From the Road: Top young talent
Advertisement
From the Road GalleryClick MORE: Here to view this Link. | Week 6 Offensive prospectsClick MORE: Here to view this Link. | | Week 6 Defensive prospectsClick MORE: Here to view this Link.
Rivals.com recruiting analysts had the opportunity to scout some of the nation's top prospects in games this past weekend.
Junior OT Seantrel Henderson helped pave the way for St. Paul (Minn.) Cretin-Derham Hall's offense in a 42-12 victory over White Bear Lake (Minn.) High.
Here are some rundowns on the top underclassmen they saw in person, listed alphabetically.
PROSPECT EVALUATIONS: UNDERCLASSMEN
G MICAH BLAKELY (6-3/270), Hampton (Va.) Phoebus
2010 PROSPECT
CONSIDERING: To be determined.
PERFORMANCE: Blakely played guard in a 65-13 win over Gloucester (Va.) High.
STRENGTHS: Blakely has excellent size and agility for a younger player. He gets to the second level well and blocks well in space.
WEAKNESSES: Blakely is raw and needs to add a lot of strength. He doesn't have much football experience. – MIKE FARRELL
S TIM BOYD (5-10/185), Hampton (Va.) Phoebus
2010 PROSPECT
CONSIDERING: To be determined.
PERFORMANCE: Boyd had two tackles in a 65-13 win over Gloucester (Va.) High.
STRENGTHS: Boyd is a physical player with good speed, and he isn't afraid of contact.
WEAKNESSES: He's a bit undersized to be a safety and doesn't have the hips to play cornerback, so he'll need to grow. He needs to work on his awareness in pass defense. – M.F.
WR NIKLOSS BRASSELL (6-1/170), Batesville (Miss.) South Panola
2011 PROSPECT
CONSIDERING: To be determined.
PERFORMANCE: In South Panola's power run-game offense, Brassell provided the Tigers with the one deep threat and explosive option on the outside.
STRENGTHS: Brassell showed good quickness and acceleration with the ball in his hands He catches the ball well and has playmaking ability on special teams as a return man.
WEAKNESSES: Brassell is still underdeveloped physically and extremely skinny. As he gets older and grows into his body, he will be a dangerous threat for South Panola. – BARTON SIMMONS
DE DEVIN CLARK (6-2/245), Batesville (Miss.) South Panola
2010 PROSPECT
CONSIDERING: To be determined
PERFORMANCE: Had a productive night at defensive end and made his biggest impact with a sack and forced fumble late in the fourth quarter against Olive Branch (Miss.) High.
STRENGTHS: Clarke was going up against some much bigger linemen and was effective. He has a good burst and good quickness off of the edge. He plays with a high motor, uses his body well and plays with good leverage.
WEAKNESSES: Clarke doesn't have ideal length at defensive end, but he is athletic enough that end likely will be his position at the next level. – B.S.
OT SHALON COLEMAN (6-7/260), Olive Branch (Miss.) High
2010 PROSPECT
CONSIDERING: To be determined
PERFORMANCE: He spent most of the night at left guard for Olive Branch in its close loss to rival Batesville (Miss.) South Panola.
STRENGTHS: There is tremendous upside for Coleman because he is so long and has such good feet. He moves like a basketball player, and though he lines up at guard for Olive Branch, he could project favorably at tackle with the right physical development.
WEAKNESSES: Coleman got knocked back on a few occasions by stockier, physical South Panola lineman. Because of his size, he needs to work on his pad level and his strength in his base. If he can add weight, Coleman has a lot of potential. – B.S.
RB COLBY GOODWYN (5-8/190), Hampton (Va.) Phoebus
2010 PROSPECT
CONSIDERING: To be determined.
PERFORMANCE: Goodwyn rushed for a touchdown, had an 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown called back and had three tackles and an interception on defense.
STRENGTHS: Goodwyn has impressive speed and quick feet. On a long run and on his kickoff return, he got to the outside and outran players who had the angle on him. On defense, he's fast to the ball and has good ball skills.
WEAKNESSES: Goodwyn has thick legs and a strong lower body, but he's short and not a big target in the passing game. – M.F.
DT EVAN HAILES (6-2/303), Chesapeake (Va.) Oscar Smith
2010 PROSPECT
CONSIDERING: To be determined.
PERFORMANCE: Hailes had one tackle on defense and rushed for a 1-yard touchdown on offense in a 48-7 win over Chesapeake (Va.) Western Branch. He also played left tackle.
STRENGTHS: Hailes has excellent size and has grown a couple of inches since the last time I saw him. He's agile and quick off the ball and is strong against double-teams, holding his ground.
WEAKNESSES: Hailes needs to drop a few pounds and needs to use his size more to penetrate on defense. – M.F.
OT SEANTREL HENDERSON (6-8/301), Saint Paul (Minn.) Cretin-Derham Hall
2010 PROSPECT
CONSIDERING: To be determined.
PERFORMANCE: Helped pave the way for St. Paul (Minn.) Cretin-Derham Hall's offense in a 42-12 victory over White Bear Lake (Minn.) High.
STRENGTHS: Henderson already is at a size that he can compete at the next level. He is extremely mobile and runs better than any lineman I have seen this season. He also has excellent pad level and uses his hands at the point of attack.
WEAKNESSES: The only weakness I could see was that he could be a little more aggressive and nasty. – BARRY EVERY
G DONTRELL HOLMES (6-2/290), Chesapeake (Va.) Oscar Smith
2011 PROSPECT
CONSIDERING: To be determined.
PERFORMANCE: Holmes played right tackle at times in a 48-7 win over Chesapeake (Va.) Western Branch.
STRENGTHS: Holmes didn't play a lot in the game, but when he did he showed good feet and agility. He has good size for such a young prospect.
WEAKNESSES: Holmes is young and raw and needs to add a lot of strength. – M.F.
DE DEVONTE JACKSON (6-3/264), Gloucester (Va.) High
2010 PROSPECT
CONSIDERING: To be determined.
PERFORMANCE: Jackson had three tackles in a 65-13 loss to Hampton (Va.) Phoebus.
STRENGTHS: Jackson has good size and is mobile for a big man. He got good penetration at times.
WEAKNESSES: Jackson is a defensive tackle at the next level, as he's not quick enough off the edge and doesn't stay flat to the line of scrimmage. – M.F.
DT/OT ERIC LAWSON (6-7/315), Olive Branch (Miss.) High
2010 PROSPECT
CONSIDERING: To be determined.
PERFORMANCE: Spent most of his night at defensive tackle, where he played a major role in slowing down Batesville (Miss.) South Panola's rushing attack in Olive Branch's 21-13 loss.
STRENGTHS: Lawson is just a massive, mobile big man. He moves better than someone of his size should, and his body is well-proportioned. Despite playing defensive tackle most of the night, Lawson likely will end up at offensive tackle in college.
WEAKNESSES: Has to play with a better pad level on a more consistent basis. Lawson was disruptive at times but also was out-leveraged on several occasions by smaller South Panola linemen. – B.S.
QB PAUL MORANT (5-11/175), Hampton (Va.) Oscar Smith
2010 PROSPECT
CONSIDERING: To be determined.
PERFORMANCE: Morant, filling in for the injured Tajh Boyd, completed all three of his passes for 91 yards and a touchdown.
STRENGTHS: Morant looked smooth in the second half when he was allowed to run the option and throw the football. He throws an accurate ball with good touch.
WEAKNESSES: Morant lacks experience and he's not allowed to do much in a run-oriented offense. – M.F.
RB NICHOLAS PARKER (6-2/210), Batesville (Miss.) South Panola
2010 PROSPECT
CONSIDERING: To be determined.
PERFORMANCE: Rushed for 180 yards and two touchdowns in leading South Panola to a 21-13 victory over Olive Branch (Miss.) High.
STRENGTHS: Parker is a big, bruising back. He has good feet and reads his blockers well, showing good patience and vision. His agility and size should make him one of the top players in Mississippi for 2010.
WEAKNESSES: Parker is a little bit stiff in space, and though he has good speed, he doesn't have home-run speed. He got caught from behind on one occasion Friday night. – B.S.
OLB RAYSEAN RICHARDSON (6-0/200), Chesapeake (Va.) Oscar Smith
2011 PROSPECT
CONSIDERING: To be determined.
PERFORMANCE: Richardson had three tackles and a quarterback hurry in a 48-7 win over Chesapeake (Va.) Western Branch.
STRENGTHS: Richardson has a good frame for a young linebacker and has long arms. He also has good speed and athletic ability.
WEAKNESSES: Richardson needs to learn how to read and react better and pick up tendencies of the offense. – M.F.
ILB CHAZ ROBINSON (5-11/210), Hampton (Va.) Phoebus
2010 PROSPECT
CONSIDERING: To be determined.
PERFORMANCE: Robinson had six tackles, a forced fumble and a touchdown on a blocked punt in a 65-13 win over Gloucester (Va.) High.
STRENGTHS: Robinson is a huge hitter and always seems to be around the ball. He's good at the point of attack and makes opponents pay with each hit.
WEAKNESSES: Robinson can be a bit over-aggressive at times – he was called for a personal foul – and needs a few more inches and a few more pounds. – M.F.
OT DAMIEN ROBINSON (6-7/320), Olive Branch (Miss.) High
2010 PROSPECT
CONSIDERING: Already holds offers from Alabama, Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
PERFORMANCE: Started at right tackle for Olive Branch while performing spot duty on some crucial plays at defensive tackle in a 21-13 loss to Batesville (Miss.) South Panola.
STRENGTHS: Robinson has tremendous physical gifts. He is a massive guy and has good athleticism. Robinson carries his weight well. He has good feet, and gets out of his stance and upfield with athleticism in the run game.
WEAKNESSES: You would like to see Robinson show a bit more of a nasty streak and dominate every down. – B.S.
DE DaQUAN ROMERO (6-2/205), Hampton (Va.) Phoebus
2011 PROSPECT
CONSIDERING: To be determined.
PERFORMANCE: Romero had three tackles and a quarterback hurry as well as a 26-yard pass reception in a 65-13 win over Gloucester (Va.) High.
STRENGTHS: Romero is a great-looking end prospect with excellent speed and a great first step. He looks much more polished than he should at his age.
WEAKNESSES: Romero tends to take an outside angle too often, and he still needs work on finding the football. – M.F.
QB PHILLIP SIMS (6-2/220), Chesapeake (Va.) Oscar Smith
2010 PROSPECT
CONSIDERING: Claims offers from Alabama, Boston College, Tennessee and Clemson, with interest from many others.
PERFORMANCE: Sims was 9-of-17 for 202 yards and two touchdowns in a 48-7 win over Chesapeake (Va.) Western Branch.
STRENGTHS: Sims has good size and a strong arm, and has a soft touch on the ball. He throws the out pattern with velocity and accuracy. He also has deceptive speed for a big quarterback.
WEAKNESSES: Sims tends to bounce the ball at times when he doesn't stride into his throws. – M.F.
RB ERIC WATSON (5-10/210), Olive Branch (Miss.) High
2010 PROSPECT
CONSIDERING: To be determined.
PERFORMANCE: Started at tailback and free safety for Olive Branch in a 21-13 loss to Batesville (Miss.) South Panola.
STRENGTHS: Watson is a thick, stout back with a powerful lower body and a low center of gravity. He is good between the tackles and showed good speed and balance. Runs with good body lean and strength.
WEAKNESSES: Is a good one-cut-and-go back, but didn't show the wiggle in space to really gash the defense. – B.S.
[rl]