Recruiting Outlook: North Carolina
By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com
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SouthernPigskin.com Columnist Justin Davis looks at the top prospects in talent rich North Carolina. By Justin Davis
SouthernPigskin.com Contributor
SouthernPigskin.com Columnist Justin Davis looks at the top prospects in talent rich North Carolina. Follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/SouthernPigskin. Become a fan of us on Facebook at the SouthernPigskin.com Facebook Page
The Tarheel state is better known for its basketball recruits and players and football can sometimes be an afterthought. However in the 2011 recruiting class a handful of high school football players are making a significant amount of noise on the gridiron. The result, much like Keenan Allen last year, is a lot of media attention and recognition that North Carolina is a hotbed of football talent as well. North Carolina is now among the must stop states for college coaches. This should allow for Friday Night Lights to shine brightly in stadiums and fields all over the First in Flight state. Get a ticket, grab a hot dog and wash it down with a RealTree Energy Drink as we enjoy this season. This is only the beginning. Here’s some rankings of how the early recruits stack up.
1. Christian LeMay- QB- Charlotte, NC
School: UGA
LeMay could very well be the top pro style QB in the nation by the time Rivals nd ESPNU150 rankings come out.
2. Jeoffrey Pagan- DE- Asheville,NC
School: Florida
Led his school in sacks and the fact that Alabama, Florida and USC were among 30 offers speaks volumes.
3. Eric Ebron- TE- Greensboro, NC
School: UNC
He’s the best TEH-Back in the state and could very well emerge as the top in the nation.
4. Christian Russell- ILB- Fayetteville, NC
Schools: Georgia, Tennessee, UNC, NC State and Miami.
A four star MLB on the verge of a fifth one.
5. Stephone Anthony- OLB- Wadesboro, NC
Schools: Southern Cal, Florida, Clemson, UNC and NC State.
Hasn’t really participated in many camps, but a monster junior season and the potential for an even bigger senior season leaves very few doubts.
6. Marquise Williams- QB- Charlotte, NC
Schools: LSU, Va Tech, Michigan, Notre Dame and UNC.
When your the second best QB in the state next to LeMay is that such a bad thing?
7. Travis Riley- RB- Kannapolis, NC
School: UNC
You should see the power and speed this back runs with. Once ran for 208 yards and 4 TD’s in a game!
8. Maurice Harris-WR- Greensboro, NC
Schools: Alabama, Clemson, Cal, UNC and NC State.
Shared the field with last years super athlete Keenan Allen.
9. Kris Frost- ATH- Charlotte, NC
Schools: Auburn, South Carolina, UNC, Va Tech and NC State
This guy is a true football player.
10. Norkethius Otis- OLB- Gastonia, NC
Schools: LSU, Florida, South Carolina, UNC and NC State
Offer list and stat sheet can fill a book. Elite potential.
11. Vad Lee- WR- Durham, NC
Schools: South Carolina, UNC, Duke, Georgia Tech, and NC State
This guy is listed as a WR/ATH. He ran a 4.45 so he can do whatever he wants!
12. Drew Owens- TE- Charlotte NC
Schools: South Carolina, UNC, NC State, Va Tech and Clemson
Owens also has a rather lengthy offer list that could fit in a trunk! Obviously TE is the position to play this year in NC!
13. Brian Riggins- WR- Tabor City, NC
Schools: NC State and Va Tech
While not possessing elite size and speed, Riggins offers superior route running skills, soft hands and a 38 inch vertical leap!
Dark Horses
The state is obviously ripe with talent. While these prospects may not have the accolades and stars as their counterparts listed above, they have the ability to break out this year!
Eric MacLain- TE/OT- Fayetteville, NC
MacLain turned Tennessee down as a OT. He lost weight playing basketball and is now a TE for Clemson. He’s got very fast feet and could play well at either position at the next level.
Nyjee Fleming- RB- Charlotte, NC
Nyjee Fleming has been garnering attention since he was a freshman.The 3-year starter on Charlotte’s powerhouse Independence High School has yet to win a state title (lost to Christian LeMay and Butler twice). Fleming, who is a self described powerback with quick feet, amassed 1600 yards and 26 TDs on 280 plus carries. Fleming has offers from pretty much all the ACC and SEC powers, but Miami and Virginia are his favorites right now. He claims to be wide open.
DaMarcus Bell-DT- Wadesboro, NC
While he takes up double teams, he also has a great first step and plays with leverage.
Adrian Gamble- WR- Charlotte, NC
The Virginia Cavaliers wasted no time on Gamble. He is a fast receiver who can return kicks as well.
Brandon Ellerbe- S- Wadesboro, NC
This hard hitting safety will be causing opposing safeties to see stars for years to come. Committed to Clemson fairly early.
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Justin Davis aka JersyMikeJr is an aspiring sports talk jock and avid Alabama football fan. Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, Justin is 5’4 and 170 pounds of Bama talking thunder. In addition to Alabama and football in general, he also enjoys boxing, college basketball, NBA and baseball. NASCAR is growing on Justin a little being the fact he’s from the South. JersyMikeJr is fast pace, provocative, on the inside and brings the knowledge.
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