Kedric Golston

This super prospect from Tyrone-Sandy Creek, Ga., is 6-4, 285, and runs a 4.84 40. I interviewed him in the Atlanta area on Jan. 2 and was immediately impressed with his size, attitude and confidence.

He had been mentioned to me a couple of weeks before my visit as perhaps the No. 1 prospect in the state of Georgia. The college coaches I talked to couldn't say enough good things about this defender and believed he was the best defensive line prospect in the state of Georgia last year. After viewing him on film, I could see what all of the excitement was about. He's the type of defender for whom an offense must account at all times, and despite double- and sometimes triple-teaming, he was able to disengage and play off the blocks to make tackle after tackle.

As a junior he recorded 88 tackles, 12 sacks and 26 tackles for losses, and he proved to be a brick wall against the run. Watching No. 6 on film, one immediately focuses on his ability to run and the pursuit angles he takes. He's just a great combination of size, strength, quickness and balance.

When pass-rushing Golston shows a quick burst off the ball, good closing speed and outstanding flexibility. In a couple of games I watched, he proved to be terrific in running down much smaller and supposedly quicker backs from behind.

Super-strong, he can bench-press 350 pounds and squat 545, and surprisingly he also has a 32-inch vertical. In basketball he averages 10 points and 10 rebounds a game as a power forward, and has thrown the shot put over 50 feet in track. He also dabbles in wrestling as a heavyweight and ended up with a 9-1 record last season.

The question on Golston is not whether he will become an All-American in college, but rather how soon. As of mid-August, his three favorites were Georgia, FSU and Tennessee, followed closely by Alabama, Clemson, Auburn and Florida. However, after talking with him and understanding the recruiting game, I believe it will come down to Georgia and FSU. And if I had to venture a guess at this early stage, I'd say the Bulldogs will be the eventual winners.

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 ($60 for the magazines and $90 for both magazines and newsletters), fax your name, address and fax number 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.