College Football Report - State Recruiting Rankings

September marks a dead period of college football recruiting. Unlike the official dead period at the end of December when coaches are not allowed to have contact with recruits, this dead period consists of players having their chance to evaluate teams. The number of verbal commitments recruits make at the beginning of the season drop, as coaches scramble to bring recruits to campus for game days and official visits. It makes for a perfect time to continue a long debated question:

Who is the best football producing state?

I’ve evaluated each states prospect rankings the last three years from the class of 2009, to this year’s 2011 class. Past classes and prospects were also graded. From the five star prospects to the three and below, each stats talent level came into consideration. Here is what I came up with for my 2010 high school football state recruiting rankings.

*Note: All player ratings by scout.com

(Three year totals and best prospect for classes of 2009-2011)

1.) Florida – Star – 21 Star – 98 (2011 ~ 9 Five ~ 32 Four)

Top Prospect 2009-'11: Trent Richardson – 2010 – #2 RB – Alabama – 5-11 225 4.50 – Pensacola, FL

The state of Florida has long ruled the recruiting world. A three year race between Florida, California and Texas usually takes place. Although other states may have more five or four star prospects in a three year span, no state can match Florida’s prospect depth. When players like Michigan’s Denard Robinson go overlooked by many of the instate teams, it’s a bit of a hint there’s some talent and depth in Florida. Miami’s Dade county has been called the “State of Miami” as it has been known to produce more top tier prospects than many states produce. No longer is Dade county just the University of Miami’s territory as the area has become a must stop for many of the nation’s top programs. The depth goes deep enough that MAC schools like Western Michigan, Central Michigan and Miami (OH) have built their programs recruiting lesser known Dade county players.

2.) Texas – Star – 25 Star – 115 (2011 ~ 10 Five ~ 42 Four)

Top Prospect 2009-'11: Russell Shepard – 2010 - #2 QB – LSU – 6-2 185 – Houston, TX

How competitive and talented is the state of Texas in high school football? Of the 23 members of the University of Texas’s 2011 recruiting class, 21call the state of Texas home. It’s easy to imagine Mack Brown and Texas coaches recruiting travel expenses are quite low. It’s widely known that Texas has always been one of the top football prospect producing states. Movies, television shows and nationally televised high school games have shown it for years. To think that the Longhorns football program could survive on only signing local Texas recruits is far from fantasy. The Longhorns singed 45 players between the classes of 2009 and 2010 with only four of those players coming from outside Texas.

3.) California –Star – 17 Star – 93 (2011 ~ 3 Five ~ 23 Four)

Top Prospect '09-'11: Matt Barkley – 2010 - #1 QB – USC – 6-3 230 – Santa Ana, CA

California continues to grow every year in the number of football prospects the state produces. One thing California has always produced, however, are quarterbacks. USC has made a living in signing single callers from their own backyard, i.e. Matt Leinart, Carson Palmer and Mark Sanchez. Other programs such as Michigan and Notre Dame have also made the state of California a must stop shop as well. The Irish’s last two starting quarterbacks have come from California, in Jimmy Clauson and Dayne Crist, along with backup Nate Montana. From 2009-to-2011 the state has had 12 four star quarterback prospects and one five star. There must be something in the laid back California lifestyle that molds a quarterback.

4.) Ohio – Star – 9 Star – 40 (2011 ~ 4 Five ~ 16 Four)

Top Prospect 2009-'11: Braxton Miller – 2011 - #1 QB – Ohio State – 6-4 200 4.47 – Huber Heights, OH

The state of Ohio runs deep. Not only does the state continually produce prospects from the Cleveland and Cincinnati areas, but in between the two spread cities as well. Cleveland’s Glenville high school ranks as one of the top programs in the country at producing college ready players. Glenville’s 2011 senior class is made up of more than 13 players on the radar of college coaches nationwide. One reason the Buckeyes have been able to stay at the top as one of college football’s best over the years is because of the instate recruiting of head coach Jim Tressel. The state of Ohio is also home to eight FBS programs, well fed by the states high school teams.

5.) Georgia – Star – 5 Star – 62 (2011 ~ 2 Five ~ 21 Four)

Top Prospect 2009-'11: Greg Reid – 2009 - #7 CB – Florida State – 5-8 170 4.45 – Valdosta, GA

As far as south eastern football goes, Georgia does it better than anyone outside Florida. Atlanta lies as a decent place to find football recruits, but towns away from the state’s major city have proven to be hot spots for college coaches. Valdosta, Suwanee, Stone Mountain and Columbus are all well known cities to find numerous football talents. Not only the University of Georgia, but SEC teams like Auburn, Tennessee and Florida have marked the peach state as a must stop place when building their skill sets and defensive lines.

6.) Pennsylvania – Star – 6 Star – 27 (2011 ~ 1 Five ~ 8 Four)

Top Prospect 2009-'11: Sharrif Floyd – 2010 - #1 DT – Florida – 6-2 310 5.12 – Philadelphia

Pennsylvania has long been a football hot bed. Hidden in the suburbs of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are some of the nations most talented and under rated prospects. Offensive linemen, quarterbacks and linebackers seem to flourish in Pennsylvania. Linebackers especially, with it being one reason why Penn State has been able to thrive as linebacker U over the years. The University of Florida has began to recruit the Philadelphia area hard over the years and school like Michigan and Ohio State continue to pull prospects away from Pitt and Penn State. Quarterbacks Terrell Pryor of Ohio State and past Michigan quarterback Chad Henne both hail from Pennsylvania.

7.) Virginia – Star –5 Star – 46 (2011 ~ 2 Five ~ 9 Four)

Top Prospect 2009-'11: Phillip Sims – 2010 - #2 QB – Alabama – 6-2 215 4.70 – Chesapeake, VA

The state of Virginia is an interesting state when it comes to recruiting. Towns such as Richmond, Chesapeake and Virginia Beach are places that continuously produce football prospects. Virginia is also home of two of the country’s best Military Academy’s in Fork Union and Hargrave. The schools operate as prep-schools for prospects that missed academic qualifications or NCAA requirements. The schools compete against other Academy’s on the east coast. Virginia Tech has been able to stay a consistent powerhouse in the ACC because of many of the overlooked prospects within the state.

8.) Louisiana – Star –7 Star – 21 (2011 ~ 3 Five ~ 7 Four)

Top Prospect 2009-'11: Reuben Randle – 2009 - #1 WR – LSU – 6-3 195 4.50 – Bastrop, LA

A lot like the state of Texas, Louisiana prospects have been known to be very loyal to their hometown team. LSU has put a strangle hold on the state for years and it has shown in the win column just how talented and deep the state of Louisiana runs. Known for its speed, wideouts and cornerbacks seem to grow in the muddy waters of the state. Even after Hurricane Katrina displaced many of the state and the area of New Orleans people, Louisiana continues to produce top level players. Teams such as Miami (FL) and Tennessee have been known to heavily recruit the New Orleans area. Two of the Hurricanes top past players, Ed Reed and Reggie Wayne, hail from the Cajun state.

9.) Alabama – Star –3 Star – 24 (2011 ~ 0 Five ~7 Four)

Top Prospect 2009-'11: Dre Kirkpatrick – 2009 - #2 CB – Alabama – 6-2 180 4.50 – Gadsden, AL

Although Hover may be Alabama’s most popular team, thanks in-part to MTV’s series following the Hoover high school team for two years, the states Gadsden City high school may be the most prolific at producing college prospects. A lot like Florida, Alabama’s overall strength of talent is what makes the state special when it comes to football recruiting. The number of five and four star prospects may not be overwhelming every year, but a consistent amount of SEC and ACC ready talent flourish high school teams throughout the state.

10.) North Carolina –Star –6 Star – 14 (2011 ~ 2 Five ~ 4 Four)

Top Prospect 2009-'11: Keenan Allen – 2010 - #1 S – California – 6-2 195 4.57 – Greensboro, NC

With so many talent rich states surrounding North Carolina, the Tar Heel state often goes overlooked. Stacked with pure athletes on the defensive and offensive side of the ball, Carolina remains a gem state for prospects. No player can be used of a better example than Greensboro native and current Cal freshman, Keenan Allen. Allen was rated the nation’s No. 1 safety prospect last year, but through two games this season, Allen leads the Golden Bears in receiving yards. With five FBS football schools to spread talent to, Carolina has little problems filling rosters.

11.) Michigan –Star – 4 Star – 19 (2011 ~ 1 Five ~ 7 Four)

Top Prospect 2009-'11: Lawrence Thomas – 2011 - #2 MLB – Michigan State – 6-4 230 4.75 – Detroit, MI

Some of the nation’s top teams are starting to take note of the talent level in the state of Michigan. USC signed Ronald Johnson, the nation’s No. 2 ranked corner in 2007, and a year later signed Detroit defensive end Nick Perry. Oregon snagged Detroit corner Dior Mathis away from Michigan’s big two last season, while the Florida Gators pulled in a verbal commitment from Madison Heights native Valdez Showers from the class of 2011. No player more so than last year’s Heisman trophy winner Mark Ingram, a Flint native, displays the talent level in Michigan, though. Ingram went overlooked in 2008, ranked as the nation’s No. 58 running back. Although other teams are starting to infiltrate Detroit, Flint and Muskegon areas, Michigan and Michigan State continue to fill their rosters with in-state talent as well.

12.) South Carolina –Star –5 Star – 23 (2011 ~ 3 Five ~ 5 Four)

Top Prospect 2009-'11: Marcus Lattimore – 2010 - #1 RB – South Carolina – 6-0 215 – Duncan, SC

Both Clemson and South Carolina have been trying to place a hold on the instate football talent of South Carolina for years. The problem is, the talent runs so deep that relations with other out of state schools gets built up. Proof of the talent lies in last year’s No.1 rated running back Marcus Lattimore. Steve Spurrier struck gold when he was able to keep the Bynes graduate from signing with any other program and it has shown through two games this season, with Lattimore leading the team in rushing thus far. Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, a Rock Hill native, ranks as nation’s No. 1 prospect in the class of 2011 and you can believe both the Tigers and Gamecocks would love to see his name come through their fax machines in February.

13.) New Jersey –Star –2 Star – 20 (2011 ~ 1 Five ~ 7 Four)

Top Prospect 2009-'11: TJ Clemmings – 2010 - #6 DE – Pittsburgh – 6-6 260 – Paterson, NJ

Per capita, the state of New Jersey may be the best football recruiting state. The states talent is spread throughout; however, four high schools rain supreme over all others. Princeton’s the Hun School, Ramsey’s Don Bosco Prep, Jersey City’s St. Peters Prep and Oradell’s Bergen Catholic continuously provide many of the nation’s top teams with talent. Notre Dame, Pittsburgh and Penn State have recruited the New Jersey area for years. One of the steals of last year’s recruiting class came from Blairstown, New Jersey in running back Dion Lewis. Pittsburgh was one of three FBS schools to offer Lewis a scholarship and he didn’t disappoint, becoming the Big East Offensive Player of the Year as a true freshman.

14.) Maryland/DC – Star –3 Star – 19 (2011 ~ 1 Five ~ 4 Four)

Top Prospect 2009-'11: Jelani Jenkins – 2009 - #1 OLB – Florida – 6-1 200 4.45 – Olney, MD

Crab cakes and football, that’s what Maryland does, right? Kind of, the state of Maryland is sneaky good at football, with Hyattsville being the state’s top program. Maryland as a state produces numerous NFL players such. The class of 2005 prospects include Darrius Heyward-Bey and Derrick Williams. From the class of 2006, it was Ben Tate, Navarro Bowman and Aaron Maybin. Last year’s draft featured Joe Haden, a Maryland native and class of 2007 graduate. The problem for Maryland is keeping the talent at home. Of the state’s top 12 players from the class of 2010, all signed with different BCS programs. Only one signed with the University of Maryland. Nearby, Washington D.C.’s Dunbar high school has also has been known to produce top college talent like 2007 graduate and NFL draftee Arrelious Benn. North Carolina’s Marvin Austin is also a D.C. native.

15.) Illinois – Star –2 Star – 17 (2011 ~ 0 Five ~ 7 Four)

Top Prospect 2009-'11: Kyle Pratter – 2010 – #2 WR – USC – 6-5 205 4.55 – Hillside, IL

The Chicago area was once known throughout as a recruiting hot bed for many of the nation’s top programs. The state of Illinois and the Chicago area in particular, however, are beginning to decline in overall talent. Notre Dame continues to be a regular signing prospects from the Chicago area, as well as Big Ten programs Purdue, Illinois, and Michigan. This year’s class features a load of top offensive line prospects, many of which are already committed to numerous Big Ten schools. As of late, the University of Miami has brought an interest back to the Chicago suburbs, an area the Hurricanes picked apart in the early ‘90s.

Just missed the cut:

Mississippi –Arizona – Washington –Tennessee – Arkansas