Florida State's 2009 football recruiting class
Justin Bright, 6-0, 180, S, Duncan, SC - RANKINGS: Ranked the 39th-best safety by Rivals and the 26th best player in the state of South Carolina...Prep Star All-Southeast selection...BIO:A three-star prospect according to Rivals and Scout.com who comes from one of the nation's top high school programs...named an AP All-State selection as a senior...registered 92 tackles and three picks in 2008...Byrnes won three straight state championships and was ranked No. 1 in the USA Today Super 25 to start the 2008 season...as a senior his Rebel squad went 14-1 and finished the year ranked eighth in the nation by MaxPreps and ninth according to USA Today...recorded over 100 tackles as a junior on top of four TFL, six PBU and four interceptions...according to ESPN, Bright 'thrives on contact' and he is a 'hard hitter'...recorded five tackles in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas...clocked at 4.47 in the 40...posted a high school GPA of 3.4...picked Florida State over offers from Texas A&M and Stanford.
Gerald Demps, 5-10, 190, S, Valdosta, GA - RANKINGS: Ranked the 27th-best safety by Rivals and the 33rd best player in the state of Georgia...a member of the ESPNU 150...the 72nd-best prospect in this year's class according to ESPN... Prep Star Top 100 Dream Team (81)...ranked seventh-best at his position by ESPN...34th-best prospect in the state of Georgia according to SuperPrep...SI/Takkle rates Demps in the top 100 (93) of this year's class...Scout lists him as the 31st-best safety prospect in 2009...Bio: AP All-State and Atlanta Journal-Constitution first team selection...three-star prospect according to Rivals and Scout.com...played running back, linebacker and safety in high school but will play safety at Florida State...as a senior he recorded 78 tackles and rushed for 451 yards and nine touchdowns...Lowndes County finished 12-1 in his final season...participated in the long jump, high jump, triple jump and 4x100 in high school...his cousin Ja'Baris Little is a tight end at FSU...chose FSU over offers from Clemson and Auburn.
Willie Downs, 6-2, 192, WR, Tallahassee
Jajuan Harley, 6-2, 190, DB, Tallahassee - RANKINGS: Prep Star All-American...ranked as the nation's 10th-best safety by Scout.com and No. 12 by Rivals...coming into 2009 Rivals tagged him the 41st-best player in Florida...finished the season as the 52nd-highest rated player in Florida by Rivals...Superprep lists him No. 21 among Florida prospects and 30th in the nation among defensive backs...Bio: A four-star prospect according to Scout.com and Rivals...tabbed as the second-fastest safety in the 2009 class by Rivals...Tallahassee Democrat All-Big Bend team member...second team Class 3A selection...recorded three interceptions and 92 tackles in 2006...was sidelined for a majority of 2007 with a broken foot...returned two kick-offs for touchdowns...expected to challenge for time at safety and corner back at Florida State...played quarterback and receiver at Rickards as well...ran the 100, 200 and 4x100 in high school where he was clocked at 4.4 in the 40...also a long jumper for Rickards...also played basketball...related to current Seminole linebacker Nigel Bradham...chose FSU over offers from Alabama, Clemson and South Carolina.
Willie Haulstead, 6-3, 210, WR, Titusville - RANKINGS: Ranked as the nation's 34th-best wide receiver by Rivals...coming into 2009 Rivals tagged him the 49th-best player in Florida but finished the season at No. 41...a member of the Rivals 250 in 2009...Prep Star All-American...ESPN has him rated 32ndamong wideouts...Scout lists him as the 48th-best receiving prospect...Bio: A four-star prospect according to Rivals...hauled in 45 passes for 648 yards and 13 touchdowns as a junior...had 30 receptions for 431 yards and five touchdowns before he broke his left foot during his senior season at Titusville...still earned All-Space Coast first team honors as a senior despite the injury...runs track and has been clocked as fast as 4.4 in the 40...according to ESPN `Haulstead's greatest attributes are his size, run after catch ability and his natural feel for adjusting to the ball while it is in the air'...has a knack for making the tough catch in traffic and natural open field run skills...chose FSU over offers from Michigan, Purdue, USF, UCF, Auburn, Boston College and South Carolina.
Dan Hicks, 6-4, 251, DE, Oxford, MS - RANKINGS: SuperPrep lists him as the 33rd-best prospect coming out of the state of Mississippi...ESPN lists him as the 47th-best TE in this class...Bio: A two-star sleeper...as a junior he had 18 catches for 285 yards...broke his foot as a senior which sidelined him for half the season...was named all-district and second team all-region following his junior year...was recruited as a defensive end by Arkansas State...son of former Seminole great Dan Footman who went on to play six years in the NFL...also played basketball at Oxford...averaged 13 ppg as a senior on the hardwood and 15 points and 6.9 rebounds per game as a junior...offered a scholarship by former Mississippi State Head Coach Sylvester Croom...chose FSU over Arkansas State.
Dustin Hopkins, 6-2, 174, PK, Houston, TX - RANKINGS: Rivals No. 1 kicker in the 2009 class...Scout.com No. 1 kicker...ESPN No.1 kicker...Prep Star All-American...Bio: The consensus top kicker in the nation...a USA Today first team All-American...Under Armour All-American...two-time first team all-state 5A kicker in Texas...nation's top-ranked kicker according to kicking guru and UCLA record holder Chris Sailer...longest field goal during his senior year was from 49 yards...missed only three kicks as a senior and two were from 58 and 64 yards away...made over 70 PAT's in his career...went 37-for-37 on point after attempts as a junior and 6-of-7 on field goal attempts including two from 43 yards...averaged 73 yards on his kick-offs...kicked a 46-yard field goal in the Under Armour All-America game...connected on a 65-yard field goal during practice at the all-star game...even played DB for Clear Lake where he recorded an interception...has a GPA above 4.0...plans to major in business marketing with a minor in broadcasting...chose FSU over Notre Dame, Missouri and Kansas State.
Brandon Jenkins, 6-2, 240, DE, Tallahassee - High School: The only early enrollee in the 2009 signing class...recorded 44 sacks and more than 220 tackles in his high school career at Florida High.
Demonte McAllister, 6-3, 263, DT, Tampa - RANKINGS: Ranked as the third-best defensive end by ESPN...named the fourth-best defensive end in this year's class by Rivals...16th-best defensive lineman in 2009 class in Florida according to Rivals...Rivals 100 (70)...ranked the fourth-quickest DE in 2009 by Rivals...SuperPrep All-American...Prep Star All-American...Scout rates him the 11th-best defensive tackle in this class...15th-best defensive lineman in 2009 class and eighth-best prospect in Florida according to SuperPrep...ESPNU 150 (45)... listed as the 79th-best player in this class by Sporting News...SI/Takkle rates McAllister in the top 100 (65) of this year's class...Bio: An Under Armour All-American...four-star prospect according to Rivals and Scout.com...in just two seasons he had almost 50 TFL and over 30 sacks at Alonso...recorded 97 tackles as a senior with 30 coming behind the line of scrimmage...registered 19 sacks...as a junior he had 63 tackles, 18 TFL and 12 sacks...recorded a tackle for loss, a QB hurry and a pass break-up in the Under Armour All-American game...honorable mention 'most physical' award at the Under Armour game...was named the MVP of the Hillsborough County East vs. West All-Star game where he recorded two sacks...played basketball at Alonso as a junior...the oldest of four children raised by his mother Katina Daniels... received 27 scholarship offers including Georgia, USC, Miami, Florida, Tennessee, Auburn and Clemson.
Jacobbi McDaniel, 6-0, 267, DT, Greenville - RANKINGS: Ranked as the fifth-best player in the nation by ESPN and the top defensive tackle...listed as the fifth-best player in this class by Sporting News...Rivals 100 (15)...Scout.com's top DT prospect in this class...the second-best DT in the 2009 class according to Rivals and the third-best player coming out of Florida...SI/Takkle rates McAllister in the top 100 (15) of this year's class... SuperPrep All-American...Prep Star Top 100 Dream Team (24)...second-best defensive lineman in 2009 class and second-best prospect in Florida according to SuperPrep...ranked the second-best athlete among defensive tackles in 2009 by Rivals...Rivals lists him as the third-best pass rusher in the DT class and the third-best overall player in the state of Florida...Bio: A USA Today first team All-American...an Under Armour All-American...five-star prospect according to Rivals and Scout.com...received the highest grade of any member of FSU's 2009 class garnering a 91 from ESPN...former Auburn coach Tommy Tubberville called McDaniel 'one of the best' he has seen during the Under Armour game broadcast...tallied 12 sacks as a junior and 10 as a senior...had 30 tackles for loss in 2007 leading the Cowboys to the 2A state championship...excellent baseball player who nearly won the Big Bend triple crown as a junior hitting .589 with 13 homers...committed to the Seminoles the day after signing day in 2008...named the second-best player on the black team at the Under Armour All-America game...also picked up awards as the most dominating player, strongest player and most physical...named an Under Armour All-American 'star of the game' by Rivals...chose FSU over offers from Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and Clemson...selected by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 33rd round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft.
C.J. Mizell, 6-2, 212, LB, Tallahassee
Henry Orelus, 6-2, 292, OL, Belle Glade - RANKINGS: Prep Star All-Southeast region...listed as the seventh-best center in this class by Rivals...a member of the Rivals Florida Top 100 (66)...rated the 11th-best center in this class by ESPN...Scout.com lists him as the 30th-rated guard...Bio: A first team all-county selection in 2007...the only junior named to the Super 11 team in Palm Beach County...participated in the Treasure Coast All-Star game and the Outback All-Star game...three-star lineman according to Rivals...can play on either side of the ball but excelled at center...athletic lineman with excellent physical dimensions according to ESPN...played for former Seminole Jessie Hester... chose FSU over LSU, Tennessee and Auburn.
Aubrey Phillips, 6-6, 310, OT, Olive Banch, MS
John Prior, 6-6, 283, OL, Portsmouth, OH - RANKINGS: Prep Star All-Midwest region...Rivals ranking of 51st among offensive tackles...No. 57 on Scout.com's list of offensive tackles...ranked 75th at his position by ESPN...ranked the 38th-best prospect coming out of Ohio by Rivals...Bio: Three-star lineman according to Rivals...named all-district...member of the Ohio team for the Big 33 game which pits Ohio high schoolers versus their Pennsylvania counterparts...missed some time his junior season due to injury...lined up at both offensive and defensive tackle as a senior...a natural left-hander...his only official visit was to Florida State...will join fellow Ohioan Zebrie Sanders on the Seminole offensive line...one of seven children of which five are girls...chose FSU over Indiana, Louisville, NC State, West Virginia, Purdue and Syracuse among others.
Lonnie Pryor, 6-1, 195, RB, Okeechobee - RANKINGS: Ranks as the nation's 15th-best running back according to Rivals...SI/Takkle top 200 (172) of this year's class...Rivals lists him as the 28th-best prospect in the state of Florida...Rivals250 member (143)...named the ninth-best back in the 2009 class according to Scout.com...SuperPrep All-American...listed at No. 19 among backs by Scout.com...named the 25th-best back in this class by SuperPrep... SuperPrep Florida Top 110 (24)...Prep Star All-American...30th-ranked prospect at his position according to ESPN...Bio: Four-star recruit according to Rivals and Scout.com...Palm Beach Post's Big School's offensive player of the year...Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers Offensive Player of the Year...rushed for 2,281 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior....also hauled in two TD passes...ran for 270 yards versus Sebastian River and then 356-yards the next week against Glades Day...rushed for 258 yards versus Fort Pierce Central...as a junior he was named Class 4A first team all-state after running for 1,735 yards and 20 more touchdowns...as a freshman on the junior varsity team where stats were not kept, Pryor ran for an estimated 2,400 yards in six games despite ever playing a full game...participated in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl...posted a 4.52 in the 40...chose Florida State over offers from 17 schools including Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Boston College and Wake Forest.
Greg Reid, 5-9, 175, CB, Valdosta, GA - RANKINGS: Rated as the No. 15 on the ESPNU150 and the No. 2 cornerback in the nation...listed as the No. 27 player nationally on the Rivals100 and ranked as the website's No. 4 cornerback...a five-star recruit by Rivals.com...listed as the top-ranked player at any position in Florida by Rivals.com and the nation's top cover corner...Scout.com rates Reid as the No. 7 cornerback and the nation's No. 56 overall recruit...a SuperPrep Elite 50 player (No. 49), the No. 3 athlete in the nation and the publication's No. 3 player in Georgia...Bio: Parade All-American...Under Armour All-American...EA Sports First Team All-American...SuperPrep All-American...MVP of the Under Armour All-Star Game...the Georgia Sports Writers Association's Player of the Year and a first team AAAAA All-State selection...The Atlanta Journal-Constitution All-Class Georgia Player of the Year...member of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super Southern 100...on the Orlando Sentinel All-Southern team...No. 13 on the Mobile Press-Register's Super Southeast 120...also an outstanding offensive player at Lowndes...as a senior in 2008 rushed for 1,242 yards on 118 carries and 16 touchdowns...caught eight passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns...had 28 total tackles with 21 solo, nine interceptions that he returned for 128 yards and one fumble recovery...returned 14 punts for 267 yards and five kicks for 85 yards...as a junior made 50 tackles with two interceptions while rushing for over 1,000 yards.
Xavier Rhodes, 6-2, 195, DB, Miami - RANKINGS: Ranks as the nation's 50th-rated receiver by Scout.com...75th-best wide receiver according to Rivals...Rivals lists him as the 91st-best prospect in the state of Florida...named the 60th-best wideout in the 2009 class according to ESPN...Prep Star All-Southeast region...Bio: Led Miami Norland in both rushing and receiving as a senior...Miami Herald All-Dade County 6A-4A team member as an all-purpose back...rushed 62 times for 339 yards and six TDs as a senior on top of catching 10 passes for 256 yards and another TD...rushed for two TDs versus Homestead which was ranked in the county 6A-4A preseason poll...hauled in 20 passes for 271 yards and two TDs as a junior while rushing for 68 yards and a touchdown...recorded over 1,000 all-purpose yards as a junior...draws comparisons to former Norland wideout and first round NFL Draft pick Dwayne Bowe...played defensive back as well and earned all-Dade honors on the defensive side of the ball...played in the 12th annual Nike South Florida All-Star Game...plans to major in accounting...had offers from West Virginia, Auburn and FIU.
Will Secord, 6-3, 204, QB, Frisco, TX - RANKINGS: Ranks as the nation's 32nd-best pro-style quarterback according to Rivals...ESPN's 60th-rated QB...Prep Star All-Midlands region...Scout.com lists him at No. 57 among QB prospects...Bio: Three-star recruit according to Rivals and Scout.com...left-handed QB joins Christian Ponder as the Seminoles' second QB from the state of Texas...threw for 46 TDs in his three-year career at new school Wakeland...completed 54.6% of his passes as a junior and senior for almost 4,400 yards...threw 20 or more touchdown passes in each of his final two seasons...led his team from 3-7 as a sophomore to 9-2 as a junior in Frisco's second season of football including a last minute TD pass to beat Prosper in district play...threw for 263 yards and three touchdowns in that win over Prosper...had one of his best games as a senior versus Frisco when he threw for 332 yards and five TDs in a 55-0 win...threw for three more TDs and 309 yards in his district 9-4A finale leading Wakeland past McKinney North 38-21...threw for 418 yards and two TDs in a loss to Frisco Centennial completing 27 of 51 pass attempts...lost in the closing moments of the school's first-ever playoff game in 2007... went 147-248 as a junior with 23 TDs and just five interceptions as he racked up 2,019 yards passing...bested his passing yards as a senior throwing for 3,382 on 167-327 passing including 20 more touchdowns...also rushed for nine TDs in his three seasons...played for his father Marty who is the head coach at Wakeland...varsity letter winner in baseball in 2007 and 2008...named first team all-district as a utility player in 2008 and second team all-district as a pitcher in 2007...led Wakeland in homeruns in 2007 and 2008...Wakeland was district champs in 2008 and regional semifinalists that year as well...chose FSU over Arkansas.
Rodney Smith, 6-6, 208, WR, Miami - RANKINGS: Ranks as the nation's eighth-best wide receiver according to Rivals...rated No. 65 on the Rivals 100...Prep Star Dream Team Member (55)...SuperPrep Florida Top 110 (69)...Rivals lists him as the 13st-best prospect in the state of Florida...named the 20th-best receiver in the 2009 class according to ESPN...Scout.com lists him as the 35th-best receiver in 2009...Bio: Four-star prospect according to Rivals and Scout.com... Miami Herald All-Dade County 3A-1B team member....a big-time playmaker who caught more than 60 passes the last two seasons of which 17 (27%) went for touchdowns....as a senior he caught 35 passes for 703 yards and 10 touchdowns...also played safety where he intercepted four passes including one that he returned for a TD...returned two kick-offs for scores as well...in 2007 he hauled in 30 passes for 627 yards (20.9 average) and seven touchdowns...runs a 4.5 40 but according to ESPN scouts he 'plays quicker than his measurables'...considered a 'serious weapon inside the red zone' by ESPN due to his 'great natural size' and his ability to 'attack the football at its highest point'...played in a primarily run oriented offense at Archbishop Carroll...posted a GPA well above a 3.0 in high school...received more than 30 offers including Tennessee, Auburn, Ole Miss, Rutgers, USF and UCF.
Bryan Stork, 6-6, 240, OL, Vero Beach - RANKINGS: Ranks as the nation's 26th-best tight end according to Rivals...Scout.com lists him No. 33 among tight ends...Prep Star All-Southeast region...rated No. 96 on the top 100 list by Rivals for the state of Florida...named the 45th-best tight end in the 2009 class according to ESPN...Bio: FACA All-District 17 player...expected to play tight end but could wind up as an offensive tackle at some point...described by ESPN as a player with 'a high motor' who is a 'solid producer on the football field'...had two catches for 47 yards as a junior but made his biggest impact as a blocker recording 43 pancakes...plans on pursuing a sport management degree...chose Florida State over offers from Maryland, Syracuse, UCF and FIU.
Chris Thompson, 5-8, 173, RB, Greenville - RANKINGS: Ranks as the nation's second-best all-purpose according to Rivals...a member of the Rivals 250 coming in at 105...19th-best prospect in Florida according to Rivals...SuperPrep Florida Top 110 (59)...PrepStar All-American...No. 39 on Scout.com's list of running backs...Bio: Under Armour All-American...four-star prospect according to Rivals...rushed for nearly 2,300 yards and 33 touchdowns as a junior as the Cowboys captured the state championship...also piled up over 500 yards receiving and nine TD catches on top of nearly 800 return yards...ran for 203 yards on 17 carries scoring touchdowns of 56 and 49 yards in the state championship game in 2007...battled a left ankle injury for much of his senior season...rated the top running back in space by Rivals...Rivals called him the 'most impressive back' on the black team at the Under Armour All-Star game...timed at 4.4 in the 40...chose FSU over Miami, Florida and Clemson.