Fantasy College Blitz continues its evaluation of the incoming Class of 2009 at quarterback . . .
Tom Savage
Tom Savage, QB, Rutgers University
Considering the challenges Rutgers faced throughout the 2008 college football season, some expected highly-touted quarterback Tom Savage of Cardinal O’Hara High School to lose faith in head coach of the Scarlet Knights, Greg Schiano, and start looking elsewhere to programs such as the University of Tennessee. Yet, when National Signing Day arrived at the start of February, Savage told reporters,“I love Coach Schiano, and I was going to stay loyal no matter what happened.” Such was not the case with many recruits initially providing Rutgers verbal commitments; the New York Times notes that a half-dozen ended up backing out of signing with the Scarlet Knights in favor of going elsewhere. But Savage – who some are already comparing to the now-graduated Mike Teel – was different, a figure “as tough mentally as he is physically,” comments his coach at O’Hara, Dan Algeo. Algeo cites the following as evidence: Savage missed time as a junior due to injury before returning in his senior season and throwing for 1355 yards and ten touchdowns; he is a physical specimen under center at 6’5” and 225 pounds, yet plays with the finesse and speed of a smaller quarterback; he ran a pro-style offense in high school; and Savage was considered by both his high school teammates and coaching staff a phenomenal leader both on and off the field. It is those traits – in addition to his collected presence in the pocket and outstanding throwing mechanics – which have Schiano telling the local media is Piscataway, “I can’t wait to get him up here and start coaching him.” Scouts note the youngster possesses a bit of an odd throwing motion which causes Savage to sometimes lose solid control of the ball, particularly on long passes downfield; despite this shortcoming, however, the Pennsylvania native should grow into an outstanding passer and flourish in the offensive scheme Schiano features at Rutgers.
In order to prepare you for the 2009 fantasy college football season properly we have invested more time than usual following the recruiting scene, and no one has stepped up more than Jason Roberts. Jason continues his survey of the top five freshman expected at QB, RB and WR – and that equals the dreaded “Freshman 15″.
Andre Debose, WR, University of Florida
If you want to see an exhibition of what pure speed and athleticism looks like embodied in the form of a high school football recruit, then look no further than Andre Dubose of Seminole High School in Sanford, Florida. A 6’0″, 180 pound do-it-all-type athlete that played quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and kick returner as a prep football star, Debose is without a doubt one of the most explosive all-around players available in the Class of 2009. As such, expect him to be an ideal replacement for departed all-purpose yardage generator for the University of Florida, Percy Harvin. Lighting quick both off the line and downfield when separating from opposing defenders after the catch, Debose remains at his best when making plays happen with the type of ankle-breaking moves characteristic of only the most elite athletes.
He is, say scouts, much better in the short-passing game, where his speed and agility can do the greatest amount of damage; deep, vertical routes are an area in which Debose’s coaches are going to need work with him, particularly when it comes to teaching the young receiver how to compensate for the more physical play of SEC corners and safetys when stretching the field. Still, given his an outstanding sense of athleticism, there is no doubt that Debose will quickly draw comparisons to the flash and flair that Harvin brought to the Gators’ offensive playbook whenever he was on the field. This youngster, by all assessments, is the real deal and could be biggest draw at wideout for the 2009 recruiting class.
In order to prepare you for the 2009 fantasy college football season properly we have invested more time than usual following the recruiting scene, and no one has stepped up more than Jason Roberts. Jason begins his survey of the top five freshman expected at QB, RB and WR – and that equals the dreaded “Freshman 15″.
Bryce Brown, courtesy of VarsityKansas.com
Bryce Brown, RB, Uncommitted [Miami (FL) or Oregon or Tennessee]
Brown still hasn’t made a final decision as to whether he’ll remain at the University of Miami or, instead, reverse commitments and head out to Eugene, Oregon to play for Mike Bellotti. Reports heading into January (as reported by ESPN) suggest, as Brown himself told reporters, “It is safe to say that Oregon has got the edge by a little bit.” Still, at the one week anniversary of National Signing Day, no announcement had been made out of the youngster’s camp, and his personal website says to expect an announcement on March 12 (yes, subscription required)
The University of Miami (Florida) initially picked up a somewhat surprising commitment from one of the best running back recruits available in the Class of 2009 in Wichita, Kansas’ East High School’s Brown. A stunning combination of power and speed, Brown, who rushed for 6809 yards in his high school career, has the physical build to be a workhorse out of the Hurricanes’ backfield – and this regardless of whether running on the inside or bouncing outside to the corner. Scouts love his low center of gravity, a characteristic which should make it nearly impossible for opposing defenders to bring Brown down with any degree of easy; so too have evaluators had favorable things to say about his ability to catch the ball off a screen pass or as an intermediary target downfield.
He’s a sound student of the game and can pick up a blitz in pass protection with a level of comfort equal to his ability to run with the ball. Some concerns exist with his ability to dodge defenders out in open space, as well as the caliber of competition he faced in Wichita, Kansas, but there are enough tangibles embodied by Brown to make him a highly-sought after prize.
Read about the rest of Jason’s Freshmen 15 Rb like Trent Richardson and Jamaal Berry.
In order to prepare you for the 2009 fantasy college football season properly we have invested more time than usual following the recruiting scene, and no one has stepped up more than Jason Roberts. Jason begins his survey of the top five freshman expected at QB, RB and WR – and that equals the dreaded “Freshman 15″.
Matt Barkley, QB, University of Southern California
Believed to be the undisputed #1 recruit for the class of 2009 , Barkley committed to the University of Southern California while still a junior at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California. The first freshman to start at quarterback for Mater Dei since Todd Marinovich walked its storied halls (Matt Leinart and Colt Brennan are also Mater Dei QB alumni), Barkley impressed by throwing for 1685 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first year as a starter. By the end of his junior season, Barkley had thrown for 6594 yards and 57 touchdowns, with a majority coming off an outstanding 2007 performance in which he passed for 3576 yards and 35 touchdowns, all the while completing 63% of his passes. As a senior, Barkley struggled passing for nearly as many interceptions as he had touchdowns, and barely kept his Monarchs above the .500 mark. Mater Dei rallied, however, in no small part to Barkley’s leadership, and made it as far as the quarterfinals in the 2008 high school playoffs. In doing so, Barkley ended his high school career as the all-time passing leader in Orange County and accumulated a number of prestigious awards and recognitions for his abilities, including the 2007 Gatorade National Player of the Year, 2007 Glenn Davis Award, and 2007 Joe Montana Award. He also participated in the 2009 Under Armour All-American High School Football Game in Orlando, Florida, where he produced a game-high 237 yards passing and two touchdowns as the contest’s co-MVP. Read the rest of this entry →
