Area top 100

[Corso]

According to the Jan. 2 Dallas Morning News, here are the area top 100 prospects still thinking about SMU:

Grapevine, Texas QB Richard Bartel (6-4, 175). COMMITTED to SMU

Dallas (Bryan Adams) QB/ATH Quentin McKinney (6-1, 180). Considering SMU, Iowa State, TCU

Cedar Hill RB Ron Middleton (6-0, 190). Considering SMU, TCU, Sam Houston State, Arkansas State

Arlintong (Martin), Texas RB Kelechi Ohanaja (6-1, 185). Considering SMU, Stanford, Iowa State, Wyoming

Dallas (South Oak Cliff), Texas WR Kenneth Williams (6-4, 185). Considering SMU, Texas Tech, Arizona State, Baylor, Mizzou, LaTech, UTEP, Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston State, TCU

Fort Worth (Country Day) OL Ryan Carlock (6-3, 290). Considering SMU, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, TCU, Mizzou, Colorado State, Texas Tech

Arlington (Grace Prep), Texas OL Scott Dale (6-4, 290). COMMITTED to SMU

Garland, Texas OL Craig Jones (6-1, 270). Considering SMU, Rice, Mizzou, Columbia, North Texas

Dallas (Carter) DL Tim Allen (6-4, 255). Considering SMU, Texas A&M, Kentucky, Purdue, Kansas, Oklahoma, TCU

Dallas (Jesuit) DT Matt O'Shea (6-2, 260). Considering SMU, Rice, Oklahoma, Texas A&M

Dallas (Carter) DE Brandon Stevens (6-3, 240). Considering SMU, Vanderbilt, TCU, Houston

Dallas (Samuell) LB Brandon Barnes (5-11, 215). Considering SMU, COlorado, Tulsa, LaTech, UTEP, Rice, Arkansas State, Army, New Mexico, Iowa, Vanderbilt

Mansfield, Texas DB Erik Erby (5-9, 170). Considering SMU, Rice, Baylor

Rowlett K/P Chris McMurtray (6-1, 190). COMMITTED TO SMU

[Recruiting Guru]

Obviously we need to hold on to the commitments we already have. But of those who have yet to make up their minds, several stand out.

Kenneth Williams is a tremendous athlete. There's no such thing as too many tall fast WRs. Sign him.

With the lack of depth on the two lines, SMU would be well served to sign Jones, the Garland center who I once mentioned has been compared (by several scouts) to Dallas C Mark Stepnoski. He's not huge, but he's very strong and very smart, and uses leverage well. Conceivably could play as a true freshman, allowing Thornton Chandler to play guard.

Tim Allen looks a little like Philadephia DE Hugh Douglas -- not incredibly huge, and not incredibly fast, but his combination of size and strength and speed makes him a very capable pass rusher coming off the edge. He also has a frame that indicates he might be able to add some more weight, meaning he could become a real force.

O'Shea, as I mentioned before, would be a bit of a reach. But as Stanglover has pointed out -- and accurately so -- he is a very strong, brawler-type of player. Can't have too many of those.

Brandon Stevens is undersized, but very quick and productive. And he's substantially bigger than Melvin Williams, who SMU signed last year. Holds the same kind of promise in terms of physical growth as Williams, who should add significant size in the next few years.

Ryan Carlock is not as good as Scott Dale, who already committed to the Ponies. But he is big, and with SMU being as thin as it is on the offensive line, he's worth signing based on potential. SMU needs several big guys.

Remember former SMU LB Mike Henderson? Now you can picture Brandon Barnes. Incredibly fast and a vicious hitter. A little smaller than Henderson, but also doesn't have Henderson's history of shoulder problems.

Quentin McKinney, the QB/ATH from Bryan Adams, would be a better pick-up for SMU than Erik Erby, if only because of his size. He's four inches taller, and has the athletic ability to play in the secondary.

Ohanaja is a very versatile RB who can carry the ball, block and catch passes coming out of the backfield. Also could help on special teams.