Talent Deep In The Heart Of Texas

The Scout.com class of 2006 state rankings are here, and today's list includes appearances from Texas, Alabama, Oregon, North Carolina, and Iowa.

State Rankings Alabama 40 Iowa 11 North Carolina 30 Oregon 25 Texas 100 Tomorrow: California, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Virginia, Wisconsin

The state of Texas is a perennial footbal factory, leading the nation in players signing a division one scholarship, and this season is no different. To make the Texas top 100 list is a tough task, as shown by six five star players and and astounding twenty nine four star prospects.

"The 2006 Texas Hot 100 rankings feature a hike in the total number of blue chip linebackers available for those schools looking to ink Top 100 caliber prospects at that position," says Midlands analyst Stacey Dean. "There are sixteen total, plus a few strong safeties that are just as likely to move to outside linebacker as well. Make no mistake this is The Year of the Linebacker in the Lone Star State."

However, according to Dean, the top prospect is was an easy choice.

"Ian Symonette is arguably the most talented offensive tackle prospect to come out of Texas I have ever seen."

Alabama is no slouch itself, especially with the nation's number two player, offensive lineman

Andre Smith

Andre Smith from Huffman High School in Birmingham. Smith is not the only lineman at the top of recruiting boards this year.

"The Scout.com Alabama Top 40 is loaded with talent at all positions headlined by the #1 prospect in the South Andre Smith. The offensive line is loaded with talent in Alabama much like it is in the south in general," says Scott Kennedy, managing editor for the South region. "It's an exceedingly deep year in the state of Alabama this year after back to back seasons in which the state was considered down."

The state of North Carolina already has over forty players with scholarship offers in what is considered a down year for talent at the top. However do not tell that to the players that land in the North Carolina Top Thirty, according to East region editor Miller Safrit

Brandon Spikes

The top three players in North Carolina could play for anybody with Carl Johnson, Brandon Spikes, and Aleric Mullins. There are many more schools scouting North Carolina because of its talent every year, and that is pretty evident this year."

Oregon has two players that rose on the national scale recently with linebacker Gabe Miller and quarterback Kevin Riley.

"Sharing a border with California, it's hard to compete with the sheer number of prospects the Golden State puts out every year," adds West recruiting analyst Chris Fetters. "Even Washington typically doubles or triples the number of recruits put into division one schools, but that does not mean there is no talent along the I-5 corridor. Gabe Miller,

Kevin Riley

Kevin Riley and Mau Nomani are among the tops in their positions on the west coast respectively, and a dozen others - including Cody Kempt, Jake Fetzer, Johnny Vaigafa and Bo Thran - are solid prospects that will find a free education waiting for them at the next level."

After placing three players with four stars last year, the state of Iowa is running a bit thin at the top, though there is still solid talent this year.

"There are still some legitimate football prospects led by Ames quarterback Austen Arnaud, who committed to Iowa State," says Midwest analyst Chris Pool. "Julian Vandervelde was a standout at the Scout.com All-American Combine in Champaign, Ill., and he made a pledge to the University of Iowa but will take a grey-shirt and sign with the Hawks in 2007. Keep an eye on Iowa City’s Dorian Davis. He could end up being one of the top outside linebackers in the Midwest by signing day."