Some blue chippers get an early green light

It’s not always clear what you’re getting when you recruit a high school football player, even a blue chip one, because it’s a different, faster game on the college level. So we need some guidance.

That’s where the recruiting services come in. Athlon Sports polled six of the best ones (including PrepStar, Rivals, Scout, Max Emfinger and OD) to compile a list of the top 100 recruits in 2009.

And the consensus No. 1 player? Santa Ana Mater Dei High quarterback Matt Barkley. The 6-foot-4, 226-pounder has committed to USC.

Devon Kennard, a 6-4, 240-pound defensive end from Desert Vista High in Phoenix, is ranked second, and quarterback Russell Shepard of Cypress Ridge High in Houston is ranked third.

Among the highest-ranked defensive linemen is 6-3, 280-pound Jamarkus McFarland of Lufkin (Texas) High, who reportedly has Louisiana State, Texas and Oklahoma on his list.

Trivia time

Boston Red Sox teammates Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis could finish first and second in the American League batting race. When was the last time teammates did that -- and who were they?

Favre update

In case you can’t get enough of Brett Favre, that may change. The New York Jets’ last six games, and a total of 12, are scheduled to be televised by CBS, according to Newsday.

Said CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz: “We should be paying part of his salary.”

Trump this

Donald Trump against anybody is always a fun matchup, and Tuesday night on HBO’s “Real Sports” he’s going up against some locals who don’t want to see him develop a swath of Scottish coastline to build an exclusive golf resort.

One such Scot, Mickey Foote, said there are those who live in the area who are being foolish: “They dream they’re going to be in the Jacuzzi with Tiger Woods. They’re going to be bumping into Johnny Depp.”

Born to close

The New York Mets and Yankees may be taking their rivalry to a higher decibel level. While the Mets are planning to close Shea Stadium with a Billy Joel performance, the Yankees are trying to get Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney to help close Yankee Stadium, according to the New York Daily News.

Where are we?

Visitors will have a hard time forgetting where they are inside $720-million Lucas Oil Stadium, new home of the Indianapolis Colts.

The Lucas Oil logo will be displayed in 3-D on the facade, on each side of the field above the 50-yard line and on the employees’ uniforms.

From a Lucas spokesman, according to the Indianapolis Star: “We paid for people to say Lucas Oil.”

Trivia answer

The 2003 Red Sox tandem of Bill Mueller (.326) and Manny Ramirez (.325).

And finally

London Mayor Boris Johnson told the London Telegraph that he’s not worried (well, maybe slightly) about his part in the city’s “hand-over” portion at the closing ceremony of the Olympics in Beijing: “There is nothing that can possibly go wrong, well, so far.”

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thomas.bonk@latimes.com