Highest-rated HS football recruits

Highest-Rated HS Football Recruits of All-Time, Three are from Texas

If you’re an avid football fan, as I am, you will want to read an article written by Rick Suter of USA Today High School Sports, naming the highest-rated HS football recruits of all-time. It lists some familiar names and three are from Texas.

3 of The Highest-Rated HS Football Recruits of All-Time are from Texas

DT Mario Edwards, Denton, TX (Ryan H.S.):

Highest-rated recruit Mario Edwards
Photo Credit: 247Sports

Edwards was ranked #3 overall, regardless of position, in the Class of 2012. He was a beast. His high school stats and accolades were impressive. According to www.seminoles.com:

  • Named Texas 4A Defensive Player of the Year his junior season
  • 127 tackles
  • 50 tackles for loss
  • 18 sacks
  • Senior year: 72 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, and 11 sacks
  • USA Today Player of the Year, 2012
  • 247 Sports Defensive Player of the Year, 2012
  • ESPNU 150
  • SI.com 2nd Team All-American
  • Parade All-American, 2012

Edwards chose Florida State over Texas, LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, among others.

College Stats:

  • 95 tackles
  • 23 TFLs
  • 8 sacks
  • 1 INT
  • 3 Forced Fumbles

He was selected in the 2nd round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders. He played with the New Orleans Saints in 2019.

NFL Career Stats:

  • 93 tackles
  • 12 TFLs
  • 10.5 sacks

RB Adrian Peterson, Palestine, TX (Palestine H.S.):

highest-rated recruit Adrian Peterson
Photo Credit: 247Sports

Peterson was the #1 overall recruit in 2004, according to 247 Sports.com. He accounted for 5011 rushing yards and 54 TDs in 2 years of high school ball. He had a ton of scholarship offers, signing with Oklahoma. As a starter his freshman season with the Sooners, Peterson did not disappoint, according to Sports-reference.com/cfb.

  • 1925 rushing yards (Led Big-12).
  • 15 TDs
  • Big-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, 2004.
  • 339 rushing attempts (Led NCAA).
  • 3 games of 200+ yards rushing.
  • 4 games scoring 2 or more rushing TDs.
  • Led Oklahoma to 12-1 record, losing to USC 55-19 in Orange Bowl.

His career numbers at Oklahoma:

  • 4041 yards
  • 41 TDs
  • 3-time 1st-Team All-Big 12

Peterson was selected in the 1st round, 7th overall, by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2007 NFL Draft.

According to Pro-Football-Reference.com, his NFL stats over a 14-year career are Hall of Fame worthy:

  • NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, 2007
  • Led the NFL in rushing in 2012 with 2097 yards.
  • NFL rushing leader 3 times.
  • NFL MVP, 2012
  • 7-time Pro Bowl selection
  • 4-time All-Pro
  • 14,216 career rushing yards
  • 111 career TDs

Peterson played with Washington in 2019.

QB Vince Young, Houston, TX (Madison H.S.):

Highest-rated recruits Vince Young
Photo Credit: 247Sports

Vince Young was the #1 high school recruit in 2002, according to 247 Sports. As a senior at Houston Madison, Young accounted for:

  • 3819 total yards and 54 TDs.
  • He had scholarship offers from Texas, LSU, Florida State, Miami, Arkansas, Kansas State, and Southern Miss.
  • Signed with Texas

As the starter for the Longhorns,  2005 was Young’s best year in Austin. His numbers were Heisman-worthy:

  • 3036 yards passing.
  • 26 TDs.
  • 10 INTs.
  • 1050 yards rushing.
  • 12 TDs.
  • 4086 total yards.
  • 38 TDs accounted for.
  • 3 games with 3 TD passes.
  • 1 game with 4 TD passes.
  • 8 games of 200+ yards passing.
  • 1 game of 300+ yards passing.
  • 239 yards passing, 2 TDs, 1 INT and 267 yards rushing, 2 TDs vs Oklahoma State.
  • 336 yards passing 2 TDs, 58 yards rushing, 3 TDs vs Colorado.
  • 10th in NCAA in completion pct at 65.2%.

As a result, his post-season accolades were numerous:

  • Big-12 Offensive Player of the Year, 2005.
  • Consensus All-American, 2005
  • Davey O’Brien Award, 2005.
  • Manning Passing Award, 2005.
  • Maxwell Award, 2005.
  • His 38 total TDs led the NCAA.
  • Led the NCAA in Yards Per Play (8.5).
  • Placed 2nd in Heisman voting, behind Reggie Bush of USC (later vacated).

In the 2006 BCS National Championship Game at the Rose Bowl, Young led a 4th-quarter drive and scored the winning touchdown on a 17-yard run to win the game 41-38 and the national title for the Longhorns. He took over that game:

  • 267 yards passing
  • 200 yards rushing, 3 TDs
  • 467 total yards
  • 30 of 40 passing
  • 75% completion pct.

His career numbers at Texas:

  • 6040 yards passing
  • 44 TDs
  • 28 INTs

Young was drafted in the 1st round, 3rd overall, by the Tennessee Titans in the 2006 NFL Draft. These are his NFL career stats over a 6-year career, according to Pro-Football-Reference.com:

  • 8964 yards passing
  • 46 TDs
  • 51 INTs
  • 57.9 completion pct.

As a perennial hotbed for recruiting, the State of Texas certainly will continue to add to this list of highest-rated HS football recruits of all-time.

Thank you for reading thegridironnews.com.

Source: “The Top 20 Highest-Rated High School Football Recruits of All- Time,”  by Rick Suter of USA Today High School Sports, July 15, 2020. 

 

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