The first player I visited this year is certainly one of the nation's premier players: Running back Gerald Riggs Jr. (6-0, 212, 4.42) of Chattanooga (Tenn.) Red Bank High School, who's the son of the former All-Pro RB.

	Gerald Riggs Jr.

As I watched Gerald Jr. on film, I saw a physical back who likes contact but also also possesses the speed to outrun most defenders.

In one highlight I saw him run 78 yards through and around an entire defense for a score. He helped lead Red Bank to the state title last fall and hopes to do the same this year.

He also shows excellent spin moves and can lower his shoulder and knock defenders on their backs. A consummate RB, he's a difference-maker with great balance and tremendous strength. He also shows great hands when catching the ball out of the backfield, and to top things off he has All-State ability at linebacker, where he totaled 121 tackles and three sacks in 2000.

Growing up in the footsteps of an NFL-star father is not easy, but Gerald has been excelling at football since his Pop Warner days. He has averaged better than 10 yards per carry in his high school career.

This appears to be an excellent recruiting class for big-time backs, and Gerald certainly has to rank right at the top of the list. He is being offered by just about every major program in the nation. He grew up as a Michigan fan, but now puts the Wolverines even with Tennessee, Miami (Fla.), Arizona State (his father's alma mater), FSU and Ohio State.

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.