Western 100: Top high school recruits for 2015

Blake Barnett, 6-5/200, Corona, Calif. (Santiago)

Committed to: Alabama

Ross Bowers, 6-1/175, Bothell, Wash.

Committed to: California

Jake Browning, 6-2/185, Folsom, Calif.

Committed to: Washington

Sam Darnold, 6-4/210, San Clemente, Calif.

Committed to: USC

Eric Dungey, 6-4/195, Lake Oswego, Ore. (Lakeridge)

Committed to: Syracuse

Zach Gentry, 6-7/240, Albuquerque, N.M. (Eldorado)

Committed to: Texas

Austin Kafentzis, 6-1/195, Sandy, Utah (Jordan)

Committed to: Wisconsin

Sheriron Jones, 6-3/195, Moreno Valley, Calif. (Rancho Verde)

Committed to: Tennessee

Brian Lewerke, 6-3/195, Phoenix, Ariz. (Pinnacle)

Committed to: Michigan State

Bryce Perkins, 6-3/185, Chandler, Ariz.

Committed to: Arizona State

Josh Rosen, 6-4/210, Bellflower, Calif. (St. John Bosco)

Committed to: UCLA

Brett Rypien, 6-2/185, Spokane, Wash. (Shadle Park)

Committed to: Boise State

Ricky Town, 6-3/200, Ventura, Calif. (St. Bonaventure)

Committed to: USC

Travis Waller, 6-4/185, Anaheim, Calif. (Servite)

Committed to: Oregon

Brady White, 6-2/180, Newhall, Calif. (Hart)

Committed to: Arizona State

Scouting report: Goodbye, Brett Hundley. Hello, Josh Rosen. UCLA loses a record-setting quarterback in Hundley, but gets a five-star quarterback recruit, as ranked by Scout.com, in Rosen out of St. John Bosco. He threw for 11,175 yards and 90 touchdowns in four years, never lost a league game and had a grade-point average above 4.0. Not bad for a former tennis prodigy who switched to football right before high school. He might be the most college-ready of this year’s quarterbacks class with his ability to command an offense. Rosen enrolled at UCLA in January after graduating early from high school. Could the Crimson Tide really be transitioning from pocket passers to dual-threat athletes? First Blake Sims, now Blake Barnett. No quarterback who has completed at least one pass in Nick Saban’s tenure at Alabama has ever been ranked as high as Barnett. At 6-foot-5, he ranks No. 14 overall in the ESPN 300, and “combines Peyton Manning’s stature at the same age with a Russell Wilson escapability,” according to The Sporting News. Remember Jim Harbaugh’s last college quarterback? His name was Andrew Luck. In his first year back in the NCAA, Harbaugh landed Zach Gentry — a giant who can run. Gentry is 6-7 and ran for 220 yards in a 50-49 upset over No. 1 Mayfield.

Myles Gaskin, 5-9/185, Seattle, Wash. (O'Dea)

Committed to: Washington

Kirk Johnson, 5-11/185, San Jose, Calif. (Valley Christian)

Committed to: Texas

Bolu Olorunfunmi, 5-11/215, Fresno, Calif. (Clovis North)

Committed to: UCLA

Lonny Powell, 6-1/230, Sacramento, Calif.

Committed to: California

Cameron Scarlett, 6-1/210, Portland, Ore. (Central Catholic)

Committed to: Stanford

Scouting report: The West didn’t do a whole lot to repair the devalued image of running backs — as if Washington’s Bishop Sankey being the top running back taken at 54th overall in the 2014 NFL draft wasn’t enough. Cameron Scarlett is the West’s top-ranked running back by Scout.com at No. 235 overall but might be the biggest steal if he can stay healthy. His senior season was derailed by a hamstring injury before it ended for good in the Oregon state playoffs when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament. He is supposed to heal well before the start of the season, and coach David Shaw plans for Scarlett to be Stanford’s future featured back. Central Catholic often split him wide as a receiver, as well. Myles Gaskin will bring some giddyap to Washington’s backfield. The TNT all-state player ran for 1,567 yards and 27 touchdowns for O’Dea this season and 2,182 yards and 35 touchdowns as a junior. Lonny Powell could have been recruited for offense or defense, as a running back or receiver. He’ll start his Cal career at running back, but the Metropolitan League Defensive Player of the Year could switch to linebacker. The Semper Fi All-American Bowl selection had 1,763 rushing yards, 1,068 receiving yards, 213 tackles and 45 sacks for his career.

Cordell Broadus, 6-3/185, Las Vegas, Nev. (Bishop Gorman)

Considering: Arizona, Baylor, Florida State

Tony Brown, 6-1/190, La Mirada, Calif.

Committed to: Texas Tech

Trent Irwin, 6-2/190, Newhall, Calif. (Hart)

Committed to: Stanford

Jaylinn Hawkins, 6-1/180, Buena Park, Calif.

Considering: Arizona State, Boise State, California, Utah, Washington

Desean Holmes, 5-11/175, Mission Hills, Calif. (Bishop Alemany)

Considering: Fresno State, Hawaii

Christian Kirk, 5-10/190, Scottsdale, Ariz. (Saguaro)

Committed to: Texas A&M

L.J Reed, 6-3/200, Elk Grove, Calif. (Tokay)

Committed to: UCLA

C.J. Sanders, 5-9/175, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (Notre Dame)

Committed to: Notre Dame

Equanuneous St. Brown, 6-5/190, Anaheim, Calif. (Servite)

Considering: Notre Dame, Utah

Scouting report: The most interesting recruit, according to Sports Illustrated: Equanimeous Tristan Imhotep J. St. Brown. Who can argue? His first name came from his dad’s college friend, who was writing a book featuring a character named Equanimeous Brown, which was inspired by the word equanimity, which means “calm emotions when dealing with problems or pressure.” Oh, and he’s fluent in German, French and English, took his SAT in all three languages (and scored well in all), and his father was a world-class bodybuilder who got St. Brown lifting weights when he was 5 years old. He caught 74 passes for more than 1,200 yards this season and it appears Notre Dame is the favorite to land him. Speaking of Notre Dame — and interesting recruits — how about C.J. Sanders? Sanders attends Sherman Oaks Notre Dame and must have liked the school’s name so much he committed to the University of Notre Dame. He shouldn’t be affected by the bright lights of Notre Dame Stadium — he played a young Ray Charles in the movie “Ray” and his dad is former NFL receiver Chris Sanders Oh yeah, and there’s Cordell Broadus — his dad is Snoop Dogg.

Alize Jones, 6-5/220, Las Vegas, Nev. (Bishop Gorman)

Committed to: Notre Dame

Kyle Penniston, 6-5/235, Santa Ana, Calif. (Mater Dei)

Committed to: Wisconsin

Tyler Petite, 6-5/225, Moraga, Calif. (Campolindo)

Committed to: USC

Scouting report: Notre Dame loves tight ends (think Kyle Rudolph, Tyler Eifert, ex-Seahawk John Carlson and Anthony Fasano). It’s not hard to imagine Brian Kelly’s excitement to learn of Aliz’e Jones flipping his commitment in mid-January from UCLA to the Irish. Jones could be the best tight-end recruit in the country and certainly in the West, and he’ll have an opportunity to play right away at Notre Dame. He has a decent frame at 6-foot-5, 220 pounds and he has the speed to split out to wide receiver, but his college coaching staff will work on bulking him up. Jones caught 41 passes for 930 yards and 13 touchdowns as Bishop Gorman won its sixth consecutive state championship. Speaking of flipping commits, Tyler Petite had been on USC’s radar for a while but he spurned the Trojans and committed to Duke. He then decommitted from the Blue Devils and committed to USC. He caught 37 passes for 969 yards and nine touchdowns and helped Campolindo win a California Division III state title.

Trey Adams, 6-7/275, Wenatchee, Wash.

Committed to: Washington

Tevita Halalilo, 6-3/300, Moreno Valley, Calif. (Rancho Verde)

Committed to: UCLA

Roy Hemsley, 6-6/270, Los Angeles, Calif. (Windward)

Committed to: USC

Tristen Hoge, 6-5/290, Pocatello, Idaho (Highland)

Committed to: Notre Dame

Andre James, 6-5/285, West Herriman, Utah (Herriman)

Committed to: UCLA

Shane Lemieux, 6-6/285, Yakima, Wash. (West Valley)

Committed to: Oregon

Tim Lynott, 6-3/295, Aurora, Colo. (Regis Jesuit)

Committed to: Colorado

Clayton Johnston, 6-6/290, Anaheim, Calif. (Servite)

Committed to: USC

Bar Milo, 6-6/300, West Hills, Calif. (Chaminade)

Committed to: Miami

Zach Okun, 6-4/305, Newbury Park, Calif.

Committed to: Oregon

Henry Roberts, 6-5/275, Bellevue, Wash.

Committed to: Washington

Zach Robertson, 6-5/320, Bellflower, Calif. (St. John Bosco)

Committed to: Arizona State

Dru Samia, 6-5/295, Danville, Calif. (San Ramon Valley)

Committed to: Oklahoma

Calvin Throckmorton, 6-6/280, Bellevue, Wash. (Newport)

Committed to: Oregon

Fred Ulu-Perry, 6-3/310, Honolulu, Hawaii (St. Louis)

Committed to: UCLA

Semisi Uluave, 6-6/295, Honolulu, Hawaii (Punahou)

Considering: California, Oregon, Texas Tech, UCLA

Rick Wade, 6-6/240, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.

Committed to: UCLA

Keenan Walker, 6-5/265, Scottsdale, Ariz. (Chaparral)

Committed to: Arizona State

Scouting report: Every defensive lineman in the Pac-12 looked forward to facing UCLA because no team in the conference allowed more sacks last season. But the Bruins were busy on the recruiting end this offseason, getting commitments from Fred Ulu-Perry (considered Hawaii’s top O-line prospect out of the Saint Louis School, where former UW and Chicago Bears center Olin Kreutz attended), Tevita Halalilo, Andre James and Rick Wade. Halalilo has carved a reputation as a strong run-blocker and impressed at the Semper Fi All-American Bowl. Since when do Parade All-Americans come from Idaho? Tristen Hoge, nephew of ESPN analyst Merril Hoge, might be the best prospect to ever come from the state. The two-time Gatorade Idaho player of the year is also the only player from Idaho to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Keenan Walker has a big frame (6-foot-5, 280 pounds) and combines that with speed and athleticism. He would have had a chance to start right away at Arizona, but he tweeted that he tore his anterior cruciate ligament preparing for the Under Armour All-American game in early January.

DEFENSE

Rasheem Green, 6-5/275, Gardena, Calif. (Junipero Serra)

Considering: Arizona State, Miami, Oregon, USC

Jacob Daniel, 6-4/310, Fresno, Calif. (Clovis North)

Committed to: USC

Breiden Fehoko, 6-3/295, Honolulu, Hawaii (Farrington)

Committed to: Texas Tech

Canton Kaumatule, 6-8/270, Honolulu, Hawaii (Punahou)

Committed to: Oregon

Noah Jefferson, 6-6/290, Henderson, Nev. (Liberty)

Committed to: USC

Kahlil McKenzie, 6-4/330, Concord, Calif. (Clayton Valley)

Committed to: Tennessee

Cassius Peat, 6-5/240, Tempe, Ariz. (Corona del Sol)

Committed to: UCLA

Benning Potoa'e, 6-4/270, Lakewood, Wash. (Lakes)

Committed to: Washington

Christian Rector, 6-5/240, Los Angeles, Calif. (Loyola)

Committed to: USC

Thomas Toki, 6-1/285, Mountain View, Calif. (Saint Francis)

Committed to: Washington State

Joseph Wicker, 6-4/275, Long Beach, Calif. (Poly)

Considering: Arizona, Arizona State, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, UCLA

Scouting report: Kahlil McKenzie is the No. 1-rated 2015 recruit in the country by Scout.com and he didn’t play a snap his senior year. The California Interscholastic Federation forced him to sit when he transferred from De La Salle to Clayton Valley. But USA Today said McKenzie, at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, showed the size, strength and speed to bowl over anyone he was lined up against, and that he was double-teamed every snap once game day arrived. McKenzie is a legacy recruit for Tennessee — his father, Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie, and his uncle, Raiders scout Raleigh McKenzie, played for the Volunteers. Washington is losing NCAA sack leader Hau’oli Kikaha, but got a commitment from Lakes’ Benning Potoa’e, who Lancers coach Dave Miller says could be the next Kikaha. Potoa’e also stood out in the Semper Fi All-American Bowl, getting a couple of sacks in the scrimmage. Athlon Sports said after his performance that “Potoa’e should be charged rent for all the time he spent in the offensive backfield.” With Leonard Williams declaring for the NFL draft, USC will look to replace him with three top West recruits: Jacob Daniel, Noah Jefferson and Christian Rector.

D.J. Beavers, 6-3/200, Encino, Calif. (Crespi)

Committed to: Washington

Mustafa Branch, 6-0/215, Bellevue, Wash.

Committed to: Stanford

Christian Folau, 6-1/215, Salt Lake City, Utah (East)

Considering: Oregon State, Utah

John Houston Jr., 6-3/220, Gardena, Calif. (Junipero Serra)

Considering: Arizona State, Miami, Oklahoma, Oregon, USC

Ben Humphreys, 6-2/210, Santa Ana, Calif. (Mater Dei)

Committed to: Duke

Fotu Leiato II, 6-0/200, Steilacoom, Wash.

Committed to: Oregon

Keisean Lucier-South, 6-5/225, Orange, Calif. (Orange Lutheran)

Committed to: UCLA

Kyler Manu, 6-2/200, Pocatello, Idaho (Highland)

Committed to: Washington

Osa Masina, 6-4/230, Salt Lake City, Utah (Brighton)

Committed to: USC

Cameron Smith, 6-3/240, Granite Bay, Calif.

Committed to: USC

Kyahva Tevino, 6-0/195, Los Angeles, Calif. (Salesian)

Committed to: Washington State

Josh Woods, 6-3/210, Upland, Calif.

Committed to: UCLA

Dedrick Young, 6-1/225, Peoria, Ariz. (Centennial)

Committed to: Nebraska

Scouting report: It was a great year for linebackers in the West, producing a pair of five-star recruits in Osa Masina and John Houston Jr. Masina is considered the top recruit out of Utah and committed to USC over UCLA and Arizona State. He’s a playmaker with great pursuit and instincts, which should make him a standout outside linebacker. He could also follow UCLA’s Myles Jack and UW’s Shaq Thompson and get some looks at running back. Could USC land both of the five-star prospects? The Trojans appear to be the front-runner to continue their Junipero Serra pipeline and sign Houston — a Parade All-American — but he’s also considering Arizona State, Miami, Oklahoma and Oregon. Houston’s commitment would add to an already solid USC linebacker recruiting class alongside four-star middle linebacker Cameron Smith, who had 148 tackles, four interceptions and forced three fumbles his senior year at Granite Bay. Ben Humphreys has seen his recruiting stock rise his senior year and had a strong showing at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He told a Duke recruiting site that he could play “up to four spots in the (Blue Devils’) defense.”

Avery Anderson, 6-0/175, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Pine Creek)

Committed to: Nebraska

Frank Buncom IV, 6-1/190, San Diego, Calif. (St. Augustine)

Considering: California, Duke, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Stanford, Vanderbilt

DeChaun Holiday, 6-3/195, San Marcos, Calif. (Mission Hills)

Considering: Arizona, UCLA, Washington

Stephen Johnson III, 6-0/180, San Leandro, Calif.

Committed to: UCLA

Austin Joyner, 5-10/185, Marysville, Wash. (Marysville-Pilchuck)

Committed to: Washington

Isaiah Langley, 5-11/170, Pleasanton, Calif. (Foothill)

Committed to: USC

Eric Lee Jr., 6-0/175, Highlands Ranch, Colo. (Valor Christian)

Committed to: Nebraska

Iman Marshall, 6-1/185, Long Beach, Calif. (Poly)

Considering: Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oregon, UCLA, USC

Taeon Mason, 6-0/170, Pasadena, Calif. (Muir)

Committed to: Washington State

Quenton Meeks, 6-2/185, San Diego, Calif. (Del Norte)

Considering: California, Stanford, Vanderbilt

Stanley Norman, 6-0/170, Gardena, Calif. (Junipero Serra)

Committed to: Arizona State

Kameron Powell, 6-0/180, Upland, Calif.

Committed to: Washington State

Isaiah Renfro, 6-2/185, Chatsworth, Calif. (Sierra Canyon)

Committed to: Washington

Ykili Ross, 6-1/175, Riverside, Calif. (Poly)

Committed to: USC

Colin Samuel, 6-3/190, Long Beach, Calif. (Poly)

Committed to: UCLA

Marvell Tell, 6-1/175, Encino, Calif. (Crespi)

Committed to: USC

Scouting report: College recruiters have looked West for the top 2015 defensive back recruits. Iman Marshall is at the top of that list as a consensus top-10 recruit in the nation. He also brings quite the show. He recently announced his six finalists — Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame, UCLA and USC — in a dramatic video: “Eighteen years in L.A.,” he says. “What now? Is it time for another city? Or am I here to stay?” That was after he held a fan vote to help him decide which school would get his final official visit. The Parade All-American has been compared to Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson because he reads routes well and his size allows him to play press or off coverage. USC has commitments from each of the next three best-rated defensive backs in the West by Scout.com. Ykili Ross, Marvell Tell and Isaiah Langley will join a Trojans secondary that already includes lockdown cornerback and special teams star Adoree’ Jackson. Tell is an athletic safety who can drop into the box and lay some hits or drop into coverage. Austin Joyner was more known as a running back at Marysville-Pilchuck, but he should be an aggressive cornerback at UW.

Dominic Davis, 5-10/190, Mission Hills, Calif. (Alemany)

Committed to: USC

Porter Gustin, 6-5/240, Salem, Utah (Salem Hills)

Considering: Arizona State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, USC

Malik Lovette, 5-11/190, Redlands, Calif. (Redlands East Valley)

Committed to: Oregon

Paul Lucas, 5-11/175, Phoenix, Ariz. (Mountain Pointe)

Committed to: Arizona State

Chico McClatcher, 5-8/175, Federal Way, Wash.

Committed to: Washington

Jay Jay Wilson, 6-3/225, Valencia, Calif.

Considering: Arizona State, Colorado, Utah

Scouting report: “Utah” and “multiple five-star" commits aren’t typically used in the same sentence. But this year a pair of five-star recruits hail from the state— linebacker Osa Masina and athlete Porter Gustin. Gustin was one of six finalists for U.S. Army All-American player of the year, which is the first time a Utah athlete has been one of the finalists for the award. He had a pick-six in the Army All-American Bowl and was named defensive MVP. The Parade All-American could play linebacker or rush defensive end and he throws a 93 mph fastball. Dominic Davis flipped his commitment from Washington State to USC, where he will spend time at running back and slot receiver. Malik Lovette led Redlands East Valley to the California Division II state title, recording 1,985 yards of offense and 29 touchdowns and was selected as the MaxPreps California Division II All-State player of the year. MaxPreps wrote in September that Paul Lucas “is probably the fastest football player in the country.” But search “fastest high school running back” and a video of TNT All-Area Player of the Year Chico McClatcher is the first item listed.

Blake Johnson, 6-0/185, Los Alamitos, Calif.

Committed to: Arkansas

Chayden Johnston, 6-0/160, South Jordan, Utah (Bingham)

Committed to: Utah

Alex Kinney, 6-1/195, Fort Collins, Colo. (Rocky Mountain)

Committed to: Colorado

Kevin Robledo, 6-2/170, Westlake Village, Calif. (Westlake)

Considering: Fresno State, Indiana State

Scouting report: Kevin Robledo can punt and kick, but he plans to be a kicker wherever he goes, with Indiana State and Fresno State showing the most interest. He was 11 for 15 on field goals his senior year, with two being blocked, and a long of 47 yards. Robledo owns the California state record for most field goals in a career (42) and a season (20) and made the U.S. Army All-American game. He has also played forward on the Westlake soccer team. Alex Kinney kicked a 57-yard field goal — tied for eighth longest in Colorado state history — in Rocky Mountain’s season opener. He committed to Colorado as a punter, but he should also be an effective kickoff specialist. Blake Johnson was named an all-California Interscholastic Federation first-team West Valley selection and committed to Arkansas as a punter.