Rolling the dice

Two players who seemed likely to be the state's prize recruits - Amon Gordon and Teyo Johnson, both of Mariner High School of Mukilteo - moved to San Diego last summer.

Ironically, their departures may have helped the national prestige of the University of Washington's recruiting class. Brentt Eads, who works with Student Sports on Nike's 12-camp summer series, said if Gordon and Johnson were still at Mariner and chose not to attend Washington, the Husky recruiting class wouldn't be rated as highly.

As it is, Washington has oral commitments from three of The Seattle Times' five blue-chip recruits. SuperPrep Magazine ranked the state's top 25 recruits in its January issue and the Huskies had commitments from four of the top six and nine of the top 20. The Husky class won't be fully evaluated until Feb. 2, the first day that recruits can sign letters of intent.

The question remains, though: How good is the state's crop of football recruits?

Allen Wallace, publisher of SuperPrep, said, "This class doesn't have a superstar like last year." Larry Stevens from Wilson of Tacoma is the Class of 2000's biggest name, but he's considered a notch below Paul Arnold, the Kennedy running back who became a Husky.

"Stevens has big-time national credentials," Wallace said. "He's someone who elevates a class."

Ron Siegel, who has followed high-school football and recruiting in the state for more than 30 years, said, "I think this year there will be more surprises than usual. My hunch is this is going to be a recruiting class where some barely known guys wind up as the stars and some better-known names just have ordinary careers. There are intriguing players down the list a ways. Overall, this is a tougher group to gauge than most years."

One player who could surprise is Grady Sizemore from Cascade of Everett. His athleticism made him one of UW's top recruits, and the Huskies have told him they will give him a chance to play quarterback.

Taylor Stubblefield, wide receiver from Davis High of Yakima, is another player with big-play potential, but his height (between 6 feet and 6-1) raises questions.

Gordon, a linebacker-fullback, and Johnson, a quarterback-defensive end, remain undecided on where they'll play football next year, but neither is considering Washington.

Siegel noted a trend where more state athletes are opting to play junior-college football and developing into players who become appealing to Division I schools.

"They like the chance to play 22 games over a two-year period rather than redshirting or not playing at all," he said. Siegel found more than 40 athletes from Washington on national community-college rosters last fall. No community college in this state offers football.

"Washington has a deserved reputation as a good football state and community colleges all over the country are eager to have these players," Siegel said.

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The blue-chippers:

Dan Dicks, OL, 6-5 1/2, 280, Bellevue - The state's top line recruit who decided early to follow footsteps of his father, Les, and Congressman-uncle Norm to Washington. . . . Made 75 key blocks for team that rushed for over 3,500 yards and made state 3A quarterfinals.

Skyler Fulton, WR-DB, 6-1, 195, Capital-Olympia - May never set foot on a college football field because he is likely to be an early selection in baseball draft. . . . Has committed to Arizona State, where he will play both baseball and football if he enrolls. . . .

Jimmy Newell, CB, 6-0, 185, South Kitsap - Five interceptions and 60 tackles his senior season, but by the time he played his future was decided. . . . MVP of Nike combine last July in Portland after running 4.39 seconds in the 40 and had vertical jump of 39 inches. . . . Quite a physical specimen, who the Huskies project him as a star.

Larry Stevens, DB, 6-4, 230, Wilson-Tacoma - Has selected childhood favorite school Michigan. . . . Didn't have the season he had in 1998 when he helped Wilson make the state 4A championship game. . . . Some consider him the best recruit in the state.

Zach Tuiasosopo, DE, 6-2, 220, Woodinville - Had six sacks as a senior, but it's his athleticism and energy-level that make him one of the Huskies' favorite recruits. . . . It will be the first time he has ever been on the same football team as brother Marques, Washington's starting quarterback. . . . Zach also played running back as a senior, gaining over 1,000 yards.

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. Blue (5) . Dan Dicks, OL, 6-5 1/2, 280, Bellevue (Washington) . Skyler Fulton, WR-DB, 6-1, 195, Capital-Olympia (Arizona State) . Jimmy Newell, CB, 6-0, 185, South Kitsap (Washington) . Larry Stevens, DB, 6-4, 230, Wilson-Tacoma (Michigan) . Zach Tuiasosopo, DL, 6-2, 220, Woodinville (Washington) .

. Red (33) . Judd Anderton, OL, 6-5, 250, Curtis (Brigham Young) . Calvin Armstrong, OL, 6-7, 295, Centralia (Washington State) . Seth Bancroft, QB, 6-4, 190, Hudson's Bay . John Bronson, DL, 6-3, 230, Kent-Meridian (Penn State) . Ryan Brooks, OL, 6-6, 290, Richland (Washington) . Scott Burcar, WR-RB, 6-1, 180, Bethel (probably will play soccer) . Aaron Butler, OL, 6-2, 290, Lakes (Washington) . Junior Coffin, DE, 6-4, 240, Olympic (Washington) . Erik Coleman, CB-RB, 5-10, 175, Lewis & Clark (Washington State) . Steve Cook, OL-DL, 6-4, 280, Juanita . Roger Cooper, RB, 6-1, 210, South Kitsap . Aaron Dysart, OL, 6-4, 280, Eisenhower (Oregon) . Ryan Eklund, QB, 6-7, 205, Decatur (Stanford) . Tali Ena, LB-QB, 6-4, 200, Prosser (Washington State) . Caleb Eastman, QB, 6-3, 190, Inglemoor . Tim Galloway, LB, 6-2, 220, Auburn (Washington) . Jonathon Hooks, LB-RB, 5-11, 200, Lewis & Clark . Kai Jones, OL, 6-4, 285, Richland (BYU) . Ryan Kanekeberg, QB, 6-4, 185, Kamiak . Mike Karney, LB-FB, 6-0, 250, Kentwood (Arizona State) . Eddie Keele, OL, 6-6, 285, Othello (Brigham Young) . Matt Lingley, LB, 6-3, 205, Rogers-Puyallup (Washington) . Pat Loney, TE, 6-0, 215, Kamiak (Oregon State) . Lemar Mathewson, RB, 6-0, 180, Lakes . Zach Norling, OL, 6-2, 200, Kentridge . Calen Powell, TE-DE, 6-4, 230, Lake Washington . Andre Reeves, OL, 6-5, 320, Wilson-Tacoma (Washington) . Justin Robbins, WR, 6-1, 175, River Ridge-Lacey (Washington) . Ryan Scott, WR-DB-Ret, 6-3, 185, Kentwood (Penn State) . Grady Sizemore, RB-DB, 6-2, 190, Cascade (Washington) . Taylor Stubblefield, WR, 6-1, 175, Davis-Yakima . Willie Walden, TE, 6-8, 250, Evergreen-Vancouver (Oregon) . Latrel Williams, RB-DB, 6-1, 205, Kennedy .

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. White (61) . Kent Bailey, OL-DL, 6-4, 265, Puyallup . Caleb Bancroft, LB, 6-4, 185, Hudson Bay . Chris Barry, OL-DL, 6-2, 245, Franklin Pierce . Jeff Bennum, QB, 5-10, 160, Meridian . Conor Black, QB, 5-11, 185, Eastside Catholic (Harvard) . Mike Christian, OL-DL-LB, 6-2, 230, Lynnwood . Noah Crocker, DB, 6-3, 180, Olympia . Jake Dorn, LB, 6-2, 220, Eatonville . Jeff Eulberg, OL, 6-3, 270, O'Dea . B.J. Frost, LB-FB, 6-1, 210, West Seattle . Tim Finnerty, DL, 6-4, 221, Mead . Steve Gabriel, RB, 6-1, 180, Shadle Park . Dominic Garguile, OL, 6-7, 304, O'Dea . Ryan Geddes, DB, 5-11, 180, Lake Washington . Gary Gould, WR 6-3, 180, Sehome . Todd Gowing, OL, 6-3, 265, Inglemoor . Adam Grant, P, 5-10, 180, Auburn-Riverside . Dustin Hawkins, OL, 6-2, 250, Bethel . Justin Jackson, TE-DE, 6-3, 253, Kentridge . Lane Johnson, RB, 5-8, 200, Bellevue . John Jones, WR-DB, 5-7, 165, Kentwood . Joel Jorgenson, OL-DL, 6-4, 245, Bothell . Tyler Kincaid, RB, 5-11, 175, King's . Jake Kirkwood, WR, 6-0, 170, North Thurston . Nate Kuhns, WR, 6-0, 180, Eisenhower . Graham Lasee, DE, 6-5, 235, Sehome . Ryan Lukson, DL, 6-0, 240, Richland . Jerry Matson, LB, 6-1, 205, Kamiak . Mike McCrae, P-PK, 5-8, 166, Juanita . Jake McClain, TE, 6-3, 215, Juanita . Tyler Mitchell, QB, 6-5, 210, Nooksack Valley . J.D. Morscheck, LB, 6-1, 205, Pullman . Tyler Morrison, OL-DL, 6-2, 250, Kelso . Mike Muai, RB-CB, 6-0, 182, Franklin Pierce . Noah Naipo, DL, 6-2, 292, Timberline . Tyler Neely, OL-DL, 6-0, 295, Okanogan . Joe Randall, LB-WR, 6-0, 200, White River . Chris Raftery, RB, 5-11, 185, Sammamish (Harvard) . Kyler Randall, DB-QB, 5-11, 169, Ferndale . Paul Richie, LB, 6-1, 195, Kelso . Grant Rondeau, RB, 5-10, 195, Kentlake . Mike Rose, OL-DL, 6-3, 225, Tumwater . Ed Roy, WR-DE, 6-6, 210, Garfield . Joe Sapp, OL-DL, 6-1, 250, Kelso . Geoffery Schock, QB, 6-1, 190, Sammamish . Kevin Schmidt, DE, 6-6, 217, Medical Lake . Mike Smith, WR, 6-4, 195, Cedarcrest . Chris Snyder, PK, 6-0, 185, Mt. Spokane . Tyson Springer, RB, 5-6, 170, Monroe . Joe Sprouse, LB, 6-2, 215, White River . Jabari Sykes, LB, 5-11, 200, Lake Washington . Rex Stewart, WR, 6-2, 180, Mountain View-Vancouver . Brian St. Hiliare-Howard, DE/OL, 6-4, 250, Kent-Meridian . Joshua Sweeney, OL, 6-4, 260, Juanita . Ira Thomas, LB, 5-9, 240, Cleveland . Moe Toomata, OL-DL, 6-3, 290, Lakes . Cesar Valencia, RB-DB, 5-8, 177, Evergreen-Seattle . Nick VanValkenberg, DL, 6-3, 230, Lake Washington . Kenny Webster, RB, 5-10, 180, Snohomish . Josh Wilson, WR-DB, 5-10, 185, Mount Spokane . Rob White, FB-DB, 6-2, 215, Inglemoor . Brian Yarno, TE, 6-1, 235, Redmond .

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How players are chosen

BLUE CHIP Appears to have all the makings of a Division I star.

RED CHIP Division I-caliber prospect or a player who projects to do extremely well at the Division I-AA level.

WHITE CHIP Regarded as one of the top 100 recruits in the state and is projected to play college football. The Seattle Times annual list of the state's top football recruits was compiled by staff reporters Craig Smith and Danny O'Neil with input from more than 30 high-school coaches and recruiting analysts.