It's been two months since the 2009 football season started, and there is reason to believe that this year could be better than the last. It appears that every league DCSportsFan covers is up for the taking --yes, even the WCAC-- as teams prepare for the final stretch run of the season.
In addition to the football games played on the field, the recruiting world has really begun to take shape off the field. Marcus Coker (Iowa) and Troy Gloster (West Virginia) have made their decisions, some players are still holding their intentions close to the vest while others are finally getting the recognition they ultimately deserve.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is the latest edition of Bradley's Best Available. The following 10 players have been making the headlines on and off the field since early August. And this time, I am including players from the junior class. This list will be updated as each one of the following players makes his commitment, and he will be replaced by one of many players standing on the edge of the Top 10 looking in.
10. Kevin McReynolds, Junior, OL/DL, St. John's (6-2, 282)
Video From 2007 DCSF Combine
When he isn't destroying people on the wrestling mat, McReynolds is creating havoc on the football field. The massive junior already holds offers from Kansas State, Maryland, New Mexico, North Carolina and UTEP. The junior from St. John's benches close to 400 pounds and he has been great this year for the Cadets. Look for offers to pour in over the next year.
9. Jeremiah Attaochu, Senior, LB, Carroll (6-3, 223, 4.61)
Video Highlights
This do-it-all linebacker from Carroll has narrowed his list to five specific schools, which include Maryland, Duke, Virginia, Illinois and Syracuse, although anything is possible with Signing Day not being for a couple months. Carroll has struggled on the field, but Attaochu has played well, amassing over 10 sacks so far and leads his team in tackles.
8. Avery Williams, Senior, Athlete, Coolidge (6-0, 169, 4.4)
Video Highlights
If there were a pack of deer running through D.C., don't be surprised to see Williams leading the way. The kid is lights-out fast. Offers include Kansas, Michigan State, Utah and West Virginia. Any team that needs a little speed out of the backfield (Washington Redskins), Williams should be your man.
7. Charles Brown, Senior, RB/WR/DB, St. John's (5-10, 198, 4.5)
Video Highlights
Back in August, before Brown began his tremendous senior season we are currently witnessing, Brown talked about Kansas State, New Mexico and Akron as being in his top three. In addition to those three schools, Brown is getting interest from Kent State, Northeastern and South Carolina State. The talented athlete from St. John's is big-time DI material. If DCSportsFan had a college football team, we would do everything in our power to sign this four-year starter.
6. Kevin Hogan, Junior, QB, Gonzaga (6-4, 200)
Video Highlights
If there was a way to test arm strength when you're standing in a pocket and a 300-pound lineman is barreling down on you, odds are that Hogan would pass with flying colors. The junior quarterback has been tremendous this season, and he told Rivals.com the following about the schools already recruiting him:
"Coach Powlus from Notre Dame was in town last week. Coach Day from Boston College came to practice. Virginia has been by the school as has Maryland. I've also been receiving interest from Duke, Michigan State, UCLA, Rutgers and Richmond. Rutgers was actually at my game on Friday."
And just in case football doesn't work out, the kid got time as a sophomore for Gonzaga's basketball team.
5. Shane Johnson, Senior, OL, DeMatha (6-5, 301)
You know you have a bright football future when you narrow your list to five schools and they are (in no particular order) California, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Virginia and Wake Forest. As a senior in high school over a decade ago, I narrowed my "baseball list" to Lynchburg, Loyola New Orleans and Montgomery College, and I thought I was on top of the world. Johnson plans to make visits after the season.
4. Brandon Coleman, Senior, WR, McNamara (6-6, 200, 4.5)
Video Highlights
Coleman listed a top five in order recently, stating that Rutgers, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Virginia and Syracuse all made his most recent cuts. Rutgers appears to be the favorite for this DI-caliber wide receiver, but expect Coleman's decision to come after the season. And just in case he needs to kill some time, look for him to be one of the best basketball players this year in the WCAC. Coleman sounds a lot like a former high school athlete that went by the name Tate a few years ago.
3. Louis Young, Senior, WR/DB, Good Counsel (6-0, 185, 4.4)
Video Highlights
Although he originally gave a verbal commitment to Stanford, Young changed his mind and plans to visit Boston College, Maryland Virginia Tech and maybe Virginia after the season. With Young, it seems that he wants a big offer from a school like Florida, but we'll have to wait and see if he'll end up playing next to his former teammate Jelani Jenkins.
2. Cyrus Kouandjio, Junior, OL, DeMatha (6-7, 322)
There were talks about this kid from DeMatha who was a massive offensive lineman not named Arie. It was his younger brother Cyrus. The 6-foot-7 junior already holds offers from Boston College, California, Connecticut, Maryland, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, South Carolina, Wake Forest and West Virginia, to name a few. I walked by Cyrus at the St. John's game and thought I was looking at Chris Samuels circa 1999. There is a reason DeMatha is undefeated.
1. Arie Kouandjio, Senior, OL, DeMatha (6-6, 314)
Arie Kouandjio looks like some kind of Andre Carter/Jake Long hybrid. It's just not fair to opposing defenses. It's almost like he doesn't have an ounce of fat on him, which is probably why he is deciding between eight schools right now. They are, in no particular order, Alabama, California, Maryland, Miami, New Mexico, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Wake Forest. If his brother Cyrus isn't the next Chris Samuels, Arie is.