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| Wednesday, February 7 |
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| Berlin a Brock-solid quarterback By Bill Hodge FANSonly.com | |||
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Brock Berlin is special.
It doesn't take long to figure it out. Berlin is the nation's top prep quarterback
prospect, hands-down; there is no issue. He also has been raised the right way.
From Shreveport (Evangel Christian Academy), La.,
Berlin committed to the
Florida Gators and coach Steve Spurrier over Kentucky and Georgia. Following the Evangel custom, he made his announcement at the First Assembly of God in Shreveport.
Berlin choked back tears while talking: His sister, Natalie, is his favorite
cheerleader, his older brother, Corey, is his favorite receiver and he considers his
dad as the finest man in the world. He thanked his mother
for teaching him how to set goals and stick with them.
Berlin's mother, Nancy, gave her son a Florida visor, much
like the one Spurrier wears. Asked for an impression of the coach,
Berlin threw the visor to the ground, which thrilled the crowd.
Evangel, which runs a wide-open passing attack that features four- and
five-receiver sets, has not lost a game in more than three years
and has won three state championships. Berlin has passed
for 2,082 yards and 20 touchdowns this season and has broken Josh Booty's state
high school record for career passing yards.
Berlin is 52-0 in his prep career, completing 66 percent of his
passes and throwing for 11,765 yards and 129 touchdowns.
His quarterback efficiency rating is 154.02. The national record of 162 career touchdown passes was set by Brian Lindgren of Walla Walla-DeSalef, Wash., in
1995-98. Berlin threw only one touchdown pass as a freshman.
According to Evangel coach Dennis Dunn, more than 40 recruiters from major
universities visited in May.
"Brock Berlin is extremely promising and has the poise, maturity, skills, leadership and ability to handle a wide-open passing attack," says one scout. "There
are bigger and stronger kids around, but he is special and prospects like him come along only every few years. Programs that live on the overhead game -- like Florida, Purdue, Kentucky or BYU -- are made for him because Evangel is such a strong passing school with talented players."
Berlin plans to graduate in December and enroll at Florida in January. "I actually
told Coach Spurrier that I was going to Florida last week. He was very excited and glad that I was going to be a Gator.
"I have known since the summer that Florida was the place for me. The decision wasn't as hard as some people might think," Berlin said on his announcement day. "I camped there and just loved it. Coach Spurrier and Coach Buddy Teevins have been great and they are super coaches. I think I fit in well there. They throw the ball a lot and fit my offensive style. I like all the people there, the coaches and the players. The players seem to enjoy it there. I lived in Orlando until I was eight (his grandfather lives two hours away from Gainesville).
"Plus, I have been ready to get it over with. I got tired of all the people asking me where I was going. I want to spend some time with my teammates. We are trying to win a state championship."
Berlin had impressed
Spurrier at summer camp and compared him to former Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel in his maturity, character and ability. Wuerffel and
current starter Doug Johnson helped in Berlin's decision.
"They really enjoy playing for Coach Spurrier. He's a competitor and I'm really
looking forward to playing for him."
Berlin took two unofficial trips to Florida and liked both the offense and
Spurrier. "(Brock) just thinks he can work well with him," says Nancy Berlin. They talk the same language and see the same things. Brock's very competitive, as is coach Spurrier."
Berlin says the LSU Tigers were not a factor in his decision. "With what I do, I don't fit into LSU's offense," he said. "I think I fit in well with the Florida offense." Booty, Berlin's friend and fellow Evangel Christian graduate, is currently the starter at LSU.
"Ever since I as a little kid, I wanted to be just like Josh Booty," Berlin said
at his press conference. "I wanted
to play football like him, I tried to walk like him, I tried to talk like him and
I am here today to testify to you that if you set your goals, and believe in
God and keep faith in what He promises, He will give you what you asked
for."
Latest football commitments:
Illinois has a reported pledge from defensive lineman
Jamari Perry of
Maywood-Proviso East, Ill.
Fullback
Rob Shirley from
Bloomington-South, Ind.,
has made a verbal commitment to
Northwestern.
Michigan State has added another recruit in
defensive back
Jeremiah McLaurin from Saginaw, Mich., who picked the
Spartans over Ohio State and Wisconsin.
The Nebraska
Cornhuskers have their 13th commitment in offensive lineman
Nick Povendo of Keller, Tex., over Colorado, Syracuse and Purdue. The Iowa State Cyclones now have
three commitments with the verbal of
offensive/defensive lineman
Luke Vander Sanden of Inwood-West Lyon, Ia. Colorado has defensive back
Allen Mackey of Bakersfield, Calif.,
who picked the
Buffs over Nebraska, Arizona, Arizona State and
Washington.
Quarterback T.J. Prunty of St. Paul-Academy, Minn., committed to Miami (Fla.). Linebacker/defensive back Chad Cooper of Vienna-Oakton, Va., has committed to Virginia Tech (six verbals). The Pittsburgh Panthers have their sixth commitment in defensive lineman Brandon Calton of Fork Union Military Academy, Va. Outstanding running backs Marquis Weeks of Berwyn-Conestoga, Pa., and Dennis Haley of Salem, Va., who ran for 1,200 yards and 21 touchdowns as a junior, are verbals for Virginia. Offensive lineman Dan Mooney of Cleveland-St. Ignatius, Ohio, picked Duke. The leading prospect in the state, defensive/offensive lineman Mac Tyler from Bessener-Jess Lanier, Ala., has given a verbal to Alabama. The 330-pounder picked the Tide over Auburn, among others. The Kentucky Wildcats picked up a verbal from running back Chad Scott of Plant City, Fla. Tight end Jimmy St. Louis of Cullman, Ala., and quarterback Derrick Crudup of Deerfield Beach, Fla., have chosen Auburn. Crudup's father, Derrick, Sr., played for Oklahoma and the NFL Raiders. Vanderbilt received two commitments in teammates Michael McGrew, a wide receiver, and Ronald Hatcher, a running back, from Birmingham-Shades Valley, Ala. California now has seven verbals with offensive/defensive lineman Jonathan Giesel of Los Banos, Cal; offensive/defensive lineman Marvin Philip of El Dorado Hills-Oak Ridge, Calif; receiver James Smith of Carson, Calif., and linebacker Wendell Hunter of Carson. Arizona has added running back Anthony Fulcher of Scottsdale-Horizon, Ariz. His father, Mark, was an option quarterback at Arizona. UCLA gained receiver Craig Bragg of San Jose-Bellarmine, Calif. Running back Albert Tuipulotu of San Mateo CC, Calif., will return to Washington. He was originally part of Washington's 1997 recruiting class. Defensive lineman Clarence Denning of Modesto-Christian, Calif., picked Fresno State. Offensive lineman Eddie Keele of Othello, Wash., selected BYU. Latest basketball commitments: Guard Brian Morrison from Kirkland-Lake Washington, Wash., who was deliberating between Syracuse and North Carolina, has picked the Heels. Guard Tony Stockman of Medina, Ohio, has chosen Clemson. Georgia Tech is set for forward Halston Lane of Oak Ridge, Tenn. The Yellow Jackets now have three commitments. Guard Nick Booker of LaJolla-Bishop's, Calif., has chosen Davidson. Highly-publicized guard Tamir Goodman, once linked to Maryland, will play at Towson. Center/forward Clay McGowan of Westerville, Ohio, chose Old Dominion.Center/forward Andy Ikeakor from Houston-Westbury Christian Academy, Tex., is set for Tennessee. Guards JueMichael Young of Hammond, La., and Charles Thompson of Lake Charles-St. Louis, La., picked LSU. Auburn has a commitment from the state of Mississippi's top prospect and one of the leading forwards nationally in Justin Reed of Jackson-Provine. He chose Auburn over Mississippi and Alabama. Kyle Cuffe, an outstanding forward from Manhattan-Rice, NY., has decided to play for St. John's and Red Storm coach Mike Jarvis. Forward Herve Lamizana of Elizabeth-St. Patrick, NJ, is set for Rutgers over USC, Maryland, Villanova and Syracuse. Guard Marques Green from Norristown, Penn., is set for St. Bonaventure over UNC-Greensboro and UMass. Seton Hall landed forward Damion Fray of Huntington Station-Walt Whitman, NY., over over Xavier and Cleveland State. Guard/forward Carlos Dixon of Fork Union Military Academy, Fork Union, Va., is set for Virginia Tech. From China Grove-South Rowan, NC. Mark Curry, a forward from West Orange-Seton Hall Prep, NJ., committed to Delaware. Center Kevin Garrity has recommitted to Purdue. Ball State gained guard Michael Bennett of Indianapolis-Brebauf, Ind. Huge center Peter Ritzema of Clarkston, Mich., has chosen Cleveland State. Bowling Green kept hometown forward Josh Almanson. Indiana State received its second commitment in guard Marcus Howard of Elgin, Ill., who chose the Sycamores over Wisconsin-Green Bay and Western Michigan.Guard/forward DeShawn Stevenson of Fresno-Washington Union, Calif., one of the top prep basketball prospects in the nation, has committed to Kansas. Four more verbals for Oklahoma State in forwards Ivan McFarlin of Sugar Land-Willow Ridge, Tex., a highly-rated prospect; and David Anderson of Hargrave Military Academy, Va., plus guards Ellis Kidd of Dallas-Madison, Tex., and Terrence Crawford of Oklahoma City- Bishop McGuiness, Okla. Texas A&M is set for center Nolan Butterfras of Houston-Cypress Creek, Tex. Texas has a commitment from junior center Chris Wright (6-10 225) of Redwater, Tex. Guard Lavardius Atkins of Pelham, Ga., selected SMU. Oklahoma's Sooners have two more verbals in forwards Aaron McGhee of Aurora, Ill/Vincennes JC, Ind., and Daryan Selvy of West Memphis, Ark./Carl Albert State College, Okla.Outstanding guard Desmon Farmer of Flint-Northwestern, Mich., has committed to the USC Trojans. Forward Corey Violette of Boise-Bishop Kelly, Idaho, is set for Gonzaga. Guard David Rottinghaus of Charles City, Iowa, has given a commitment to Wyoming. The Washington State Cougars have a verbal from Jerry McNair, a guard at Fullerton CC, Calif. Omari Pearson of York-Crispus Attucks, Pa., has chosen UNLV. Nevada received a commitment from guard Gary Hill-Thomas of Oakland-Bishop O'Dowd, Calif., over UTEP. Bill Hodge is the executive editor and director of recruiting coverage at FANSonly.com. For more on college recruiting, go to FANSonly.com's recruiting index. | |
ALSO SEE Hodge: Top quarterbacks aren't waiting around | |
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