It's been noted pretty widely across this site

and the internet that the Class of 2008 in the Tidewater area is both a deep and impressive list of prospects

with some estimating as many as forty athletes

drawing DI

scholarships. The group has star power at the top (E.J. Manuel and Vinston

Painter rank among the Top 100 Prospects in the nation according to Rivals.com),

depth at the skill positions (three DI wide receivers at Oscar Smith High School

alone) and defensive standouts (Lyndell Gibson and Chris Johnson).

Looking one year down the road, the Class of 2009

should bring plenty of attention and recruiters to the Tidewater area as well.   

Taking a look at thirty of them by breaking

them into three groups of ten, our three groups are labeled:

The Proven Stars

The Rising Stars (or, kids who are headed for a breakout season)

The Emerging Stars (or, kids who showing flashes of stardom)

One

of the proven stars is  Kevin

Newsome, Western Branch - The second team Southeastern District

quarterback, Newsome has great size, outstanding combine numbers and will be

ranked one of the top three quarterbacks in the state next season. A lifelong

fan of Virginia Tech, they are considered his early leaders.  

The junior is expected to be one of the top prospects in the Class of 2009 and

one look at his game will tell you why.  He's got tremendous size and great

athleticism to start and he is quite accurate on short to intermediate passes.   

Want to find out about the other nine 'proven

stars' from the Eastern Region?  Click