Army Bowl: More next level comparisons
RELATED: Army Bowl: Next level comparisons
SAN ANTONIO -- The U.S. Army All-American Bowl week is wrapping up with the game being played on Saturday and after multiple practice sessions there is no better time for more player comparisons:
WR DeKaylin Metcalf, Oxford, Miss.
Comparison: Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans, a three-star athlete from Galveston (Texas) Ball who played at Texas A&M.
Overview: Metcalf is a thicker version of Evans at the same stage since the Ole Miss commit is about 30 pounds heavier than Evans was in high school but the on-field similarities are striking. Both fought the ball at this level but their size stands out, they’re huge targets on the outside and they can stretch the field. Metcalf has struggled catching the ball this week but it’s not something he dealt with over the summer.
CB Jack Jones, Long Beach (Calif.) Poly
Comparison: Michigan cornerback Jourdan Lewis, a four-star who was rated as the No. 10 prospect at his position out of Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech in the 2013 class.
Overview: Jones is undersized but pesky, tough and super competitive just like Lewis, who had 20 pass deflections this season. The Long Beach Poly standout has tremendous instincts, breaks on the ball and thrives against the top receiver because Jones wants to shut everybody down. This week he has done just that. Lewis and Jones might be smaller than some cornerbacks but they’re tough and want to prove they’re the best every time on the field.
QB Shea Patterson, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy
Comparison: Tyrod Taylor, a five-star quarterback in the 2007 class out of Hampton, Va., who played at Virginia Tech and now starts for the Buffalo Bills.
Overview: The ball pops off Patterson’s hand so quickly and that was what Taylor showed during his entire career, this ability to move around the pocket and then fire the ball down the field to receivers. Taylor wasn’t much of a runner unless necessary and that’s the way Patterson plays, both are run-pass threats but both preferred being in the pocket and hitting receivers all over the field.
OT Landon Young, Lexington (La.) Lafayette
Comparison: Stanford offensive tackle Kyle Murphy, a five-star and the third-best prospect at his position in the 2012 class out of San Clemente, Calif.
Overview: Young is not a super powerful offensive tackle and Murphy had a similar style out of high school where both have tremendous feet and dominate their opponents with technique. The good news is that Murphy went to Stanford and became that physical force and that’s what we think Young can grow into when he gets to Kentucky -- a complete mauler who can control his side of the offensive line.
WR Trevon Sidney, La Puente (Calif.) Bishop Amat
Comparison: Baylor receiver KD Cannon, who was rated as the sixth-best receiver and No. 34 overall in the 2014 class.
Overview: Cannon is a fast, electric wide receiver who can take short passes, dodge defenders and move the ball downfield quickly. It is the same way with Sidney, an undersized receiver with great hands who is nearly impossible to defend in one-on-one situations in the open field. They are both small targets but if the ball is delivered well Cannon and Sidney can move it down the field quickly.