Arthur Brown Commits to the U

Arthur Brown, ESPN's #1 rated outside LB prospect and #6 overall prospect, has chosen to attend the University of Miami (Fl). The U is getting a player that will undoubtedly make a big impact as true freshman next fall. This is the scouting report on him:

Brown possesses a great blend of size and speed, but it his explosiveness in the short-area that is rare and a component of his game that you just can't coach. When this fast-twitched athlete zeroes in on a ball carrier, he generates velocity so quickly that he hits with the power of a 230-pound 'backer. That rare ability allows him to blow up plays at the point of attack with strength or burst through the small, backside run crease underneath the cutoff block for five-yard losses. Not many spots between the white lines that Brown can't make plays from; he can attack downhill between the tackles, chase sideline-to-sideline with great range or make an athletic play in coverage with the hips and fluidity of an elite skill player.

Brown will be graduating early from his high school in Kansas, and plans to enroll at Miami this upcoming Spring. Here's the excerpt on his decision from ESPN Insider:

Outside linebacker Arthur Brown committed to Miami-FL over USC, LSU, North Carolina, and Florida Monday night on a televised news conference, ESPN affiliate InsideTheU.com reports.

"Really, in the beginning, I said that it would come down to how I feel and that is why I chose the University of Miami. My visit was great and I met with a lot of the players, coaches, and we really had a good connection."

This is another major blow to USC's recruiting class, as it appears that the Trojans have also lost the services of the nation's #1 CB prospect Patrick Johnson (as reported in my previous post). All the recruiting efforts and focus will probably now shift to ESPN's #2 rated CB prospect T.J. Bryant, who, like Johnson, is also from the state of Florida.

Fight On!

Is Patrick Johnson No Longer Considering USC?

ESPN's Recruiting Insider has an update on USC's Most Wanted recruit Patrick Johnson, the #1 rated CB prospect in this year's recruiting class. Apparently, Johnson has narrowed his list down to 4 finalists, and USC isn't one of them. Here's the excerpt:

Patrick Johnson's father, Patrick Peterson, said that Miami (Fla.), Flordia, Georgia, and LSU are the finalists in the rollercoaster-ride pursuit of 2008's top cornerback, the Sun-Sentinel reports.

When it comes to recruiting, you really have to take everything you hear in the press with a grain of salt. With that being said, if this is true, than it will be a devastating blow to USC's 2008 recruiting class. Yes, Coach Carroll is stockpiling talent offensively with all of those offensive linemen, but it is a relatively thin class on the defensive side of the ball. Again, nothing is for certain until Johnson signs that Letter of Intent, but if the Trojans miss out on him, there will be added pressure to sign Arthur Brown, the nation's top outside LB recruit. Brown will make his decision later today, and USC is very much in the running for him.

Check back later updates on these two big time recruits.

Fight On!