Nine 2010 Prospects to Watch
Wayne Fleming is just one in a long line of talented Liberty prospects. Despite no FBS offers as of now, don't be surprised to see that change, especially when considering head coach Tommy Buzzo's penchant for sending players to the next level
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Possibly the best quarterback no one has heard of is Woodson's Connor Reilly. Combining for over 2,500 yards last year and having 30 TD's to just six interceptions, Reilly made an even bigger name for himself when he wowed those in attendance during an Elite 11 regional camp...
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If there were to be a quarterback receiving an offer in the 2010 class, it would likely go to Battlefield's Bo Revell. At 6-foot-7, Revell is not only up to size, but his arm is likely the best in the area, as evidenced by his numerous standout performances in various camps
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So far seven area players stand with offers, but who's next in line to get his name called? We break it all down for you here in this prospect report, which details nine players, all of whom have the potential to receive an offer down the road.
What's better yet about these players, is they're all sleepers. Yes, they have plenty of interest, but no DI-A offers. It's these guys who are always the most intriguing to watch. Some of whom, if you take a chance on them, give you enormous rewards down the line and make you look smart (see Cody Grimm or Donte Davis). Others, you sit back and wonder how could they not have offers already. Or maybe they go the DI-AA route and blow it up over there, giving a big "I told ya so" to all those big-time coaches who passed them by.
Either way you look at, the sleepers and those on the edge of getting offers are always the most fun to watch. You hope, as a fan of local football, each player gets an offer, yet as history proves, a lot of them might not.
But if there would be one, or maybe two or three more prospects to get an offer, they would more than likely come from this list. Enjoy.
WARREN DENNY
6-foot-3, 210 pounds
Wide Receiver; Centreville
Being able to send prospects to DI-A schools in seven of the past eight years, Centreville has gained quite the reputation as being a DI factory, especially in the earlier to middle part of the decade. Yet despite the program hitting a bit of a rough patch, they've still been able to maintain that reputation of being able produce top-notch talent, as evidenced last year when they had two players, Luke Bowanko and Zack Glatter, both receive offers from BCS schools. For the class of 2010, they again have a special player in wide receiver Warren Denny. A star on the gridiron and basketball court, Denny has found his name get tossed around in recruiting circles quite a bit this offseason and the feedback has been mainly positive. He garners a lot of attention for his 6-foot-3 frame, but his explosive speed and athleticism is what puts him over the edge. Denny has all the natural tools to play at the next level, and should he impress coaches on one-day camps, he could very well grab an offer.
ANGUS HARPER
5-foot-11; 190 pounds
Running back, Edison
If you ask Edison head coach Vaughn Lewis about Harper, he'll go on all day about his potential. Why though does the distinguished coach use the word potential? Well, consider the fact Harper's only played organized football for just two years, both of which have astonishly been at the varsity level. And we're not talking about playing varsity for any slapstick program, but rather an annual contender for a region championship, and as we saw in 2006, a potential state contender. That in itself is pretty amazing. But don't take our word for it. Go to an Edison game or look at Harper on tape, and you'll see why Lewis goes on and on about him. He's a very hard runner with an excellent burst of speed that makes him hard to bring down and to catch. His overall athleticism makes him a natural at his position, but the more well-rounded Harper can become than the more coaches will latch on to the Edison product.
WAYNE FLEMING
6-foot-1; 180 pounds
Running back, Liberty
You just knew a player for Liberty had to be on this list. After all, this is a program that has instantaneously made Fauquier County one of the biggest hotspots for football talent in the Commonwealth. Last year, Liberty head coach Tommy Buzzo sent two players to BCS programs in Corey Lillard (Virginia) and Kory Gough (Virginia Tech), and now his newest protégé is Wayne Fleming. A standout back for the Northwest Region Division 5 champs last fall, Fleming is starting to garner a lot of attention. He received his first offer from Idaho St., a member of the FCS' (DI-AA) Big Sky Conference, but that won't be the last place he'll hear from. Remember, we're dealing with Liberty and Tommy Buzzo, both synonymous with the words "winning" and "BCS talent." Expect to hear much more down the road from Fleming.
JOHN McCONNELL
5-foot-11; 175 pounds
Kicker, West Springfield
Bill Renner did it once again. He again managed to produce a DI caliber kicker. Yeah, we know he moved on from West Springfield, but before he left, he helped groom John McConnell who falls in quite a long line of talented Spartan kickers. First there was Jeremy Kapinos (Penn State) in 2002. Then along came Josh Czajkowski (N.C. State) back in 2006, who was then followed by Tyler Bitancourt (West Virginia) two years later. While McConnell doesn't have an offer just yet, he certainly has the leg to play at the next level. Capable of hitting a field goal from 50-plus yards out, McConnell recently impressed coaches when he was able to consistently kick from 40-49 yards out. Being a kicker, he will be treated in a unique way during the recruiting process, but it's very possible McConnell snags an offer in the future.
DANNY FENYAK
6-foot-5; 170 pounds
Quarterback, Westfield
It's not easy having to replace Mike Glennon, but Fenyak proved to be quite sufficient in completing that task during the 2008 season. Progressing through last year quite nicely, Fenyak ended up making quite the name for himself as he passed for over 1500 yards on the way to becoming a second-team all-district pick. Now trying to navigate the oft brutal recruiting waters, Fenyak finds himself in what could be a very favorable position. At 6-foot-5, he holds a whole world of potential. College coaches like the size, and also factor in that he's still growing mentally and physically as a quarterback, then he could very well grab a late offer. The more he develops his arm, then he'll be in very high favor with coaches. Teams recruit quarterbacks every year, so there will always be demand for a player with Fenyak's skill set.
CONNOR REILLY
6-foot-4; 180 pounds
Quarterback, Woodson
Probably the best quarterback that no one has heard of is Reilly. He doesn't play for a Concorde team or a powerhouse, but if he did, everyone reading this would know his name. So what's the big deal over Woodson signal caller? Well, for starters, he's a real pure passer. He's smart and accurate with the ball, not to mention he has a cannon of an arm. Given the fact that he combined for over 2,500 all-purpose yards and 30 touchdowns to just six interceptions, the stats speak for themselves. Not to say Woodson isn't a good team, but those stats swell if you put Reilly on a team, say, such as Oakton. Reilly has impressed at all the camps he's been to, attracting interest as far away as Oregon State, but has no offers to date. As is the situation with Fenyak, there will always be demand for a player like Reilly, so don't be surprised if an offer eventually does come his way.
BO REVELL
6-foot-7; 226 pounds
Quarterback, Battlefield
Last year, Gameday pegged Revell as a can't-miss guy and was our #1 ranked 2010 prospect last year. Our opinions haven't changed one bit of Revell, but instead are pretty shocked he hasn't received his first offer. Last year on the summer circuits he was winning awards at various camps left and right. This year it's the same story, as when recently invited out to the regional Elite 11 out in California, he stepped up and impressed those in attendance. From Alabama out to Stanford and Cal, there is plenty of interest in Revell, but still no offer. Being 6-foot-7, he generates a whole ton of power with his throwing motion and is very accurate as well. Being of gigantic proportions, he takes a hit better than probably any quarterback in the area. It'll be interesting in tracking Revell as the year goes on, but if there were to be a quarterback to get an offer this year in Northern Virginia, it would be Revell. His arm is unmatched and his size may be too good to pass up for some schools.
THOMAS KEITH
5-foot-11; 160 pounds
Athlete; Osbourn
The best way to describe Thomas Keith is a difference-maker. Need a stop at the goalline against one of the area's most dominant rushers in the playoffs? No problem. Or how about needing at least 200 yards every game in the playoffs? Check, got that too. Keith is clutch, a big-time performer and a big reason why Osbourn made it to the state championship game last year. In addition to being all those things, Keith is quite a specimen. Agile and quick, Keith can slice through defenses no problem. Yet consider that the Manassas native totaled over 120 tackles last year, and his true calling may be at defensive back rather than somewhere on offense. With his quickness, he's more than able to get his hips around fast enough and make a break on the ball, but with 120 tackles, he can flat-out hit too. It may take another big year for Keith to get more attention, but he's certainly capable of playing at the next level.
TAYLOR EVANS
6-foot-4; 290 pounds
Offensive Line; Broad Run
With a 6-foot-4 and 290 pound frame, Evans certainly looks to play the part of a DI-A prospect. But going past the eyeball test, and looking at on-field production, it's sufficive to say that Evans has a pretty high talent level as well. His strength is impressive and it shows when blocking, particularly on the run. Sometimes it becomes near-comical in watching undersized players go up against Evans because of there being such a big size and strength discrepancy. Just line Evans up man-on-man in the Dulles District and we're not sure of anyone capable of besting him. Garnering interest from a whole host of ACC and Big East schools, it appears many are intrigued over the Broad Run prospect, and we're not surprised. It'll be interesting to see how Evans's stock fluctuates over the course of the year since he could prove to be a valuable sleeper in the eyes of some coaches.
Last Week: Those With Offers
This Week: Nine Prospects to Watch
Next Week: The 2011 class
E-mail me, Derek LeComte, with any questions or comments regarding football or recruiting in Nortern Virginia at GamedayRecruits@aol.com
