June 2, 2008

Rivals.com recruiting staff

Video: Best QBs in each category | VOTE: Strongest arm | Most accurate | Best scrambler

Pick a category Stongest arm Most accurate Best scrambler Quickest Strongest Best athlete Best run stuffer Best pass rusher

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 quarterbacks.

Coming Thursday: Defensive tackles

QUARTERBACK RANKINGS: Strongest Arm | Most Accurate | Best Scramber

5. Garrett Gilbert, Austin (Texas) Lake Travis
Gilbert highlights
Can make almost any throw from any position on the field but is recovering from offseason surgery.

4. Tom Savage, Springfield (Pa.) Cardinal O'Hara
Savage highlights
Deep throws at the U.S. Army Junior Combine caught everyone's attention.

3. Zach Mettenberger, Watkinsville (Ga.) Oconee County
Mettenberger highlights
Caused some sore hands on receivers at the Tuscaloosa EA Sports Elite11 competition in May.

2. Ryan Mossakowski Frisco (Texas) Centennial
Mossakowski highlights
Strongest arm among those at the U.S. Army Junior Combine in San Antonio.

1. Matt Barkley, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei
Barkley highlights
His 97-yard touchdown strike while being dragged down to the ground is all you need to see.

OTHERS: Drew Allen, San Antonio Alamo Heights; Raymond Cotton, Ft. Meade (Md.) High; Andrew Maxwell, Midland (Mich.) High; Aaron Murray, Tampa Plant; Tyler Russell, Meridian (Miss.) High.

Most accurate

5. Aaron Murray, Tampa Plant
Murray highlights
Completed 61 percent of his passes last season and was the first invitee to the Elite11 camp in southern California next month.

4. Allan Bridgford, Mission Viejo (Calif.) High
Bridgford highlights
Bob Johnson-coached recruit had two strong camp performances this summer.

3. Tajh Boyd, Hampton (Va.) Phoebus
Boyd highlights
Connected on 69.3 percent of his passes and dominated his position group at the Chapel Hill Nike camp.

2. Tyrik Rollison, Sulphur Springs (Texas) High
Rollison highlights
Hit on 296 passes of 423 attempts for a completion percentage of 69.9.

1. Tate Forcier, San Diego Scripps Ranch
Forcier highlights
Completed 77 percent of his passes last season and most recently won the "Golden Gun" award at the EA Sports Elite11 in Berkeley, Calif.

OTHERS: Richard Brehaut, Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) Los Osos; Jon Budmayr, Woodstock (Ill.) Marian Central Catholic; AJ McCarron, Mobile (Ala.) St. Paul's; Joe Southwick, Danville (Calif.) San Ramon Valley; Jordan Wynn, Oceanside (Calif.) High.

Best scrambler

5. Shavodrick Beaver, Wichita Falls (Texas) Rider
Beaver highlights
Led his team to 12-2 record, throwing for 31 TDs and rushing for 482 yards.

4. Jordan Luallen, Greenwood (Ind.) Center Grove
Luallen highlights
Rushed for 546 yards and 12 TDs in '07, then was Baton Rouge Nike MVP.

3. Raymond Cotton, Fort Meade (Md.) High
Cotton highlights
His performance at the Tuscaloosa Nike Training Camp reminded some of a young Jason Campbell.

2. Nathan Scheelhaase, Kansas City Rockhurst
Scheelhaase highlights
Led his team to the Missouri 6A title and rushed for 917 yards and 14 touchdowns.

1. Russell Shepard, Houston Cypress Ridge
Shepard highlights
May be the country's most dynamic playmaker. Rushed for 1,525 yards and 18 touchdowns last season.

OTHERS: Tate Forcier, San Diego Scripps Ranch; Cody Green, Dayton (Texas) High; Kevin Newsome, Chesapeake (Va.) Western Branch; Casey Pachall, Brownwood (Texas) High; Tyrik Rollison, Sulphur Springs (Texas) High.

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