Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex has emerged as the Florida epicenter of high school football’s best prospects, and on this frigid Sunday (frigid for us is 50) more than fifty of the Southeast’s best QBs of 2010 and 2011 competed in drills at the EA Sports / Nike Elite 11 Regional Football Camp. The final Elite 11 gathers the Top 11 QB scores from the regionals for a focused event that always showcases the best and brightest of future college football seasons.

Clint Trickett wins Orlando Regional Elite 11 CaDmp

Jason Roberts and I ate some Disney breakfast around 0745, went over some notes and some business and then on to the field. Weather was particularly nasty – rain dotted the morning session and my guess was a solid 20 mph wind and gusts to 30 and temps in the 40s – not ideal at all. Fifty yard streaks were blown 10+ yards off target. If anything, this shows which of the youngsters can take mental account of themselves and persevere. Remember, these are 16 and 17 year old kids who feel like their futures are at stake.

Clint Trickett (right, courtesy Jason Roberts), son of Florida State o-line coach Rick Tricett, came away with the yellow leader jersey (HT: Tour de France) after defeating everyone in an accuracy competition.

Brion Carnes of Bradenton Manatee is for real, and a nice kid to boot. He was actively seeking input from guys like Chris Leak (Florida) and John Brantley (Florida) and they were happy to provide it due to his personality. When the seniors-to-be split off for competition you could tell he really wanted to be in their group. Read the rest of this entry →

Notes From The Margin is pleased to introduce to this site’s readers Ms. Jessica Lantz, an Oklahoma State Cowboys alumni, lover of all things Big XII South, future PGA Amateur-hopeful (look out, Michelle Wie . . .), and practicing chanteuse.

On special assignment for NFTM, on behalf of Osceola’s Garnet Sports Media, Jessica takes an in-depth look at the recent recruiting classes for schools of the Big XII Conference, beginning here — why aren’t we surprised? — with the South Division.

Baylor

Baylor football, thanks to head coach Art Briles, has begun the steep climb toward becoming serious contenders in the Big XII South. The 2008 campaign was Briles’ first season with the Bears, but everyone around the football program — and around the nation, for that fact –  has already seen vast improvements from the Baylor teams of old. Expect that their 28 total new recruits will help keep the positive momentum going in 2009 and continue elevating the Baylor football program in one of the nation’s most-talented BCS conferences.

Who To Watch:

Glasco Martin (6’1”, 196 lb.) comes to Baylor from Round Rock, TX as a running back. His senior season stats of 1,613 yards and 25 touchdowns rushing, as well as 14 receptions for two touchdowns, show Martin’s ability to be an all-purpose player for the Bears. Besides his offensive skill sets, Martin is said to also have the ability to convert to the defensive side of the ball at safety as well, emphasizing his overall athleticism and versatility.

Mike Hicks (5’11”, 175 lb.) from China Spring, TX has been inked to OSU as a safety. In his senior campaign, Hicks earned recognition as an All-State selection at both receiver and kick returner, while ending up finishing his high school career with 4,327 yards and 41 touchdown and the distinction of being the second-leading pass catch in Texas state high school football history. Although his stats prove his offensive worth, Briles is opting to have him focus on defense based on his intensity, intelligence and ability.

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Fantasy College Blitz continues its coverage of the best the Class of 2009 has to offer in Part Three of our series, “Freshman Fifteen” . . .

Moses Alipate, University of Minnesota (Source: Jason Roberts, Osceola's Garnet Sports Media / Fantasy College Blitz)

Moses Alipate, QB, University of Minnesota

Ranked the #2 high school player in the state of Minnesota by Rivals.com, Alipate is described by GopherSports.com, official website for the University of Minnesota athletics, as an “impressive athlete, yet very polished in the pocket.” He has surprisingly good feet considering he is more a traditional passer that a dual-threat-type under center, and has an excellent arm which allows him to stretch the field without losing velocity or accuracy on his throws. Rivals ranked Alipate the #19 “pro-style” quarterback in the nation, while the 6’5”, 230 pound youngster that played both football and basketball at Jefferson High School in Bloomington, Minnesota landed a three-star rating each from Rivals and Scout.com. He threw for 1422 yards and 14 touchdowns / 10 interceptions as a senior in 2008, completing 51.3 percent of his passes, while adding to his overall numbers 81 rushing attempts for 201 yards and an additional six scores. His performance in his last season at Jefferson netted him All-State honors from the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the Associated Press, and the Minnesota Football Coaches Association. Alipate also was named to the 2009 Under Armour High School All-American Game in Orlando, Florida, where he went two-for-seven passing for 33 yards in limited playing time.

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Andre Debose (ICON SMI)

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.

More on Reuben Randle, Marlon Brown and others after the jump. Read the rest of this entry →

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.

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