FOOTBALL RECRUITING REPORT CARD, PART 1

By By Billy Tucker/ESPN.com

MIAMI: A

12 ESPN 150 prospects - Coach Randy Shannon did an outstanding job landing top-tier defensive talent in his first full recruiting class. The Canes boast five of the top seven outside linebackers, led by the top three -- Arthur Brown (Wichita, Kan./East), Sean Spence (Miami/Northwestern) and signing day recommit Ramon Buchanan (Melbourne, Fla./Palm Bay). The talent continues up front with Marcus Fortson (Miami/ Northwestern), the country's No. 1-rated defensive tackle. Taylor Cook (Eagle Lake, Texas/Rice) and Jacory Harris (Miami/Northwestern) have different types of games but are both quality quarterback prospects. ESPN 150 receivers Aldarius Johnson (Miami/Northwestern) and Davon Johnson (Miami/Booker T. Washington) both project to haul in a bunch of balls in their careers. Wichita Eagle Photo

CLEMSON: A
10 ESPN 150 prospects - This year's surprise class closed with a bang down the stretch on signing day with signatures from No. 6 offensive tackle Antoine McClain (Anniston, Ala.), No. 3 tight end Dwayne Allen (Fayetteville, S.C./Terry Sanford) and No. 3 running back Jamie Harper (Jacksonville, Fla./Trinity Christian). This was all while ESPN's No. 1-rated overall prospect, DaQuan Bowers (Bamberg, S.C./Bamberg-Ehrhardt), was already hitting the books on Clemson's campus with No. 4-rated quarterback Kyle Parker (Jacksonville, Fla./Bartram Trail).
Photo by Gary Bogdon for ESPN.com

FLORIDA STATE: B+
Five ESPN 150 prospects - Offensive tackle Zebrie Sanders (Clayton, Ohio/North Clayton) was a nice pickup down the stretch, but Bobby Bowden did not close as strong in 2008 as he usually does. FSU did sign four top-50 overall prospects and got off to an unusually fast start. ESPN's No. 5-rated corner Terrance Parks (Fairburn, Ga./Creekside) fits perfectly in legendary defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews 4-3/Cover 2 scheme and could challenge for early playing time; he is already on campus this spring. Help is on the way at quarterback with E.J. Manuel (Virginia Beach, Va./Bayside) (THE NEXT MICHAEL VICK??), which may have Jimbo Fisher thinking back to his days of grooming JaMarcus Russell at LSU.
Photo Tom Hauck for ESPN.com