Philadelphia, PA – High school seniors headed to the FCS level won't be declaring their college intentions on national TV on Wednesday, but in the future many will be willing to show they were ready for the FBS level.
They have a long way to go to reach the national spotlight.
While the national media and recruiting sites focus most of their attention on FBS signees, the national rankings still indicate there are plenty of talented players headed to the FCS level.
On Wednesday, high school seniors can begin to sign national letters of intent in the nearly two-month football signing period.
ESPN, Rivals, Scout and 24/7 Sports provide substantial recruiting information, although it's not nearly as complete about the FCS level as the FBS level.
Among the FCS commits showing up as the highest-graded recruits are running back D.J. Martin, an Eastern Washington commit; running back Anthony Covington, an Appalachian State commit; linebacker Victor Egu, a Yale commit; defensive tackle Jay Ellison, a Georgia Southern commit; and wide receiver Chuck Baker, a Southern University commit after he originally planned to go to LSU.
Following are the four recruiting services' highest graded recruits bound for FCS programs (more players will declare their intentions on Wednesday):
ESPN Recruiting Nation
83 Grade (national high grade is 94)
Southern - Chuck Baker (No. 29 national wide receiver), 6-foot-2, 195 pounds, Slidell, La. (Salmen High School)
81
Yale - Victor Egu (No. 22 outside linebacker), 6-3, 225, Concord, Calif. (De La Salle)
79
Albany - Marcel Ngachie (No. 44 outside linebacker), 6-0, 200, Olney, Md. (Our Lady of Good Counsel)
78
Georgia Southern - Jay Ellison (No. 49 defensive tackle), 6-1, 280, Hamilton, Ga. (Harris County)
77
Eastern Washington - D.J. Martin (No. 66 running back), 5-9, 190, Bakersfield, Calif. (Stockdale)
Samford - Terrence Upshaw (No. 59 running back), 5-9, 180, Duluth, Ga. (Northview)
Southern Illinois - Brandon Minor (No. 40 inside linebacker), 6-1, 226, Florissant, Mo. (McCluer North)
76
Appalachian State - Anthony Covington (No. 51 safety), 5-11, 195, Charlotte, N.C. (Mallard Creek)
Columbia - Kelly Hilinski (No. 44 quarterback-pocket passer), 6-7, 215, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (Notre Dame)
Harvard - John Van Allen (No. 85 outside linebacker), 6-3, 201, Avon, Conn. (Avon Old Farms School For Boys)
Old Dominion - Kanyia Anderson (No. 83 outside linebacker), 6-2, 215, Chesapeake, Va. (Oscar Frommel Smith)
South Carolina State - Zane Fields (No. 90 outside linebacker), 6-0, 235, Lovejoy, Ga. (Lovejoy)
75
Alcorn State - Montreal Jordan (No. 56 safety), 6-1, 180, Philadelphia, Miss. (Philadelphia)
Harvard - Joe Viviano (No. 51 quarterback-pocket passer), 6-4, 215, Berwyn, Pa. (Conestoga)
74
Alabama State - Jamir Hannah (No. 165 wide receiver), 6-3, 190, Ellenwood, Ga. (Cedar Grove)
Illinois State - Dalton Keene (No. 27 tight end-Y receiver), 6-3, 263, Jacksonville, Ill. (Jacksonville)
McNeese State - Antonio McGhee (No. 77 defensive tackle), 6-0, 270, Bossier City, La. (Parkway)
Sam Houston State - Luc Swimberghe (No. 19 place-kicker), 6-0, 175, Lindale, Texas (Lindale)
Southern Illinois - Ki-Jana Evans (No. 76 offensive guard), 6-3, 312, Chicago (Harlan Community Academy)
Tennessee State - Dantwaun O'Neal (No. 168 wide receiver), 6-2, 195, DeLand, Fla. (DeLand)
SCOUT
3 Stars (out of 5 stars)
Illinois State - Jalen Battle (No. 54 safety), 6-2, 170, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (University School of Nova Southeastern University)
Jacksonville State - Nathaniel Norwood (No. 54 inside linebacker), 6-1, 225, Lovejoy, Ga. (Lovejoy)
Appalachian State - Anthony Covington (No. 64 safety), 5-11, 195, Charlotte, N.C. (Mallard Creek)
Charlotte - Justin Bridges-Thompson (No. 67 outside linebacker), 6-2, 190 (Spartanburg, S.C. (Spartanburg)
Yale - Victor Egu (No. 70 outside linebacker), 6-3, 225, Concord, Calif. (De La Salle)
Columbia - Kelly Hilinski (No. 73 quarterback), 6-7, 215, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (Notre Dame)
Jackson State - Cornelius Henderson (No. 87 defensive tackle), 6-2, 290, Duncanville, Texas (Duncanville)
Southern - Chuck Baker (No. 94 wide receiver), 6-2, 195, Slidell, La. (Salmen)
RIVALS
3 Stars (out of 5)
5.7 Grade (national high ranking is 6.1)
Georgia Southern - Jay Ellison (No. 34 defensive tackle), 6-1, 280, Hamilton, Ga. (Harris County)
5.6
Yale - Victor Egu (No. 46 outside linebacker), 6-3, 225, Concord, Calif. (De La Salle)
Eastern Washington - D.J. Martin (No. 49 running back), 5-9, 190, Bakersfield, Calif. (Stockdale)
Yale - Mason Friedline (offensive guard), 6-5, 275, Shoreline, Wash. (King's)
Indiana State - Jameer Thurman (defensive back), 6-0, 190, Hillside, Ill. (Proviso West)
North Dakota State - Nick Jacobsen (defensive tackle), 6-5, 295, Prescott, Wisc. (Prescott)
5.5
South Carolina State - Harold Atkinson (running back), 6-1, 210, Myrtle Beach, S.C. (Carolina Forest)
Alabama State - DeAndre Wise (offensive lineman), 6-2, 280, Alpharetta, Ga. (Alpharetta)
Indiana State - Chris Davis (running back), 5-10, 180, Cincinnati (Colerain)
South Carolina State - Justin Evans (offensive lineman), 6-6, 275, Florence, S.C. (Wilson)
Jacksonville State - Ramar Dennis (defensive end), 6-2, 225, Orlando (Olympia)
Illinois State - Anthony Warrum (wide receiver), 6-1, 166, Indianapolis (Heritage Christian)
Towson - Antonio Harris (offensive lineman), 6-3, 311, Upper Marlboro, Md. (Wise)
Furman - Aaron Black (tight end), 6-6, 251, Dallas, Ga. (East Paulding)
Southern - Chuck Baker (wide receiver), 6-2, 195, Slidell, La. (Salmen)
Appalachian State - Anthony Covington (safety), 5-11, 195, Charlotte, N.C. (Mallard Creek)
Villanova - Mike Williams (defensive end), 6-5, 280, Severn, Md. (Archbishop Spalding)
Harvard - Joe Viviano (quarterback), 6-4, 215, Berwyn, Pa. (Conestoga)
Sacramento State - Jihad Vercher (quarterback), 6-0, 202, Los Angeles (Salesian)
James Madison - Brandon Ravenel (wide receiver), 6-0, 170, Stafford, Va. (North Stafford)
Charlotte - Tevin Lawshe (offensive lineman), 6-4, 275, Charlotte, N.C. (Mallard Creek)
24/7 SPORTS
3 Stars (out of 5)
89 Grade (national high grade is 101)
Eastern Washington - D.J. Martin (No. 26 running back), 5-9, 190, Bakersfield, Calif. (Stockdale)
88
Albany - Marcel Ngachie (No. 49 outside linebacker), 6-0, 200, Olney, Md. (Our Lady of Good Counsel)
86
Southern - Chuck Baker (No. 97 wide receiver), 6-2, 195, Slidell, La. (Salmen)
85
Alcorn State - William Lloyd (No. 58 running back), 5-10, 190, Rosedale, Miss. (West Bolivar District)
Yale - Mason Friedline (No. 12 center), 6-5, 275, Shoreline, Wash. (King's)
Stony Brook - Ousmane Camara (No. 38 weakside defensive end), 6-3, 250, Bay Shore, N.Y. (Bay Shore Senior)
Alcorn State - Montreal Jordan (No. 69 cornerback), 6-1, 180, Philadelphia, Miss. (Philadelphia)
Villanova - Thomas Pionski (No. 46 strongside defensive end), 6-5, 230, Brooklyn, N.Y. (Brooklyn Tech)
Yale - Victor Egu (No. 50 inside linebacker), 6-3, 225, Concord, Calif. (De La Salle)
84
Charlotte - Chris Duffy (No. 82 athlete), 5-11, 195, Indian Trail, N.C. (Porter Ridge)
James Madison - Brandon Ravenel (No. 85 athlete), 6-0, 170, Stafford, Va. (North Stafford)
Jacksonville State - Jarren Johnson (No. 148 wide receiver), 5-10, 195, Jackson, Ala. (Jackson)
83
Northern Arizona - Tyler Shank (No. 62 offensive guard), 6-2, 280, Chandler, Ariz. (Chandler)
Charlotte - Justin Bridges-Thompson (No. 99 outside linebacker), 6-2, 190 (Spartanburg, S.C. (Spartanburg)
Indiana State - Chris Davis (No. 34 all-purpose back), 5-10, 180, Cincinnati (Colerain)
Appalachian State - Anthony Covington (No. 95 athlete), 5-11, 195, Charlotte, N.C. (Mallard Creek)
Note: Charlotte and Old Dominion will spend the 2013 season as FCS independents ineligible for the national playoffs.
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