Clausen Headlines the Best in the West

Scout.com's June Western 100 team is highlighted by California quarterback Jimmy Clausen. The 6-foot-3, 195 pounder comes into the season as the nation's highest-profile recruit, a winner who throws with excellent velocity and accuracy.

The 2007 West Hot 100

The expectations are certainly high for the younger brother of Casey and Ricky ranked as the top prospect in the West region. Jimmy Clausen's April commitment to Charlie Weis has Irish fans buzzing about this year's strong-looking recruiting haul and how the landing of Clausen might attract even more recruits to South Bend.

Clausen's team-mate, running back Marc Tyler, son of UCLA and L.A. Rams ballcarrier Wendell Tyler, barely edged out defensive end Everson Griffen from Arizona for the number two spot. Some evaluators question Tyler's flat-out speed, which is only adequate. But his vision, balance, power and instincts make him one of this year's most sought after runners. He's expected to commit publicly to USC in the near future, although Notre Dame is still in the running.

No one is questioning Griffen's speed whatsoever. At the Los Angeles Scout.com combine, the 6-4, 265 pounder clocked a 4.46 hand-timed forty. He shows amazing quickness, explosion and agility off the line of scrimmage as well as toughness. You won't find many better looking physical specimens who will be signing Letters-of-Intent next February. He doesn't appear close to making any commitment.

Scout.com's No. 1 linebacker in the country this year is Chris Galippo from Servite High School in Anaheim. Galippo is a fierce competitor who plays the game with intelligence and great intensity. He's a leader who has also committed to USC and reminds Trojan fans of Lofa Tatupu and Matt Grootegoed because of his playmaking ability.

Quarterback Aaron Corp is a lanky 6-4, 185 pounder who will likely look much differently in a couple of years after some time in weight room at USC, where he has already committed. Corp's a superior all-around athlete who shows a knack for getting the ball into the end zone, both as a passer and a scrambler.

Offensive lineman Ryan Miller is a huge 6-8, 280 pounder who is generally regarded as Colorado's best prospect. Watch for the Colorado Buffaloes and Notre Dame here. He's teamed with USC commit Martin Coleman and superior offensive guard/center prospect Kris O'Dowd from Arizona, putting three offensive linemen into the top 10 overall prospects in the west. It's a strong year in general for offensive trench prospects on this team: nine are included in the west's top 30 prospects.

The premier defensive lineman in the west heading into the summer is Brian Price from Crenshaw High in Los Angeles. Price, who is ranked by Scout.com as the No. 7 defensive tackle in the country, committed to UCLA in March over other early offers from California, Arizona and USC. He's exceptionally strong and athletic as he demonstrated with 22 sacks as a junior.

Tight end Chris Izbicki, from Washington and already committed to the Huskies, rounds out the top 10 in the Western 100. He tops Scout.com's Northwest 100 list and stands out as both a dominant blocker and receiver who is well-sized at 6-4, 240 pounds.

• East Regional Hot 100
• Midwest Regional Hot 100
• West Regional Hot 100
• Thursday: Southwest 100
• Friday: Southeast 100