The Best In The West

The West region continues to roll with top talent, and this year's West 150 is led by a slew of running backs. However, it is a defensive end and a quarterback at the top of the rankings.

More on the rankings:

• West Regional 150
• South Regional 150
• Scout.com 300
• Countdown: Martin
• 2009 Look Back

"First and foremost, Jake Heaps is a winner and has the leadership and swagger that comes with being an elite quarterback," says Scout.com West manager Brandon Huffman of his number two overall player in the region. "The guy has never lost a game as a high school quarterback, winning two state titles in two years. He can make all the throws, he's mobile and what he does better than just about any quarterback I've watched the last few years is go through his progressions quickly but without being rushed, and can hit his third and fourth receiver in the time it usually takes most quarterbacks to finish turning their head from their first read. He does everything you want in a quarterback."

Though a big target is on Heaps back, is still behind a monster of a defensive presence in Chris Martin, a defensive end from Bishop O'Dowd in Oakland, California.

""Defensively, the star of this class is Chris Martin, who's committed to Notre Dame. He's the prototypical pass rusher. He can play with his hand down or he can play standing up, but he's so fast off the edge, that it really doesn't matter how he lines up. He's got the athleticism to play linebacker, moves well in space and sideline-to-sideline, but can also take on an offensive tackle and beat him off the ball. He's got such a quick first step too. If he played tight end exclusively, he'd probably be the top 2-3 tight end in the West. He's the best defensive prospect in the West, though, hands down."

Huffman believes that the depth at Martin's position is much stronger than it has been in the past.

"It's a much improved class in the trenches, especially on the defensive line. At tackle, you have prospects like Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian's Cassius Marsh, Lakewood (Wash.) Lakes' Sione Potoae, Salt Lake City (Utah) Brighton's Ricky Heimuli and Chino (Calif.) Don Lugo's George Uko. Then at end, after Martin you have Ronald Powell from Moreno Valley (Calif.) Rancho Verde, Provo (Utah) Timpview's Bronson Kaufusi and the Oregon tandem of Portland Douglas' Owamagbe Odighizuwa and Eugene Sheldon's Curtis White."

Still, it is on the offensive side of the ball where much of the West 150 lies and the running backs continue to shine.

"The first thing you'll notice in the West 150 this year is the abundance of running backs. From the power of Malcolm Jones, Anthony Wilkerson, Cameron Roberson and Melvin Davis, to the speed of D.J. Morgan, Jordon James, Brennan Clay, Ricky Seale and Deontae Cooper to the big-play combination speed and strength of James McConico. And that's just in Southern California. Then mix in backs like Larry Dixon from Washington, Adonis Smith from Northern California and Taylor Walstad from Arizona and it's one of the best running back classes you'll see from the West in years."

Rankings Week Schedule:
Monday: Scout National 100
Tuesday: Scout300
Today: South and West regional rankings
Thursday: North and Midland regional rankings
Friday: Positional Rankings and Q&A

Get your questions in now to the Scout.com analysts on the SuperPrep Recruiting Forum.

West Regional 150