July 4, 2008

Rivals.com recruiting staff
Rivals.com Football Recruiting

Pick a category Stongest arm Most accurate Best scrambler Quickest Strongest Best athlete Best run stuffer Best pass rusher Best home-run threat Best inside runner Best in space Best downhill runner Strongest Best against the run Best pass rusher Quickest first step Best run blocker Best pass blocker Strongest Most agile Best athlete Best instincts Best run stopper Best closing speed Best athlete Best deep threat Best hands Best after catch Best athlete Fastest Best ball skills Best coverage skills Most physical Best athlete Fastest Best hands Best athlete

The Rivals.com recruiting experts have broken down countless hours of film and racked up plenty of frequent flyer miles to see the top prospects compete at events across the country. In the process of evaluating overall talent, several prospects gained notice for their mastery of specific skills.

We've selected the best of the best in each category for every position and ranked them. Rivals.com recruiting analyst Barry Every breaks down the tight ends.

Coming Next: Safeties

TE RANKINGS: Fastest | Best hands | Best athlete

5. RICHARD WILSON, Spanish Fork (Utah) High
PARTICULARS: 6-3/224
THE BUZZ: Projects as a tight end, but runs his routes like a receiver.

4. MORRELL PRESLEY, Carson (Calif.) High
Pressley highlights
COMMITMENT: USC
PARTICULARS: 6-4/215
THE BUZZ: Did a nice job getting deep at the Los Angeles Nike Camp.

3. BARRETT MATTHEWS, Houston North Shore
Matthews highlights
COMMITMENT: Texas
PARTICULARS: 6-2/220
THE BUZZ: Spends a lot of time lined up as a receiver, and he can make short passes turn into long gains.

2. DION SIMS, Orchard Lake (Mich.) St. Mary's
Sims highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-5/230
THE BUZZ: Two-sport star brings his basketball athleticism to the gridiron.

1. ORSON CHARLES, Tampa Plant
Charles highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-2/216
THE BUZZ: Displayed good speed as he worked out with the receivers at the Gainesville Nike Camp.

OTHERS: Malcolm Bush, Hackensack (N.J.) High (Rutgers commitment); Kenneth Cooper, Merced (Calif.) High; Tyler Eifert, Fort Wayne (Ind.) Bishop Dwenger; Trey Graham, Waco (Texas) Midway (Texas commitment); Jordan Najvar, Klein (Texas) Oak.

BEST HANDS

5. ZACH ERTZ, Danville (Calif.) Monte Vista
COMMITMENT: Stanford
PARTICULARS: 6-6/230
THE BUZZ: Only played in five games last season but still hauled in 38 passes.

4. MORRELL PRESLEY, Carson (Calif.) High
Pressley highlights
COMMITMENT: USC
PARTICULARS: 6-4/215
THE BUZZ: Won the receiver MVP award at the Los Angeles Nike Camp because of his route-running and consistency catching the ball.

3. RICHARD WILSON, Spanish Fork (Utah) High
PARTICULARS: 6-3/224
THE BUZZ: Caught 46 passes for 700 yards and nine touchdowns last season.

2. LEVINE TOILOLO, La Mesa (Calif.) Helix
Toilolo highlights
COMMITMENT: Stanford
PARTICULARS: 6-8/239
THE BUZZ: Looked like a rebounding machine at the Los Angeles Nike Camp, pulling in every pass.

1. PHILIP LUTZENKIRCHEN, Marietta (Ga.) Lassiter
Lutzenkirchen highlights
COMMITMENT: Auburn
PARTICULARS: 6-4/245
THE BUZZ: Caught everything thrown his way at the Tuscaloosa Nike Camp.

OTHERS: Reid Fragel, Grosse Pointe (Mich.) South (Ohio State commitment); Orson Charles, Tampa Plant; Tanner Poppe, Girard (Kan.) High; Hutson Prioleau, Fort Worth (Texas) All Saints Episcopal (Texas A&M commitment); Austin Tate, Harrison (Ark.) High (Arkansas commitment).

BEST ATHLETE

5. ORSON CHARLES, Tampa Plant
Charles highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-2/216
THE BUZZ: Probably the most physically impressive tight end on the hoof; also could be a star at weakside defensive end.

4. RA'SHEDE HAGEMAN, Minneapolis Washburn
Hageman highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-6/251
THE BUZZ: Not only a star on the gridiron but also on the hardwood.

3. ARTHUR FONTAINE, Dartmouth (Mass.) High
Fontaine highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-5/240
THE BUZZ: Two-way starter also recorded 63 tackles on defense.

2. DION SIMS, Orchard Lake (Mich.) St. Mary's
Sims highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-5/230
THE BUZZ: Two-sport star also is considered a Division I basketball recruit.

1. SHELDON RICHARDSON, St. Louis Gateway
Richardson highlights
COMMITMENT: Missouri
PARTICULARS: 6-4/281
THE BUZZ: Richardson ran back-to-back 4.7's at Missouri camp, and could project as a strongside defensive end or even a defensive tackle.

OTHERS: Kenneth Cooper, Merced (Calif.) High; Jacob Green, Wyoming (Ohio) High; Barrett Matthews, Houston North Shore (Texas commitment); Jordan Najvar, Klein (Texas) Oak; Morrell Presley, Carson (Calif.) High (USC commitment).

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