PREP FOOTBALL ’95 : TOP TEN / PROSPECTS : Valley Backs at the Front of College Recruiting Line

The players with the loftiest potential this season can be found low to the ground, churning for extra yardage with the ball. An impressive group of running backs top the list of area players being chased by major colleges.

“Several of the best running backs in the nation are right here in this area,” said Rick Kimbrel of the Woodland Hills-based Bluechip Illustrated high school recruiting service.

A handful of exceptional linemen and a few receivers are also highly rated. Quarterback appears to be the weakest position in terms of capturing the interest of Division I schools.

All that in mind, we’re off and running with the Top 10 area players, listed alphabetically:

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Sam Benner, St. Bonaventure: A combination of size, quickness and strong academics make Benner (6 feet 5, 255 pounds) one of the most-coveted linemen on the West Coast.

Benner, who carries a 3.4 grade-point average and scored 1,170 on the Scholastic Assessment Test, is being recruited by most Pacific-10 Conference schools.

“Even though he plays at a smaller school, it’s clear to college scouts that he can play well at the next level,” Kimbrel said. “He has great strength and quickness, and he can play on either side of the ball.”

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Christian Broussard, Royal: Electrifying big-play capability is what Broussard (6-1, 190) brings to the field; he had seven runs of more than 50 yards last season.

Broussard’s best position might be defensive back, however, and several colleges also project him as a punt- and kick-returner.

“He has had 23 scholarship offers already,” said Gene Uebelhardt, Royal’s coach. “Christian could play college football at any of five positions: running back, receiver, safety, cornerback or kick-returner.”

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Ennis Davis, Reseda: Perhaps the top recruit among defensive linemen on the West Coast, Davis brings an aggressive style along with a 6-5, 300-pound frame.

“I’ve never had a kid get so much attention,” said Joel Schaeffer, Reseda’s coach. “He’s a well-rounded kid, involved in his church, a good student; he keeps his priorities straight.”

Schaeffer regularly shows a tape to college scouts of a game last season in which Davis led the team in tackles, blocked a punt, recovered two fumbles, made three sacks and had an interception.

“This guy can stick, he can really hit,” Kimbrel said. “He is definitely a major recruit.”

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Troy Garner, Notre Dame: Outstanding athletic skills and a knack for making big plays make Garner the area’s top defensive back. Garner (6-3, 195), who also plays wide receiver, last season returned two of his six interceptions for touchdowns.

“He is getting lots of interest from eastern schools who normally don’t recruit in this area,” said Kevin Rooney, Notre Dame’s coach.

Garner, who won the Division III 400-meter championship last spring, is a strong student. His improvement on the field during summer passing league, coupled with his size, make him a prized recruit.

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Jamal Harris, Westlake: Playing in a pass-oriented offense, Harris last season rushed for 747 yards and 10 touchdowns in only 80 carries. He should get more work this fall because Coach Jim Benkert knows the importance of getting the ball to his most-explosive weapon.

“Harris is a good combo back who runs hard and can also catch the football,” Kimbrel said.

Academics remain a question mark for Harris (6-0, 190), who has not achieved a qualifying score on the SAT.

“If he gets his academics squared away, he can pick his school,” Benkert said.

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Ted Iacenda, Hart: Iacenda, who scored 30 touchdowns rushing and 11 receiving last season, will bring a complete package to some fortunate college. He runs like a locomotive, has great hands and loves to block.

“Ted is such a versatile athlete and such a good student, he is a can’t-miss player for a college,” said Mike Herrington, Hart’s coach.

Iacenda, student body president at Hart, scored 1,190 on the SAT. He has offers on the table from California, Stanford, Arizona and Brigham Young.

Iacenda (6-1, 225) added 10 pounds of muscle during the off-season and should make a strong run at the Southern Section touchdown record of 94. He has 61.

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Ronney Jenkins, Hueneme: During the final few weeks of school last spring, 33 college scouts visited Hueneme to evaluate the 5-11, 175-pound Jenkins, who rushed for 1,316 yards on a team with a mediocre line.

“He is really working hard,” said Larry Miller, Hueneme’s coach. “I saw him working out every day during the summer.”

Jenkins is on track academically although he hasn’t received his SAT results.

“He has the speed to hurt you and he is a very fluid runner with great acceleration,” Kimbrel said.

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Jermaine Lewis, Antelope Valley: Lewis, who last season helped the Antelopes win the Division II championship, makes up for a lack of size with dynamite moves and astonishing quickness.

He rushed for 1,367 yards and 21 touchdowns, his second 1,000-yard season in a row. Although he is only 5-7, 155 pounds, Lewis is durable: He had 225 carries last season.

“He is a scatback type who could do for a college what Glyn Milburn did for Stanford,” Kimbrel said.

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Durell Price, Sylmar: Price was City Section player of the year after rushing for 1,936 yards and 29 touchdowns last season, averaging an amazing 10.5 yards a carry. He is one of seven running backs in the nation and the only one in the state to be rated as an All-American by all five of Street and Smith’s recruiting services.

“He has the combination of size and speed coaches love at the next level,” Kimbrel said. “He’s like Herschel Walker: He bench-presses like a lineman and once he gets going, no one is going to bring him down.”

Price, 6-1, 215, who has qualified academically for Division I, is leaning toward Colorado or Nebraska.

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R.J. Starr, Thousand Oaks: Quickness and intelligence are nice complements to a 6-4, 265-pound frame. Starr, an offensive tackle, brings the whole package, something that has not escaped the attention of the Pac-10 and Western Athletic Conference schools that are recruiting him.

“The college scouts really love his footwork,” Thousand Oaks Coach Mike Kelly said. “We take advantage of his skills on a lot of sweeps and counter plays.”

Starr runs the 40 in under five seconds and carries a 3.8 grade-point average. His SAT score is well over 1,000.

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Other Division I prospects: Quarterback: Bryan Paul, Moorpark. Running backs: Akil Anderson, Montclair Prep; Antwane Smith, Kennedy; Jamian Barbour, Crespi. Receivers: Gabe Crecion, Chaminade; Kevin McLaughlin, Hart; Jason Victor, Westlake; Jim Ange, Thousand Oaks. Linemen: Charles Bungert, Camarillo; Shane Graves, Buena; Oshin Honarchian, Crescenta Valley; Levi Line, Royal; Jose Murillo, Channel Islands; Edgar Nava, Notre Dame; Blane Saipaia, Channel Islands; Elliot Silvers, Agoura; Rene Zavala, Sylmar. Linebackers: Brock Diediker, Newbury Park; Brant Diediker, Newbury Park; Marc Zimmerman, Hart. Defensive backs: Trymon Redick, Antelope Valley; Karalus Doyle, Kennedy; Junior Brignac, Cleveland.

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Top 10 Prospects

Top Division I prospects from Valley-area high schools, listed alphabetically:

Sam Benner, St. Bonaventure

Christian Broussard, Royal

Ennis Davis, Reseda

Troy Garner, Notre Dame

Jamal Harris, Westlake

Ted Iacenda, Hart

Ronney Jenkins, Hueneme

Jermaine Lewis, Ant. Valley

Durrell Price, Sylmar

R.J. Starr, Thousand Oaks