Parade All-Americans

[jtk1519]

Meet PARADE's All-America High School Football Team
By Michael O'Shea
Publication Date: 01/25/2009

Garrett Gilbert of Austin, Tex., has been around football his entire life. When Garrett was just 3, his father, Gale, became the only player in history to be a member of five consecutive Super Bowl teams (the Buffalo Bills, 1991-94, and the San Diego Chargers, 1995). Now Garrett is making his own mark and has been selected as Player of the Year on PARADE’s 46th annual All-America High School Football Team. He heads a roster of 58 standout athletes from 25 states, selected by coaches, journalists, scouts, and recruiters.

“I wanted to be like my father—a quarterback,” says Gilbert. “It was natural to me. I learned so much from him about how to play the position.”

The lessons paid off. As a Lake Travis Cavalier, Gilbert passed for 12,537 career yards to break the Texas high school rec*ord. He also completed 895 of 1368 passes for 136 touchdowns—No. 2 in state history.

Coach Chad Morris says Gilbert is the team’s glue. “Garrett has great leadership skills and the respect of his teammates. He’s an incredible kid and a phenomenal athlete.”

As a senior, Gilbert led Lake Travis to a 16-0 season and a second straight state championship. He passed for 55 TDs and a record 4851 yards, with only six interceptions. He also rushed 113 times for 774 yards and 23 scores. In the championship game, he completed 26 of 37 passes for 356 yards and five touchdowns and rushed 14 times for 85 yards and two touchdowns.

“The records are cool, but winning the state titles with a good bunch of guys and coaches is what it’s all about,” says Gilbert. “It was a dream season and a great ride.”

Fortunately, the ride isn’t over yet. It’ll continue at the University of Texas, where Gilbert—who boasts an A-minus grade-point average in honors classes—plans to major in business.

“I’ve been a UT fan almost my entire life,” Gilbert says. “There was never any question where I would go once I received the offer.”

QUARTERBACKS
Garrett Gilbert Austin, Tex. 6'4" 205 Texas
Aaron Murray Tampa, Fla. 6'1" 205 Georgia
Tyrik Rollison Sulphur Springs, Tex. 6'2” 185 Undecided
Eugene Smith Miramar, Fla. 6'4” 190 West Virginia
Russell Shepard Houston, Tex. 6'2” 195 LSU
Charlie Goro Park Ridge, Ill. 6'2” 195 Vanderbilt
Tyler Russell Meridian, Miss. 6'5” 210 Mississippi State

RUNNING BACKS
Trent Richardson Pensacola, Fla. 6'0” 225 Alabama
Bryce Brown Wichita, Kan. 6'0” 220 Miami
Cierre Wood Oxnard, Calif. 6'0” 195 Notre Dame
Lamar Miller Miami, Fla. 6'0” 205 Miami
Jeremiah Young Steelton, Pa. 5’10” 190 Undecided
Washaun Ealey Twin City, Ga. 5’11” 205 Georgia
Michael Ford Leesville, La. 5’10” 205 LSU
Kendial Lawrence Heath, Tex. 5’10” 180 Undecided
David Oku Midwest City, Okla. 5’10” 185 Tennessee

RECEIVERS
Terry Hawthorne East St. Louis, Ill. 6’1” 185 Illinois
Marlon Brown Memphis, Tenn. 6’5” 210 Undecided
Andre DeBose Sanford, Fla. 6’0” 180 Florida
Adam Hall Tucson, Ariz. 6’5” 205 Undecided
Patrick Patterson Macon, Miss. 6’3” 215 Undecided
A.J. Dugat Dayton, Tex. 6’1” 205 Univ. of Houston

LINEMEN
Jamarkus McFarland Lufkin, Tex. 6’3” 295 Oklahoma
D.J. Fluker Foley, Ala. 6’7” 325 Alabama
Morgan Moses Richmond, Va. 6’8” 340 Undecided
Sheldon Richardson St. Louis, Mo. 6’4” 275 Missouri
Jacobbi McDaniel Madison, Fla. 6’1” 285 Florida State
Xavier Su'a-Filo Provo, Utah 6’5” 290 Undecided
Marcus Hall Cleveland, Ohio 6’5” 300 Undecided
William Campbell Detroit, Mich. 6’6” 315 Michigan
Mason Walters Wolfforth, Tex. 6’7” 295 Texas
Chris Faulk Slidell, La. 6’6” 315 LSU
Ryne Giddins Seffner, Fla.6’4” 240 South Florida
Malliciah Goodman Florence, S.C. 6’4” 255 Clemson
Xavier Nixon Fayetteville, N.C. 6’6” 280 Florida
Alex Okafor Pflugerville, Tex. 6’4” 235 Texas
Donte Moss Jacksonville, N.C. 6’4” 235 North Carolina
Deandre Coleman Seattle, Wash. 6’5” 290 Berkeley
Kevin Graf Agoura Hills, Calif. 6’6” 300 USC
Chris Watt Glen Ellyn, Ill. 6’4” 290 Notre Dame

LINEBACKERS
Vontaze Burfict Corona, Calif. 6’2” 240 USC
Jelani Jenkins Olney, Md. 6’1” 220 Undecided
Manti Te'o Honolulu, Hawaii 6’2” 230 Undecided
Dorian Bell Monroeville, Pa. 6’1” 215 Ohio State
Chris Williams Abilene, Tex. 6’1” 225 Nebraska
Jordan Whiting Louisville, Ky. 6’1” 226 Ohio State
Nico Johnson Andalusia, Ala. 6’3” 235 Alabama
Jerod Askew Chesapeake, Va. 6’0” 220 Tennessee

DEFENSIVE BACKS
Patrick Hall Venture, Calif. 6’1” 185 USC
Craig Loston Houston, Tex. 6’2” 200 LSU
Dre Kirkpatrick Gadsden, Ala. 6’3” 215 Undecided
Branden Smith Atlanta, Ga. 5’11” 170 Georgia

KICKERS
Brian Egan Prattville, Ala. 6’0” 205 Undecided
Kevin Muma Troy, Mich. 6’1” 170 Undecided

ALL-PURPOSE
Rueben Randle Bastrop, La. 6’3” 205 Undecided
Greg Reid Valdosta, Ga.. 5’10” 175 Undecided
Stephon Gilmore Rock Hill, S.C. 6’2” 195 South Carolina
Morgan Newton Carmal, Ind. 6’5” 215 Kentucky

http://www.parade.com/news/2009/01/parade-all-america-high-school-football-team.html

[slorch]

4 DBs and 7 QB's?:eek::eek::eek:

So Parade recognizes that QBs are vital, but DBs don't mean so much...:rolleyes::Censor:

[cajun]

Kendial Lawrence RB from Texas?.....Parade miss the boat on this one....Christine Michael maybe?

[jtk1519]

Kendial Lawrence RB from Texas?.....Parade miss the boat on this one....Christine Michael maybe?

The guy rushed for over 43 TDs on over 9 ypc. That's All-American in my book. He's only a 3 star because he's little. Michael didn't even come close to having the season Lawrence did.

[farmerfan]

Glad to see Tyrik Rollison get some recognition. The guy was probably the best football player I saw this past year. Anybody have any idea the schools he is strongly considering? I know UGA has Murray coming in but I would love to see him wear the silver britches the next 4 years.

[cajun]

The guy rushed for over 43 TDs on over 9 ypc. That's All-American in my book. He's only a 3 star because he's little. Michael didn't even come close to having the season Lawrence did.

I'm not saying he's not good, but he only pulled SMU and Houston offers out of Texas....These other Texas RB's played in all the All Star games and whatnot...Kendial Lawrence may turn out better than all of them though, I guess...

http://jcgridiron.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=80854

[farmerfan]

The guy rushed for over 43 TDs on over 9 ypc. That's All-American in my book. He's only a 3 star because he's little. Michael didn't even come close to having the season Lawrence did.

Lawrence was awesome this year. A great RB and deserving on this honor IMO.

[jtk1519]

Glad to see Tyrik Rollison get some recognition. The guy was probably the best football player I saw this past year. Anybody have any idea the schools he is strongly considering? I know UGA has Murray coming in but I would love to see him wear the silver britches the next 4 years.

Okie Lite, Kansas State and Auburn. He has an offer from Oregon and I would like to see him there. Word is he is highest on Okie Lite, but they have yet to offer. He's a great talent, but a lot of schools backed off or never recruited him because he is a major grade risk. He scored a 13 the first time he took the ACT. Keep in mind that I believe an 11 is the lowest you can score. Supposedly he is hoping to score an 18 next time he takes it. He has an offer from A&M, but I can't imagine he would qualify. If Gundy hasn't offered yet, that's a big red flag. He may be a JUCO sign and place which is probably why KSU and Auburn are big players.

[jtk1519]

I'm not saying he's not good, but he only pulled SMU and Houston offers out of Texas....These other Texas RB's played in all the All Star games and whatnot...Kendial Lawrence may turn out better than all of them though, I guess...

http://jcgridiron.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=80854

You're confusing great high school player with great high school recruit. All-American has nothing to do with how good a recruit you are, but how you performed on the field and you will be very hard pressed to find a back that put up better numbers than Lawrence. Lawrence isn't the big recruit because he's 5'9 177.

[farmerfan]

Okie Lite, Kansas State and Auburn. He has an offer from Oregon and I would like to see him there. Word is he is highest on Okie Lite, but they have yet to offer. He's a great talent, but a lot of schools backed off or never recruited him because he is a major grade risk. He scored a 13 the first time he took the ACT. Keep in mind that I believe an 11 is the lowest you can score. Supposedly he is hoping to score an 18 next time he takes it. He has an offer from A&M, but I can't imagine he would qualify. If Gundy hasn't offered yet, that's a big red flag. He may be a JUCO sign and place which is probably why KSU and Auburn are big players.

SLC and I were talking about him the other day. He made a greta impression on both of us when we saw him this past year. SLC was thinking it had to be grade issues or something in that line as to why he hasn't given a verbal yet. I would hate to see him end up at Auburn, the guy is scary and playing for Malzann(sp) could be scary for other SEC defenses. They guy had a presence in the pocket that I hadn't seen out of a HS QB in a long time. He was cool under pressure and had a great arm to go along with making great decisions. He quickly became one of my all time fav players this year.

[cajun]

You're confusing great high school player with great high school recruit. All-American has nothing to do with how good a recruit you are, but how you performed on the field and you will be very hard pressed to find a back that put up better numbers than Lawrence. Lawrence isn't the big recruit because he's 5'9 177.


Yeah, I understand all that...Kendial Lawrence was just not the name I expected to see at RB from Texas for a Parade All American....Can't argue with the kids stats though...

[slorch]

Glad to see Tyrik Rollison get some recognition. The guy was probably the best football player I saw this past year. Anybody have any idea the schools he is strongly considering? I know UGA has Murray coming in but I would love to see him wear the silver britches the next 4 years.

I've read his grades/ qualifying are iffy. That's why you don't see the big boys offering him.

[cajun]

I've read his grades/ qualifying are iffy. That's why you don't see the big boys offering him.

The "5 Rivals experts" have:

Auburn
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State
JUCO
JUCO

[SLC]

SLC and I were talking about him the other day. He made a greta impression on both of us when we saw him this past year. SLC was thinking it had to be grade issues or something in that line as to why he hasn't given a verbal yet. I would hate to see him end up at Auburn, the guy is scary and playing for Malzann(sp) could be scary for other SEC defenses. They guy had a presence in the pocket that I hadn't seen out of a HS QB in a long time. He was cool under pressure and had a great arm to go along with making great decisions. He quickly became one of my all time fav players this year.



Yep, He is one of the best I've ever seen at running the spread offense...Kid had comand of every throw, wasn't nervous in the pocket, didn't rattle with D linemen right there by him and he never looked to run first...but when he did run he was ellusive, very quick not overly fast but has a long stride. I thoroughly enjoyed watching him..very special kid.

[Firebird]

The crazy numbers of skill position players render the Parad A-A lists almost meaningless IMHO. To make a legit All-American list you shouldn't just pick every kid that puts up crazy stats and has a shot at D-1A. I would respect the list much more if they actually put a team together, 1st, 2nd team and honorable mention.

[Pearland 06]

I'm excited to see a UH commit on the Parade list.

WR AJ Dugat.

It's been a while. I think the last was in 1996, but he didn't qualify.