Will Michigan's 2001 recruiting class rank with the all-time greats? According to ESPN.com recruiting analyst Tom Lemming, the Wolverines are on course to signing such a class in February. On Tuesday, Oct. 31, Lemming returned to chat to update users on the top prospects for 2001 and the schools that are paving the way for a top 10 class on Signing Day.
Lemming, editor of Prep Football Report, is considered one of the
nation's most respected and knowledgeable recruiting analysts.
Throughout his 20-plus years of covering the national high school
football recruiting scene, he has made it a point to visit hundreds of
the nation's top prospects every spring and summer, traveling
thousands of miles through most of the 50 states. This first-hand perspective allows him to
provide users with expert evaluation of each prospect's potential for college and NFL
greatness.
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ABOUT TOM LEMMING
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Tom Lemming is editor of Prep Football Report. For information on how to subscribe to Prep Football Report's three yearly magazines and five newsletters, fax your request to 847-842-1313 or write to P.O. Box 59113, Schaumburg, Ill. 60159. For year-round recruiting updates, call Tom Lemming's Prep Football Hotline at 900-860-9888. Calls are $1.79 per minute, and callers must be 18 years old or have parents' permission. |
Here's an edited transcript of the chat:
Blue_Sam: Tom, talk about Michigan's class and how it rates in comparison to some other great classes
you've seen.
Tom Lemming:
Right now, they're on track to rank with the FSU class of '94, the Notre Dame class of '90, the
Oklahoma class of '74 and the USC classes of '78 and '79. If Michigan continues their current
success through Signing Day, they have a chance to compare with those classes.
The latest commitment, Pierre Woods, has potential to be one of the nation's best past rushers
in a couple of years, once he puts on more weight and gains strength. He certainly has the
athletic ability to be a difference-maker.
Dolan:
How are the Irish recruiting in regards to the skill positions?
Tom Lemming:
Their most recent commitment, Matt Shelton, is a good player who was not heavily recruited by
the major schools, but Notre Dame saw his speed at their summer camp and offered him as a
wide receiver/DB.
In general, they're doing very well at filling their skill-position needs. They're getting some of the
nation's premier RBs and DBs to visit, but what they really need to do is get that long-awaited
difference-maker WR, which would be Reggie Williams this year. He's visiting South Bend on Nov. 11 for the
B.C. game. For Notre Dame more than the other schools he's visiting, he's a top priority,
because in recent years the Irish have lost Randy Moss and David Terrell, and this past season
they lost two of their top receiver recruits, Jamar Taylor and Jevon Witherspoon.
TTP:
What QBs are OU recruiting to be a possible replacement for Heupel?
Tom Lemming:
Travis Jackson from Olathe, Kan., is one. Brodie Croyle is their No. 1 choice. He's going to be
deciding before Christmas, and it looks like it could be an FSU/Alabama/Oklahoma race.
ChrisPeterson:
Who do you think has the inside track on Marquise Hill?
Tom Lemming:
According to Marquise this week, Michigan has a slight lead over FSU, Ohio State, LSU and
Texas A&M.
| |  | | Kevin Jones |
shawnway:
Do you have any new information regarding Kevin Jones?
Tom Lemming:
Kevin's five visits are not written in stone, but right now they appear to be Virginia Tech, Penn
State, Tennessee, Michigan and Wisconsin. There are a lot of rumors about each school
leading, but I think he's waiting on the visits before telling anyone which direction he's leaning.
noles':
Who is the best receiver prospect that nobody has heard of yet?
Tom Lemming:
It could be Marcus Furman, a RB from Connellsville, Pa., who is one of the fastest players in
the nation and probably will end up at WR in college. Pittsburgh, Miami, Florida and B.C. are the
schools in the lead for him.
Greg Hodge:
How successful has University of Tennessee been recruiting a running back, and is UT having
another good recruiting year?
Tom Lemming:
UT always had good recruiting years. There are just too many positives at the university for
them not to have a good recruiting year. Just about every one of the top RBs will be visiting
Knoxville between now and late January: Eric Shelton, Kevin Jones, J.R. Lemon, Jabari Davis,
De'Arrius Howard, Cedric Houston -- those are six of the top eight RBs in the nation.
Tennessee should get one and possibly two of those.
BV:
Tom, final predictions on these recruits:
Reggie Williams?
Kelly Baraka?
Brett Bell?
Ryan Grant?
Tom Lemming:
I'm not great at predicting, because last year I thought Michigan was on the way to having a
great class, but they stumbled at the end. All I can say is that Michigan is either in the lead or
running 1-2 with all of those players.
Raymond Serrano:
What can you tell us about Leon Williams?
Tom Lemming:
He's the No. 1 prospect in New York and was an early commitment to Penn State. He has
since decided to take other visits. He's already officially visited Michigan State (Sept. 28) and is
also looking to visit Miami, Tennessee and Ohio State. Leon is just one of several early
commitments who have decided to continue their recruitment. He still claims that Penn State is a
slight leader.
TTP: Which direction is is DT Tommie Harris leaning?
Tom Lemming:
Right now he's favoring Miami, Texas and Texas A&M but is still also considering Nebraska,
Florida State and Tennessee.
Brian:
How are the 'Canes doing? With the way they are playing are they back in the recruiting
process?
Tom Lemming:
In a big way. Not only locally but nationally, Miami's name is appearing the way it used to back
in the glory days of the '80s.
Steve Hess:
How have the Washington Huskies recruited so far?
Tom Lemming:
The Washington staff, like Miami's, appear to have resurrected their recruiting success and are
getting great responses from prospects, particularly in the West, where the majority of them are
lining up visits to Seattle. The Huskies should have one of their best classes in recent years.
Kieran:
Are any of the top prospects looking at the Gamecocks now that they are winning?
Tom Lemming:
I've found that the majority of the Southern stars have done an about-face in recent months and
are now including South Carolina in all their recruiting talk. It goes to show what a few wins can
do for the program. The publicity that the program and Lou Holtz have gotten recently has
really helped the team's recruiting efforts.
Tiger Fan:
How is LSU doing compared to other SEC schools?
Tom Lemming:
They're obviously involved with the in-state prospects and are also being mentioned around the
rest of the South and Texas, and they're spot-recruiting nationally. Nick Saban has a reputation
as a hard-working coach, but he's also an underrated recruiter who is known for landing super
prospects.
Big Ten Fan:
How do you see the Illini's class faring this year?
Tom Lemming:
Illinois got off to a really good start with four of the state's top prospects committing this
summer, but they've since leveled off. I expect an upsurge of blue-chip commitments with their
December and January visits.
Zach:
Will the Buckeyes ever land a top quarterback prospect? With the pro-style offense they run
and the supporting cast they have year in and year out, why can't they land the big one?
Tom Lemming:
Landing the big one is sometimes just luck and being in the right place at the right time. There
haven't been many great QBs come out of Ohio in recent years, so they have to recruit
nationally. Sooner rather than later, I'd expect them to land a great national QB, though
probably not this year.
hokiefan:
how is VT doing after two great seasons?
Tom Lemming:
Thanks to Michael Vick, Virginia Tech is a high priority for a lot of the nation's top prospects,
including Kevin Jones, Airese Currie (WR, one of the top three prospects in S.C.), C.J. Fayton
(DB from Virginia Beach), and Lionel Bolen (DB from Mt. Holly, N.J.). All of them mentioned
the success of Vick as a reason they're looking at VT.
Stephen:
How does the Oregon Ducks' recruiting class look this year for football?
Tom Lemming:
They've got a commitment from blue-chip QB Kellen Clemens of Burns, Ore., and are in line to
have their best year in recent memory, not only in the state but also in California (their No. 1
state for prospects).
Jay Mikelman:
How does the UCLA Bruins' recruiting class look this year?
Tom Lemming:
It received a big boost today with the commitment of WR Junior Taylor, one of the top three
prospects in Arizona. I would rank the Bruins either No. 2 or No. 3 nationally in the recruiting
race.
J. Wallace:
With Tommy Bowden's wide-open offense, do you expect Clemson to land some top-rated
players in skill positions?
Tom Lemming:
Yes, I do, not only because of the offense, but because of the recruiting expertise of the staff --
in particular, recruiting coordinator Rick Stockstill.
Buffs Fan:
How are the Buffs doing? Any news on Fred Lee or Shaun Cody?
Tom Lemming:
Fred Lee is one of the nation's premier WRs and has Colorado slightly ahead of B.C.,
Michigan State, N.C. State and Clemson at this stage. I also believe he's one of the nation's
premier kick returners. Shaun Cody has agreed to visit Miami, Notre Dame and USC and will
pick his other visits from among Colorado, Ohio State, Texas and UCLA.
It's a weak year in-state in Colorado, but the Buffs are making up for it with a terrific national
effort, and I look for them to have a good to very good recruiting class despite their record.
Chester:
Are the Hawkeyes in on any blue chip prospects? Will they actually land any?
Tom Lemming:
Iowa could possibly land some in-state prospects; the state is having its best year for talent in
the past 20. Blake Larsen is still technically committed to the Hawkeyes though he has already
visited Tennessee and Nebraska. Other top Iowa players interested in the Hawkeyes are
Marques Simmons, a RB from Davenport; OL Ben Cronin of Ames; OL Eric Smith of Iowa
City; LB Gabe Toomey of West Des Moines; and his teammate, Mike Follett.
Nationally Iowa is making a strong effort in Florida, Illinois and New Jersey, where they seem
to be everywhere.
Houston Horn:
How is Texas doing and what do you think of Cedric Benson?
Tom Lemming:
Texas should be putting together a top 5 class once again. Cedric Benson has the potential to
be a Heisman candidate in two or three years. He reminds me a lot of Emmitt Smith.
tim:
Please tell me Syracuse will do something about the QB position.
Tom Lemming:
They've already done it with a difference-maker: Cecil Howard, who is as good a high school
senior as Donovan McNabb was. He's the best running QB in the nation and is a prep version
of Michael Vick in that he can run away from anyone. He still needs to develop his passing
skills, however.
cwc:
How are the Gators stacking up against the SEC and nationally?
Tom Lemming:
I don't believe they'll have the class they did last year, when they finished No. 1. But because of
all the great resources of talent in Florida and surrounding states, the Gators should still battle
for a top 5 position on Signing Day.
Henderson23:
Is Kevin Simon still considering Texas A&M? What about Marcus Spears? Overall, how are
the Aggies doing?
Tom Lemming:
In my opinion, the Aggies, Texas and Nebraska have the best overall recruiting staffs in the Big
12, and Texas A&M does a great job of evaluating talent. This year will be no exception.
Both Simon and Spears, as well as Marquise Hill, are considering A&M, along with several of
the top prospects in Texas.
Sparty-on!:
How is Michigan State's recruiting class shaping up?
Tom Lemming:
The Spartans are once again working extremely hard in recruiting this year, but they'll probably
not have the great year they did last season -- although they are receiving official visits from
several of the nation's top prospects and could surprise some people in February.
John:
How many recruits will be coming out of De La Salle High School, in Concord, Calif., this year?
Tom Lemming:
They should be getting full rides for probably five to 10 prospects, but the two major ones will
be LB Kevin Simon and WR Demetrius Williams. Next year their QB could be the nation's No.
1 prospect.
GDawgs17:
What big prospects do you see Georgia landing (Jabari Davis, D.J. Shockley, etc.)?
Tom Lemming:
Georgia is doing a very good job in-state and is in the lead with Shockley, Russ Tanner (the
state's top OL), and WR Fred Gibson, and they have a good shot at getting either J.R. Lemon
or Davis.
Golden Domers:
What schools are the nation's top QB prospects looking at?
Tom Lemming:
Joe Mauer, who will have to make a baseball-football decision, is leaning to Arizona,
Minnesota and Florida State. Brodie Croyle is leaning to Alabama, FSU and Oklahoma.
Adrian McPherson has to make a basketball-football decision, which could be delayed until
March, and is looking at Miami, LSU, Michigan State, Ohio State and North Carolina. D.J.
Shockley is deciding between Georgia, Georgia Tech, Clemson and FSU. Ingle Martin will
probably decide between Georgia, Florida and Tennessee.
Mike Big Blue:
Do you enjoy your job?
Tom Lemming:
I absolutely love my job, though in the frenetic months of December and January, I may regret
saying that.
Fred:
How is Purdue looking so far in the recruiting battle? Will they have someone to replace Brees?
Tom Lemming:
They got one of the nation's premier QBs, Kyle Orton, who was a moderately recruited
prospect until he went to Purdue's camp and was offered and then immediately became one of
the top 10 QBs in the nation. That should give you an idea of how people perceive the Purdue
offense. This year's recruiting, in the hands of Jim Chaney, should be spectacular, especially
with the strong possibility of the team going to the Rose Bowl.
UNOMav:
How is Minnesota's class stacking up and who are they likely to get in Minneapolis?
Tom Lemming:
The key to their class is Joe Mauer, the nation's No. 1 prospect, from St. Paul, as is one of the
nation's premier WRs, Larry Fitzgerland, from Minneapolis. The Gophers are also putting in
good efforts in New Jersey and other Eastern states, along with the majority of the Midwest. I
look for them to have a very successful year.
Thanks to everyone for all the questions. I'll be back to chat again soon. In the meantime, be
sure to check out my Defensive Player of the Year preview, which is now the top story in the
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