It was a tough battle at the top of the rankings list as DE Mario Edwards Jr. (Denton Ryan), RB Johnathan Gray (Aledo), RB Trey Williams (DeKaney) and DT Malcom Brown (Brenham) all made convincing arguments during their senior season and in post-season all-star contests as to why they should be that guy.
Things were not much easier in the Sooner State. The top player wire-to-wire was a pretty familiar name: RB Barry Sanders (Heritage Hall). This version of Barry will be taking his game to Stanford and not Oklahoma State. RB Alex Ross (Jenks), WR Sterling Shepard (Heritage Hall) and WR Keon Hatcher (Owasso) are all very good in their own right. Ross missed much of his senior season with injury, but looked great with limited touches and both Shepard and Hatcher had explosive years.
No arguments at the top as everyone has WR Dorial Green-Beckham (Hillcrest) as the can't miss. The battle for second is where all the action was. DT Ondre Pipkins (Park Hill South) edged out WR Brandon Shepherd (Parkway Central) WR Durron Neal (DeSmet) and C Evan Boehm (Lee's Summit West). This was the deepest year for talent in the Show Me State in some time and we could be hearing quite a few of these names called on draft day 3-5 years from now.
Things pretty much stayed status quo in the Sunflower State. QB Tyler Matthews (McPherson) had a great career which culminated in a U.S. Army All-American Bowl victory. He has already enrolled at TCU, which will now compete in the Big 12. Matthews has a quick release and a good arm.
This state underwent the most changes, and there is a new number one. QB Tay Bender (Lincoln Southwest) overtakes the top spot in the latest rankings. Bender was the first player to make a commitment to play for Kansas State in the 2012 class and his talents should fit in well in that style of offense. TE/DE Sam Cotton (Lincoln Southeast) is the lone player in the state to snare an offer from the Cornhuskers.