A feast of recruiting info for holiday

Happy Thanksgiving! We've brought something new to the table, our list of the Top 40 college football prospects among high school juniors, 20 each from N.C. and S.C.

Also, don't forget our database of more than 800 potential recruits from the Carolinas, or our Top 25 in N.C. and Top 25 in S.C. for this year's seniors. Those rankings will both update on Christmas Day, both in The Observer and online.

--Stan Olson

On Thanksgiving Day: The juniors are coming

Check out Thursday’s Charlotte Observer; we’ll have our first-ever ranking of Carolinas’ juniors as college prospects. With the help of prep writer friends, recruiting service buddies and high school coaches, I’ve ranked the Top 20 for North and for South Carolina, and also included a sleeper prospect for each state.

This bunch will serve as the foundation for next season’s North and South Carolinas’ Top 25 for the Class of 2011.

Of course, it’s far from an exact science. Some players have already peaked as juniors; some we’ve never heard of now will burst on the scene next year. If you have a favorite junior I’ve missed, he may turn out to be good enough to make our senior list anyway.

By the way, if you are out of our circulation area, my lists will be online at charlotteobserver.com on Friday.

And finally, everyone have a happy and fulfilling Thanksgiving. I’ll personally be thankful if I don’t gain 2 or 3 percent body fat—I’m sure that would push my 40 time from 6.1 to 6.3…

--Stan Olson.

Tar Heels land highly regarded tight end Smith

North Carolina has received the commitment of highly-rated tight end Alex Smith of Lakota West High in West Chester, Ohio, he announced on a media teleconference this morning from his school.

Smith, who is 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds, fills a major need for the Tar Heels, who did not sign a TE in their 2009 class. He is considered one of the top tight ends in the country by the major recruiting web sites.

He originally committed to Cincinnati, but began considering his switch after visiting Chapel Hill for the Tar Heels’ recent victory over Miami.

Smith had more than 20 offers, including Miami, Michigan, South Carolina, LSU, Wisconsin and Kentucky.

Zack Pianalto and Ed Barham, the team’s current TEs, will be seniors next season. UNC already has one committed player at the position for the class of 2010, Sean Fitzpatrick.

Smith finished his senior season with 23 receptions for 411 yards and four TDs.

--Stan Olson

Minter: Watch out for First Assembly in 2010

Since the Eagles finished 13-0 and won the Division II NCSIAA state title Saturday night, it’s hard to see how First Assembly Christian can get better. But coach Mike Minter sees it happening.

“Keep this down low,” Minter said with a laugh a few minutes ago. “I don’t want Charlotte Christian and Charlotte Latin to know what’s going on. But we’ve got about 15 or 20 good football players who want to transfer in here.

“Next year, our offensive line could average 6-foot-3 and 285 pounds if everything works out. Just wait.”

Minter already has a bunch of underclassmen worth keeping an eye on. In particular, watch junior OG Christian Little, a 6-5, 315-pound load who also smothered opposing teams’ running games at DT when needed.

And there is junior CB Tyler Ryan, who runs a 4.5 40, is a shutdown corner and had seven interceptions—tops in the division—this season.

*Don’t forget the seniors, guys like DT Ainsley Miller, S/RB/QB Brandon Stegall and QB David Larson, offered enough potential that recruiters from Clemson, Duke, Virginia, West Virginia and The Citadel were on hand to watch the title game, Minter said.“Now I’ve got to get information on my seniors out to more schools.”

--Stan Olson

Gamecocks land Duncan Byrnes WR Nick Jones

Duncan (S.C.) Byrnes’ Nick Jones, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound wide receiver who is one of the faster players in the state, committed to South Carolina Sunday, according to several sources.

He was also offered by Auburn, Michigan, Northern Illinois and Georgia Southern.

Despite missing a big chunk of the early season with an injured knee, Jones is finishing strong as Byrnes goes for another state championship.

Look for the Gamecocks to use Jones, whose 40-yard dash time has been variously listed from 4.3 seconds to 4.45, as a slot receiver.

--Stan Olson

Got recruiting info--visits, offers, commitments? Email me at solson@charlotteobserver.com

Crimson Tide's offer gives LeMay 17; Oregon next?

In case you missed it in Saturday’s Observer, Butler junior quarterback Christian LeMay was offered a scholarship Friday by Alabama, giving him 17 offers so far.

“I talked to (Alabama coach Nick) Saban, and he said the official should be in the mail,” LeMay said after Friday’s playoff win over West Forsyth.

Alabama also had assistant coach Curt Cignetti in the stands, watching LeMay and the Bulldogs perform.

Asked who he thought might offer next,” LeMay said, “Oregon—I don’t know if that’s official yet; they said they were going to check my grades and everything, and the offer should be coming.”

Count on it. From all I can determine, LeMay has no problems in that area, and will be one of the most highly recruited QBs in the nation next season.

--Stan Olson

Pirates offer Butler DB Bridges: More to come?

Undefeated Butler might have more FBS-caliber prospects than any school in the state, and because of that, 5-foot-11, 185-pound defensive back Mark Bridges may have flown under the radar. Until recently, his only offer was from Central Michigan.

But Bridges is one of those players who has a nose for the ball and great instincts, along with 4.5-second speed in the 40-yard dash, and more and more schools are starting to notice.

I caught up with him as he left the field following Butler’s 70-16 playoff burial of West Forsyth Friday night, and when I asked him about his recruiting, he broke into a wide grin.

“I got an offer from East Carolina this week,” he said. “I’ve been hearing from Alabama; I’m starting to hear from Duke; Oregon a lot. Georgia Tech; I’ve been hearing from Georgia Tech a lot too.”

This weekend, Bridges is visiting East Carolina.

Before he leaves Butler, expect Bridges to be a top regional recruit for sure, and possibly a national target as well.

--Stan Olson

Remember, get your junior nominations to me by Monday at solson@charlotteobserver.com. The Observer's Top Junior Prospects lists for the Carolinas will run Thanksgiving Day.