Arthur Brown is probably the most highly recognized football prospect to come from the state of Kansas in some time. Maybe forever. When he was named as the No. 1 overall prospect in the Nation by Scout.com on Monday it was easy to see that he was going to be the top rated player in the region.
“The 6-foot-1, 225 pounder from East High School in Wichita, Kan., plays violently, spending much of his time behind the line of scrimmage, chasing down quarterbacks and running backs, while frequently stuffing anybody in his way,” said National Analyst Allen Wallace who helps to compile the Scout.com Hot 100.
“The reactions, instincts, toughness and overall athleticism of swift No. 32 make him a relentless force and a major obstacle for any offense he faces.”
Even though Brown is already considered as the top prep player in America, you can tell that he has the drive for continued success throughout his football career.
“I’m fast, but I want to be faster, so I work on my speed everyday,” Brown informed Scout.com earlier this month. I am trying to improve reading the blocking a bit faster too. I am a perfectionist, so I challenge myself all the time. I have to push myself in every way to rise to the challenge of college ball, but I know what I have to do and I’m ready for it…”
The Midland Region also boasts the Country’s No. 2 rated linebacker in Ponderosa, Colo., standout Jon Major. Major is an absolute beast on the field who flies to the ball in run support, but also shoots the gap extremely well.
After a solid junior performance where he collected over 100 tackles and forced three fumbles in seven games Major received scholarship offers from Florida State, Oregon, Purdue, Kansas State, Virginia Tech, Nebraska, Louisville, Arizona State, Tennessee, LSU, Arizona, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Georgia Tech, Penn State, Oklahoma State, Utah, Washington, Illinois, Northwestern, Stanford, Washington State, Colorado State, Colorado, Oklahoma, Michigan, Tulsa, Texas Tech, UCLA and Wisconsin.
Major was rated as the overall No. 10 player in the Nation giving the Midland Region two Top 10 players.
Blaine Gabbert from Parkway West High in Missouri checks in as the regions top rated quarterback. In a year that is not heavy with players at his position, he has separated himself as the region’s most highly recruited gunslinger.
At 6-foot-4, 225 pounds Gabbert has the type of frame that is already prepared for the daily grind of the college game, which will give him a good chance to see some early playing time on the next level. Like any prep quarterback he is not perfect all of the time, but he shows near perfect form at times when throwing the ball. He is also a real threat on the ground and moves deceptively well for a player with his size.
As a junior, Gabbert passed for 1,523 yards and 20 touchdowns and added an additional 458 yards and nine more scores on the ground to help lead his team to an 8-2 record and a trip to the playoffs.
The “Sooner State” has its fare share of top prospects, but Jameel Owens has emerged as the top rated player. Like Gabbert, Owens is blessed with a college ready physique at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds. As a junior, Owens lined up at quarterback, receiver, safety and punter to help lead the Muskogee Roughers on a deep playoff run. He shows unreal potential at the receiver position, and may remind some people of former Texas standout Roy Williams. Owens displays nice speed and has the ability to cause separation by running crisp routes, but his size and strength are his two strongest assets.
“I am a big and strong wide receiver,” Owens explained. “Most of the guys that I go up against on the high school level are around 5-10 and I have the height advantage on them and that allows me to really get off the ball. I would say that I pattern myself after Terrell Owens. They all call me ‘J.O.’, because I am a bigger receiver.”
Trevor Robinson, Andrew Jones, Bryce Givens and Baker Steinkuhler all made a serious run for a regional top five ranking, but in the end, it was the play of safety Nolan Brewster that stood out the most. Brewster, who is the son of current Minnesota Head Coach Tim Brewster, shows excellent abilities in coverage and against the run. He also exudes leadership and it would not be surprising to see him named as a team captain at some point in his collegiate career. As a junior, Brewster racked up an astonishing 132 tackles and two interceptions to earn All-Conference and All-State honors.
In addition to these five outstanding athletes, there are a number of other top prep stars who have earned Top 50 status in the first edition of the Midland recruiting rankings.
On Thursday, Scout.com will release the Midwest Top 100.
The Scout.com National Top 100
The Scout.com Southeast Top 100
The Scout.com East Top 100
The Scout.com Southwest Top 100