By every measure, it appears that the 2011 season will be a special one in Northern California.
The state has more top-level talent than seemingly ever before, according to MaxPreps/CBS Sports recruiting analyst Tom Lemming.
"I think it's one of the best years I've seen in NorCal in a long, long time," Lemming said.
In fact, of the 12 players from the Golden State in Lemming's updated 2012 Top 100, eight hail from the northern part of the state.
One of those eight is previously unranked
Aziz Shittu from
Buhach Colony (Atwater, Calif.), who now checks in at No. 60. The 6-foot-4, 265-pound defensive lineman had 76 tackles and 6.5 sacks as a junior.
"I watched him against Turlock and he was fantastic," Lemming said. "He stops everything up the middle and gets a great push. He's one of the best defensive tackles in the country."
Another top Californian who hails from above the traditionally fertile talent-producing grounds of Southern California is
Deontay Greenberry, from
Washington Union (Fresno, Calif.).
"He catches everything within reach," Lemming says of the 6-3, 188-pound receiver who runs 100 meters in less than 11 seconds.
Northern California is well-represented in the preseason edition of the
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Football Rankings. Bay Area power
De La Salle (Concord, Calif.) is ranked No. 3 overall, thanks in large part to the play of quarterback
Bart Houston, who enters the rankings at No. 78.
"He's a big surprise. He's the best quarterback in California," said Lemming, who ranks Houston over San Ramon Valley signal-caller
Zach Kline, already committed to California. "He completed 77 percent of his passes in the playoffs, which is phenomenal."
There were other shifts in the rankings involving non-California players as well.
Mallard Creek (Charlotte, N.C.) offensive lineman
D.J. Humphries rises from No. 15 to No. 12, while Lakes lineman Zach Banner drops to No. 17 from the No. 12 spot.
Hillcrest (Springfield, Mo.) receiver
Dorial Green-Beckham still checks in at No. 1.
If any player is going to challenge him for the final overall top ranking, it could be quarterback
Gunner Kiel, or defensive ends
Noah Spence or
Mario Edwards, according to Lemming.
However, Lemming expects Green-Beckham will be hard to dislodge from the top spot.
"I don't think anyone is going to knock him off," he said. "He's too big of a talent."
Updated list, including commentary from Tom Lemming, of the players who moved in to the new Top 100.
| Rank | Name | Stars | Notes
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| 1 | Dorial Green-Beckham, WRHillcrest (Springfield, MO)6-6/220 |
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| 2 | Gunner Kiel, QBColumbus East (Columbus, IN)6-4/216 |
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| 3 | Cayleb Jones, WRAustin (TX)6-2/190 |
| Texas |
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| 4 | Noah Spence, DLBishop McDevitt (Harrisburg, PA)6-3/230 |
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| 5 | Mario Edwards, DERyan (Denton, TX)6-3/270 |
| Florida State |
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| 6 | John Theus, OLBolles (Jacksonville, FL)6-6/301 |
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| 7 | Ellis McCarthy, DLMonrovia (CA)6-4/300 |
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| 8 | Johnathan Gray, RBAledo (TX)6-0/195 |
| Texas |
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| 9 | Landon Collins, DBDutchtown (Geismar, LA)6-1/205 |
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| 10 | Barry Sanders, RB/CBHeritage Hall (Oklahoma City, OK)5-11/195 |
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| 11 | Rushel Shell, RBHopewell (Aliquippa, PA)6-0/215 |
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| 12 | D.J. Humphries, OLMallard Creek (Charlotte, NC)6-6/265 |
| Up three spots
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| 13 | Jarron Jones, OLAquinas Institute (Rochester, NY)6-6/310 |
| Up two
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| 14 | Stefon Diggs, ATHOur Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, MD)6-0/178 |
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| 15 | Andrus Peat, OLCorona del Sol (Tempe, AZ)6-7/280 |
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| 16 | Travis Blanks, DBNorth Florida Christian (Tallahassee, FL)6-1/195 |
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| 17 | Zach Banner, OL/DLLakes (Lakewood, WA)6-8/295 |
| Down five
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| 18 | Eddie Goldman, DTFriendship Collegiate Academy (Washington, DC)6-4/295 |
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| 19 | Geno Smith, CBSt. Pius X Catholic (Atlanta, GA)6-0/165 |
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| 20 | Shaq Roland, CB/WRLexington (SC)6-2/180 |
| South Carolina |
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| 21 | Jameis Winston, QBHueytown (AL)6-4/196 |
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| 22 | Nelson Agholor, ATHBerkeley Prep (Tampa, FL)6-2/180 |
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| 23 | Matt Jones, RBArmwood (Seffner, FL)6-3/215 |
| Florida |
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| 24 | Keith Marshall, RBMillbrook (Raleigh, NC)5-11/190 |
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| 25 | Davonte Neal, WRChaparral (Scottsdale, AZ)5-10/180 |
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| 26 | Ron Darby, ATHPotomac (Oxon Hill, MD)5-11/175 |
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| 27 | Arik Armstead, OL/DLPleasant Grove (Elk Grove, CA)6-7/285 |
| Up five
USC |
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| 28 | Connor Brewer, QBChaparral (Scottsdale, AZ)6-2/195 |
| Texas |
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| 29 | Dante Fowler, DLLakewood (St. Petersburg, FL)6-3/235 |
| Florida State |
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| 30 | Zeke Pike, QBDixie Heights (Edgewood, KY)6-6/230 |
| Auburn |
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| 31 | Kwon Alexander, LBOxford (AL)6-3/215 |
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| 32 | Jordan Simmons, OLCrespi (Encino, CA)6-5/200 |
| Down five
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| 33 | Terry Richardson, DBCass Tech (Detroit, MI)5-9/170 |
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| 34 | Kent Taylor, TELand O'Lakes (FL)6-5/205 |
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| 35 | Tee Shepard, CBCentral (Fresno, CA)6-1/190 |
| Notre Dame |
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| 36 | J.J. Denman, OLPennsbury (Fairless Hills, PA)6-6/310 |
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| 37 | Darius Hamilton, DLDon Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ)6-4/255 |
| Up 23
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| 38 | Brian Kimbrow, HB/CBMemphis East (Memphis, TN)5-9/170 |
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| 39 | Shaq Thompson, DBGrant (Sacramento, CA)6-1/185 |
| California |
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| 40 | Joel Caleb, ATHClover Hill (Midlothian, VA)6-3/205 |
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| 41 | Jordan Diamond, OLSimeon (Chicago, IL)6-6/310 |
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| 42 | Malcom Brown, DT/TEBrenham (TX)6-2/280 |
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| 43 | Josh Garnett, OLPuyallup (WA)6-4/300 |
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| 44 | Quay Evans, DLMorton (MS)6-3/318 |
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| 45 | Evan Goodman, OLLakeland (FL)6-5/280 |
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| 46 | Tommy Schutt, DLGlenbard West (Glen Ellyn, IL)6-3/300 |
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| 47 | Durron Neal, WRDeSmet Jesuit (St. Louis, MO)6-0/190 |
| Oklahoma |
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| 48 | Byron Marshall, RBValley Christian (San Jose, CA)5-10/191 |
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| 49 | Ifeadi Odenigbo, DECenterville (OH)6-4/210 |
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| 50 | Michael Moore, DLDeMatha (Hyattsville, MD)6-4/260 |
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| 51 | Trey Williams, RBDekaney (Houston, TX)5-9/178 |
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| 52 | Josh Clemons, LBLowndes (Valdosta, GA)6-5/200 |
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| 53 | Trae Elston, DBOxford (AL)6-0/180 |
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| 54 | Vadal Alexander, OLBuford (GA)6-6/310 |
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| 55 | Devin Fuller, ATHNorthern Valley (Old Tappan, NJ)6-0/185 |
| Up 25
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| 56 | Eli Harold, DLOcean Lakes (Virginia Beach, VA)6-4/220 |
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| 57 | Adolphus Washington, DETaft (Cincinnati, OH)6-5/250 |
| New: Has a very impressive highlight tape, a tape that shows the 19 QB sacks he had in 2010. One of the best pass rushers in the country.
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| 58 | Avery Johnson, WREly (Pompano Beach, FL)6-3/200 |
| LSU |
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| 59 | Jessamen Dunker, OLBoynton Beach (FL)6-5/315 |
| Florida |
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| 60 | Aziz Shittu, OL/DLBuhach Colony (Atwater, CA)6-4/275 |
| New: I interviewed Shittu in mid-April and all I needed to see was the Turlock game to know I was watching someone special. A premier DT with enormous strength, quick feet and an aggressive style of play.
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| 61 | Kyle Kalis, OLSt. Edward (Lakewood, OH)6-5/300 |
| Michigan |
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| 62 | Chris Black, DBFirst Coast (Jacksonville, FL)6-0/175 |
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| 63 | Sevon Pittman, DL/TEMcKinley (Canton, OH)6-5/245 |
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| 64 | Jonathan Taylor, DLJenkins County (Millen, GA)6-4/295 |
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| 65 | Deon Bush, DBColumbus (Miami, FL)6-1/180 |
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| 66 | Jaquay Williams, WRHeard County (Franklin, GA)6-4/201 |
| New:
A year ago he was timed in a 10.5 in the 100 meters, not bad for a 6-foot-3 1/2 inch WR, and he averaged 25 yards per catch in 2010.
Committed to Auburn
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| 67 | Dan Voltz, OLBarrington (IL)6-4/290 |
| Wisconsin |
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| 68 | T.j. Davis, DBGodby (Tallahassee, FL)6-1/173 |
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| 69 | Freddie Tagaloa, OLSalesian (Richmond, CA)6-8/290 |
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| 70 | Cyler Miles, QBMullen (Denver, CO)6-4/215 |
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| 71 | Leonte Carroo, WRDon Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ)6-2/200 |
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| 72 | Bennie Coney, QBPlant City (FL)6-3/210 |
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| 73 | Matt Davis, QBKlein Forest (Houston, TX)6-2/200 |
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| 74 | Deontay Greenberry, WRWashington Union (Fresno, CA)6-3/187 |
| New: In person he looks like an NFL WR and on film, he looks like the high school All-American that he is. A big, strong receiver with a great vertical and the desire to catch everything within reach.
Committed to Notre Dame
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| 75 | Ty Darlington, OLApopka (FL)6-3/274 |
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| 76 | Troy Hinds, DLDavis (Kaysville, UT)6-5/230 |
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| 77 | Jelani Hamilton, DLSt. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, FL)6-5/250 |
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| 78 | Bart Houston, QBDe La Salle (Concord, CA)6-4/205 |
| New: A QB at one of the country's more storied programs, he's tall with great arm strength, poise and he's a player who plays big in big games. He has completed 66 percent of his passes in his prep career and 77 percent in the playoffs.
Committed to Wisconsin
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| 79 | Erik Magnuson, OL/DLLa Costa Canyon (Carlsbad, CA)6-7/280 |
| New: If you're looking for a LT who is quick, aggressive and smart, look no further than Mr. Magnuson. He has the frame to weigh 320 in college and has proven to be an all-around tackle who can run and pass block. Committed to Michigan |
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| 80 | Jordan Watkins, DEWoodward Academy (College Park, GA)6-5/260 |
| Down 25
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| 81 | Jordan Payton, WR/SOaks Christian (Westlake Village, CA)6-3/200 |
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| 82 | Greg Garmon, RB/DBMcDowell (Erie, PA)6-2/200 |
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| 83 | Dillon Lee, LBBuford (GA)6-4/225 |
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| 84 | Anthony Alford, QBPetal (MS)6-1/211 |
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| 85 | Tyler Matthews, QBMcPherson (KS)6-3/210 |
| TCU |
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| 86 | D.j. Foster, ATHSaguaro (Scottsdale, AZ)6-0/185 |
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| 87 | Javonte Magee, DLHouston (San Antonio, TX)6-6/260 |
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| 88 | Cyrus Jones, ATHGilman (Baltimore, MD)5-11/190 |
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| 89 | Ricky Parks, ATHCallaway (Hogansville, GA)6-4/225 |
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| 90 | Yuri Wright, DBDon Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ)6-2/190 |
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| 91 | Jonathan Williams, RBAllen (TX)6-0/195 |
| Missouri |
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| 92 | Justin Thomas, ATHPrattville (AL)5-10/175 |
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| 93 | Trey Granier, LBThibodaux (LA)6-1/225 |
| LSU |
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| 94 | Mario Ojemudia, DEHarrison (Farmington Hills, MI)6-3/215 |
| New: One of the top two prospects in the state of Michigan, he plays DE in high school and should wind up playing OLB in college. He recorded 12 sacks and 20 tackles for losses in 2010.
Committed to Michigan |
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| 95 | Vince Biegel, LBLincoln (Wisconsin Rapids, WI)6-3/215 |
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| 96 | Dwayne Stanford, WRTaft (Cincinnati, OH)6-4/195 |
| New:
The consummate red-zone receiver, he catches everything within range and has averaged 20 yards per catch in his prep career. A big target with great hands, speed and desire.
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| 97 | Jordan Jenkins, DLHarris County (Hamilton, GA)6-3/230 |
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| 98 | Anthony Standifer, DBCrete-Monee (Crete, IL)6-2/185 |
| New: The fastest riser among the top 100 players, he has had not only MAC interest heading into spring ball but now has a good number of major schools in hot pursuit. He's a tall, athletic corner who picked off nine passes in 2010.
Committed to Michigan |
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| 99 | Malin Jones, RBCatholic Academy (Joliet, IL)6-2/210 |
| Northwestern |
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| 100 | Mario Pender, RBIsland Coast (Cape Coral, FL)5-11/188 |
| Florida State |
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