Some Preps Best in U. S. : This Season’s Grid Talent Pool Is Deep in Big and Fast Running Backs and Interior Linemen

Even in an average year for prep football talent, scout Dick Lascola says Southern California will always send a supply of players to major colleges.

While Lascola tabbed last year’s crop as only slightly above average, he says there is nothing run-of-the-mill about the prospects for 1988. In fact, he is downright bullish on this year’s blue-chippers.

“This would have to be one of the better classes we’ve had,” says Lascola, who operates the Fallbrook-based Scouting Evaluation Assn. “I’m not going to say it’s the best (ever), but when you talk about players like Russell White (Encino Crespi), Bob Whitfield (Wilmington Banning), Marcellous Elder (Long Beach Poly) and Curtis Conway (Hawthorne), you’re talking about some of the finest players in the nation.”

Lascola says the talent pool is especially rich with running backs and interior linemen, although the chips are slightly down at wide receiver and defensive back.

Going into last season, Lascola said you had to “find a big tree and shake it pretty hard” to find a good prospect at running back. But that is hardly the case this year with game-breaker backs such as White, Derek Brown of Anaheim Servite and John Johnson of Oxnard Channel Islands.

“We have a lot of kids who are highly regarded on the national level,” Lascola said. “The big question is quantity, not quality.”

In addition to Lascola, The Times turned to national recruiting services such as the G & W Recruiting Report of Pennsylvania, Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report of Illinois, Super Prep magazine of Costa Mesa, Houston-based scout Max Emfinger and the Florida-based Bluechip Recruiting Report to determine which Greater Los Angeles and Orange County seniors are receiving national publicity.

Los Angeles Loyola leads the way with three players and Carson and Servite have two each.

Here, in no particular order, are the Terrific 22:

Conway--The G & W Report says Conway “may be the best pure athlete in (the) country” and, considering that he is also one of the premier prep sprinters in the nation, it would be difficult to argue the point. With 4.4 speed in the 40, the 6-1, 180-pound quarterback has option-oriented teams such as Oklahoma and Nebraska drooling. But Conway, who rushed for 834 yards and 21 touchdowns last season, makes himself doubly dangerous with an above-average passing arm. He threw for 1,517 yards and 18 touchdowns last season.

Perry Klein (Carson, quarterback)--More of a drop-back passer than Conway, Klein left his mark on scouts with a brilliant junior year at Palisades before transferring to perennial power Carson during the off-season. Klein (6-3, 180) set a national record for completions last season with 319 in 488 attempts for 3,880 yards and 37 touchdowns. Regarded as a field leader, he is a precision passer with a good touch on the ball.

White--It’s no wonder that this name is at or near the top of almost every recruiting list in the nation. With 4,658 yards and 69 touchdowns and an 11.2 yards per carry average in his first two seasons at Crespi, the 6-0, 185-pound speedster has established the foundation to shatter numerous CIF Southern Section rushing records this season. “In the year of the running back, Russell is the top dog,” Lemming’s report says. In addition to his 4.45-second speed in the 40-yard dash, White has great moves and has developed into an excellent receiver. USC and Notre Dame appear to be the early front-runners for his talent.

Brown--If not for the presence of White, Brown probably would be touted as the top running back in the state. Brown has appeared on most national recruiting lists. At 5-11 and 185, he has strength, balance and quickness. “He has that unusual ability to start and stop and then accelerate,” Lascola said. “Derek’s a more shifty player whereas Russell (White) is more physical.” He rushed for 1,500 yards and 21 touchdowns last season and is a dangerous receiver.

Johnson--When you have names such as White and Brown at running back, there may be a tendency to overlook Johnson. Lascola says that would be a mistake. “He has tremendous talent,” he said. “If someone (college) took any of those three, they wouldn’t be slighting their program at all.” At 5-11 and 185, Johnson produced impressive stats as a junior with 1,672 yards rushing, 27 touchdowns and a brilliant 9.8 yards carry average. With 4.5-second speed in the 40, he is quick and elusive. Johnson is also a solid threat as a receiver.

Dennis Collier (Rialto Eisenhower, running back)--With the presence of all-everything linebacker Michael Smalls, now a freshman at Notre Dame, Collier may have been overshadowed last season. But he figures to be the center of attention this year. A breakaway threat, Collier (5-10, 190) has rushed for 2,564 yards and 30 touchdowns over the last two seasons and provides strong coverage at defensive back.

Chris Hunter (Covina, running back)--In the Year of the Running Back, Hunter may be this year’s sleeper. He had only 73 carries as a junior but gained 682 yards and scored 6 touchdowns. However, more than statistics, scouts like his 5-11, 185 frame and blazing 4.4-second speed in the 40. He can also play defensive back and is a good student.

Brian Allen (Newhall Hart, tight end)--On the subject of all-around athletes, Allen must be considered. At 6-4 and 215, he has the size and speed (4.65 in the 40) to excel at linebacker and tight end. He caught 45 passes for 675 yards and 10 touchdowns last season and is regarded as an excellent blocker. Allen, who has leaping ability, is also a top scorer and rebounder in basketball.

Whitfield--Most scouts consider Whitfield the premier offensive lineman on the West Coast. He is certainly one of the biggest at 6-7 and 270. Lemming said he “has been a man among boys in his short high school career.” Besides his size, recruiters are also impressed with his strength and speed. He has been clocked as fast as 4.95 in the 40. Not to mention that he is also a superb student with a 3.6 grade-point average.

Morris Unutoa (Carson, offensive lineman)--The latest in a long list of talented lineman to play for Carson, Unutoa certainly knows how to leave a lasting impression on opponents. Lemming says he “doesn’t block people, he flattens them.” At 6-3 and 240, Unutoa has great speed at 4.75 in the 40 and bench presses 375 pounds. A good student, the Samoan also stands out at defensive tackle with his pass-blocking ability.

Terry McDaniels (Pasadena, offensive lineman)--At 6-5 and 245, there is no question that McDaniels has major-college size. But what makes him even more impressive to recruiters is his 4.9 speed in the 40. “He has the speed to run people down from behind,” Lascola said. McDaniels also has above-average strength, having bench-pressed 360 pounds. A two-way player in high school, scouts also like his movement off the snap and hand coordination.

Kevin Kelly (Santa Monica, offensive lineman)--As Glyn Milburn was piling up big rushing totals last year, Kelly was usually in the background providing key blocks. This year Kelly will be in the spotlight. A three-year starter for the Vikings, Kelly has the size (6-3, 251) and quickness (5.0 in the 40) to play tackle or guard in college. He also moves well along the line and sustains his blocks.

Elder--You will not find many high school defensive tackles bigger than the 6-5 and 270 Elder. Size, though, is not the only reason why he is regarded as one of the top prospects in the nation. “He’s a big, tough kid who runs real well and has great reaction time,” Lascola said. “That’s what you look for in a defensive player. Elder, who has strength and leaping ability, is particularly strong against the run.

Matt Werner (Anaheim Esperanza, defensive lineman)--Although he hasn’t received as much acclaim as several other linemen on the Terrific 22, there is little question that Werner has a major-college future. “He’s a very dominating player,” Lascola says. “He’s the kind of player who impresses you just by walking onto the field.” At 6-5 and 245, he has 4.85 speed in the 40 and is especially strong against the run.

Justin Fix (Canyon Country Canyon, defensive lineman)--He almost was the best defensive linemen not to play football this season. He quit his team several weeks ago, but decided to return. One scouting service describes Fix as “tough as nails” and another calls him “a mean and tough nose guard with an aggressive style of play.” That should give you an idea about his demeanor on the field. The 6-3, 235 Fix has excellent quickness with a 4.8 in the 40 and is a strong pass rusher. He figures to be either a nose guard or linebacker in college.

Garrett Greedy (Servite, linebacker)--A versatile defensive player, Greedy has the size to play defensive end (6-4, 240), the speed to play linebacker (4.8 in the 40) and the tenacity to play nose guard. Not to mention that he bench presses about 350 pounds. “He’s a tough, hard-working kid, the kind everyone wants in their program,” Lascola said. Greedy is solid fundamentally and excels against the run.

Matt Butkus (Loyola, linebacker)--If the name sounds familiar, it’s because he is the son of NFL Hall of Famer Dick Butkus of the Chicago Bears. He also happens to be a pretty good linebacker. At 6-2 and 230, Butkus has the size and quickness that have impressed recruiters. Having averaged 10 tackles a game last season as a defensive lineman, Butkus has a knack of finding the runner.

Dana Ripley (Garden Grove Santiago, linebacker)--Santiago hasn’t exactly been a stockyard for major-college talent but Ripley may be an exception. At 6-3 and 235, he combines size with aggressiveness. “He has the perfect size and temperment for inside linebacker,” Lemming’s report says. He also has more-than-adequate foot speed and a 4.7 clocking in the 40.

Erik Simien (Gardena Serra, linebacker)--The 6-3 and 227 Simien will be either a linebacker or a defensive end in college. Lascola sees him as an outside linebacker, but Lemming said he could grow into a defensive end. With a 4.7 in the 40, he has the speed to play either position. “He covers a lot of ground and he’s a headhunter,” Lascola says.

Jim Klein (Loyola, defensive back)--In keeping with the like-father-like-son theme at Loyola, Klein’s Bob father was also an NFL star as a tight end with the Los Angeles Rams. However, the younger Klein’s forte is playing safety. At 6-3 and 195, Klein has excellent size for a defensive back and runs the 40 in 4.6. He also is an outstanding leaper, which helps account for his eight interceptions last season, and is solid academically.

Tommie Smith (Lancaster Antelope Valley, utility)--There is no question about Smith’s ability to play major-college football. The only question is what position. Smith has stood out at running back, defensive back and tight end. Lascola thinks he will wind up in the secondary while Lemming and G & W list him as a linebacker. At 6-2 and 205 and with a 4.6 clocking in the 40, he figures to make an impact at whatever position he plays.

Paul Stonehouse (Loyola, kicker)--While talent-rich Loyola has two defensive standouts in Butkus and Klein, the best defense for the Cubs this season may be the presence of the 5-10 and 175 Stonehouse. With an exceptionally strong leg, the all-state selection sent 85% of his kickoffs into the end zone and averaged 42.5 yards a punt last season.

THE TERRIFIC 22

Name School Ht. Wt. Pos. Curtis Conway Hawthorne 6-1 180 QB Perry Klein Carson 6-3 180 QB Russell White Crespi 6-0 185 RB Derek Brown Servite 5-11 185 RB John Johnson Channel Islands 5-11 185 RB Dennis Collier Eisenhower 5-10 190 RB Chris Hunter Covina 5-11 185 RB Brian Allen hart 6-4 215 TE Bob Whitfield Baning 6-7 270 OL Morris Unutoa Carson 6-3 240 OL Terry McDaniels Pasadena 6-5 245 OL Kevin Kelly Santa Monica 6-3 251 OL Marcellous Elder Long Beach Poly 6-5 270 DL Matt Werner Esperanza 6-5 245 DL Justin Fix Canyon 6-3 235 DL Garrett Greedy Servite 6-4 240 LB Matt Butkus Loyola 6-2 230 LB Dana Ripley Santiago 6-3 235 LB Erik Simien Serra 6-3 227 LB Jim Klien Loyola 6-3 195 DB Tommie Smith Antelope Valley 6-2 205 UT Paul Stonehouse Loyola 5-10 175 K