't write an article about junior college football
prospects without mentioning a number of CC of San Francisco
kids. This year's JC Top 101 list has a good number of them on
it, including dominant wide receiver Princell Brockenbrough.
At 6-3, 205, he has the height to go up and make the big catch.
And he has the speed and other intangibles, too. You won't find
him among the state stats leaders because CCSF spreads the ball
around to so many fine receivers, but he is very legit. The
Virginia native is rumored to be favoring North Carolina. |
WR Princell Brockenbrough
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While Brockenbrough is good, it's possible that NW Mississippi's Durrell
Robinson (6-2, 200) is even better. Last year he was playing as a
freshman at the University of Georgia, so you know he's talented. This
season the former prep All-American is arguably the top player in
Mississippi junior college football. Ask any coach in the conference to
name the top player in the conference and Robinson's name pops out --
quickly. He finished the regular season with 46 catches for 846 yards
and ten touchdowns to lead all receivers in the conference.
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Tight Ends
There is only one tight end on the list this season and it's Fresno
City College's Aaron Austin (6-5, 255). He is playing for one of
northern California's top JC teams and has all the tools to be an
instant starter at the next level. Right now it looks like Austin will
play for Tennessee, Alabama, or Washington.
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TE Aaron Austin
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| Offensive Linemen
There's always a place standout offensive linemen at four
year universities.
One lineman to watch is Dixie State (Utah) offensive tackle, Ron
Green. He looks every bit of 6-6, 300 pounds and has
amazingly good feet, speed (5.0), and long arms. The New Jersey
native was recruited by South Carolina, Maryland, and Boston
College out of high school but academics were a problem. But not
anymore. After nearly two years at Dixie the big man is on track
to graduate in spring and is lining up January visits. Vying for
his services are South Carolina, Georgia, and NC State. Green
would like to major in computer programming. |
OT Ron Green
|
And our top rated offensive lineman is Santa Monica College tackle, Brandon
Lockheart, who signed with the Washington out of Dominguez HS in
southern California. He was the real deal two years ago and he's even
more real now! The 6-7, 330-pounder made first team All-Conference as a
freshman and is up for re-election in 2001. A number of schools are very
interested, including Tennessee, Oregon State, Southern Cal, Auburn, and
others. Lockheart, who is a spring grad, will probably take his five
trips before committing.
Chaffey College (Calif.) lineman Brad Lekkerkerker (6-7,
300) is one of the nation's best lineman and could and would play
anywhere in the nation if he didn't have clock problems. He's also an
excellent student and will perhaps move on to the NFL after finishing at
a D2. Named to the All-Foothill Conference first team after his freshman
season.
| Defensive Linemen
Ryan Boschetti (6-4, 285) is the top
interior defensive lineman in California and as good as any in
the nation. A great student (3.5; full qualifier) and
solid football player at Carmont High School in Belmont,
California, Boschetti went largely unnoticed and did not receive
any scholarship offers coming out of high school. Determined to
be a football player, though, he enrolled at College of San
Mateo and buckled down. Boschetti added weight and strength
during a grey-shirt year and then became dominant during his
first season on the field (2000) earning All-Conference and
All-State honors. He plays in the Golden Gate Conference against
great competition, including 1A feeder school City College of
San Francisco and Foothill College. Boschetti was offered a
scholarship by the University of Indiana during the Spring, but
decided to return to San Mateo for his sophomore season rather
than play three years for the Hoosiers. Now, schools all
over the country are expressing a huge amount of interest in
him. In addition to most Pac-10 schools, Tennessee,
Oklahoma, and Colorado State have all been hot on Boschetti's
trail.
DT Ryan Boschetti is the most dominant
defensive lineman in California.
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A couple of other kids to keep an eye on are Dixie State's Scott
Young and SW Mississippi's Demarcus Johnson. The latter is
6-4, 285 and can be very dominant. Johnson reportedly has offers from
top tier SEC schools such as LSU, Alabama, and Auburn. Meanwhile, out in
Utah, pre-season All-American Scott Young, who is 6-5, 305, did not
disappoint. We saw him play recently and he is the real deal. At times
he bullied a Ricks College offensive line with several 1A caliber
players and plays with great emotion. The big man with the mohawk
haircut visited Southern Cal (unofficial) last spring and is also
considering BYU, South Carolina, and several other prominent colleges.
15.5 sacks on the season and counting.
| Defensive Ends
Coffeyville CC has been a two-year home to former high school
All-American defensive end Mondre Dickerson. At 6-4, 265,
Dickerson has the prototypical body that big-time division one
programs look for. "He is athletic. He ran a 4.58 forty for us at 265 pounds.
He's really starting to come into his own. Probably one of the smartest football
players on our team as far as football knowledge," said his coach.
Dickerson was recently named first-team All-Jayhawk Conference
after having a tremendous sophomore season. He even recorded 6
sacks in one game this year! He signed with Tennessee coming out
of high school and he is still committed
to them -- and they to him. The Volunteers are happy that Dickerson is on track
to graduate in December. |
DE Mondre Dickerson is heading back to
Tennessee.
|
Monte Parson (pronounced: Mon-tay), who is 6-3, 270, plays for
Los Angeles Harbor College. He is literally a man among boys having four years in the Navy after high
school (Carson HS) in Los Angeles. Although Parson was somewhat raw last year after
the long layoff he still made All-Conference. His head coach attributes
the success to Parson's coachability. "Monte looks the part and plays the part. And
everything is 'yes sir, no sir'," said his coach. Extremely physical and a
master of the weight room.
Hasn't missed a session of any kind in two years at LA Harbor. "A coach's
dream." Being recruited by Washington, Florida, Nebraska, USC, Oregon
State, Texas A&M (offer), Iowa State (offer), Cal (tripped 10/13). December
grad (3.6 GPA) with a redshirt year available.
Linebackers
The sophomore class of 2001 is loaded with excellent inside
linebackers, so it's particularly hard to pick one as being the
best.
Leading the pack, though, are probably SW Mississippi outside
linebacker Kelvin Morris and CC of San Francisco inside
linebacker Lance Mitchell.
At 6-4, 225, Morris is well suited to play off the edge. "He's
good enough to go straight to the NFL," said his head coach
recently. And all of the opposing coaches we spoke with cited Morris as
one of the league's most dominant players. Morris signed with Clemson
out of high school and is all set to go there once he finishes business
at SMCC. He's a very gifted athlete, who was also an MLB draftee while
in high school.
| Out on the west coast -- playing for the nation's
number one team -- is insider linebacker Mitchell. The 6-3,
240-pounder, who was a non-qualifier out of Los Banos HS in
California, earned his stripes starting as a freshman on last
season's national title team and came back for 2001 as a very
dominant player. Last season his coaches put him at strong-side
backer last year but he's on the inside now, which is more
natural for him. Great instincts and quickness. Mitchell
and several teammates already to Southern Cal and he will trip
to Washington in a couple of weeks. A trip to Oklahoma is
already set up, too. Mitchell will graduate in December. |
LB Lance Mitchell stuffs the middle for CCSF.
|
It's kind of unfair to talk about Mitchell
without mentioning his next door neighbor on the field, Pasha
Jackson. At 6-2, 235, he's a near clone of Mitchell and is
also getting all the recruiting attention in the world. Jackson,
who is the son of a college professor, tripped with Mitchell to
Southern Cal and is also tripping to South Carolina and
Oklahoma. He was a qualifier out of high school and is an
excellent student on track to graduate in December.
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| Cornerbacks
Perhaps the top corner in Kansas' Jayhawk Conference is
Butler County's Taqiy Muhammad. At 6-1, 180, he has
better than average height for a corner and despite being only
180 pounds he's a punishing hitter. South Carolina received his
verbal commitment out of high school over Georgia Tech and
Maryland, who had also offered. He has 4.55 speed and was a
state high school 110-meter hurdles champion. Muhammad is a pure
athlete that blossomed as a corner this season and recorded 44
tackles. The Gamecocks have still got a commitment from
Muhammad. |
CB Taqiy Muhammad made first-team All-Jayhawk
Conference.
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For pure athleticism at the corner spot it's hard to look past
Eastern Arizona cornerback Walter Williams (6-1, 175). Opposing
teams rarely throw to his side. He's a two-year starter, who improved dramatically this year in run
support. "Incredible breakaway speed (4.4) and he's very elusive,"
said one coach. Originally
from Florida. Getting looks from BYU (offered), Wisconsin, USC, New Mexico, and
many others. Should get out in May.
Safeties
| Our choice for best safety in the
nation goes to James McGill of Bakersfield College.
According to one coach, McGill (6-3, 215) is the best player on
a Renegades team that has some great talent. He signed with
Fresno State out of high school and it's a sure bet that he'll
be back at a 1A school next year. McGill has the size and
intangibles to be dominant at the next level. And he runs a
legit 4.5 forty. Both Arizona and Arizona State are recruiting
him very hard as are Oregon State, Illinois, and South Carolina.
McGill will graduate in June and have two years to play two.
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S James McGill
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Another 'clock' kid to mention is Glendale (Ariz.)
safety, Eric Blackwell (6-1, 210). He was one of the only
freshmen to earn All-American honors in 2000 and could repeat this year.
Blackwell, who signed with Wyoming out of high school, is a big-hitter
and vocal leader of the Glendale defense. Although Oregon State and a
few other 1A schools are interested in him for one year, Blackwell will
opt for two seasons at a division two school where he can earn a degree.
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