Best recruits by position
National Signing Day was Feb. 7, and we've been poring over the signing lists in the ensuing 10 days to come up with the Sentinel's position rankings for the recruiting class of 2007.
We kept the rankings at 10 schools per position. We ranked seven positions -- four on offense, three on defense.
Here are the position-by-position breakdowns, with the school's signees at that position.
Quarterback
1. FLORIDA (John Brantley, 6-3/195; Cameron Newton, 6-5/225; Bryan Waggener, 6-4/226): Two national top-15 players at the position, and Newton and Waggener already are enrolled.
2. NOTRE DAME (Jimmy Clausen, 6-3/207): Consensus No. 1 at his position and already enrolled for spring semester.
3. MICHIGAN (Ryan Mallett, 6-6/235): Another in a long line of rangy Wolverines passers.
4. USC (Ryan Corp, 6-3/185): Good athlete with size and arm strength; he looks like a college quarterback already.
5. WEST VIRGINIA (Charlie Russell, 6-3/210; Bradley Starks, 6-4/190): Good fits for Coach Rich Rodriguez's offense.
ALSO: 6. VIRGINIA TECH (Tyrod Taylor, 6-2/185); 7. GEORGIA TECH (Josh Nesbitt, 6-1/204; Steven Threet, 6-5/230); 8. MIAMI (Robert Marve, 6-1/190); 9. SOUTH CAROLINA (Stephen Garcia, 6-2/212); 10. CLEMSON (Willy Korn, 6-2/200)
Running back
1. USC (Broderick Green, 6-1/230; Joe McKnight, (ABOVE) 6-0/180; Marc Tyler, 6-0/215): McKnight and Tyler -- whose dad, Wendell Tyler, played at UCLA -- are among the nation's top five backs, and Green is a top-15 guy.
2. OHIO STATE (Daniel Herron, 5-10/200; Brandon Saine, 6-1/205): Saine is a burner, and Herron scored 36 TDs in his last two seasons of high school.
3. CALIFORNIA (Jahvid Best, 5-10/185; Shane Vereen, 5-10/185): Best is one of the fastest high school sprinters in the nation.
4. MIAMI (Lee Chambers, 6-1/200; Graig Cooper, 6-0/195; Shawnbrey McNeal, 5-11/190): 'Canes are stockpiling speedy runners.
5. NOTRE DAME (Armando Allen, 5-10/189; Robert Hughes, 5-11/230): A speed back in Allen and a power back in Hughes.
ALSO: 6. TEXAS (FB Cody Johnson, 5-11/230; Fosswhit Whitaker, 5-10/188); 7. SOUTHERN MISS (Antwain Easterling, 5-11/185; V.J. Floyd, 5-10/191); 8. AUBURN (Enrique Davis, 5-11/212; FB John Douglas, 6-2/235); 9. WASHINGTON (Willie Griffin, 5-8/200; Brandon Johnson, 5-11/195; Curtis Shaw, 5-11/190; Nate Williams, 6-1/205; Brandon Yakaboski, 6-0/190); 10. NORTH CAROLINA (Ryan Houston, 6-2/245; FB Devon Ramsey, 6-2/240).
Receiver
1. LSU (WR DeAngelo Benton, 6-3/190; WR Ron Brooks, 5-11/180; WR Demetrius Byrd, 6-2/195; TE Jordon Corbin, 6-4/240; TE Mitch Joseph, 6-5/243; TE Alex Russian, 6-4/230; WR Terrance Toliver, 6-5/180): Great speed, great size, great depth.
2. TENNESSEE (WR Todd Campbell, 6-0/183; WR Gerald Jones, 6-0/185; WR Tyler Maples, 6-2/190; WR Darnius Moore, 6-0/185; WR Kenny O'Neal, 6-0/195; WR Ahmad Paige, 6-3/175; WR Brent Vinson, 6-2/190): Big-time group for the Vols, who need two or three of these guys to contribute right away.
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