June 27, 2008

Rivals.com recruiting staff

Video: Best WRs by category | VOTE: Deep threat | Hands | Best after catch | Best athlete

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

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 wide receivers.

Coming Next: Cornerbacks

WR RANKINGS: Best deep threat | Best hands | Best after catch | Best athlete

5. SHAQUELLE EVANS, Inglewood (Calif.) High
Evans highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-0/203
THE BUZZ: He possesses good speed and a powerful running style, which allow him to excel as a receiver and return man.

4. MICHAEL BOWMAN, Rossville (Ga.) Ridgeland
Bowman highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-4/206
THE BUZZ: Used his deceptive speed, great height and good hands to turn 27 catches into 13 TDs last season.

3. RUEBEN RANDLE, Bastrop (La.) High
Randle highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-3/195
THE BUZZ: He has good size and used it to lead his team to a state championship last season.

2. JHERANIE BOYD, Gastonia (N.C.) Ashbrook
Boyd highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-2/184
THE BUZZ: His great speed, good height and body control allow him to get behind defenders.

1. ROLANDO JEFFERSON, Fresno (Calif.) Edison
Jefferson highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-2/190
THE BUZZ: Uses deceptive speed, great body control and excellent hands to get deep.

OTHERS: Kraig Appleton, East St. Louis (Ill.) High; Kenny Bell, Rayville (La.) High; Andre Debose, Sanford (Fla.) Seminole; Chris Fields, Painesville (Ohio) Harvey (Ohio State commitment); Nu'Keese Richardson, Pahokee (Fla.) High (Florida commitment).

BEST HANDS

5. ALSHON JEFFREY, St. Matthews (S.C.) Calhoun County
Jeffrey highlights
COMMITMENT: USC
PARTICULARS: 6-3/214
THE BUZZ: Had a phenomenal performance at the Chapel Hill Nike Camp, catching everything in sight.

4. ROLANDO JEFFERSON, Fresno (Calif.) Edison
Jefferson highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-2/190
THE BUZZ: Made some acrobatic catches last season that would leave you slack-jawed.

3. RUEBEN RANDLE, Bastrop (La.) High
Randle highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-3/195
THE BUZZ: He is the closest in this group of receivers to Julio Jones and A.J. Green of last year.

2. BRYCE MCNEAL, Minneapolis Breck
McNeal highlights
COMMITMENT: Michigan
PARTICULARS: 6-2/170
THE BUZZ: If the ball is within reach, this sure-handed receiver will make the catch.

1. PATRICK PATTERSON, Macon (Miss.) Noxubee County
Patterson highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-3/215
THE BUZZ: Catches ball at highest point and away from his body, whether in traffic or wide open.

OTHERS: Michael Bowman, Rossville (Ga.) Ridgeland; Marlon Brown, Memphis Harding Academy; Keenan Davis, Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Washington; Jemari Roberts, Long Beach (Calif.) Wilson College Prep; Greg Timmons, Aldine (Texas) Eisenhower (Texas commitment).

BEST AFTER CATCH

5. NU'KEESE RICHARDSON, Pahokee (Fla.) High
Richardson highlights
COMMITMENT: Florida
PARTICULARS: 5-8/151
THE BUZZ: He reminds me of a cross between Jacquez Green and Santana Moss.

4. JHERANIE BOYD, Gastonia (N.C.) Ashbrook
Boyd highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-2/184
THE BUZZ: Good speed and superior leaping ability make for an explosive receiver who can do something with the ball after the catch.

3. SHAQUELLE EVANS, Inglewood (Calif.) High
Evans highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-0/203
THE BUZZ: Possesses great speed and the build of a large back, making him hard to bring down.

2. ANDRE DEBOSE, Sanford (Fla.) Seminole
Debose highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-0/170
THE BUZZ: This receiver actually had more carries from the tailback position last year, so he knows what to do with the ball in his hands.

1. RANDALL CARROLL, Los Angeles Cathedral
Carroll highlights
COMMITMENT: USC
PARTICULARS: 5-10/175
THE BUZZ: Has great track speed and runs with the attitude of a running back.

OTHERS: Marlon Brown, Memphis Harding Academy; Terry Hawthorne, East St. Louis (Ill.) High; Rolando Jefferson, Fresno (Calif.) Edison; Rueben Randle, Bastrop (La.) High; Je'Ron Stokes, Philadelphia Northeast (Tennessee commitment).

BEST ATHLETE

5. KRAIG APPLETON, East St. Louis (Ill.) High
Appleton highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-3/190
THE BUZZ: Speedy receiver also is the state champion in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles.

4. WILLIE DOWNS, Tallahassee (Fla.) Godby
Downs highlights
COMMITMENT: Florida State
PARTICULARS: 6-2/192
THE BUZZ: Two-way star also competes in four track events for Godby.

3. JHERANIE BOYD, Gastonia (N.C.) Ashbrook
Boyd highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-2/184
THE BUZZ: State finalist in the 100 and 200 meters, along with being a top-flight football prospect.

2. RANDALL CARROLL, Los Angeles Cathedral
Carroll highlights
COMMITMENT: USC
PARTICULARS: 5-10/175
THE BUZZ: Two-way starter also is one of the top track stars in California.

1. MARLON BROWN, Memphis Harding Academy
Brown highlights
PARTICULARS: 6-5/205
THE BUZZ: A great receiver prospect, he also scored 35 points in guiding his team to victory in the state basketball championship game.

OTHERS: Andre Debose, Sanford (Fla.) Seminole; Shaquelle Evans, Inglewood (Calif.) High; Alshon Jeffrey, St. Matthews (S.C.) Calhoun County (USC commitment); Bryce McNeal, Minneapolis Breck (Michigan commitment); Rueben Randle, Bastrop (La.) High.

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