Bright Player Tops Rankings

Here are TheInsiders.com state rankings for Pennsylvania, Kansas and New Mexico. One week down and one to go, as TheInsiders.com unveiled 23 state rankings this past week. Next week we will finish them off, starting with Tennessee, Missouri, Minnesota and Nevada coming on Monday.

TheInsiders.com Pennsylvania Top 40 is blessed to have two elite prospects at the top – defensive tackle Callahan Bright and running back/cornerback Justin King. Bright, from Bryn Mawr Harriton High School is the nation’s top defensive tackle and number two prospect overall. King, from Monroeville Gateway High School, is the nation’s number two rated cornerback and the number seven prospect overall. They are both special talents. “Bright is also a rare type of athlete,” said Bob Lichtenfels, East Recruiting Analyst for TheInsiders.com. “He is exceptionally strong and mobile for his size. He may be one of the best defensive linemen to ever come out of the Keystone State. King (right) has the ability to take control of a game. He has Ted Ginn, Jr. (last years TheInsiders.com player of the year that signed with Ohio State) like ability except he’s bigger, stronger, and more physical. He’s the type of athlete when you watch him you just know you are witnessing greatness.”

The state is typically loaded, especially at a few certain positions according to Lichtenfels. The only depth is exceptionally deep and the quantity running backs is not too far behind.”

Brody Eldridge made a recent commitment to Oklahoma and this future Sooner is the number one prospect on TheInsiders.com Kansas Top 10. "Eldridge draws comparisons to Dan Cody. He’s very athletic, displays good lateral ability, has a great motor, and best of all has a tremendous frame to build on," said Midlands Recruiting Analyst Josh Clark. "I also like quarterback Kerry Meier and Mack Brown. Meier is the brother of projected KSU starting quarterback Dyland Meier and current Tennesse Titans tight end Shad Meier. He has ability in the pocket, but his athletic ability in allowing him to create and throw on the run is what makes him the most coveted quarterback in the Midlands region. Brown is a son of a head coach and he put up big numbers as a junior. His stock continues to rise and he will perfectly in an offense that likes to spread the ball around." Caleb Blakesley and Nick Stringer (left) are also three star prospects from the state of Kansas.

Last season the state of New Mexico produced one of the nation’s finest defensive linemen in Alan Branch (Michigan). Well, this year, another defensive line prospect leads the way on TheInsiders.com New Mexico Top 5 – Aaron Lewis (right) from Albuquerque La Cueva High School. And like Branch, Lewis is leaving the state for the University of Texas.

“Examining the crop of talent in the state of New Mexico this year reveals a good year for lineman and plenty of athletes,” said Southwest Recruiting Analyst Andrew Friedman. However, four of my top five can be found in the city of Albuquerque. And to go one step further, three of my top five hail from one high school, Albuquerque La Cueva, including my number one pick Aaron Lewis.”

Coming on Monday, TheInsiders.com state rankings Tennessee, Missouri, Minnesota and Nevada.



2004 TheInsiders.com Preseason State Rankings


Miller Safrit contributed to this report.