Covering college football as I do takes 52 weeks a year as it is and while I personally do not scout the high school games and rate each player I do compile my rankings based on the many different recruiting services across the country that follow and scout HS football year round. I not only like to use all of the biggest and best services, but I also use regional reports as well. The colleges themselves use many of these services to get the latest information on recruits.

When we receive a recruiting magazine, we translate each player’s ranking into a points system from 1-100 and then log each and every player into the computer and give them a point total from each source. Naturally, the more they are mentioned and the higher they are rated by each publication, the more total points they accrue. After months of entering all of this information, I sort the list by position and by total points and then rank the players from most points to least.

In today’s blog I have included the top incoming freshman Kickers/Punters and the Top 75 Incoming Jucos for 2010. Each one of these players is ranked in the Top 500 prospects regardless of position and will appear in my preseason magazine. I have also posted the top individual classes for each position. Since we want the college preview to continue to be the most in-depth and accurate magazine out there, if you find any information that is wrong or if you are questioning a player’s ranking please contact brandon@philsteele.com. I will be back on Friday I with the top 75 overall classes and give you my conference by conference recruiting ratings.

Top Incoming Freshman Kickers/Punters

Top Kicker Classes

1. Auburn-The Tigers return Wes Byrum but may have signed his replacement in Cody Parkey who was ranked the #1 Kicker by ESPN and Rivals. Parkey went 9-12 (75%) with all 3 misses from 49+ yds out as a senior.

2. Fresno St-The Bulldogs lost P Robert Malone who was one of the best punters in the country last year but welcome in Matt Darr who was rated the #1 P in the nation and was a 1st-tm All-American from Max Preps.

3. Michigan-The Wolverines need to find a replacement for Zoltan Mesko who was 1st-tm Big 10 and 2nd-tm All-American (AP) last year. Michigan thinks they have found his replacement in Will Hagerup an Army All-American that avg 42.9 yds on 22 punts and had 7 punts inside the 20 as a high school senior.

4. UCLA-The Bruins have a great tradition of outstanding Kickers including Kai Forbath who won the Lou Groza award as the best place-kicker in the nation last year. This year UCLA welcomes in Kip Smith a Parade All-American and 1st-tm USA Today kicker after hitting all 9 FG attempts as a senior.

5. Tennessee-The Vols signed Michael Palardy a US Army All-American that was 1st-tm All-Florida last year. He had a 49 yd punt avg as a senior and 38/43 of his KOs were touchbacks.

6. Alabama- The Crimson Tide get special mention here because they signed the #7, #16 and #21 Kickers led by Cade Foster who is currently enrolled for spring practice and is expected to be the leading replacement for Leigh Tiffin.

Top 75 Incoming Jucos

Top Juco Classes

1. Nebraska-The Cornhuskers bring in three of the top Juco players this year led by #3 Jemarcus Hardwick an OT who is strong and athletic. #6 Lavonte David is an OLB prospect from Fort Scott CC and has great quickness and #27 Chase Harper is a TE that has good hands, solid speed and is big enough to break tackles down the field.

2. Mississippi-Ole Miss brings in a great class of Jucos led by #1 Randall Mackey a QB that was named National Offensive Juco Player of the Year after throwing for 3,122 yds, rushing for 579, and totaling 32 TDs last year. The Rebels also bring in #14 Wayne Dorsey a DE that has superior pass rushing skills and the height and length you look for in a pure pass rusher.

3. Auburn-The Tigers bring in four top 40 players and are led by #2 Cameron Newton, a former Florida QB that passed for 2833 yds (22 TDs) and had 655 rush yds (16 TD) while leading Blinn College to the JC national title last year. Auburn also signed #19 Roszell Gayden a big OT from the College of the Sequoias in California. The Tigers also bring in #34 Joel Bonomolo and #37 Brandon Mosley.

4. Arizona St-The Sun Devils signed four players that finished in my top 75 led by #9 Brice Schwab a huge OT prospect that excels in pass protection. Arizona St will also welcome #12 George Bell a WR who will be a big weapon in the passing game, with his size and speed.

5. Kansas St-HC Bill Snyder always brings in a good class of Juco players and this year is no different with four players in the top 75. The group is led by #11 Adam Davis a DE from Fort Scott CC and has exceptional quickness off the edge.