Super 11 Bios

Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2002 | 10:03 a.m.

Marcedes Lewis

6-6, 235, TE/WR, Long Beach (Calif.)/Poly (88 points)

Arguably the best tight end prospect to come from the West Coast since current Pro Bowler Tony Gonzalez played at Huntington Beach (Calif.) High School in the early '90s. Caught 44 passes for 701 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior and also exceled at defensive end. Has the frame to add another 25 pounds. Has been timed at 4.6 in the 40-yard dash and already benches 335 pounds. Also stars at center for the Jackrabbits' highly rated basketball squad. "Obviously, he's a very talented player," said Dick Lascola of the Scouting Evaluation Association. "But I think he still has a huge upside."

College: Committed to UCLA.

Darnell Bing

6-3, 215, S/LB, Long Beach (Calif.)/Poly (83 points)

The hard-hitting Bing has drawn comparsions to another former Poly star, 1989 Jim Thorpe Award winner Mark Carrier. "I loved him," one recruiting coordinator said. "I think he has a chance to be another Ronnie Lott." Combines excellent strength with sprinter's speed. He has been clocked at 10.6 in the 100 meters. "This kid has what I call good field smarts, good field savvy," Dick Lascola of the Scouting Evaluation Association said. "He knows when to come up and challenge you for the ball or when to come up and deliver the hit. He's one of the better defensive backs I've seen in a while. He's probably the hardest hitter I've seen since Carrier."

College: Committed to USC.

Herschel Dennis

5-11, 185, RB, Long Beach (Calif.)/Poly (79 points)

Rushed for 5,440 yards and scored 82 touchdowns during his stellar prep career. Was the key offensive player on a Jackrabbit squad that compiled an overall record of 39-1-1 and won three consecutive CIF Southern Section Division I titles. Benches 325 pounds, squats 485 and has been timed in the 4.4 range. "He's so elusive and cuts so quick," said Dick Lascola of the Scouting Evaluation Association. "I thought this year he looked thicker and stronger, too. Anytime he gets past the line he's a threat to take it all the way."

College: Considering USC, UCLA and Oregon.

Trent Edwards

6-4, 185, QB, Los Gatos (Calif.) (79 points)

Stock really soared during his senior year when he led the Wildcats to their second straight CIF Central Coast Section Division III title. Completed 279 of 373 passes for 5,130 yards, 58 touchdowns and just seven interceptions during his two years as a starter. The Wildcats went 26-0 over that span. "He's a good leader with good poise," one college coach said. "He's smart and very accurate." Carries a 3.9 GPA and scored a 1,200 on the SAT.

College: Committed to Stanford.

Lorenzo Booker

5-9, 170, RB, Ventura (Calif.)/St. Bonaventure (74 points)

Named the national player of the year by Parade Magazine and Gatorade, the small but explosive Booker was rated by one recruiting publication as the nation's No. 1 prospect. Set California state records for rushing (8,502 yards) and touchdowns (131) that were previously held by UNLV's Dominique Dorsey. Led the Seraphs to a 41-0 record and three CIF Southern Section Division XI titles. Only knock was the quality of competition, which is just a step up from eight-man caliber in Southern California. However, his 4.4 speed and strength (335-pound bench) have everyone drooling.

College: Considering USC, Washington, Notre Dame and Florida State.

Rhema McKnight

6-2, 190, WR, La Palma (Calif.)/Kennedy (74 points)

The electrifying McKnight opened some eyes when he earned the only perfect 10 in the Long Beach Press-Telegram's prestigious Best in the West poll of college coaches. Had 62 receptions for 1,142 yards as a junior but played mostly quarterback as a senior, rushing for 1,483 yards and 21 touchdowns. "He's just an outstanding athlete," Dick Lascola of the Scouting Evaluation Association said. "He can really climb the ladder and get the ball. He's one of those guys who come along every blue moon. He could play any number of positions in college: wide receiver, slot back, safety or outside linebacker." Owns a 3.2 GPA and 1020 SAT.

College: Considering Oregon, UCLA, Notre Dame, Florida and Washington.

Manuel Wright

6-6, 305, DL, Long Beach (Calif.)/Poly (73 points)

Has perhaps the most NFL potential of any player on the West Coast this year. "He has moments where he reminds you of a Bruce Smith or a Reggie White," one college coach said. "He's got the word 'dominate' written all over him." Recorded 60 tackles and 10 sacks as a senior despite almost constant double-teaming. Has been timed at 4.8 in the 40 and benches 365 pounds. Was his best in the big games. In Poly's CIF title winning game against Los Angeles Loyola during his junior year, Wright had six tackles for loss and three quarterback sacks, twice running down Cub quarterback and 2001 Super 11 first teamer Matt Ware from behind. Considering Ware went on to star as a corner at UCLA as a true freshman, that's quite an accomplishment.

Cellege: Committed to USC.

Winston Justice

6-6, 300, OL, Long Beach (Calif.)/Poly (57 points)

"He's as talented an offensive line prospect to come out of the state of California as I've seen in a while," one veteran Pac-10 coach said of Justice, who earned nine votes in the Long Beach Press-Telegram's Best in the West poll of college coaches. Has only played organized football for three years. Has outstanding speed (4.9 in 40) to go along with great strength. He already benches 405 pounds and squats 605. Solid student with a 3.0 GPA and qualifying test score. "For his size, I thought he was pretty mobile and had good flexibility," Dick Lascola of the Scouting Evaluation Association said.

College: USC or UCLA.

Derek Landri

6-3, 280, OL/DL, Concord (Calif.)/De La Salle (56 points)

You'd be hard-pressed to find a better two-way line prospect than this Parade All-American. Had 130 tackles as a senior while leading De La Salle to its second consecutive mythical prep national title. Was a three-year starter on offense. Bench presses 400 pounds and has been timed at 4.9 in the 40. "He's a physical, tough guy and a real team leader out there," one Pac-10 coach said. Already qualified with a 3.0 GPA and 900 SAT.

College: Committed to Notre Dame.

Loren Howard

6-5, 275, DL, Scottsdale (Ariz.)/Saguaro (54 points)

The only player outside California to make this year's first team, the 17-year-old Howard had 98 tackles and 10 sacks as a senior. He also blocked five kicks and started at offensive tackle. Bench presses 390 pounds, squats 500 and has been timed at 4.75 in the 40. "He has as many physical gifts as any guy on the West Coast this year," one Pac-10 coach said. "He's very athletic and tough." He's also intelligent with a 3.85 GPA and 1,190 SAT.

College: Committed to Northwestern.

Nathan Rhodes

6-7, 305, Bakersfield (Calif.)/East (50 points)

A three-sport star with outstanding size, the Parade All-American didn't yield a quarterback sack in his last two seasons. "He's got great size," one Pac-10 coach said. "He still has a ways to go to become a big-time player in college, but you have to like his potential with that body." Benches 320 pounds and has thrown the shot more than 51 feet in track. "It's a great year for offensive linemen in California, but there are none better than Rhodes," recruiting analyst Tom Lemming of ESPN.com said. The Kingman, Ariz., native also excels in the classroom with a 3.8 GPA and 1,280 SAT score.

College: Committed to Washington.

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