Chips are down for recruiting; state low on stars

In the imprecise world of college-football recruiting, this doesn't appear to be a banner year for in-state talent.

Good players? Yes. They abound. Potentially great ones? Don't hold your breath.

Of course, any attempt to project how current 17- and 18-year-olds are going to do four or five years from now is fraught with peril.

Still, the state's crop is considered shy of headline recruits. In the Long Beach Press-Telegram's annual Best in the West survey of West Coast talent evaluators, only one Washington athlete — Jackson wide receiver Craig Chambers — made the list. One other state player was an honorable-mention pick — Bethel quarterback John DuRocher, with five votes.

The Times has selected five athletes as blue chips this year, which means they are considered capable of potential stardom in a major conference such as the Pac-10. This is an increase from last year when only three were picked.

In The Times' ranking system, red chips are those athletes considered capable of playing in the Pac-10 or starring in the I-AA Big Sky Conference. White chips are the best remaining players of the state's top 100 and often turn out to be the biggest surprises.

The annual chip list is compiled after observing athletes, talking to coaches and talent evaluators and consulting with sportswriters throughout the state.

"It's a very solid year for Big Sky-type players, especially when it comes to athletes such as wide receivers and defensive backs," said one recruiter who didn't want to be identified.

He noted that in a state known for producing quarterbacks — seven QBs signed with colleges in 1998 — there is only one standout this year, DuRocher. "There's also not a lot of linebackers," he said.

Ron Siegel of Mountlake Terrace, who has followed high-school football and recruiting in the state for more than four decades, said there have been a lot better years than this one.

"There is not a great deal of top talent this year," Siegel said. "But a lot of kids could surprise. Don't forget that Rien Long wasn't anywhere close to the top of recruiting lists when he came out of Anacortes High School in 1999. He was a red chip but just got through winning the Outland Trophy at Washington State and is turning pro.

"There just aren't many obvious blue-chippers this year. I can't remember a year when the Best in the West list had only two kids from the state of Washington — and one of them this year is an honorable-mention pick.

"Overall, this will be a great year for the Big Sky Conference schools that recruit in the state," Siegel said. "There's no question, too, that Western Washington and Central Washington (both Division II) should get all the talent they want inside the state borders."

Joining Chambers and DuRocher as blue chips are Tahj Bomar, Kentwood linebacker; Derrick Bradley, Kamiak running back-defensive back; Jordan Carey, Capital of Olympia defensive back-wide receiver-wingback.

Signing date for Division I letters of intent is Feb. 5.

Craig Smith: 206-464-8279 or csmith@seattletimes.com.