Fantasy College Blitz continues its evaluation of the incoming Class of 2009 at wide receiver . . .

Jheranie Boyd, University of North Carolina. (Doug Benc / Getty Images, Under Armour Inc.)

Jheranie Boyd, WR, University of North Carolina

When Boyd of Ashbrook High School in Gastonia, North Carolina made the decision to stay instate and commit to the University of North Carolina, he did so, says ESPN, because the Tar Heels had the “best coaching staff in the country” and, in his mind, should be considered “one of the top rising programs in the country.” Given his 6’2”, 184 pound frame and wide-array of athletic abilities (4.4 40-yard dash, 44-inch vertical leap, etc.) as a wide receiver, expect that the arrival of Boyd in Chapel Hill this fall will only serve to make Butch Davis’ team even better. Scouts note that given Boyd’s size, it is surprising just how much speed he brings to the game every time he takes the field; still, it isn’t just physical attributes that make him the outstanding recruit at wideout that he is, but too includes a deeply-rooted instinct for what it takes to be one of the best to play at his respective position, a strong sense of understanding for the technical aspects of what makes a good offensive playbook successful. Boyd is fantastic as a route-runner and should adapt easily to playing at the next level – perhaps even more so than any other receiver coming out of the Class of 2009. A young man far beyond his years – one ESPN writer says “he conducts himself like a 25-year old man with a college degree” – and a well-respected leader in the huddle, Boyd somehow fell just below the radar for much of his recruiting process, and didn’t really impress with the two catches made in this past January’s Under Armour All-American Bowl. With Hakeem Nicks now moved on to the NFL from UNC, however, don’t expect the relative obscurity that’s followed Boyd to continue for much longer. Something tells us that the hype around this particular wide receiver is for real and, as such, he’ll have an immediate impact – and perhaps a big one – starting as early as the 2009 season.

Kendall Kelly, WR, University of Alabama

Kelly, a 6’4”, 210 pound wide receiver out of Gadsen High School in Alabama, is a tremendous target at the wide receiver position and will serve to boost an Alabama Crimson Tide squad that may already have the SEC’s most dangerous wideout in soon-to-be sophomore, Julio Jones. Citing proximity to his home town as one of the main reasons why he selected to sign with the University of Alabama, Kelly brings to Tuscaloosa a combination of excellent size and strength mixed with explosiveness off the line and good speed breaking downfield. He loves to go up and make a play on the ball, and – in most cases – is going to win the battle for a reception against smaller defensive backs with little challenge. Route running has been a concern at times for Kelly, say scouts, but many believe that particular problem is something that can be taught at the college level as he continues to mature as a playmaker. Even with that taken into consideration, however, the #7-rated receiver in the country nevertheless still embodies a tremendous amount of upside and potential. Readers should be aware that Kelly does bring with him a certain degree of risk that has to be taken into consideration: medical experts, cites Al.com, believe that he may have played for much of his senior season with a torn labrum in his hip, an injury which, at least for now, the youngster hopes to avoid surgery to correct. “I’m rehabbing, trying to get 100 percent,” Kelly tells the website at the start of this month; still, says Gadsden City head coach Joe Billingsley, “We’ve tried rehab and he injures it again. Then we get it healthy with rehab and injures it again. It’s an ongoing thing.” Kelly believes that by the start of the 2009 college football season his hip will be fine and he’ll be cleared to play; if so, expect that the youngster will create quite a bit of buzz amongst the Crimson Tide faithful. Yet, if what Billingsley says is true, and the star recruit has trouble remaining on the field in spring and fall camps, the glowing promise which Kelly suggests he can replicate at the college level very well never have the opportunity to manifest itself.

Je’Ron Stokes, WR, University of Michigan

Stokes came out in April of last year and seemed a sure-lock to attend the University of Tennessee, telling local media as he announced a verbal commitment to the Volunteers, “Tennessee is a great program. It’s a powerhouse. I wanted to be the first one [to commit as a member of the class of 2009].” He claimed, writes ESPN, that his pledge was firm and that he had no intention of making further visits to other programs who offered interest in the 6’1”, 178 pound wideout from Northeast High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Yet as 2008 came to a close, Stokes seemed to have a change of heart; he admitted that Tennessee remained close to his heart as a program to which he wanted to commit, but that the month of January offered new opportunities to visit programs such as Michigan, Illinois, Penn State, and Georgia. Stokes ended up with additional offers rolling in from Michigan State, Oklahoma, North Carolina State, Iowa, and Florida; but perhaps the biggest surprise of all was the receiver’s decision on National Signing Day to inform the world he’d determined that Rich Rodriguez and the Wolverines of Ann Arbor ultimately provided the best fit for him. He would be a Michigan man, shunning his initial commitment to the University of Tennessee. The loss to Lane Kiffin and staff in Knoxville was tough one to swallow. Stokes, after all, is a solid prospect that has the athletic ability and know-how to be able to play either at wideout on the offensive side of the ball or switch to defense and see time at either safety or cornerback. He is highly committed to the game and gives 100 percent on every play in which he is involved. Stokes is excellent off the line, though, admittedly, he does not possess top-end speed once he makes a move downfield. Scouts note Stokes could be lined up either on the outside or as a slot receiver and will transition well in either role. He’s also proven dangerous as a multi-faceted talent at kick returner or modified ball-carrier on sweeps and reverses. Route-running is a weak point and will have to improve considering the speed and physicality of Division I defensive backs. Still, it is hard to ignore what a Class 4A first team all-state selection like this could do for a team that struggled to find game breakers on offense last season as much as did Michigan. Stokes should be an interesting story to follow this spring and in fall camps, and will be on our watch list as a potential difference maker out in the Big Ten in 2009.

Bryce McNeil, WR, Clemson University

Bryce McNeil followed a somewhat similar path as did Stokes, originally committing to Michigan, and then deciding in October of last year to place himself back on the market. In doing so, the Wolverines never again made the list of finalists from which McNeil would select, instead give preferential consideration to programs at Minnesota, Oregon, Colorado, Florida, and California. Eventually deciding on Clemson University, the 6’2”, 170 pound prospect at wideout out of The Breck School in Minneapolis, Minnesota focused on the fact that he had family in North Carolina, South Carolina, and in Atlanta, Georgia, as well acknowledging that he felt the Tigers provided the best opportunity for him to play in an offense similar to the one he played while a prep star; he tells TheTigerNet.com too that he and his family was impressed that new head coach for Clemson, Dabo Swinney, apparently listed McNeil as one of the must-have players he wanted recruited when he took over the program from Tommy Bowden – a compliment arising, the website notes, from Swinney’s initial meetings with McNeil as a junior. His physical stature makes McNeil a dangerous vertical threat, with scouts noting he has the height and speed necessary to be an absolute force on the outside. McNeil’s route-running is solid, and ESPN writes that even out of the slot, as a “slashing runner after the catch, he can make people miss and . . . has shown the ability to be a playmaker in traffic and jump balls.” Concerns exist in that McNeil never quite felt challenged at the high school level, and, subsequently, may have a hard time adjusting to the speed and physicality of the college game. Still, recruiters expect that any initial struggle the young wideout may encounter should quickly dissipate as he matures as a ball player. Watch for McNeil to get a shot at returning kicks in addition to assigned responsibilities as a wideout, with an ability to read the field and hit holes necessary to break into open space a highly-valued commodity. Overall, despite being ranked #9 in the nation for his position, McNeil is one of the best at his position to come out in the Class of 2009. As such, he should fit in well in Swinney’s program and is rightfully regarded as one of the top recruits that the Tigers managed to land this year.

Terry Hawthorne, WR, University of Illinois

Hawthorne originally committed to the University of Illinois back in July of last year, and though giving additional consideration to programs like Oklahoma, Missouri, Texas Tech, and Arizona, the East St. Louis Senior High School product at wide receiver never fully waivered from donning the uniform of the Illini. At 6’0” and 168 pounds, the youngster is viewed as a flat-out burner of an athlete that in all truth could be have been recruited to play either on the offensive or defensive side of the ball in college. ESPN calls Hawthorne “one of the most underrated players” of the Class of 2009, highlighting that he is “smooth, fast and a playmaker especially in jump ball situations.” He has tremendous hands and truly attacks the ball every opportunity a pass is thrown his way. He produces big-time against zone defenses, but could find it difficult to adjust to the different pass-coverage schemes he’ll see at the NCAA level. Regardless, evaluators are smitten with the fact that Hawthorne plays taller and faster than his overall numbers suggests – a clear reason why he was identified as a First Team Coaches All-State Selection in his senior year, a campaign in which he pulled in 48 passes for 1009 yards and 27 touchdowns. Some might suggest that Parade Magazine went out on a limb in listing Hawthorne as its choice for #1 wide receiver recruit in the country; being matched up with the likes of Arrelious Benn and Florida transfer Jarred Fayson in 2009, however, should go a long way in proving, as proposed by one writer at NFLDraftScout.com, whether or not Hawthorne in reality fits the honor awarded to him by Parade and will develop into the offensive target

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