Southland Prep Football Talent Pool Not Too Deep This Season

In discussing the prep football talent pool in Southern California this year, scout Dick Lascola admits that it is not a bumper crop.

“It’s not as bad as some (years) but not as good as others,” says Lascola, who operates the Fallbrook-based Scouting Evaluation Assn.

He says the pool doesn’t match the talent supply of last season, when seniors such as running backs Russell White of Encino Crespi, quarterback Curtis Conway of Hawthorne, offensive lineman Bob Whitfield of Wilmington Banning and defensive lineman Marcellous Elder of Long Beach Poly were considered among the premier college prospects in the nation.

But “there’s still quality out there,” Lascola said.

He sees quality at linebacker and quarterback, though the ranks appear thin among defensive backs and offensive linemen.

Possibly the biggest catch in this year’s pool is linebacker Bruce Walker of Compton Dominguez. “There are some who think that Walker is the best player in the state, and others say he’s the best in the country,” Lascola said.

Linebackers Willie McGinest of Long Beach Poly, Nkosi Littleton of Carson and quarterback Charles Levy of Lynwood have also drawn attention from major colleges.

National recruiting services such as G&W; Recruiting Report of Pennsylvania, Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report of Illinois, Houston-based scout Max Emfinger, Super Prep magazine of Costa Mesa and the Florida-based Steve Smith’s Blue Chip report also helped determine which Greater Los Angeles and Orange county seniors are receiving the most national puff.

La Puente Bishop Amat, Santa Ana Mater Dei and Long Beach Poly lead the way, each with two players on the list.

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

Michael Wynn (San Fernando, quarterback)--San Fernando has been known more for running backs over the years, but Wynn is in the spotlight this season. One of the most versatile quarterbacks in Southern California, Wynn passed for 1,599 yards and rushed for 500 last season. Emfinger ranked him No. 2 nationally among quarterback prospects. At 6-3 and 210, Wynn has size, runs the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds and exhibits leadership.

Todd Gragnano (Los Alamitos, quarterback)--Perhaps the most-touted prep quarterback in the Southland, Gragnano earned his reputation with an impressive junior season, in which he passed for 2,324 yards and 15 touchdowns. He’s 6-1 and 185, gets speed on passes, has a quick release and can roll out of the pocket. Super Prep compares him with former Orange County star Bret Johnson of UCLA. He also stars in baseball and is an excellent student.

Dan O’Neil (Santa Ana Mater Dei, quarterback)--Regarded as one of the top prospects on the West Coast, O’Neil is certainly one of the most accurate passers. As a junior he completed 58%, throwing for 2,100 yards and 18 touchdowns. He’s 6-2 and 185, reads defenses well and can scramble, rushing for 350 yards last season. He is an all-around athlete who place-kicks and plays basketball and volleyball.

J.J. O’Laughlin (Glendora, quarterback)--When scouts talk about O’Laughlin, they usually speak in the future tense. “He has all the tools to be a good one,” Lascola says. Super Prep ranks him No. 6 among quarterbacks on its All-American team. At 6-3 and 200, he is a pure drop-back quarterback with outstanding arm strength and a nice touch. He passed for 1,465 yards last season and has nearly 3,000 in his career. He also stars in baseball and basketball and has a near-perfect 3.9 grade-point average.

Charles Levy (quarterback, Lynwood)--This year’s version of Curtis Conway, who starred for Hawthorne last season, Levy is a quarterback who plays like a running back. Listed as an all-around athlete, he can pass but is regarded more for his dangerous running. At 6-1 and 180, he has brilliant speed with a clocking of 4.5 seconds in the 40 and exceptional moves. He piled up 2,400 all-purpose yards last season. Lascola views him as an option quarterback in college, and others see him as a defensive back.

Michael Jones (Van Nuys Montclair Prep, running back)--In discussing Jones, scouts use the words power and speed . At 6-2 and 210, Jones can bench press 315 pounds and runs the 40 in 4.5. He has great vision and knows how to sidestep a tackler. He rushed for 1,450 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior. Though his future may be in running back, scouts also think he could play safety or linebacker in college.

Marshawn Thompson (La Puente Bassett, running back)--Bassett has never had a reputation for producing major-college prospects, and scouts had initial doubts about Thompson. He may have erased any doubt by rushing for 1,717 yards and 16 touchdowns in 301 carries last year. At 6-1 and 190, he is regarded more as a power runner and may be ticketed to play fullback in college but has deceptive speed and is a strong open-field runner. He runs the 40 in 4.6 and, as Super Prep says, “looks slower than he is.”

Chris Peery (Canyon Country Canyon, running back)--For sheer power running, it would be difficult to find a better back than Peery. At 6-1 and 221, he takes full advantage of his great leg strength and solid upper body to punish opponents. He bench presses 315 pounds. But he also has speed, with a 4.6 best in the 40, to break away from tacklers, and displays good moves for his size. A starter since his freshman year, he rushed for 1,500 yards and 24 touchdowns last season.

Jerome Casey (Sylmar, running back)--Speed makes Casey a prime attraction among college scouts. At 6-0 and 180, Casey has above-average strength. It’s just that scouts tend to notice his breakaway speed more. He runs the 40 in a blazing 4.4 and is effective both as an inside and outside runner. He is also an outstanding long jumper. Scouts say the only thing that might slow Casey is low grades.

Jeremy Smith (La Puente Bishop Amat, wide receiver)--Lemming labels Smith “a high school superstar,” and you will not find much disagreement from other scouts. As a junior he caught 82 passes for 1,002 yards and nine touchdowns and returned two punts for scores. Smith, 5-11 and 185, possesses 4.5 speed in the 40, runs excellent pass patterns and has great hands. He also has strength and leaping ability and has a knack for making the big play at a crucial moment.

Kevin Copeland (Los Angeles Dorsey, wide receiver)--If Smith is the best wide receiver in the Southland, Copeland is not far behind. Lascola says, “They don’t get much better. He’s one of the tops around.” He is definitely one of the fastest, with a best of 10.6 in the 100 meters. The 6-0 and 170 speedster runs pinpoint patterns and is a constant deep threat. He is solid as a safety, but his future appears as a receiver. His father, Ron, played for the Chicago Bears.

Elic Mahone (Pasadena Muir, tight end)--The first thing one notices about Mahone is his impressive 6-5 and 230 frame, which creates coverage problems. It also helps to have good hands and speed of 4.5 in the 40--outstanding for a tight end. An excellent two-way player, he stars as a defensive end, although he wants to play offense in college.

Jason Green (La Puente Bishop Amat, tight end)--Talk about double trouble. With Smith and Green, Bishop Amat will pose a nightmare for secondaries. Green presents match-up problems for defenses because of his size--6-3 and 220--and 4.6 speed. He has soft hands and is an exceptional leaper, which he demonstrated as a star on the basketball team last season.

Chris Andresen (Downey Warren, offensive lineman)--Regarded as one of the top offensive line prospects in the nation by most scouts, Andresen combines great size and strength with above-average quickness. He is 6-4 and 285 and bench presses 400 pounds. That helps explain Andresen’s aggressive nature on the field. He runs the 40 in 5.0, outstanding for his size. Emfinger lists him as the nation’s No. 1 prospect at offensive guard.

Ryan Motherway (Santa Ana Mater Dei, offensive lineman)--Mater Dei has produced several outstanding line prospects in the last two seasons, but scouts think Motherway, 6-4 and 255, may be best. He is quick, with a 5.1 clocking and nimble feet. Motherway can bench press 315 pounds and has strength and agility off the snap. Lascola calls him the top offensive line prospect in the area.

Justin Yarro (Los Angeles Loyola, offensive lineman)--At a school that always seems to produce an abundance of college prospects, Yarro is this year’s nugget. At 6-3 and 250 and with an excellent time of 5.0 in the 40, scouts say he has a future as an offensive guard. He moves off the snap aggressively and quickly and displays fine technique.

Keith Navidi (Anaheim Esperanza, defensive lineman)--There are not many things that scouts dislike about Navidi, starting with his size. He hails from a program that produces outstanding linemen. At 6-6 and 260, he runs the 40 in a solid 4.95 seconds. Regarded for his aggressiveness and pass-rushing, he is agile and fires off the ball.

Bruce Walker (Compton Dominguez, linebacker)--In the eyes of scouts, Walker may be the best prospect in the state at any position. Emfinger gives him the highest rating of any player in the nation, at 9.99 out of 10. Lemming calls him “a holy terror on defense with great football instincts.” Walker, 6-4 and 240 with 4.5 speed, has a powerful build (he bench presses 375 pounds) and explosive moves off the snap.

Willie McGinest (Long Beach Poly, linebacker)--Another formidable prospect in a talent-laden position, McGinest has been viewed by some scouts as the top senior linebacker in the state. With his 6-6 and 220 build and 4.7 speed, McGinest has the size, speed, aggressiveness and instincts to be an impact player in college.

Nkosi Littleton (Carson, linebacker)--He is not as physically imposing as Walker or McGinest, but Littleton usually leaves an imprint on opponents. Super Prep describes him as “this year’s killer defender.” Lemming calls him “a hitter from the word go .”

Jason Jones (Long Beach Poly, defensive back)--At first glance, Jones may appear small to be a major-college prospect. However, the 5-10 and 175 cornerback makes up for any size disadvantage with other attributes. He has outstanding instincts and blazing 4.5 speed.

Errol Small (Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, defensive back)--One of the better all-around athletes on the squad, Small has stood out in basketball and football. In football, his future is probably as a safety.

THE TERRIFIC 22

Name School Ht. Wt. Pos. Michael Wynn San Fernando 6-3 210 QB Todd Gragnano Los Alamitos 6-2 182 QB Dan O’Neil Mater Dei 6-2 185 QB J.J. O’Laughlin Glendora 6-3 200 QB Charles Levy Lynwood 6-2 180 ATH Michael Jones Montclair Prep 6-2 210 RB Marshawn Thompson Bassett 6-1 190 RB Chris Peery Canyon 6-1 221 RB Jerome Casey Sylmar 6-0 180 RB Jeremy Smith Bishop Amat 5-11 185 WR Kevin Copeland Dorsey 6-0 170 WR Elic Mahone Muir 6-5 230 TE Jason Green Bishop Amat 6-3 220 TE Chris Andresen Warren 6-4 285 OL Ryan Motherway Mater Dei 6-4 255 OL Justin Yarro Loyola 6-3 250 OL Keith Navidi Esperanza 6-6 260 DL Bruce Walker Dominguez 6-4 240 LB Willie McGinest Long Beach Poly 6-5 230 LB Nkosi Littleton Carson 6-2 210 LB Jason Jones Long Beach Poly 5-10 175 DB Errol Small Notre Dame 6-2 210 DB