May 30, 2006

Rivals.com Football Recruiting Staff
Rivals.com Football Recruiting

Five 5-stars we got right Five who should have been 5-stars Pre-evaluation Rivals100

Today, Rivals.com begins to reveal the 27 players in the class of 2007 who have been awarded five-star status. By the end of the week, all 27 will be announced (in alphabetical order) and followed by the announcement of the Rivals100 on Monday, June 5.

The first seven five stars for the initial Class of 2007 Rivals100 include two from the District of Columbia. Defensive tackle Marvin Austin from Coolidge High and wide receiver Arrelious Benn from Dunbar High mark the first time since the relaunch of the Rivals100 in 2002 that prospects from D.C. have received five-star status.

A pair of prospects from the state of Georgia, defensive end Allen Bailey and cornerback Eric Berry, also are being announced today. Berry is from Creekside High in the metro Atlanta area, while Bailey hails from Darien, which is located along the Georgia coast.

Defensive tackle Joseph Barksdale from Detroit is the first of two prospects from the state of Michigan that will receive five-star status. Offensive guard Tray Allen is the top offensive line prospect in Texas and is among the first seven. Florida gunslinger John Brantley of Ocala is the first of four prospects from the Sunshine State that will receive a five-star rating.

Class of 2007 Five-Star Prospects
Tray Allen		Allen in Action
Position: Offensive guard/Offensive tackle High School: Grand Prairie (Texas) South Grand Prairie Height: 6-4 Weight: 305 Why he's a five-star: With one look at his great frame, solid movement and fantastic tools, it's hard to think of a better offensive guard prospect in the nation than Tray Allen. Though he could really play any of the five positions across the offensive line, the big North Texas prospect projects very well at the guard and tackle positions. His heavy offer list and great upside are just a few reasons why he's at the top of stack when ranking offensive lineman in the 2007 class. Allen is not just quick but strong as he maintains a 350-pound bench press and 555-pound squat. With all that in one package, it's easy to see why Allen was heavily recruited before committing to Texas. Plus, Allen has yet to hit his ceiling and will excel even more in a college program where he looks to put on pounds and improve his already impressive athleticism. The sky is certainly the limit for Tray Allen. ? Vote: Should Tray Allen be a five-star?
Marvin Austin		Austin in Action
Position: Defensive tackle High School: Washington (D.C.) Coolidge Height: 6-3 Weight: 300 Why he's a five-star: Austin has incredible athleticism for a big man, running a leg of the 4x100 and the 55 meters in track. He uses excellent leverage and hustles all over the field to make plays. His quickness surprises opponents and allows him to split double teams or blow past guards and tackles as he lines up inside and outside at times. His lateral speed allows him to track down running backs and quarterbacks to the outside. Austin has slimmed down from last year and is quicker than ever, running a 4.69-second 40-yard dash recently. He is a physical player and a superior competitor, the kind of prospect who wants to go against the best to test his mettle. Austin anticipates the snap count well, gets off the ball fast and uses his hands well. Austin plays the run well, keeping his balance despite being cut often. As a junior, Austin had 76 tackles and eight sacks while being named all-metro and all-league. ? Vote: Should Marvin Austin be a five-star?
Allen Bailey		Bailey in Action
Position: Strongside defensive end High School: Darien (Ga.) McIntosh County Academy Height: 6-3 Weight: 252 Why he's a five-star: Long and disruptive, Bailey has the size and athleticism to be a force in any defensive scheme. Though he plays linebacker for his high school team and wants to play the position in college, it's clear that he is more suited to play with his hand down at the next level, even if it's in a hybrid role where he stands up for part of the time. He could be even more lethal that way than if he chose one or the other. One of the most physically impressive prospects to attend a NIKE Camp this year, Bailey's biggest strength is his ability to seek out and close on ball carriers. He had 138 tackles (12 for loss) for Darien (Ga.) McIntosh County Academy last season. As things stand today, Miami (Fla.) appears to be the team to beat for Bailey, but Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Auburn and other schools are still strongly in the mix. ? Vote: Should Allen Bailey be a five-star?
Joseph Barksdale		Barksdale in Action
Position: Defensive tackle High School: Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech Height: 6-5 Weight: 305 Why he's a five-star: When Rivals.com made a tour of Detroit high schools last fall, almost every coach in the city said you have to stop off at Cass Tech to see the "big guy." That big guy turned out to be defensive tackle Joseph Barksdale, and his stock has shot up higher than almost anybody else in the nation. Barksdale, who is 6-foot-5 and 305 pounds, is one of the nation's elite defensive tackle prospects. He's almost impossible to block because of his great size and strength, but his non-stop motor is what separates him from other tackles. Combine those physical traits with an amazing off the field resume of a 21 on the ACT and a 3.5 grade-point average, and Barksdale is one of the most complete players in the nation. He hasn't tipped his hand early in the recruiting process as teams like LSU, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, Southern Cal, Tennessee and Texas are all on his list. ? Vote: Should Joseph Barksdale be a five-star?
Arrelious Benn		Benn in Action
Position: Wide Receiver High School: Washington (D.C.) Dunbar Height: 6-2 Weight: 210 Why he's a five-star: Benn is a big, physical receiver who is a matchup nightmare for cornerbacks and safeties. He has the speed to stretch the field, strong hands and the ability to adjust to the football in the air. However, his combination of size and strength is the key to his game, as he's too physical for smaller cornerbacks in man coverage. He'll be a red zone threat right away in college and is physically ready for the next level. As a junior, he caught 49 passes for 1,130 yards and 16 scores. Benn could also be a strong safety or linebacker prospect in college, but he's more unique on offense. Benn is hard to tackle and is shifty after the catch, often gaining extra yardage after first contact. He has a nice burst in the open field and is hard to catch from behind. He's been compared to former Dunbar great Vernon Davis, although he isn't as physically gifted. ? Vote: Should Arrelious Benn be a five-star?
Eric Berry		Berry in Action
Position: Cornerback High School: Fairburn (Ga.) Creekside Height: 6-0 Weight: 180 Why he's a five-star: Berry plays quarterback for Creekside High in the Atlanta area, but those that have seen him work out at cornerback swear he has a chance to be one of the best to ever play the position. He has excellent size and world class speed, posting a 4.33-second 40-yard dash at the Athens NIKE Camp this year, despite having a broken arm. Berry first caught the attention of Rivals.com analysts at the University of Georgia summer camp prior to his junior season, when he routinely was matched up against incoming UGA freshman Tony Wilson and got the better of several one-on-one matches. Multiple programs, from Texas to Southern Cal to every school in the SEC, want Berry, but most feel that it will come down to the in-state Bulldogs or Tennessee, where his father James played. ? Vote: Should Eric Berry be a five-star?
John Brantley		Brantley in Action
Position: Pro-style quarterback High School: Ocala (Fla.) Trinity Catholic Height: 6-3 Weight: 190 Why he's a five-star: A polished, poised quarterback prospect with a quick release and big arm, Brantley has the potential to push for the top quarterback spot in the Class of 2007. While he is without a doubt a true pro-style signal caller, Brantley is somewhat athletic as he's been timed as fast as 4.65 seconds in the 40-yard dash. He also was the top quarterback prospect at the Gainesville NIKE Camp on May 20 and was named to the Elite 11 days after his showing. Brantley threw for 2,835 yards and 41 touchdowns during his junior year in leading Ocala (Fla.) Trinity Catholic to the Florida class 2B title. Brantley works under the tutelage of former Florida quarterback Kerwin Bell, the head coach at Trinity Catholic. His father John also was a former Gators quarterback. Despite the ties to UF, Brantley, who was at the top of the quarterback board for multiple programs, committed to the University of Texas earlier this spring. ? Vote: Should John Brantley be a five-star?

More five-star releases:
? May 31: Big talent states produce in group two