re: Class of 2015 Recruiting MEGATHREAD - Twilight Edition

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6. Desherrius Flowers, Vigor High School (Mobile, Alabama)

Trending: Even

Commited to: Alabama



Analysis

Desherrius Flowers doesn't have many tricks up his sleeve, but he's a beast as a straight-line rusher. The 6'1", 212-pound running back is a perfect fit for Alabama's punch-you-in-the-mouth run game.

His violent style shines on game tape and bodes well for what may lie ahead against hard-nosed SEC defenses. Flowers, who rushed for 1,099 yards and 12 touchdowns last fall, finds the hole in a hurry and hits it with tenacity.

He carries the football with authority and uses an above-average burst to bully opponents who attempt to halt him at the line. Flowers can often be found shrugging off defenders, using raw physicality to push through the line like a battering ram.

He projects, at the very least, as an effective short-yardage and goal-line weapon. Flowers rarely goes down without fighting for extra yards, always seems to fall forward and gang-tacking is routinely required to bring him down.

A lack of top-end hip fluidity limits his ability to do a lot of damage with lateral movement, but he'll still sidestep a defender from time to time. Flowers' best highlights will occur when he is rumbling downfield in north-south fashion.

Flowers has drawn comparisons to current Alabama running back T.J. Yeldon, a possible 2014 Heisman Trophy candidate from the same community.

"He's got good speed and he's just a powerful back," Vigor assistant coach Ashley Johnson told Mike Herndon of AL.com after Flowers received an offer from Alabama. "As young as he is, he's just going to get bigger and stronger. He loves the weight room."

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1. Damien Harris, Madison Southern High School (Berea, Kentucky)

Trending: Even

247 Crystal Ball Prediction: Ohio State (70 percent); Kentucky (15 percent); Michigan (15 percent)



Analysis

Damien Harris doesn't quite fill the shoes of top-ranked 2014 running back Leonard Fournette, now a freshman at LSU, but he tops this list for a reason. His track record suggests he can carry the load as the feature back in an offensive attack for several seasons without wearing down.

Already built with a college-ready physique, the 5'11", 205-pound prospect took the ball 220 times as a junior. He used the heavy dose of handoffs to produce prolific statistics, posting 2,621 yards and 42 touchdowns.

His finest efforts occur in the red zone, where he simply cranks things up a notch with the goal line so close. Harris rushed for 77 touchdowns during the past two seasons.

He isn't the fastest runner in the bunch, but Harris can scoot and often manages to catch the defensive secondary off guard, though that isn't likely to happen much in college considering the talent level leap.

Harris is more fundamentals than flash.

He attacks the defense with rare anticipation, immediately reacting to the first moments of a play in order to make a decisive move toward the targeted rushing lane. Once he finds it, his balance and pad level are persistently polished.

He's well aware of the national accolades but aims to look past them.

"I've definitely worked hard to get where I'm at right now," Harris said at The Opening. "I try not to pay too much attention to the rankings and stuff like that, but it's nice to see that people appreciate the way I play."

He seems to have a great head on his shoulders and is knowledgeable enough about the game to quickly make the transition into a collegiate backfield. There will be early opportunities for a player who continues to improve each detail of his game.

Harris has every-down back potential and a competitive streak to fuel his journey toward stardom.

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Committed to: Alabama

Shawn Burgess-Becker is a 4-star prospect who is a 6'1" and 185 pounds. He has the potential to be a good receiver, but the Florida native has a higher ceiling as a roaming safety.

Burgess-Becker gave his pledge to Alabama in April, but the Crimson Tide must stay on him. He told Matt Shodell of CaneSport.com (subscription required) on July 24 that he's still open.

Alabama needs to keep Burgess-Becker reeled in close, because other schools are trying to lure him away.

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High School football season is rapidly approaching, and the nation's top teams will be eyeing various district, regional and state championships.

While it's a bit daunting to rank the top high school teams in the nation, this list will do exactly that. Some of these dominant squads feature a stud recruit or two, while others are well coached. A combination of talent, returning starters, past performance, coaching and competition quality all served as the main factors in determining this list.

A few programs in California figure to have nationally ranked teams, while a pair of powerful Texas squads are also ranked high. The state of Florida is represented well on this list.

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5. Hoover (AL)

Hoover High School in Alabama is always in the national rankings. The Buccaneers will field yet another talented squad this season, led by a quartet of stud prospects.

Offensively, underrated 4-star running back Bradrick Shaw will be toting the rock with purpose this fall. Mississippi State commitment and 3-star receiver Justin Johnson will be the focal point of the Bucs' passing game.

The cornerstones of the defense are 4-star linebacker Darrell Williams and 3-star defensive end Christian Bell. This will mark the end of the road for the two defensive studs as teammates, as Williams is committed to Auburn, while Bell is scheduled to attend Alabama.

A state title may not be enough for Hoover.

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