Thursday, August 26, 2010

South Carolina Class of 2012 Watch List

I will go into more detail about individual players as the 2010 season unfolds, but I think the time is right to unveil my watch list for South Carolina's class of 2012. I have a rough ranking, but at this early juncture in the prospects' careers, I think it's a bit premature to rank them numerically. Therefore, this list of thirty is arranged in alphabetical order.

  • Adam Ah Ching, ILB, Greer- Strong ILB who specializes against the run
  • Martin Aiken,DL, Bamberg-Ehrhardt- Expect improvement as he becomes a starter this season
  • Samson Baldwin, WR, JL Mann- Smaller WR who projects in the slot
  • Javontae Brown, DT, Calhoun County*- Compact NT with very good quickness off the ball
  • Quinshad Davis, WR, Gaffney- Early top WR in the state, good size (6'3) and great ball skills
  • Patrick Destefano, OL, Dorman- Fundamentally sound with good size  
  • Preston Durham, LB, Chapman- Top student-athlete is a tackle machine
  • Malik Ford, ATH, Marlboro County*- Undersized but versatile
  • DJ Goodman, RB, Greenwood- very productive back with nice cutting ability
  • Damar Hall, WR, Blythewood- polished WR, probably projects in the slot
  • Blake Hayes, RB, Wade Hampton- productive high school back
  • Tay Hicklin, ATH, South Pointe- Plays QB for South Pointe, but will be a slot WR or CB in college
  • Mark Irick, WR, Calhoun County*- Jump ball specialist with good height and length
  • Shacorey Jeter, ATH, Carolina- Small track star
  • Clyde Johnson, OL, Calhoun County*- Big lineman who probably projects on the interior
  • Oliver Jones, OL, Ninety-Six- Passes the eye-ball test at 6'6 285
  • Tyler Knox, DE, Myrtle Beach- Athletic DE with good first step
  • Shaq Lawson, LB, Daniel- Plays DE for Daniel but projects as an LB in college
  • Javarius Leamon, OL, Woodruff- Great height (6'6), length, and feet
  • C.J. Meredith, TE, TL Hanna- Good receiving skills; most comfortable when flexed out
  • Corey Neely, S, South Pointe- Ballhawk at safety; highly physical
  • Lamichael Pushia, APB, Hemingway- Undersized back with nice play-making ability
  • Gimel President, DE, Wando- Raw DE with nice motor and physical tools
  • Shaq Roland, S/ATH, Lexington- Early pick for top prospect in the state; also a top basketball player
  • Kendric Salley, RB, Williston-Elko- Back with desirable size and feet
  • Jabril Solomon, ATH, Hemingway- Raw athlete with upside; could play S or WR
  • Bryson Washington, ATH, Ninety-Six- Great size at 6'4, 185
  • Shakeem Wharton, RB, Byrnes- Hasn't played much thus far; will see bulk of carries this season
  • Jaquan Wilson, CB, Myrtle Beach- Very strong athlete who projects well at CB
  • Tony Wright, CB, Chester- Corner with good size 
* denotes in-game evaluation on 8/21/09

Monday, August 23, 2010

Marlboro County-Calhoun County Game/Prospect Thoughts

I was in Bennettsville, SC last Saturday night to take in the state's most hyped week zero match up.

Game Thoughts: Facing much tougher competition than normal, Calhoun County was over matched in every facet of the game. Marlboro County was up by three scores at halftime and rolled to a 34-12 victory. Depth issues, turnovers, and several special teams blunders were the main problems that contributed to Calhoun County's loss.  Marlboro County looked better than they did in preseason scrimmages, but it's still evident that they've taken a step back from previous years, especially on offense.

Prospect Thoughts: 

Marlboro County
Lateek Townsend- Townsend's play and behavior was exactly as I expected. This marked the eighth full game I've seen of him, so it's not like there was much I haven't seen. As usual, Townsend did more dancing and talking than actual playing.  He was probably more obnoxious than I've ever seen him, which is concerning. For more of my thoughts on Townsend as a player, scroll down to my rankings below (he's ranked number 12).

Sam Merriman- Merriman's play on Saturday helped him a bit in my eyes. Fresh off a transfer from Cheraw, Merriman finds himself playing out of position at safety for Marlboro County.  Saturday was the first time I've seen Merriman on the same field as Townsend, and it was evident that not only is Merriman bigger than Townsend, he's more instinctive and just a better overall football player at this point. The concern with Merriman is a number of off the field incidents that will more than likely hurt his recruitment. 

Malik Ford (2012 ATH)- Ford is the top 2012 prospect for Marlboro County. He's undersized at both WR and CB, but has shown a knack for making plays. Saturday's game was a mixed bag for Ford, as he had a nice return deep into Calhoun territory, but also had a would-be touchdown pass go off his chest. 

Calhoun County
Shamier Jeffery- I took a leap of faith last week when I was putting together my evaluation of Jeffery. After watching him play live for the first time in over a year, it seems that my gut may have been a bit off on this one. Saturday's game pretty much confirmed Jeffery is strictly a wide receiver on the next level.  While he has a nice arm, he struggled with decision-making and accuracy all night and just looked uncomfortable at QB.  I was also disappointed with his toughness at safety. I'll probably have to re-evaluate my ranking of Jeffery. Is he really better than Tony McNeal and Jerrell Adams? After Saturday, I'm doubtful.

Mark Irick (2012 WR)- Irick helped himself a little. Saturday was the first time I've seen him in person and he looked pretty good physically, as he's about 6'3 and is pretty long. He looked good catching the ball in limited opportunities and had a nice touchdown grab in the 3rd quarter where he caught a fade at its highest point over a Marlboro County defender.  

Javontae Brown (2012 DT)- Facing a larger offensive line than he's used to seeing, Brown didn't miss a beat and played well. Calhoun County's run defense was the bright spot for the Saints, and Brown played a large part in that. He was particularly active on a sequence of plays in the second quarter that saw Calhoun County stop Marlboro County on four consecutive run plays in the redzone, including a fourth and short attempt. 

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

South Carolina Class of 2011 Preseason Top 30, 1-10

I'll be releasing my class of 2011 state rankings over the next few days. I plan to start of with southern states first, and then I'll move on to other areas, national positional rankings, and then the class of 2012 (more than likely in a watch list type of form). As with all rankings, these are fluid and subject to change (many times) between now and signing day. Comments, questions, and criticisms are both welcomed and encouraged. 

1. Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Pointe (Rock Hill)
Not only is Clowney the best prospects in the nation, let alone the state, he's one of the best that I've ever seen.  Clowney has great size and speed (6'6 240 and runs in the 4.5 range), and plays with a motor that is unmatched by any prospect in this recruiting cycle. It's rare to see a prospect with Clowney's immense physical tools play every snap as hard as he does. Due to this, Clowney isn't just a great prospect, he's a great player. Last season he had 144 tackles and 23 sacks. What's even more impressive is the number to turnovers (fumbles, tipped balls that are intercepted) he creates.  For most teams that play South Pointe, it's a victory if Clowney is held to 2 sacks with no turnovers forced. What's even scarier is the rate at which Clowney is improving. He's consistently improving his pass rush, particularly his hands at the line of scrimmage and his pad level (had a tendency to play high at times as a sophomore). If he does everything he's supposed to, Clowney has top 10 pick written all over him.

2. Charone Peake, WR, Dorman (Roebuck) Clemson Verbal
Peake is one the top receivers in the nation and is electric with the ball in his hands. Dorman is a run-dominated offense, so Peake doesn't see a ton of receiving opportunities on 1st and 2nd down. He does however get touches in about every way possible (returns punts and kicks and carries the ball via end-arounds, direct snaps, and hand offs). This really adds to Peake's versatility and has helped him fine-tune his skills as an open-field runner, which is rare to find in a 6'3 receiver at the high school level.  Despite his limited opportunities, Peake has shown immense promise as a pure receiver with ability to separate and nice ball skills when catching the ball in traffic. Peake will need to continue to refine his route-running skills, but should make an early impact in college due to his versatility.

3. Brandon Shell, OT, Goose Creek
Shell is a big tackle with a lot of promise. Although he's not as tall as listed (closer to 6'6 than 6'8), he still has great size for a tackle prospect.  Shell transferred to Goose Creek by way of West Ashley prior to his junior season. Goose Creek is a run-oriented team and as a result, Shell operates primarily as a drive-blocker.  On film, Shell comes hard off the ball, finishes his blocks, and plays with good intensity.  Shell, whose uncle is NFL Hall of Famer Art Shell, has a basketball background, and it shows in his overall athleticism.  After watching him in camp this summer, it's apparent that he's a natural knee-bender.  While Shell hasn't done a whole bunch of pass blocking, he has the tools to be very good in that regard, should he receive the necessary coaching.  Moving forward, Shell needs to improve on a few fundamental things, like hand placement (has a tendency to have his hands too far outside).  Improving his overall strength is also important to his development, but I seriously doubt that will be a problem.

4. Phillip Dukes, DT, Manning
Dukes is an every down DT, who is able to impact a game in a number of ways, which is quite rare on the high school level.  Dukes has a great combination of size and athleticism.  He's 6'3 285 with little fat and has the frame to gain more solid pounds. At a combine this summer Dukes ripped off a 4.95 40 yard dash, which is exceptional for his size. Dukes also stands out on film, and it's his sideline-to-sideline ability that really caught my eye. He also does a nice job of recognizing pass/run situations. Dukes lines up all over the place for Manning, but most likely projects as an attacking 3 technique at the next level. Like a lot of high school defensive linemen, Dukes needs to fine tune his game like playing with better leverage and pad level (has a tendency to be a bit high at times).  He would also be well-served to work on fending off cut blocks, as he gets chopped a few times on film with his knee exposed. 

5. Everett Golson, QB, Myrtle Beach North Carolina Verbal
I've had the opportunity, to watch most of Golson's illustrious high school career unfold. Going into his senior year, he already holds state records for career passing (126 passing touchdowns) and has the chance to rewrite the state record book and get close to Chris Leak-like stats with a great senior season. As a junior, he had one of the better years nationally for any QB, passing for 47 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions. Being a smaller quarterback (between 5'11 and 6'0) with such prolific numbers, many on the outside try to force him into stereotypes like "the system QB who puts up huge numbers" or the "athlete playing quarterback" among others. It's easy to see how these thoughts come up, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're true. In fact I say that they aren't. Sure, he's well-coached and is a good athlete (holds a Clemson offer in basketball), but his arm strength, the way he spins the ball, and his ability to make every throw match up with the best quarterbacks in the nation. As far as raw skill-sets go, he's among the very best. Moving forward, Golson really needs to gain solid mass in order to take hits at the next level. It will also be interesting to see how he handles being a back-up in his first year or two considering he's played, and starred, ever since he stepped foot in high school. 

6. Dexter Staley, ATH, Williston-Elko (Williston)
Staley is the most versatile prospect in the state.  He's 6'2 215 and plays everywhere for Williston-Elko, excelling at running back, wide receiver, and outside linebacker.  Last season, he scored 31 touchdowns in about every which way possible, leading Williston-Elko to a class A state title. On film, Staley is an absolute man among boys. He's a violent and punishing runner at RB and has great ball skills and in-air ability as a WR. Despite this, he's most likely an OLB at the next level due to his size, aggressive nature, and burst off the line. He's still raw at the position and is mainly used in pass-rush situations, but his potential is limitless. Staley's academic situation is, by far, his largest hurdle.  You won't see Staley ranked this high by anyone else, due to the high likelihood that he'll be forced to attend junior college. I have him ranked this high for a few reasons. First off, I think there is a drop off from my top 6 players to the players that are ranked 7-10. It's by no means considerable, I just feel that Staley's definitely a top 6 player. Additionally, there's a lot of inconsistency on the weight of academic issues when ranking prospects. Whether their situations are unknown or ignored, it's inconsistent (see 2009 FSU signee Willie Downs as an example). It will probably remain inconsistent until there's more transparency as far as academic situations are concerned. Regardless, Staley's a top 100 type talent and reminds me of Lawrence Timmons when he was coming out of Wilson High School in 2004.

7. Shon Carson, RB, Lake City
Carson is a thick, compact runner (5'8 185).  I've seen Carson play in person a number of times (in what by chance turned out to be statistically the worst games of his career) and what jumped out to me is his combination of productivity and durability.  He's a very patient runner who is adept at hiding behind the offensive line and accelerating once he finds his hole. This style of running has proven to be highly successful as Carson has already run for over 5,000 career yards.  On film, Carson shows great balance and a very nice power base (very strong in the weight room), thus making him difficult to tackle.  Carson also has very nice speed (has clocked multiple sub-4.4 40's) and is able to pull away from defenses on a consistent basis. As Carson progresses into college he needs to improve on hitting the hole harder (can be overly patient at times) and his cutting ability (not bad by any means, but can be a little soft in the ankles at times). Baseball could play a factor in his recruitment as he is a standout on the diamond and could be drafted anywhere from the 6th to potentially the 2nd round.

8. Shamier Jeffery, ATH/WR, Calhoun County (St. Matthews)
Over the past year, Jeffery has been somewhat enigmatic as far as recruiting is concerned.  Coming off a hyped sophomore campaign, Jeffery switched to QB for Calhoun County midway through the season and hasn't made many camp stops in the summer besides 7-on-7's with his team (playing at QB). This is somewhat atypical for players from Calhoun County, as in the past they've been all over the camp circuit.  As a result, in the past year, I really haven't had too much of a chance to evaluate Jeffery against top competition, while playing at his projected position, wide receiver.  The majority of Jeffery's film from his junior season is at QB. While he does show some promise with good athleticism and a capable arm, he looks to be raw as a QB at this point and only shows the ability to make fade passes to the corner of the endzone on a consistent basis.  On film at WR, he shows the ability to go up and get the ball at it's highest point and is strong in the air. It's difficult to get a great read on his speed due to the aforementioned jump-ball propensity of the Calhoun offense. Regardless, it's safe to say he's a step faster than his brother (South Carolina WR Alshon Jeffery), but is also shorter at 6'2. I'm anxious to catch Jeffery in person this season to see how he's progressed. 

9. Jerrell Adams, ATH, Scott's Branch (Summerton)
Adams is somewhat of a late riser.  He plays QB and LB in a run-dominated scheme that found him handing off on nearly every play.  Due to this, Adams has had very little opportunity to show playmaking ability, at least offensively. He's raw, but he has very nice tools to work with (6'4.5, 215 and runs in the 4.6 range).  Up to this point, Adams has showcased most of his athleticism on the basketball court for Scott's Branch and on the AAU circuit. There's some uncertainty about his future position (expressed early preference for defense, but since backed off) so he's best characterized as a jumbo athlete (TE/DE) at this point. Regardless, his size/speed combo can't be ignored and while he will need to gain weight either way, Adams has a lot of upside.

10. Tony McNeal, QB, Chester Clemson Verbal
As far as high school careers and attention goes, McNeal has operated in the shadows of Golson and Worley.  This, in part, is due to an ACL tear that sidelined him for the majority of his junior season. McNeal has rebounded strongly, however, and has come back taller and with added weight (about 6'1 180ish). He's always had a strong arm and nice feel for the game.  McNeal showcased his talents on national television in a star-studded all-star 7-on-7 event that found him as one of the top performers of the entire tournament.  I'm still curious to see how he moves on his knee during his senior season, but all indications are that it shouldn't pose a problem.  Prior to the injury, he wasn't a guy that was going to blow by anyone, but was definitely a capable runner. McNeal is a very nice fit for Clemson's offense and reminds me a lot of current Tiger QB Kyle Parker, who like McNeal was initially underrated nationally as a QB.


Friday, August 13, 2010

South Carolina Class of 2011 Preseason Top 30, 11-20

I'll be releasing my class of 2011 state rankings over the next few days. I plan to start of with southern states first, and then I'll move on to other areas, national positional rankings, and then the class of 2012 (more than likely in a watch list type of form). As with all rankings, these are fluid and subject to change (many times) between now and signing day. Comments, questions, and criticisms are both welcomed and encouraged. 

11. Dominique Cooper, ATH, Darlington
Cooper is an intriguing prospect and has gone relatively unnoticed (only a few offers) at Darlington. On film Cooper is a top 3 RB in the state, showing great feet, change of direction and vision in the open field. Despite this, Cooper's best long term position could be on the defensive side of the ball as either an outside linebacker or safety (OLB being more likely). Serving as his team's primary ball carrier, Cooper was somewhat limited defensively (as far as snaps played), but he was still able to make a few plays and show his substantial potential on that side of the ball.

12. Lateek Townsend, OLB, Marlboro County (Bennettsville)
Lateek Townsend is a perplexing prospect for me. I've seen him play seven times (twice in person, five on film). Townsend's a guy that plays with a lot of bravado (I've actually seen him break out into a full-on dance pre-snap) and has a carte blanche from the Marlboro County staff to blitz/drop into coverage as he sees fit. The result is an impressive highlight tape of Townsend busting through the line on well-timed blitzes and stroking down ball carriers from sideline to sideline. Going purely off his highlight tape, Townsend is a top ten player in this class. But having seen him play as much as I have (more than anyone else ranking him) it's easy to notice that he's missing basic fundamentals that go into playing linebacker such as form tackling ability (misses way too many tackles for a top LB prospect) and ability to read and react (rarely if ever does this). The result is Townsend disappearing for long stretches.  While I love his motor and sideline-to-sideline ability, Townsend is going to need to add a good bit of discipline and fundamentals to his game at the next level to before he becomes the player that he should be. 

13. Shaq Anthony, OL, Wren (Piedmont) Clemson Verbal
Anthony is an athletic lineman with nice wingspan and feet. At 6'4, he has ample height for any position along the line, but really needs to get stronger at the point of attack. On film, Anthony's much more comfortable with his pass pro than he is drive-blocking, which shows that he'll at least start out at tackle early on.  Anthony isn't the type of guy that's going to step in and have an immediate impact (few linemen do) and will benefit greatly from a redshirt year and multiple offseasons in a college strength and conditioning program. He's more of the type that will be productive as an upperclassman. Anthony's father, Vernie, played at Clemson.

14. Roderick Byers, DL, Northwestern (Rock Hill)
Byers plays right beside Gerald Dixon, Jr. for Northwestern, forming one of the top DL duos in the state. Unlike Dixon, Byers will more than likely switch positions in college, making a move inside.  He already has nice size at 6'3, 260, and more than enough athleticism to be a penetrating 3-technique at the next level.  Byers is far from a finished product though, and needs to work on coming off the ball harder and his overall technique (hands, moves, etc.).  But the upside is definitely there and Byers fits in nicely with a very good DL crop for this class.

15. Justin Worley, QB, Northwestern (Rock Hill) Tennessee Verbal
Worley is a pocket passer who gets ample opportunities in Northwestern's pass-heavy attack (threw about 500 passes last year). He's a rhythm passer with a somewhat quirky (but not necessarily slow) release.  Worley has prototypical height for a pocket passer at 6'5 and needs to continue to fill out, which should help him increase his arm strength. I've seen him play twice in person and while he's not a dynamic playmaker, I like his command of the offense (smart and good leader) and his ability to distribute the ball. I also like his accuracy and touch, particularly on passes to his right.  The two biggest areas that he needs to improve on are mobility in the pocket (has improved a bit) and ability to drive the ball down the field (specifically the middle of the field). Overall, Worley is a solid pro-style QB prospect who fits in well with what Tennessee is trying to do offensively. 

16. Pat Martin, SS/OLB, JL Mann (Greenville) Tennessee Verbal
Martin is a physical DB who specializes in run support. He's competitive and plays with a nice motor. On film he shows that he's both a solid form tackler and hitter. Martin is passable in coverage, although it's far from his strong suit. At 5'11 and in the 200 range, he's somewhat bulky and and a tad stiff so he isn't the type you're going to stick on quick slot receivers. He should be okay with most running backs and tight ends though. With his skill set and current size, its not out of reason that Martin will grow into an OLB down the line. 

17. Ronnie Martin, CB, Spartanburg South Carolina Verbal
Martin was somewhat of a late riser as far as recruiting is concerned. Among top prospects in this class, he's right there with Shon Carson for fastest in a straight line (similar testing numbers, but Martin plays faster).  Martin has good height for a CB at 5'11, but is only a bit over 160 right now, so he'll need to add considerable bulk over the next few years. I had the opportunity to watch Martin and Spartanburg at a 7-on-7 tournament and he didn't do much to stand out, good or bad. Regardless, he's a good CB prospect due to his good height and great speed. 

18. Ryan Norton, OL, Mauldin Clemson Verbal
Norton is the top interior offensive lineman for this class.  He's a high school center, which is somewhat rare for OL prospects. This is positive in that he has a leg up on many other OC prospects since he's already proven to be a proficient snapper. At 6'3 and in the 270 range, Norton has capable size and good strength numbers. On film, he shows nice feet, but could stand to be a bit quicker. As is the case with many OL recruits, I'm looking for Norton to become more of dominant force in his senior year and improve on really finishing his blocks. If he does, he could move up a few spots in future rankings. 

19. Brandon Wilds, RB, Blythewood South Carolina Verbal
Wilds is a big back and is already 6'0 220+, so he'll probably be a short-yardage specialist and/or a fullback in college. He's a very productive high school back, rushing for around 1500 yards his junior year.  I had a chance to see Wilds in person this summer, and he appeared to be much thicker in his lower body than on film.  He's a guy that does many things well, but doesn't really excel at one thing. Wilds should be a solid situational back at the next level. 

20. Gerald Dixon, Jr., DT, Northwestern (Rock Hill)
Dixon, Jr., the brother of South Pointe DL Gerald Dixon, and son of former Gamecock Gerald Dixon, Sr., has really benefited from a solid summer in the weightroom.  He's physically matured since the end of the season.  This transformation was on display at a combine this summer when Dixon, Jr. measured in at a solid 6'2.5, 280. He also put up very nice numbers, benching 185 22 times, reeling off 40's of 5.0 and 5.09 and 20 yard pro-shuttle times in the 4.6 range. Dixon could move up if he shows similar improvement on the field.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

South Carolina Class of 2011 Preseason Top 30, 21-30

21. Ralph Cooper, ILB, Fairfield Central (Winnsboro)
Cooper is a solid, blue-collar LB. He has capable size at 6'0, 225, and above-average testing numbers consistently running 40's in the 4.6-4.7 range and sub 4.3 times in the 20-yard pro-shuttle. While Cooper isn't going to wow anyone with bone-jarring hits on his highlight tape, he's very consistent, particularly against the run.  I really like his ability to read his keys and react accordingly (often an overlooked trait, but albeit very important). Cooper will be a nice grab for a school looking for a run-stuffing ILB.


22. Mike Rose, DE/OLB, Hillcrest (Simpsonville)
Rose is one of the more intriguing prospects in this class. He has an outstanding combination of size and speed at 6'3, 210 with the ability to run in the 4.5 range (has run 22.1 200m in track).  Rose is raw on film (needs to get stronger at the point of contact and can be a bit stiff in the hips) and plays for a struggling program, but I still like his upside. His speed is evident running sideline to sideline and as a FB on offense (broke a few long runs). It might take Rose a while to develop once he gets to college, but he's a high ceiling guy. 


23. Gerald Dixon, DL, South Pointe (Rock Hill)
Dixon is the brother of Gerald Dixon Jr. (of Northwestern HS) and DL cohort of Jadeveon Clowney, the nation's top prospect. His father, Gerald Dixon, Sr., starred at the University of South Carolina in the early 90's, before enjoying a productive nine year career in the NFL. Originally seen as more of a tweener at 6'2, this Gerald Dixon, like his brother, has put on a good bit of size in the last few months (moving from 245 to 260) making a move inside at the college level more likely. Like most defensive players at South Pointe, Dixon's motor really stands out on film. He's all over the field, and is particularly effective on special teams.


24. DeShaun Williams, NT, Daniel (Central) Clemson Verbal
Williams is a space-eater at defensive tackle, who will more than likely find himself playing over the center for the Tigers. He's strong at the point of attack and is by all accounts a hard worker. Williams has grown a bit (up to 6'1, 290) and has done a nice job moving around some bad body weight. Even with these improvements, he still lacks the athleticism and quickness of other interior defensive linemen in this class. 


25. Loranzo Hammonds, ATH, North Augusta
Hammonds is a bit of an unknown and operates at North Augusta without a whole lot of fanfare. Regardless, this guy is a player, and perhaps the biggest sleeper in the state. Last season, Hammonds was one of the more productive players in the state passing for 2,315 yards and 31 touchdowns with only 4 interceptions while rushing for 1,016 yards and 13 touchdowns. On film, Hammonds shows play-making ability, particularly with his feet, flashing nice vision and toughness. Hammonds made news a few weeks ago after he was cuffed during a traffic stop, so that's a situation to watch, particularly if it somehow affects his senior year. It seemed somewhat minor to me though, but we'll see.


26.  Zeph Grimes, DB, Bamberg-Ehrhardt (Bamberg) Illinois Verbal
Grimes is a shorter DB (5'9-5'10 range) but has done a good job gaining weight (up to about 200) in the past year.  On film, Grimes flashes desirable tackling ability (particularly in the open field), is adept at blitzing off the edge, and plays with the kind of fire you want from your players. It's somewhat difficult to get a read on Grimes's coverage abilities, as he primarily plays in the box for Bamberg-Ehrhardt. If he proves to be equally as good in coverage as he is in run support, Grimes could be in for a solid bump.


27. Desmond Floyd, DE, Union County (Union) Wake Forest Verbal
Floyd has great height (6'5.5) and length. On film he effectively uses his reach to corral ball carriers in the backfield. I originally had Floyd much higher, but after seeing him in person this summer, it became evident that he needs to reshape his body a good bit, which is somewhat concerning considering he's only around 230 right now.  


28. Donte Sumpter, WR, Myrtle Beach East Carolina Verbal
What Sumpter lacks in physical tools (about 5'10 170) he makes up for with smarts and outstanding route running. On film, Sumpter proves to be the best route runner in the state, by a fair margin. Using an arsenal of double and even triple moves, Sumpter is very difficult to defend, particularly against man schemes. He gets in and out of his breaks effectively and consistently gets separation, while also being tough after the catch. Sumpter had a very productive junior season as Everett Golson's top target, hauling in 75 catches for 1,056 yards and 14 touchdowns. He's a perfect fit for East Carolina's new Air-Raid offense.


29. Glenn Hilliard, CB, TL Hanna (Anderson) East Carolina Verbal
Hilliard was an unknown entering the spring, but has benefited from solid showings on the summer camp circuit. He doesn't appear to be as big as he's listed (more like 5'10 170 than 6'0 180), but on film, Hilliard has a smooth backpedal and shows very nice anticipation and ability to make plays on the ball. He should be a very solid CB for the Pirates.


30. De'Edward Burris, ATH, Gaffney
Burris, like Hammonds above, is an example of the case where high schools put one of their better athletes back at QB, despite it not being his ideal college position. Burris has been productive for one of the state's biggest programs and in one of the state's toughest regions. He primarily projects as a slot WR or DB, although I could see him playing QB for some FCS programs. BUrris doesn't have outstanding size (5'11 170), but he has nice shake and quickness. In addition to Burris, Gaffney has two very promising underclassmen in 2012 WR Quinshad Davis and 2013 DL Jaylen Miller.


Next Five:
Robert Smith, DB, Woodland (Dorchester) Clemson Verbal
B.J. Goodson, LB, Lamar
Sam Merriman, LB, Marlboro County (Bennettsville)
Julius Pendergrass, APB, Chester
Hakeem Flowers, WR, Wade Hampton (Greenville)

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Let's get it started

Some of my friends told me I should start blogging, so I'm giving it a shot. With that, welcome to my new blog...I'll be posting an assortment of thoughts with a focus on football recruiting.