By Sheldon Shealer, editor

UPDATE: Consensus All-State Team

The 17th installment of the Consensus All-State football team will be released later today, but there is no drama regarding the Offensive and defensive Players of the Year. In fact, in nearly unanimous voting, Dunbar senior Tavon Austin repeats as the Maryland's Offensive Player of the Year and Good Counsel senior Jelani Jenkins claims the Defensive Player of the Year honors in similar run-away fashion.

Here are the past All-State Players of the Year:

Offensive
2007 - Tavon Austin, Dunbar*
2006 - Joe Haden, Friendly
2005 - Ben Tate, Snow Hill
2004 - Ike Whitaker, Northwest
2003 - Derrick McPhearson, DeMatha
2002 - Ambrose Wooden, Gilman
2001 - Terry Caulley, Patuxent
2000 - Semaj Richardson, Gaithersburg
1999 - Chris Kelly, Seneca Valley
1998 - Chris Kelly, Seneca Valley*
1997 - Walter Cross, Oxon Hill
1996 - Tyree Foreman, Sherwood
1995 - Tyree Foreman, Sherwood*
1994 - Bobby Sabelhaus, McDonogh
1993 - Tori Willis, Cambridge-S.D.
1992 - John seymour, Linganore

Defensive
2007 - Kenny Tate, DeMatha
2006 - Ian Thomas, DeMatha
2005 - Akeem Hebron, Good Counsel
2004 - Navorro Bowman, Suitland*
2003 - Eric Lenz, Urbana
2002 - Victor Abiamiri, Gilman
2001 - Shawne Merriman, Douglass-PG
2000 - Seth Mitchell, Gwynn Park
1999 - Derek Wake, DeMatha
1998 - Darnell Dockett, Paint Branch
1997 - Loui Georgalas, Calvert Hall
1996 - Monte Graves, St. Mary's-AA
1995 - Tommy Polley, Dunbar
1994 - Tommy Polley, Dunbar*
1993 - Troy Fowlkes, North County
1992 - none selected

*-indcates junior

When it comes to linebackers, Jelani Jenkins is a lock. The Good Counsel senior is the Gatorade State Player of theYear, the Washington Post Defensive Player of the Year and the likely All-State Defensive player of the Year.

But what about the other three linebacker positions on the Consensus All-State team?

In anticipation of the release of this week's All-State ballot (with the All-State teams named next week), we are sharing a preview of the players being considered for the Consensus All-State squad.

More than 25 media members will vote on the Big School and Small School All-State teams. From those first-team selections, the top 30 vote-getters are named to the Consensus All-State squad - the highest honor for Maryland high school football players.

Today, we unveil a list of linebackers who are in the running for Consensus All-State and we invite your feedback. This list is not all inclusive. In fact, there are more than 70 linebackers in consideration. We have narrowed the field to six for online purposes. Select three from the list below:

Devon Bridges, Douglass-PG: Bridges recorded 133 tackles leading Douglass to the Class 2A South region final, where the team lost to eventual state champion River Hill.

Steven Gamble, Sherwood: The first-team All-Met selection recorded 105 tackles, leading a swarming Sherwood defense to a perfect season and a Class 4A state title.

Lorne Goree, Flowers: This Maryland recruit was credited with 194 tackles and 12 sacksfor the Class 4A South region runners-up. 

Matt Heacock, Loyola: Heacock was the Baltimore Sun's Defensive Player of the year. He led undefeated Loyola with 101 tackles. He added two interceptions and a blocked punt.

Gary Onuekwusi, Dunbar: This hard-hitting linebacker led the Poets with 156 tackles. He forced five fumbles and was a first-team Baltimore Sun selection.

Marvin Pinkney, Old Mill: Pinkney is a three-time All-Anne Arundel County selection by the Annapolis Capital. Seventeen of his 95 tackles went for a loss. He's the school's all-time leader in tackles and interceptions. 

So who would you vote for? Or, is there another person you would consider? Leave your comments below and let us know who you think should make the All-state team.

It should come as no surprise that Jelani Jenkins, a candidate for Maryland's Defensive Player of the Year, has been named the Gatorade State Player of the Year for the second straight season.

Jenkins led Good Counsel to an 11-1 record and a Washington Catholic Athletic Conference runner-up finish. Good Counsel held the state's No. 1 ranking for the second part of the season, a ranking that will change in the final poll given the team's setback in the title contest.

As a fullback, Jenkins rushed for 642 yards and 22 touchdowns on 87 carries. He recorded 70 tackles to anchor a Good Counsel defense that held opponents to 9.3 points per game, including four shutouts.

Jenkins has maintained a 3.89 GPA in the classroom.  He has volunteered with the Special Olympics and for a program that helps children afflicted with epilepsy. He also serves as a peer tutor at his school.

"Jelani Jenkins is just a tremendous football player, said Joe Patterson, head coach of rival St. John's (D.C.). "He's unbelievable, both as a linebacker and a running back. And the thing is he's only going to keep getting better.

Jenkins remains undecided upon a collegiate destination.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field. The selection process is administered by ESPN RISE Magazine, which works with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Jenkins as Maryland's best high school football player. Jenkins is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Football Player of the Year award to be announced in December.  

By Mike Loveday

There are 36 Maryland football players who have already made their college decision -- they are just waiting for Feb. 4, national signing day, to make it official. But for Jelani Jenkins, Tavon Austin and Jason Ankrah, the recruiting process has been more about getting it right than getting it over.

	Michael D Kurec for ESPNRISE
	Jelani Jenkins isn't rushing into making a college decision.

"It was a conscious decision for me. It's a big opportunity with a lot of colleges offering, and I just wanted to wait as long as I can. Learn as much as I can about the colleges," Jenkins said. "I just wanted to wait until after football season, take all my visits and take my time, once I'm done with the football season."

Good Counsel's Jenkins has been dealing with the recruiting process since his sophomore season. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Jenkins is the ESPNU 150 No. 2 rated linebacker and has more than 30 offers. He has conducted interviews and answered questions about his recruiting, but has yet to hint as to where or when he will commit. There was speculation that he would commit during the Jan. 4 broadcast of the Under Armour high school all-star game on ESPN.

"I will probably not have my decision by then, but if I do, I will probably do it during the Under Armour game," Jenkins said. "I would have to get all my five officials by that time. Right now it will probably be Feb. 4."

While Jenkins has been dealing with recruiting since his sophomore season, Quince Orchard's Ankrah has been gaining interest since the summer before his senior season.

"In the beginning [of the summer] it started off with two schools. Then it grew to five, then seven then 10," Ankrah said. "I just put it off to see which one gives me the best opportunity. I'm still waiting to see. I don't really want to rush into anything because I don't want to regret it later."

The 6-foot-4, 250-pound defensive end held more than 10 offers before narrowing his list to Penn State, Michigan, Maryland, Clemson, Virginia Tech and Nebraska, but has held off from making a decision until he can take his official visits.

Austin's college choice is as difficult to figure out as he is to tackle on the football field. For the 5-foot-8, 160-pound athlete, it has been an internal debate.

"The reason I waited so long is because I don't know if I want to play in a pro-style offense or a spread offense. That's what's really keeping me," Austin said. "I wanted to take all my visits and see what place I felt comfortable at. It just falls back on what type of offense I'm going to play in. A lot of colleges say I'm going to play the slot, but a lot say I can play both. I'm really leaning toward both, but it's a family decision too. Every coach asks me what I'm waiting for."

Ankrah said he learned a lot about how to choose a college -- information he is passing on to teammates.

"I would tell them to keep their grades up so they don't have to worry about eligibility later. Find out which schools are real and which schools really want you for you and not just for your talent," Ankrah said. "I talk to the players from the school and ask them if they regret their decision. Coach Mac [Quince Orchard head coach Dave Mencarini] has relationships with a lot of college coaches so he lets me know. I listen to the coaches and what they say and I can tell if they're telling the truth or not."

These three athletes have a wealth advice for the next class after years in the spotlight.

"I'm going to tell my juniors to make sure they feel out the coaches and ask the right questions," Austin said. "One question they should ask coaches is about looking past football. I want to know which coach is going to look out for me after football."

Jenkins and Ankrah's seasons ended this past weekend as both teams lost -- Good Counsel in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) championship game and Quince Orchard in the Class 4A West region final. Austin, Jenkins and Ankrah will play in the Maryland Crab Bowl - a state-wide all-star game on Dec. 20. Austin can be seen next when his Dunbar team plays Catoctin in the Class 1A state semifinals Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.

 

	Photo by: Mike Loveday
	Good Counsel straps on the pads for the first week of practice in search of a WCAC title.

By Mike Loveday

Last Season: 11-2, WCAC runner-up

Key Losses: The offensive line graduated five of its top six players, including Bryan Murray (Boston College) and Corey Boatman (Syracuse).

Key Returnees: Jelani Jenkins (LB), Mike Wallace (DB), Caleb Porzel (RB) and Tyler Campbell (QB), Durrell Miller (LB).

Impact Newcomer: Louis Young (DB). Young is technically not a newcomer to the varsity as he played as a sophomore, but head coach Bob Milloy said he is one of the most improved players in the offseason and expects him to have an outstanding season

Most Improved: While Young is one of the most improved, Milloy said Most Improved goes to Devon Gordon-Hamm (OL). Gordon-Hamm is the lone returner to the offensive line and Milloy said the senior lineman has looked impressive in the offseason, improving his footwork and quickness.

Names to look for: Patrick Walsh, Stephen Snyder, and Mike Nittoli. These three sophomores could be the majority of starting offensive line this year, according to Milloy.

My Take: The losses at the offensive line have the potential to hurt the Falcons, but if youth at that position can come at a good time, its now. With seniors like Jenkins and Porzel running the ball along with senior quarterback Tyler Campbell, Good Counsel has plenty of experience that know how to win. That leadership should help keep the offense moving until the young line can come together.

Jenkins is a stud at linebacker and Porzel has been clocked at a 4.4 40-yard dash and worked hard on his hands over the summer. That duo will provide leadership along with Wallace who has offers from Army, Monmouth, Towson and Stanford. Miller gives the Falcons another stud at linebacker and with young players like Young, E.J. Scott and Troy Gloster this could be the first time in Milloy's tenure at Good Counsel they end the season with a win.

Quick Fact: According to Milloy, if Good Counsel starts three sophomores on the offensive line it will be the first time in his 40-year coaching career that has happened.

EDITORS NOTE: If you want more information on this team and the upcoming season e-mail me to find out more about the 2008 Preseason Magazine.

Make sure to leave your comment below and let us know how we're doing.

Email Mike at Mike.Loveday.ESPN@gmail.com

By Mike Loveday, editor

State College, Pa., is little more than a three-hour drive for most of the Maryland football players committed to Penn State University, but the ESPN Outside the Lines series profiling the trouble Penn State athletes have gotten into over the past six years must have hit a little closer to home.

Or did it?

Six Maryland high school football players are verbally committed to attend Penn State following their senior seasons and none of the players contacted seem concerned about the issues raised in the program.

"Me and my mother watched it. It didn't really have an affect on me because I know what I can do and what I'm going through, Eleanor Roosevelt's Derrick Thomas (pictured below) added. "It doesn't really change my mind at all. I still like Penn State and I'm still with it.

While that sentiment is shared by the other athletes, Thomas' mother did not agree.

"To see all that stuff happening there I really worry. At this point I don't really want him to go to that school. I know you can't run away because trouble is everywhere, but to see that they have a coach and a coaching staff that is not doing what they need to do to keep this stuff from happening it really worries me, Angela Thomas said. "I don't want my son to attend a school where there's no guidance. When he's away from me I want him to have a role model to keep him in line.

According to the OTL program, "since 2002, 46 Penn State football players have faced 163 criminal charges, according to an ESPN analysis of Pennsylvania court records and reports. Twenty-seven players have been convicted of or have pleaded guilty to a combined 45 counts.

When asked if she was concerned about Thomas attending Penn State Mrs. Thomas replied, "I am. Honestly I am. I'm going to have to have a serious talk with him. I'm definitely not leaving it up to him. We all need to sit down and talk about this because I just want the best for my son. & I need to see what type of options he wants to have right now, because Penn State, to me, is not a good option.

Thomas added that his mother had expressed interest in him attending the University of Maryland before his commitment. Thomas chose Penn State over offers from Maryland, Tennessee, Pittsburgh and Illinois.

Thomas is one of six Maryland athletes committed to Penn State. Eleanor Roosevelt teammate Stephon Morris, Oxon Hill's Brandon Felder, Lackey's Darrell Givens and Malcolm Willis and Gaithersburg's Sean Stanley have all committed to play for the Nittany Lions.

In fact, Penn State has received more commitments from Maryland players than from any other state so far. Five Pennsylvania athletes have given verbal commitments as of press time.

From those already committed, the allegations have little to no affect.

"Of course if you have a lot of students and players at one school getting into trouble it's going to make that school look bad, but you can't necessarily say that the school is a bad place. It just shows that those people chose to make the wrong decision, Givens said. "It's not really been a big deal to me. Once you're in college you're an adult. You're a grown female or male and you're old enough to make your own decisions. If you choose to make the wrong decision, that's on you.

The program seems to have raised so little interest in the athletes interviewed for this story that at least one, Felder, still has not seen it. Thomas chose to not watch the entire program and said he has no interest in seeing the rest of it.

While no names were mentioned in the OTL program, days later former Gwynn Park standout Phil Taylor was dismissed from the team. A name that Roosevelt defensive back Morris knows, which made the series more interesting for him, but did not make him waiver from his decision.

"My whole take on it was that I stay away from that type of trouble. When you go to college you should know the things you shouldn't be doing, Morris said.

What about the questions surrounding Paterno's job security? The 81-yeard old, who will enter his 43rd season as head coach and has compiled a win-loss record of 372-125-3, enters the last year of his contract and the release of the OTL information raises serious questions as to whether JoPa will return.

"I've been told that about his (Joe Paterno) contract. I've been watching ESPN College Gameday, they keep talking about it. I mean even if this is his last year, whether it's a successor, which I'd love to have, or if it's a brand new coaching staff, and then I guess I'm going to have to see, Morris added. "I'm going (to Penn State) because that's where I should be. It wasn't for any specific coach.

Bobbie Felder, the mother of Brandon Felder (pictured), also seemed unconcerned about the program.

"I honestly don't have a problem as far as these allegations that have gone on with Penn State, Mrs. Felder said. "Both my son and I believe in the program and I don't feel as though this is going to be a problem with my son's football career or academic career.

While each student-athlete comes from a different background and are spread out over several counties, they all expressed a single thought.

"At a lot of schools around the country things are going to happen, people make mistakes. It's not like it really affected me or changed my mind, Lackey's Malcolm Willis said. "There are places you can get in trouble around the world. You can live in the country with no trouble at all and you can mess up. It's about bettering yourself after you make that mistake.

Penn State has offers out to five more Maryland high school athletes: Dunbar's Tavon Austin, Gwynn Park's Raynard Randolph, Quince Orchard's Travis Hawkins and Jason Ankrah and Good Counsel's Jelani Jenkins.

So how will this impact the decision for potential commitments? At least one athlete said it will have none.

"That's not me. I know what kind of person I am and I won't be in situations like that, Randolph said. "That has nothing to do with me and has nothing to do with the school. That's outside of the school and what they did. & stuff like that happens everywhere. Unfortunately they were the ones to get caught. Penn State is still one of my favorites.

Randolph is said to be deciding between attending Penn State and Maryland.

As of press time, the other four athletes mentioned above along with Stanley were unavailable for comment.

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Email Mike at Mike.Loveday.ESPN@gmail.com

By Mike Loveday

Oloveday5@yahoo.com

Loyola rising senior Terence Garvin made the decision that will impact his next four years. He verbally committed to West Virginia University on Friday, July 25; according to Loyola head coach Brian Abbott. West Virginia recruited Garvin as a free safety.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Garvin also held an offer from Maryland at the time of his commitment.

Garvin also plays running back for the Don's and according to Abbott will likely see time at linebacker this season. Last year Garvin rushed for 792 yards and 15 touchdowns and added 42 tackles and three interceptions on defense.

Garvin is the first Maryland recruit to commit to WVU this season. The Mountaineers have also extended offers to uncommitted Maryland athletes Tavon Austin, Jason Ankrah, Raynard Randolph, Jelani Jenkins, Travis Hawkins, Xavier Hughes and Anthony Young-Wiseman.

If you want more information about Loyola and the upcoming season, including team breakdowns and player profiles, you can order your copy online of the Preseason Football Magazine Here

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