Prime Chip -- Puyallup Qb Tops List Of Blue-Chip Prospects
CUTLINE: RED CHIPPERS (SEE END OF TEXT)
CUTLINE: WHITE CHIPPERS (SEE END OF TEXT)
CUTLINE: BLUE-CHIP PLAYERS FROM THE PAST (SEE END OF TEXT)
CUTLINE: DAMON HUARD (PHOTO TAKEN FROM WEEKEND EDITION)
CUTLINE: ROD MAR / SEATTLE TIMES: SINGOR MOBLEY, TIMES' PLAYER OF THE YEAR, IS THE CENTER OF A RECRUITING BATTLE BETWEEN FROUR PAC-10 SCHOOLS, INCLUDING LATE-ARRIVING OREGON STATE.
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Damon Huard, Puyallup quarterback, is the headline prospect this year in a crop of Washington high-school football talent that includes seven blue-chippers.
Huard, who has been ranked as high as No. 2 among the nation's prep QBs, gets top billing over marquee names Singor Mobley, Times' state player of the year from AAA champion Curtis; Jeff Bockert, Prairie High School linebacker; and Mark Bruener, Aberdeen tight end.
Other talented players earning The Times' blue-chip ranking are Richard Thomas, Kentwood running back who orally has committed to the University of Washington and a pair of big linemen, Chad Eaton of Rogers High of Puyallup and Ryan Leahy of Eisenhower High in Yakima.
This year's state crop is judged to be ``average'' overall. That's the opinion of many coaches and recruiting coordinators, but they aren't saying it publicly out of fear of violating NCAA regulations that limit comment on recruiting.
One observer not hesitant to comment is Ron Siegel of Mountlake Terrace, a part-time scout whose hobby is grading talent and following college recruiting.
``It's an average year,'' said Siegel, who nonetheless said:
``Last year, there were four big names and this year there also are four - Huard, Mobley, Bockert and Bruener.''
Last year's ``big four'' were Walla Walla quarterback Drew Bledsoe (Washington State), Federal Way receiver Lake Dawson (Notre Dame), Richland quarterback Nate Holdren (Michigan) and South Kitsap lineman Andrew Peterson (UW).
``In Huard, we have another blue-chip quarterback for the third straight year,'' Siegel said. ``There was Billy Joe Hobert two years ago out of Puyallup and Drew Bledsoe last year.''
Huard, coached at Puyallup High by his father, Mike, has narrowed his college choices to USC, Washington and Oregon. He canceled visits to Notre Dame and Tennessee, saying ``I've been a West Coast guy all my life.''
Huard didn't visit Washington State, where Bledsoe is expected to be the starter the next three years. He said another factor in saying ``no thanks'' to WSU was uncertainty about whether he would enjoy going to school in Pullman.
The USC quarterback picture is cloudy because Todd Marinovich may turn pro rather than return for his junior season. The Trojans already have two quarterback commitments from high-school seniors.
At Washington, Huard would find Rose Bowl MVP Mark Brunell and former Puyallup teammate Hobert, who will be a sophomore, ahead of him.
Bill Musgrave is through at Oregon, but the Ducks have recruited California junior-college standout Brett Salisbury, brother of former USC and Seahawk quarterback Sean Salisbury. Also on hand is Musgrave's younger brother, Doug, who transferred this season from Michigan.
This is the seventh year The Times has compiled its annual chip list. The number of blue-chippers has ranged from 11 in 1985 and 1988 to seven in 1987 and this year. The entire list of blue, red and white-chip prospects has been limited to 100 this year.
All seven of this year's blue-chippers are interested in the UW, which is riding high after its Rose Bowl victory over Iowa. Only two blue-chip prospects are considering WSU. Last year, for the first time since Times chip lists began in 1985, the Cougars signed more blue-chippers (three) than the Huskies (two).
The 1991 blue-chippers:
JEFF BOCKERT, LB, 6-4, 227, Prairie HS, Brush Prairie, Clark County - A force from sideline to sideline who is two-year Class AA all-state pick. Had 61 solo tackles and 104 assists plus 14 quarterback sacks this season. Considering: UW, Stanford, UCLA, USC and Illinois.
MARK BRUENER, TE, 6-5, 225, Aberdeen - Excellent blocker who also caught 24 passes for 424 yards and six touchdowns. On defense as a linebacker, he made 75 tackles and was an effective kick blocker. Considering: UW, Notre Dame, Stanford, USC.
CHAD EATON, lineman, 6-4, 278, Rogers HS-Puyallup - A bulldozer on offense and a force on defense who has turned away national and California recruiters because his primary interest is staying in the Northwest. Considering: UW, Utah, WSU, Montana and Eastern Washington.
DAMON HUARD, QB, 6-4, 210, Puyallup - Threw for 46 touchdowns and 4,275 yards in three seasons. Completed 257 of 465 passses (55 percent). Saw only limited duty as a sophomore behind Hobert at QB but was starting tight end that year. Good basketball player who averaged 24 points last season. Considering: UW, Oregon, USC.
RYAN LEAHY, OL, 6-5, 265, Eisenhower-Yakima - Grandson of late Notre Dame Coach Frank Leahy. Has a brother on Notre Dame baseball team. Considering: UW, Notre Dame, Oregon, UCLA.
SINGOR MOBLEY, RB-DB, 5-11, 175, Curtis HS-Tacoma - Times' Player of the Year. Gained 2,064 all-purpose yards this season (1,573 rushing) and scored 16 touchdowns. Made three interceptions on defense. Still needs to get a passing Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) score to be eligible as a college freshman. Considering: UW, WSU, Arizona and, a recent addition, Oregon State.
RICHARD THOMAS, RB, 5-9, 195, Kentwood - Already committed to UW after scoring 60 touchdowns in his high-school career. Gained 1,391 yards this season after surpassing 1,000 as a sophomore and junior, too.
RED CHIPPERS
This year's ``red chip'' list of players, those considered to have major-college potential or be able to play the I-AA Big Sky Conference, includes several players who might develop into stars.
Linebacker Robert Booth, 6-2, 220, of Pasco has speed and hitting ability but at last report needs an SAT score.
Ernie Conwell, 6-3, 225-pound Kentwood tight end, and Demetrius Devers, 6-1, 222, Garfield linebacker, both missed games their junior and senior years because of injuries. Evaluators say that has made them difficult to grade.
Conwell may be the best athlete in the state. He is state AAA champion in the shot put and placed third in the national Junior Olympic decathlon. Super Prep Magazine ranked him as the No. 7 tight-end prospect in the nation going into the season. (Huard was the publication's No. 9 quarterback).
Two of the best line prospects are Brian Teed, 6-5, 230 from Battle Ground outside Vancouver and Shane Peterson, 6-4, 230, from Auburn. Peterson also is a place-kicker.
The athlete generally considered to be the second-best quarterback in the state behind Huard is North Kitsap's Shawn Deeds, who passed for 1,310 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Letters of intent can be signed for the first time Feb. 6.
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WASHINGTON'S BLUE CHIPS
The state's top college football prospects:
-- SINGOR MOBLEY
TACOMA: CURTIS
5-11, 175
RUNNING BACK/DB
COLLEGE CHOICE: UW, WSU, ARIZONA, OREGON STATE.
-- MARK BRUENER
ABERDEEN: ABERDEEN
6-5, 225
TIGHTEND/LINEBACKER
COLLEGE CHOICE: UW, NOTRE DAME, STANFORD, USC.
-- JEFF BOCKERT
VANCOUVER: PRAIRIE
6-4, 227
LINEBACKER
COLLEGE CHOICE: ILLINOIS, UCLA, USC, STANFORD, UW.
-- RICHARD THOMAS
KENT: KENTWOOD
5-9, 195
RUNNING BACK
COMMITTED TO UW.
-- RYAN LEAHY
YAKIMA: EISENHOWER-YAKIMA
6-5, 265
OFFENSIVE LINEMAN
COLLEGE CHOICE: NOTRE DAME, UW, OREGON, UCLA.
-- DAMON HUARD
PUYALLUP: PUYALLUP
6-4, 210
QUARTERBACK
COLLEGE CHOICE: UW, OREGON, USC.
-- CHAD EATON
PUYALLUP: ROGERS-PUYALLUP
6-4, 278
LINEMAN
COLLEGE CHOICE: WSU, UW, EASTERN WASH., UTAH, MONTANA.
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BLUE-CHIP PLAYERS FROM THE PAST
A look at how blue-chip players in past years have fared since 1985, when The Times began picking the top college football prospects in the state of Washington:
1990
PLAYER POS. HIGH SCHOOL
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Drew Bledsoe QB Walla Walla
college status
Washington State Starting quarterback .
Lake Dawson WR Federal Way
college status
Notre Dame Lettered as freshman .
Travis Hanson PK Mead
College Status
Washington Rose Bowl starter .
Steve Hardin DL Snohomish
College Status
Oregon Redshirted freshman year .
Nate Holdren QB Richland
College Status
Michigan Redshirted freshman year .
Eric Ness DL South Kitsap
College Status
Wash. State Redshirted freshman year .
Andrew Peterson OL South Kitsap
College Status
Washington Redshirted freshman year .
Deron Pointer DB Curtis
College Status
Washington State Prop 48; sat out year .
Myron Wise DB Lakes
College Status
Unknown Unknown .
1989
Player Pos. High school
College Status
Aaron Armstrong RB Liberty
College Status
Boise State Left school .
Glen Cavanaugh OL Gonzaga
College Status
Stanford Backup .
Demetrius DuBose LB O'Dea
College Status
Notre Dame Starter .
Kyle Foye LB W. Valley-Yakima
College Status
Washington State Backup .
Tom Gallagher OL Puyallup
College Status
Washington Backup lineman .
Dinny Hansen DL Gonzaga
College Status
Stanford Backup .
Billy Joe Hobert QB Puyallup
College Status
Washington Backup quarterback .
Joe Kralik WR Puyallup
College Status
Washington Backup receiver .
Steve Wolfe OL Puyallup
College Status
Wash. State Part-time starter .
1988
Player Pos. High school
Mario Bailey WR Franklin
College Status
Washington Rose Bowl starter .
Jon Bostick WR Interlake
College Status
Nebraska Starter for Cornhuskers .
Todd Bridge OL Montesano
College Status
Washington Backup lineman .
James Clifford LB Ingraham
College Status
Washington Starter; sat out '90 with injury .
C.J. Davis WR Curtis
College Status
Washington State Starter .
Steve Emtman DL Cheney
College Status
Washington Co-defensive player of year in Pac-10 .
Tim Hanshaw OL West Valley-Spo.
College Status
BYU On Mormon mission .
Eugene Harris RB Newport
College Status
Washington Backup running back .
Mike Lustyk OL Interlake
College Status
Washington Backup defensive lineman .
Brandon Jumper RB Eatonville
College Status
Oregon Starting running back .
Clarence Williams TE Renton
College Status
Washington State All Pac-10 .
1987
Player Pos. High school .
.
Bob Garman DL Olympic
College Status
Washington State Starter .
Anthony Davis LB Pasco
College Status
Spokane Falls CC Transferred to Utah .
Greg Lewis RB Ingraham
College Status
Washington All Pac-10, Sporting News A-A; Doak Walker
winner; Pac-10 offensive player of the year .
Tom Owens WR Peninsula
College Status
Washington State Transferred to Eastern Washington .
Jeff Pahukoa OL Marysville
College Status
Washington All Pac-10 .
Kris Rongen OL Jefferson
College Status
Washington Backup lineman .
Matt Whitmire QB Tenino
College Status
Washington Transferred to Iowa State .
1986
Player Pos. High school
Mike Allman DB Juanita
College Status
Washington Didn't play final year .
Cary Conklin QB Eisenhower
College Status
Washington Backup with NFL Washington Redskins .
John Cook DL Olympia
College Status
Washington Rose Bowl starter .
Brad Durbin LB Inglemoor
College Status
Washington Quit football .
Chris Holyfield DB Bellevue
College Status
Washington Quit football .
Dean Kirkland DL Columbia River
College Status
Washington All Pac-10 .
Jeff Kohlwes DL South Whidbey
College Status
Washington Quit football .
Travis Richardson LB Timberline
College Status
Washington All Pac-10 .
Craig Savage OL Gonzaga
College Status
Washington Transferred to Eastern Washington .
Fred Schmidt OL Everett
College Status
Washington Backup lineman .
1985
Player Pos. High school
Darron Bennett LB Gonzaga
College Status
Stanford Transferred to E. Washington, then quit the sport .
Eric Black OL Moses Lake
College Status
Washington Transferred to Eastern Washington .
Tim Esary TE Mount Vernon
College Status
Washington Quit football .
Ron Evans LB Issaquah
College Status
UCLA Career shortened by injury .
David Hawkins LB Gonzaga
College Status
Washington Academic casualty .
Joe Mark DL Gonzaga
College Status
Washington Career shortened by injury .
Arnie Pelluer LB Issaquah
College Status
Stanford Played for Cardinal .
Ed Powers QB Kamiakin
College Status
Washington Transferred to Bakersfield Junior College,
then Houston, then Eastern Washington .
Timm Rosenbach QB Pullman
College Status
Washington State Starter for NFL Phoenix Cardinals .
Scott Thompson DB Cascade
College Status
Oklahoma Career shortened by injuries .
Nick Volk DL Gonzaga
College Status
Washington State Career shortened by knee injury
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TOP.
100.
.
The Top 100 college football prospects in the state of Washington. The Times' rankings are based on observations and dozens of conversations with recruiters, coaches and sports writers throughout the state..
.
.
BLUE CHIPPERS.
Players for whom major-college stardom is a possibility:.
.
.
.
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. High school.
.
Jeff Bockert LB 6-4 227 Prairie.
.
Mark Bruener TE-LB 6-5 225 Aberdeen.
.
Chad Eaton OL-DL 6-4 278 Rogers-Puyallup.
.
Damon Huard QB 6-4 210 Puyallup.
.
Ryan Leahy OL 6-5 265 Eisenhower.
.
Singor Mobley RB-DB 5-11 175 Curtis.
.
Richard Thomas RB 5-9 195 Kentwood.
.
RED CHIPPERS.
Likely Pac-10 players, definite Big Sky material:.
.
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. High school.
.
Vance Adams RB 5-8 180 Franklin.
.
Matt Bell OL-DL 6-5 225 Bellevue.
.
Harry Beresford OL 6-4 260 Edmonds-Woodway.
.
Robert Booth LB 6-2 220 Pasco.
.
Brandon Bunch WR 6-0 170 Decatur.
.
Ernie Conwell TE 6-3 225 Kentwood.
.
Brock Crawford QB 6-3 191 Bellingham.
.
Shawn Deeds QB 6-5 220 North Kitsap.
.
Demetrius Devers LB 6-1 222 Garfield.
.
Ty Elmendorf WR 6-1 175 Bellingham .
.
Jeff Hansen TE-OL 6-6 210 Gonzaga.
.
Jesse Hardt RB-LB 6-3 190 Odessa.
.
John Henton DB 6-3 175 Oak Harbor.
.
Rob Hill OL 6-6 260 Spanaway Lake.
.
Jason Martin RB 6-4 219 Dayton.
.
Vernon Martin DL 6-3 210 Lakes.
.
Sheridan May RB-DB 6-1 200 Spanaway Lake.
.
Tommy McCoy WR-DB 6-0 185 Franklin.
.
Carl Mennie OL 6-6 260 Port Angeles.
.
DeWuan Miller RB-DB 6-3 185 Battle Ground.
.
Chris Nicholl WR 6-4 180 Mercer Island.
.
Noah Parks TE 6-3 200 Timberline.
.
Shane Peterson OL 6-4 230 Auburn.
.
Ryan Rettig DB 6-3 200 Kennewick.
.
Kane Rogers QB-DB 5-11 185 Washington.
.
Mark Schilder OL-DL 6-4 256 Kent-Meridian.
.
Jeremy Scott WR 6-1 180 Cheney.
.
Craig Steinmetzer OL 6-4 240 Tahoma.
.
Travis Spring WR-DB 5-11 175 Franklin.
.
Brian Teed OL-DL 6-5 230 Battle Ground.
.
Justin Thomas LB 6-5 245 Ferris.
.
Rodney Washington DB 5-10 165 O'Dea.
.
WHITE CHIPPERS.
Mostly small-college prospects but have a shot at major-college success (listed in alphabetical order):.
.
Player Pos. Ht. Wt. High school.
.
Tom Ackerman LB-TE 6-3 215 Nooksack Valley.
.
Ricardo Aguire DB 6-1 190 Issaquah.
.
Jason Ailor RB 5-10 175 Mead.
.
Ryan Anderson LB 6-1 235 Lynnwood.
.
Josh Behrens QB 6-2 175 Battle Ground.
.
Scott Bell OL 6-2 250 Fort Vancouver.
.
Morthaim Borders RB 5-8 165 Rainier Beach.
.
Aaron Burt OL 6-3 245 Olympia.
.
Eric Cahan OL 6-1 248 Capital-Olympia.
.
Aaron Carlson DB 6-2 185 Franklin Pierce.
.
Brian Cartwright OL 6-3 220 Mount Rainier.
.
Marvell Cooks RB 5-11 195 Pasco.
.
John Daniels WR 6-1 165 Mead.
.
Brian Edwards QB 5-11 175 Richland.
.
Ted Fedyk RB 5-11 190 Issaquah.
.
Josh Fetter LB 6-2 195 White River.
.
Earl Fitzpatrick DL 6-4 247 Bellarmine.
.
Desean Gates DB 5-7 160 Garfield.
.
Rich Gockley DL 6-3 241 Mead.
.
Rob Hagerty TE 6-4 220 Port Angeles.
.
Dave Hardwick LB 6-1 220 Bothell.
.
Eric Hisaw QB-DB 6-2 185 Cheney.
.
Todd Hollandsworth RB-LB 6-2 195 Newport.
.
Coco Jeffery RB 6-0 185 Renton.
.
Ahmani Johnson DE 6-4 230 Mariner.
.
Jarrett Johnson RB 5-10 200 Kennedy.
.
Damien King WR 6-4 190 Roosevelt.
.
Ryker Labbee RB 5-10 185 Toppenish.
.
Alex Lacson K 5-9 155 Bothell.
.
David Lewis RB-DB 5-10 185 Oak Harbor.
.
Greg Loree TE 6-5 250 Mount Vernon.
.
Fred Lussier LB 6-1 210 Blanchet.
.
Stuart McDonald OL-DL 6-1 245 Roosevelt.
.
Kiewuan Miller CB 5-9 165 Rainier Beach.
.
Mike Miller QB-DB 5-11 175 Issaquah.
.
Jim Mills TE 6-5 215 Marysville-Pilchuck.
.
Pat Mizell OL-DL 6-3 250 Granite Falls.
.
Antonio Morgan WR 5-10 175 Rainier Beach.
.
Mike Mulhern WR 6-2 180 Timberline.
.
Jeff Palmer TE 6-4 195 Moses Lake.
.
Chris Penney OL 6-9 280 Pasco.
.
Tobin Phelps WR 6-0 165 Richland.
.
Dietrich Quiring OL 6-3 245 Everett.
.
Bobby Raiford TE 6-5 200 Eastside Catholic.
.
Scott Ranniger WR 6-4 175 University-Spokane.
.
James Reese RB-LB 6-0 210 O'Dea.
.
Mike Rillo WR 5-10 165 Lynnwood.
.
Corby Rounds DL 6-6 230 Bellevue.
.
Galen Ruelos OL 6-0 225 O'Dea.
.
Brad Scott TE 6-2 220 Bellevue.
.
Karl Schlichter OL-DL 6-3 230 North Thurston.
.
Avery Slaughter RB 5-9 190 Shorewood.
.
Brian Smith LB 5-10 215 Curtis.
.
Lonnie Smith DB 5-8 155 Lakes.
.
Juan Spencer RB 6-1 185 Lakes.
.
Matt Storm OL 6-4 270 Edmonds-Woodway.
.
Miles Tejano DB 5-11 175 Highline.
.
Scott Whalen DB 5-11 180 Bothell.
.
Bill White OL-DL 6-4 261 East Valley-Spokane.
.
Ethan Wise OL 6-1 250 Franklin.
.
Damion York RB-DB 5-11 170 O'Dea.