[imported_DarthGator]

Fresh hype
Ten freshmen ready to take college football by storm




C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson
High school: Lake Butler (FL) Union County

Spiller can flat-out fly, and despite the freshman season James Davis put together in '05, Spiller is quickly making his case for a premier role in coach Tommy Bowden's offense.

Spiller (5-10, 190) won Florida's Class 2A track titles at 100 and 200 meters. His 10.42 in the 100 was the 15th-fastest high school time in the nation last season.

"Just by walking on the field he's going to improve our speed at that position," running backs coach Burton Burns said of the Clinton Portis-esque all-purpose back who ran for ran for 1,800 yards and 30 touchdowns last season en route to a No. 8 ranking on the Rivals100. "He's a home-run threat every time he touches the ball. That's something that we've been working towards the last few years. We want to get some guys who can take it from any where on the field and score for us."

Spiller has been working as one of the first-team kickoff returners, along with fellow freshman Jacoby Ford, and he's been the talk of the Tigers camp, prompting senior defensive end Gaines Adams to tell The State that Spiller is "the real deal."

Burns says the goal is to get Spiller involved in every facet of the offense, along with his work on special teams.

"We'll put him in situations where we know he can use his athletic ability and help us out," Burns said.

There's also talk of putting Spiller and Davis, who was the ACC's rookie of the year last year, in the backfield at the same time.

"We like to have that double threat back there," said Burns. "What we're trying to do is get out best home-run players on the field as often as possible, and that definitely would be a one-two punch right there with those two guys."





Stafon Johnson, RB, USC
High school: Los Angeles Dorsey

Tailback U's depth chart was so decimated when Heisman winner Reggie Bush and LenDale White bolted for the NFL that the top returner in the backfield hadn't played since '03.

Trojans coach Pete Carroll has redshirt junior Chauncey Washington penciled in as the No. 1 tailback, but he'll get a push from a trio of stud rookies led by Johnson, Rivals.com's second-ranked running back.

Johnson ran for 1,866 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, and brings 4.4 40-yard speed to Troy. Also in the mix will be C.J. Gable, who ran for 2,023 yards and 25 touchdowns and had 304 receiving yards for Sylmar (Calif.) High, and Emmanuel Moody, who totaled 1,400 yards and 12 scores on the ground for Coppell (Texas) High.

"Stefan Johnson, Emmanuel Moody, those guys have a tremendous opportunity to do it," Carroll said. "C.J. Gable, a fantastic high school player, a great competitor on both sides of the football: Run, catch, all that stuff. All these guys have a chance to do this."

Each brings a different style to the competition: Johnson (5-11, 200) is a mix of power and speed, while Gable is more of a slasher and Moody is a smooth, shifty runner.

If Washington, who has waited two years to get on the field because of academic problems, struggles, watch for one of the three Parade All-Americas to step in. And with Washington being a bit of an unknown, Carroll isn't wasting any opportunity to give his trio of freshman every chance.

"They're going to get a great look," Carroll said. "We're going to throw them in there like they're going to play and be starters for us right off the bat at camp and see if they can take it. We're looking for special dimensions ... it's going to take some time for us to figure this all out."






Andre Smith, OT, Alabama
High school: Birmingham (AL) Huffman

Smith knows the worth of drama -- and nostalgia. At a news conference announcing his intentions, he sat at a podium with Florida, LSU and USC hats in front of him. He reached under the table and retrieved a houndstooth hat, al a legendary Crimson Tide coach Paul "Bear" Bryant.

Aside from giving coach Mike Shula and his staff a near-nervous breakdown on signing day, he also gives the Tide a dominant force on the offense line who never allowed a sack in high school.

"I think he has just about all the things you're looking for," Alabama offensive line coach Bob Connelly said of the 6-5, 305-pound Smith. "He's got speed. He's got great athleticism [and] very good balance for a big guy."

Smith was the No. 2-ranked player by both Rivals.com and Scout.com, was named the most outstanding player at the Army All-American Bowl combine and became the first offensive lineman to be named Alabama's Mr. Football in the award's 23-year history.

He has the strength to play inside -- with a max bench of 400 pounds -- and the speed to play outside-- clocked at 5.2 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Junior Chris Capps started every game at right tackle a year ago, but Smith is expected to push for playing time right away.

"We've got a great plan," Connelly said. "We're going to give him every opportunity to get on the field and help himself and help us. Time is going to tell. It's going to be dependent on how quickly he learns the system. Physically, there's no concerns right now."

Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas
High school: Dallas (Texas) Woodrow Wilson

As if the Longhorns defense isn't going to be nasty enough, how about adding the Big 12's preseason newcomer of the year to the mix?

Kindle, who did a little bit of everything at Woodrow Wilson, including running for 2,298 yards and 40 touchdowns and registering 157 tackles his senior year, will only add to an already frightening linebacking corps that Lindy's ranks as the ninth-best in the country.

Kindle (6-3, 225) can play both outside linebacker spots, but is expected to backup Robert Killebrew at strongside.

"Sergio is a big, athletic and talented young linebacker who fits right into the mold of the guys we like to have at that position," Mack Brown said. "He's fortunate in that he was able to watch, learn and work with some more experienced players in the spring and will not be forced into action right away this fall."

The Parade All-America and recipient of the AFL Ironman award, which is given to the nation's best two-way player, is fifth on the Rivals100 and its highest-rated linebacker. He was also the only player in Texas to earn all-state honors on both sides of the ball.

With his mix of height, weight and 4.56 40-yard dash speed, Kindle is already drawing comparisons to former Longhorn and current Kansas City Chief Derrick Johnson.

"He's the best I've ever seen," Kindle's high school coach Bobby Estes told the San Antonio Express-News.

Kindle was held out of the spring game because a dropped class left him below athletic eligibility, but Brown says the situation has been remedied and it should have no further effect on his standing.





Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State
High school: Akron (Ohio) Garfield

It didn't take long for Wells to make his presence felt at Ohio State. During the Buckeyes' Scarlet and Gray game, the freshman pounded his chest before taking a handoff, broke a tackle and barreled his way to a 11-yard gain.

"That was to let them know I was coming," Wells told the Columbus Dispatch.

It was a notice that incumbent Antonio Pittman may want to heed as well.

While Pittman, who ran for 1,331 yards last season, is the starter, he'll no doubt get a push from Wells (6-1, 220), who brings a mix of speed, size and balance that will add much-needed depth to the backfield.

"It's been a few years since we've had that depth and luxury at tailback," Ohio State recruiting coordinator John Peterson said. "We're excited to have Wells and [Maurice] Wells right there in the thick of the tailback competition."

The third-ranked player in the Rivals100 and the recruiting service's top-ranked running back, Wells ran for 2,134 yards and 28 touchdowns last season and was named Ohio's Mr. Football. And if this bruiser's high-school exploits weren't enough, the comparisons to other players are sure to get Buckeyes fans salivating. Quarterback Troy Smith has likened him to a young Jerome Bettis, while running backs coach Dick Tressel says Wells reminds him of a Jim Brown.

"Chris is big I-back, [a] downhill runner," Peterson said. "He's the kind of player that has a relentless motor and likes to go north and south and get positive yards."

With Pittman nursing his injury, Wells was given the opportunity to take center stage in the spring game and didn't disappoint, running for 48 yards on 11 carries. He also caught a pass two yards behind the line and bowled over a pair of defenders en route to a 9-yard gain.


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[imported_DarthGator]

Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
High school: Ponte Vedra Beach (Fla.) Nease

At Bowling Green it was Josh Harris. At Utah it was Alex Smith. And at Florida, if the hype is any indication, Tebow will prove to be the next quarterback tailor-made for coach Urban Meyer's spread-option offense.

Tebow, whose game is in the vein of Smith's, threw for 3,324 yards and 31 touchdowns last season and ran for 1,150 yards and 20 scores. Some Florida fans who are frustrated with three-year starter Chris Leak already are clamoring to get the freshman on the field.

His profile got a boost when he starred in a documentary called Tim Tebow: The Chosen One before arriving on campus in January, and he fueled the discussion with his performance in the spring game, going 15-of-21 passing for 197 yards and a touchdown.

But despite the chatter, Meyer's staff is taking it slow with Tebow (6-3, 217), though he will see the field this season.

"As soon as Tim is ready we will put him in the game just to get him repetitions," quarterback coach Dan Mullen said. "However, we will not put him in before he is ready."

Word is Meyer will develop the 22nd-ranked player by Rivals.com and play him in a series here and there. And despite the outcry on message boards, there's probably a bigger chance of Albert the Gator becoming the long snapper than Leak getting benched.

Leak says he's trying to become a mentor to Tebow, something that Leak didn't have when he was thrust into the starting role as a freshman, and has been praising the freshman's worth ethic.





Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
High school: Virginia Beach (VA) Landstown

There's no denying what attracted Urban Meyer to Harvin. "One of our goals on offense, I had a dream of being the fastest team in America," Meyer said. "Whether that will happen, who knows? We want speed."

The nation's top-ranked recruit according to Rivals.com, Harvin ran a 4.32 40-yard dash at the Gators' first preseason practice -- and was upset over it, boasting that he ran a 4.29 at a combine in Virginia.

Harvin had 1,236 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns last season, ran for 326 yards and 10 more touchdowns and returned three kickoffs and two punts for scores. Often compared to Deion Sanders, he'll give the Gators a chance to score every time he touches the ball, which is exactly what Meyer wants.

"The way my simply mind works is big plays equals scores, so let's recruit speed," Meyer said. "Percy brings speed to our table."

While the Gators return experience in seniors Dallas Baker, Jemalle Cornelius and Andre Caldwell, Harvin (6-1, 188) is expected to be in the rotation at wide receiver, and could supplant Cornelius as both a receiver and kick returner.

The Parade All-America has had his share of troubles. He was involved in four school-related altercations in his final two years of high school and in February was banned from all interscholastic competition by the Virginia High School League.

Meyer, though, says he's not concerned about these problems following Harvin to Gainesville. "It's one of the educated guesses you take in recruiting," Meyer told the Orlando Sentinel. "He realizes he's made some mistakes, but we think he's going to do fine with us. I feel good about this one."






Myron Rolle, S, Florida State
High school: Princeton (N.J.) The Hun

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Rolle couldn't walk around his high school without attracting attention. But that all changed when he enrolled at Florida State in January. He was anonymous again.

"Here, it's just like everybody walking by... they don't know who I am," Rolle told the Pensacola News Journal.

He had better enjoy his anonymity while he can, because it looks as if it's going to be fleeting.

In his first scrimmage, the 12th-ranked player by Rivals.com picked off a pass, broke up a reverse behind the line of scrimmage and recovered a fumble in goal-line drills. In the spring game, he had two interceptions, one of which he returned 64 yards for a touchdown.

"[He's] very gifted intellectually, athletically [and is] mature beyond his age," Seminoles associate head coach and defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews said. "I guess when you start looking at things you want in a football player as a defensive back, you end up finding a Myron Rolle."

Rolle had 112 tackles, including 14 for loss in his senior season, but his classroom exploits are just as impressive as what he's done on the field. He had a 4.0 GPA in high school and went to FSU with so many advanced placement credits that by September he'll be a sophomore. The aspiring doctor has said his goal is to graduate by the end of his third year.

"He's not only a guy that catches on quickly because he has a very good understanding of the game of football," Andrews said. "[But] he's highly motivated, a guy that wants to become a great player. Those are the things ... that you need."

Andrews says Rolle will be on the field for the Seminoles season opener against Miami, playing both special teams and safety. He entered camp behind former walk-on Anthony Houllis. But if the freshman's spring performances are any indication, that could change by Sept. 4.

"So far he's lived up to everything that we thought," Andrews said.








Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
High school: Dallas (Texas) Highland Park

Think Bulldogs fans are more than a little excited about the potential of this 6-3, 210-pound, strong-armed Texan? Just ask Matthew's sister, Paige, a sophomore at Georgia.

Sixteen months older than her brother, Paige was in a restaurant when a fellow UGA student, upon learning she was Matthew's sister, reportedly dropped to the floor and kissed her feet.

So what's all the fuss about? Stafford entered Georgia in the spring after throwing for 3,991 yards and 38 touchdowns his senior year. He was the nation's sixth-ranked player by Rivals.com, and has drawn comparisons to John Elway, even from Elway's former coach, Dan Reeves, who saw Stafford in the spring.

While Georgia coach Mark Richt likes what he sees, he isn't getting too carried away. "He has a tremendous arm," Richt said. "He's very intelligent, is trying to learn what to do, trying to keep pace as far as just understanding our system. His biggest downfall right now. We can't play a guy based on potential right now.

Stafford is in a quarterback battle with senior Joe Tereshinski III, who has just one career start under his belt, sophomore Blake Barnes and redshirt freshman Joe Cox. It may very well be Joe T's job come the Sept. 2 opener against Western Kentucky, but expect Stafford to make an early appearance and a real case to be the first Bulldog to start at quarterback as a true freshman since Quincy Carter in 1998.








Jevan Snead, QB, Texas
High school: Stephenville (Texas)

How do you replace Vince Young? Well, you don't, but coach Mack Brown will likely be using a rotation of Snead and redshirt freshman Colt McCoy to lead the Longhorns offense in their bid for a repeat national title.

"Both of our young quarterbacks did a great job in the spring," Brown said. "I would say that Colt and Jevan exceeded our expectations in how they picked up everything, and they are guys that can make plays with their arm and with their feet. We're looking forward to see their continued progress this fall."

In Snead, the Longhorns got the fourth-rated dual-threat quarterback by Rivals.com and the 78th-ranked prospect nationally. Snead is most often compared to former Utah and current San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith, and has been known to dissect video of Smith. Snead threw for 3,546 yards and 38 touchdowns last season, while running for 766 yards and 23 scores. The 6-3, 205-pound Parade All-America finished his prep career with a 23-2 record as a starter.

Originally headed to Florida, Snead withdrew an oral commitment because he believed the Gators were only recruiting one quarterback this season.

McCoy may have the inside track on the starting job because he's been on campus longer, but Snead is already familiar with the spread offense, having run a version of it at Stephenville High.

"What we ran offensively and what Texas has run looks fairly similar," Snead's high school coach Chad Morris said. "I think with our spread offense, and with us throwing the ball 28 to 30 times a game, he's been able to see different types of defensive coverages, different types of looks."

With just a few weeks to digest the Longhorns' playbook, Snead went 9-for-13 for 97 yards and a touchdown in the Orange and White game.
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[DHNF]

I hope both Tebow and Stafford pan out and we have some epic Cocktail parties in the next few years

[dbo78912]

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLL LLLLLSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!

[I bleed Sooner red]

No mention of McCoy or Gresham?

Snead?

[boltalicious]

Watch out for Vidal Hazelton.....He's been exceptional at WR for USC in practices. It'll just be tough for him getting reps in gametime because of Jarrett, Smith, Turner and a couple of other HS All-Americans at the same position.....

Stafon should do pretty well though....but he'll be splitting reps as well....

[I bleed Sooner red]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(boltalicious @ Aug 10th ) [snapback]1658735[/snapback]</div>

Watch out for Vidal Hazelton.....He's been exceptional at WR for USC in practices. It'll just be tough for him getting reps in gametime because of Jarrett, Smith, Turner and a couple of other HS All-Americans at the same position.....

Stafon should do pretty well though....but he'll be splitting reps as well....
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I agree, I hear Vidal has been great in summer workouts and practice. I don't think Johnson will be as big of an impact with Washington ahead of him.

[TitanFan]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(boltalicious @ Aug 10th ) [snapback]1658735[/snapback]</div>

Watch out for Vidal Hazelton.....He's been exceptional at WR for USC in practices. It'll just be tough for him getting reps in gametime because of Jarrett, Smith, Turner and a couple of other HS All-Americans at the same position.....

Stafon should do pretty well though....but he'll be splitting reps as well....
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Yeah him and CJ Gable have looked awesome both in position drills and as return guys. Should be a monster.

Andre Smith has been sick too. Practicing at LT. Have some film of the Bama workouts this week if anyone's interested. He's been manhandling guys while Capps has looked like crap.

[imported_Roscoe]

TEBOW!!!!!

[GOLIONS1180]

Tebow to Harvin is going to be insane.