The McNabb Report: Colleges Lining Up '10 Commitments

David McNabb writes on recruiting and high school sports every Wednesday on VYPE.com: By David McNabb Colleges Lining Up Class of 2010 Recruits The recruiting cycle has found Denton Ryan Garrett Gramling. The 6-6, 305-pounder has bubbled to the top of interest from major colleges as the recruiting process shifts from the Class of 2009 to Gramling's Class of 2010. The Class of 2009 will be signed and formalized Feb. 4 but the line is forming to the right to set up all-important junior days in late January and February for top prospects. Gramling is one of several North Texas offensive linemen getting ranked quickly on rivals.com state sites such as theoldcoach.com for Texas. Pilot Point junior Cam Feldt already has committed to Arkansas for 2010. Lake Dallas' Daryl Williams had a strong showing at the U.S. Army All-American combine in San Antonio and likely could get early offers from Texas and Oklahoma. Rockwall-Heath center Austin Woods is another highly regarded line prospect. Colleges could have contact right before Christmas but then there was an NCAA-mandated dead period through the holidays through Jan. 6. It was common to run into Baylor coach Art Briles at Cedar Hill last week or Rice coach David Bailiff at Parish Episcopal. Gramling had received mild interest before recruiting tempo picked up just before Christmas with Texas A&M, Baylor, Arizona joining his offer list which includes Texas Tech and Arkansas. "I think I'm going to go to a Baylor junior day coming up," he said. "I've seen Baylor's, Tech's, A&M's, Arkansas' and Oklahoma's campuses before." Gramling with throw the shot put for Ryan in track while working out in the off-season conditioning program. Ryan coach Joey Florence is opting for an extra week of August practices rather than spring practices. Gramling and Ryan quarterback Scotty Young will still get plenty of visitors from college coaches who stop by high schools in the spring for more evaluation and background information. Top 2010 North Texas Offensive Linemen to Watch (alphabetical) Chris Adcock Dallas Christian Payton Adams Farmersville Cam Feldt Pilot Point Dalvin Glass Carter Garrett Gramling Denton Ryan Detterious Jackson Madison Luke Joeckel Arlington Daniel Morales Newman-Smith Adam Shead Cedar Hill Michael Thompson Farmersville Austin Warren Kaufman Evan Washington Desoto Chase White Plano West Daryl Williams Lake Dallas Michael Wolverton Wakeland Austin Woods Rockwall Heath North Texas Players Join Harvard Crew Lake Highlands defensive end Reid McCann and Colleyville Heritage linebacker Bobby Schneider have committed to Harvard. Ivy League schools don't technically offer national-letter-of-intents because of differing school admission prospects, but nearly all Ivies recruit North Texas for football players. "I loved everything about Harvard," McCann said. "And I couldn't turn down the opportunity to go the number one school in the world and play for a championship winning football team. " McCann helped Lake Highlands to an undefeated district title. The Wildcats went 10-3 and advanced to the third round of the Class 5A state playoffs. 10-3, advanced to third round in 5A Division II. McCann must have really liked Harvard because he committed after a January visit. He also visited Princeton but cancelled future plans to visit Yale and Iowa State. Schneider was on the same visit with McCann and like the Harvard campus life so close to city life in Boston. Schneider said his biggest question was combing the time to play football with Harvard academics. "Once I got up there and talked to some of the players I realized it's doable," Schneider told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Playing for Harvard this year were lineman John Paris of Jesuit, defensive back Collin Zych of Plano East and defensive end Ryan Burkhead of Plano. Commitment Switches It was all the way back in June when South Grand Prairie receiver DeWayne Peace made his commitment to Michigan. Then after some hesitancy he reaffirmed his commitment just a month ago. However, Peace has now cut ties with the Wolverines, "To tell you the truth, I wanted to play wide receiver," Peace said. "I told the Michigan coaches that I wanted to play receiver. At the beginning of my commitment they said I could play cornerback or receiver. Then as time went on, I went on my visit and told them I just wanted to play receiver and if I could only play corner then I would look for another school to go to. They told me that it was fine and I could play receiver. Then something came up where they didn't land enough corners so that is where they wanted me." He's rebuilding a wish list of schools with Kansas at the top of the list. SGP defensive end Randall Dent has committed to Kansas. Peace also is looking at Colorado State, Arizona and TCU. Wichita Falls Rider wide receiver Eric Ward has changed his commitment to Texas Tech after originally committing to Oklahoma. The multi-purpose Ward likely has a better chance playing receiver for Tech. Oklahoma might have moved the 5-11, 190-pounder to defensive back. Rider quarterback Shavodrick Beaver also switched his commitment to Tulsa from Michigan. Royse City offensive lineman Brock Wempa has de-committed from Iowa State _ largely with the school's coaching change. UTEP, Tulsa, Florida State, Kansas State, Marshall, Arizona and Louisiana Tech are showing the most interest. Recruiting Updates Carter running back Anthony Miller is picking up interest after seeming close to a Colorado State commitment. Purdue and Texas Tech has expressed interest without a formal offer yet. Miller holds offers from Colorado State, Oklahoma State, Louisiana Tech, UTEP and Tulsa. Flower Mound cornerback/wide receiver Collin Ashley is hoping to get an offer from newly named Kansas State coach Bill Snyder, who has taken over the Wildcats after retiring after the '05 season. Ashley caught 71 passes for 955 yards and 17 touchdowns for the Jags and fits a small, versatile, speedy returner, slotback that Snyder has had success developing.