Schultz, who coached All-NFL running back LaDainian Tomlinson at TCU, built an impressive reputation as a recruiter during his 11 years at the Texas school. He was especially effective in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, usually a gold mine for high school talent.

So look for Illinois to focus on that area in the future, moreso than the Virginia Tidewater, Maryland and Washington D.C. region where Locksley made his mark in recent years. There is more talent in Dallas/Fort Worth but also more competition to recruit players from Texas and Oklahoma.

Everybody agreed that quarterback Tajh Boyd of Hampton, Va., who passed for three touchdowns, was an obvious MVP choice. And running back Bryce Brown of Wichita, Kan., who caught two of Boyd's TD passes, was acknowledged as co-MVP.

But it should have been Florida State-bound Willie Downs, a free safety from Tallahassee Fla., who stood out on defense. I believe the vote-counters got confused between the names, Downs and Brown. Downs has said he prefers to play wide receiver in college but Saturday's performance proved he is a big-time playmaker on defense.

In the next five months, I will personally meet, interview and evaluate the films of 1,500 prospects in 48 states. I will see 700 of them on this trip, including 500 at the U.S. Army Combine next week in San Antonio, Texas. Fifty of the top 100 players in the class of 2010 will be there.

I went from Chicago to Little Rock to Warren, Junction City and Lonoke in Arkansas, then to Monroe, Louisiana, then to Lufkin, Texas, then to College Station, on to Dallas, Temple, Austin, then to San Antonio for seven days before stopping in Arkansas and Iowa on the way back to Chicago.

It is the eighth year for the one-day event, which is conducted on the same weekend as the U.S. Army All-American Bowl pitting the nation's leading seniors. It is the premier combine in the country, a measuring stick for players to see where they are or where they could be. They are tested athletically against some of the best players in the nation.

The Chicago contingent is headed by offensive lineman Christian Lombard of Fremd and wide receiver Kyle Prater of Proviso West, two of the top 100 juniors in the nation.

It is good to have two games because about 170 kids get an opportunity to receive national exposure. Maybe there is room for a third game. As it is, the two games get their share of the top-rated players in the nation.

The rosters have been announced. U.S. Army has 45 of the top 100 players in the country, six of the top 10, 14 of the top 20 and 29 of the top 50. Under Armour has 30 of the top 100, six of the top 14 and 18 of the top 50. Under Armour also has the nation's top-rated player, USC-bound quarterback Matt Barkley of Santa Ana, Calif.

Locksley is an excellent recruiter, one of the top 20 in the country. He has a knack for establishing a rapport with recruits. He dominated the Washington D.C./Maryland area. He landed Arrelious Benn and Vontae Davis, two of Illinois' best players. It will be difficult to attract prospects from that area without him.

For example, Locksley was close to two of the top 100 players in the country, offensive lineman Peter White and linebacker Jelani Jenkins, both from the Washington D.C./Maryland region. They are expected to announce their commitments at the U.S. Army All-American game in San Antonio next month. Illinois is in the mix for both of them but the loss of Locksley could hurt.

Long snapping, an art form that only recently has begun to be appreciated by college recruiters and NFL scouts, is one way to punch a ticket to college and even the NFL. A center is supposed to be 6-4 and weigh 300 pounds. So if you don't fit the size requirements, if you are good enough to qualify as a long snapper, you could earn a scholarship.

Long snapping is an important part of the game today. For references, ask the Bears' Pat Mannelly, who has made a handsome living in the NFL as a long snapper. It is an art that is only recently has begun to be appreciated by college recruiters and NFL scouts--the ability to snap accurately and swiftly on punts, extra points, field goals and even the spread offense.

* Loyola defensive end Chance Carter is giving up basketball to concentrate on football. He had a good year in football, not great. He should have been better. Now he realizes he isn't a big-time basketball player and plans to train full-time to prepare for his senior season in football. To live up to his enormous potential, he must dedicate himself to football.

Carter is one of the top five juniors in the Chicago area. But he needs to put on 20 pounds of muscle. He has good football instincts and he is very athletic. He just has to dedicate himself to football and the rest will take care of itself. Notre Dame offered early.

Both schools are hurting at quarterback. Illinois has talent--offensive linemen, running backs and receivers--but Juice Williams hasn't developed as he should have. He is inconsistent. He hasn't improved as a passer. He has the strongest arm in college football but he hasn't gotten better since his freshman year.

Notre Dame recruited a lot of talented high school players in the last few years but they haven't shown any progress in college. Quarterback Jimmy Clausen is a major talent but he hasn't developed as the No. 1 high school player in the country should have in his second year in college. He has gone downhill.

Watt, a 6-4, 285-pounder who was ranked No. 67 in the nation at the beginning of the season, joins tight end Rashede Hageman of Minneapolis, Minn., and Ohio State-bound defensive lineman John Simon of Youngstown, Ohio, as the only Midwest representatives on the 26-man squad.

It underscores the fact that the Midwest was barren of talent this season. But Watt certainly has made a positive statement.

Coach Charlie Weis' freshman and sophomore classes boast as much talent as any school in the country. The talent isn't overrated because every major recruiting service ranked them in the top 10.

Last year's class was ranked No. 1 by Rivals and No. 2 by me. Two years ago, Notre Dame was rated No. 7. This year's class should rank between 10 and 20. It is good but not as good as last year.

That's the problem with recruiting Web sites on the Internet. But before we go for the jugular, let's clarify something about the Internet. It has changed the face of recruiting. It provides instant information to thousands of readers, mostly college football fans and alumni who want to know who's going where and who's recruiting whom.

It's a cottage industry that I've been a part of since the 1970s. But 30 years ago, I had to travel around the country to find prospects. Now I know who they are before I even pack my bags and leave on a trip. I still believe, however, that a video doesn't provide all the answers. I still have to meet the prospect while evaluating him.

The Lemont Hornets is one of the most productive feeder systems in the Chicago area, one of the best youth programs I have seen. It was founded years ago by Ron Nagel Sr. and currently is being run by his son, Ron Jr. In the past, most graduates of the Hornets program went to Providence Catholic in New Lenox or Joliet Catholic.

But Ron Jr. sent his oldest son, Aaron, to Lemont. Then Brett went to Lemont. Both are now playing at Northwestern. Connor, a 6-0, 210-pound junior linebacker, might be the best prospect of all. He is better on defense than his brothers. He is smaller but more instinctive on defense.

Prater, a 6-5, 185-pounder, is the real deal. He is the best wide receiver I have seen in Illinois since former Thornton star Tai Streets. He has a shot at emerging as the No. 1 player in the class of 2010 in Illinois. He ranks with Fremd lineman Christian Lombard and Johnsburg wide receiver C.J. Fiedorowicz.

I will promote him for the 2010 U.S. Army All-American Game. He has legitimate size, a great pair of hands, runs the slant pattern to perfection and catches the ball away from his body. If he was playing on a team with Maine South's Charlie Goro or Hinsdale Central's John Whitelaw, he would be the best receiver in the country next year.

For example, wide receiver Shaquelle Evans of Inglewood, Calif., committed to USC, then described himself as a "soft verbal," visited Notre Dame, de-committed from USC, then said he was "up in the air" over Notre Dame and USC but may look at UCLA, California and Oregon.

It is typical of what is going on in the recruiting process. What is Evans thinking? He may think USC has too many wide receivers on its roster but Notre Dame has the best freshman wide receiver in the country in Michael Floyd. So Evans may not choose any school.