Look Ahead: Huge game in Maryland
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Rivals.com analysts are canvassing the country again this week to check out the top talent in person. Here's where they'll be and where their attention - prospects listed alphabetically - will be focused.
Analyst: Chris Nee
Game: Homestead (Fla.) at Miami (Fla.) Southridge, Thursday
Top Prospects:
Chavis Akins Homestead, 6-4/321, DT
Akins was battling a knee injury during the summer that caused his weight to balloon a bit. Has he gotten himself back in shape nearing the midway point of his senior season?
Keith Baxter Homestead, 5-11/180, DB
Baxter was slowed by an injury over the summer and wasn't able to compete at camps. He is now healthy and back in action. The Marshall commitment is very strong in the upper body but is working to improve his footwork off the line of scrimmage. He is likely a cornerback at the next level, but could also play safety, as a rover.
James Burgess Jr. Homestead, 6-1/215, LB, 2012 prospect
Burgess is the son of former Miami Hurricane, James Burgess. Burgess had previously played at South Dade before transferring to Homestead. For the Broncos, he is playing linebacker and running back. The junior has good size and speed, but most of all is able to fill up a stat sheet on both sides of the ball. He will likely be a linebacker at the collegiate level.
Holliman is a talented safety who doesn't have all the measurables but has a knack for making plays using his instincts. He is having a strong senior year and continues to see schools increasing their interest, but at this time he is committed to Ole Miss.
Johnson is a natural cornerback who doesn't possess great size or incredible speed, but utilizes the athleticism he does possess to position himself to make plays on the ball. Johnson isn't scared to be aggressive with a wide receiver in coverage. He plans to take his talents to Ole Miss next season.
Tyler Vickers Southridge, 6-4/197, TE, 2012 prospect
Vickers has a good frame and possesses good hands which allow him to be a threat at the tight end position. As he continues to work to get bigger and improve on his speed, he is waiting for more colleges to show him attention throughout his junior year.
Williams is an extremely slender defensive end who makes plays by simply using a quick first step to get around offensive linemen. With a lack of weight, he struggles when contact is made with a blocker. Has he continued to add size and can he do more than simply use his speed off the edge?
Quick Kicks:
Southridge has produced a number of standout players over the last 20-plus years, including former NFL offensive lineman Steve Everitt, and current NFL running back Kevin Smith of the Detroit Lions. Homestead has had recent success producing linebacker Darrin Kitchens, who is at Florida, and linebacker Marcus Robinson, who is at Miami, among others.
Analyst: Brian Perroni
Game:Wichita Falls (Texas) Rider at Denton (Texas) Ryan, Thursday
Prospects:
De La Torre highlightsClick ALEX DE LA TORRE Denton Ryan, 6-0/223, ILB, 2012 prospect Here
Ryan has been known as one of the best offensive teams in Texas over the past few years but it is defense that is pacing the Raiders this year. De La Torre is a big reason why as he is a big and fast body in the middle. He will see plenty of offers come his way soon.
Edwards highlightsClick MARIO EDWARDS Denton Ryan, 6-4/250, SDE, 2012 prospect Here
Edwards is the son of the former Florida State and Dallas Cowboy defender of the same name. A big and physical defender, he also excels against the pass rush. One of the top junior prospects in the state of Texas, the transfer from Prosper is a similar player to five-star class of 2010 defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat.
Richmond highlightsClick JORDAN RICHMOND Denton Ryan, 6-1/220, OLB, 2012 prospect Here
Richmond is an active defender on the outside. He is very good against both the run and the pass. He doesn't get as much press as his fellow defensive standouts but he makes a ton of plays.
Quick Kicks:
This game has traditionally been one that decides the district title, but Rider has not been the same program since losing such players as Shavodrick Beaver, Jurell Thompson and Eric Ward. Ryan lost a ton of firepower this season as record-breaking QB Scotty Young graduated and is now at Texas Tech. Ryan's defensive front seven has led it to a 5-0 record in dominating fashion.
Analyst: Barry Every
Game:Seguin (Texas) vs. Cibolo (Texas) Steele, in Schertz, Texas, Thursday
Top prospects:
Does he have what it takes to play early for Oklahoma. Could he cross-train and also play strongside defensive end at the next level?
Is he the top running back prospect in the country, and what are the odds he impacts Texas the instant he steps on campus?
How does he stack up against last year's stellar offensive line signing class for Texas A&M?
Is he the true leader of the defense, and can he play more than inside linebacker at the next level?
Quick Kicks:
This is the beginning of league play for both high schools. Seguin has struggled since its opening-season victory over Uvalde (Texas), coming in at 1-4 under first-year head coach Wayne Walker. … Steele coach Mike Jinks was 30-6 over the last three years in 4A, but now the real test begins as it starts District 25-5A play with a 3-2 non conference record.
Analyst: Chris Nee
Game: Delray Beach (Fla.) Atlantic at Lake Worth (Fla.) Park Vista, Friday
Top Prospects:
Silmore Dallaway Park Vista, 6-0/215, LB, 2012 prospect
Dallaway is an athletic junior with decent speed. He continues to add muscle to his frame. He is an effective tackler who is capable of covering a lot of field as a linebacker. Already drawing early college interest.
Maddy is a versatile defensive lineman capable of playing inside or outside for Atlantic, but he will likely add more weight at Marshall and remain on the interior of the defensive line. Maddy does an effective job clogging up the middle and driving with his legs to create issues in the middle.
One of the best running backs in Florida in 2010, Mason is putting up very good stats on the ground as a senior. The four-star running back has found the end zone 10 times as a senior, and it doesn't appear he is going to slow down at any point. His offer list continues to expand with Penn State joining the chase. Mason has good size to go along with the ability to break away from defenders with his speed.
Matilus is put together at 6-foot-1, 218 pounds and is the leader of the Atlantic defense. He has effective speed in pursuit and when he reaches the intended target, he punishes them by delivering big hits. He is the engine for the Atlantic defense. He is taking his services to Minnesota next season.
The South Carolina offensive line commitment saw his recruitment increase with a strong spring. He continues to add good weight to his 6-foot-6 frame. Matulis plays with a chip on his shoulder on every snap and is aggressive at locking on and driving defenders. His ability to manhandle defensive linemen is due in part to strong numbers in the weight room. Possesses long arms and a good frame to continue to grow at the next level.
Preble has a good frame and very sound technique on the offensive line. He uses his hands effectively and plays to the echo of the whistle. He is a major cog in the offensive ground attack utilized by Park Vista. Preble will likely end up an offensive guard for Wake Forest.
Matt Rodriguez, Park Vista, 6-4/220, TE
Rodriguez transferred from Summit Christian this past offseason and gives the Park Vista offense another effective blocker who can also be a weapon down the field in the passing attack. Rodriguez has good size and athleticism at tight end and is an effective blocker and receiver. He had a UCF offer upon transferring to Park Vista and a strong senior season should help him see increased interest.
Turner is an athletic wide receiver who could be a solid pick-up for a smaller school or maybe sneak his way into a bigger Division I program. He possesses good speed running in the 4.5 range but lacks size, weighing just 165 pounds. Turner exhibits soft hands and a willingness to trust them in making catches.
Quick Kicks:
In recent years, Atlantic has produced Virginia Tech standout, defensive back Jayron Hosley, Ohio State wide receiver James Louis and Ole Miss wide receiver Quadarias Mireles, among others. … Last week, without the services of Preble or Matulis, Park Vista rushed for 439 yards in a victory over Palm Beach Central. Mason had 292 of those rushing yards.
Analyst: Mike Farrell
Game: Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha Catholic at Olney (Md.) Good Counsel, Friday
Top Prospects:
Brown has early offers from Boston College, Maryland, Pittsburgh, West Virginia and others, and could see time playing both ways. Is he a running back or a safety at the next level? On offense does he have breakaway speed? Brown is a physical back but how will he do against a very stout defensive front for DeMatha?
Stefon Colbert Good Counsel, 6-2/185, DB, 2013 prospect
Colbert is young but has plenty of potential and will get a lot of D-1 looks. How will he do in this major test against arguably the best team he will face in his entire career? Is he a strong safety or can he play free and how quickly does he close on the ball and come up in run support?
Dan Collura DeMatha, 6-5/259, OL, 2012 prospect
Collura, the younger brother of Pitt commitment Sam Collura, has a good frame for an offensive lineman but how far away is he from filling it out? How much of a push can he get in the run game and will he follow his brother to Pitt if he gets the offer?
Sam Collura DeMatha, 6-3/250, TE
Collura is committed to Pitt, a school with a good recent tradition of pass catchers at the position. But is he a threat in the passing game or simply a blocker at the next level? How is his speed and route-running ability?
Cooper can play both ways in college so which is he, a defensive tackle or an offensive guard? With a slew of offers, many feel he'll end up at Penn State but can someone else pull an upset for his services? How will he handle the double teams expected from Good Counsel and can he stop their strong rushing attack?
Countess interview and highlightsClick Blake Countess Good Counsel, 5-10/171, DB Here
Countess is one of the best cornerbacks on the East Coast but there have been questions about his size and ability in run support. Can he come up and make plays in the run game and will he be tested at all in pass defense? Is Georgia Tech his leader as some now assume and how does he compare to last year's stud corner for Good Counsel, Louis Young, who is with the Jackets now.
Croce is very talented but what position does he play at the next level at Virginia? Is he big enough to be a tackle or is he a jumbo defensive end or even a tight end on offense? With a history of injuries and a couple of surgeries already, is he durable enough for the next level? How will he fare against the huge DeMatha offensive line?
Diggs is easily the most explosive athlete on the Good Counsel team and possibly in the game, but will he get enough touches to make a difference. How will he deal with double teams and being keyed on by the DeMatha secondary and linebackers?
Kendall Fuller Good Counsel, 5-11/171, DB, 2013 prospect
Fuller is an exceptional young talent and comes from a long line of tremendous defensive backs (Vincent Fuller from the Tennessee Titans and current Virginia Tech defensive backs Corey Fuller and Kyle Fuller) so he has the pedigree. How will he do as a sophomore and likely the target of the DeMatha passing game opposite Countess? Is he physical enough in run support? Is he the best of the brothers at the same stage?
Harris highlightsClick Darien Harris DeMatha, 6-1/210, LBHere to view this Link.
Harris, a Michigan State commit, is a great-looking kid on the hoof but speed, especially lateral, is a question mark. Can he chase things down sideline-to-sideline and how will he handle a physical back such as Brown when he gets to the second level? Can Harris help slow down Diggs in the passing game?
Kelby Johnson DeMatha, 6-8/285, OT
Johnson is one of the best-looking linemen in the country, but this is essentially his first year playing football so how much upside does he have? The Virginia commitment did well in a camp setting this past spring, but with the pads on how will he handle a talented defensive line? Is he physical enough in the running game?
Is Kouandjio the best offensive lineman in the country and can he surpass La'El Collins for that honor? Has the five-star filled out his frame which looks like it can easily carry 340 pounds and will he be more physical than he was in last year's regular-season game? Will he follow his brother, Arie Kouandjio, to Alabama and how does he compare to tackles from recent years such as Seantrel Henderson and D.J. Fluker?
Sam Lebbie DeMatha, 6-2/214, LB, 2012 prospect
Lebbie has an early offer from Maryland and is a good-looking kid on the hoof who had a strong game last year in the regular season against Good Counsel. Has he added any size to an already big frame now that he's a junior and does he have the sideline-to-sideline ability he lacked last year? Has he taken the next step in his development?
E.J. Levenberry Jr. DeMatha, 6-3/223, LB, 2013 prospect
Levenberry is one of the best-looking sophomore linebackers you'll see and was a rarity at DeMatha, a freshman who saw serious playing time last year. A camp and combine warrior, how will Levenberry look in a game setting where he is one of the key guys on the defense? Some have questioned how physical he is so how will he take on blockers? He already has offers from Alabama, Florida, Maryland, Michigan and many others.
Lomax, yet another Virginia commitment in this game, is a very good athlete but what position does he project at in Charlottesville? Can he be a cornerback or will he be an undersized safety at the next level. How are his ball skills and his ability in coverage?
Mike Madaras Good Counsel, 6-6/270, OL, 2012 prospect
Madaras already has offers from Duke, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Pitt, Rutgers, Stanford and West Virginia. Is he a legit 6-foot-6 and how much of his frame is filled out? How will he fare against a very talented and athletic DeMatha defensive line loaded with future D-I players?
Josh McPhearson DeMatha, 5-10/182, ATH, 2012 prospect
McPhearson is the latest in a long line of talented brothers that played at DeMatha, but will he be the best of the bunch? Brother, Derrick McPhearson signed with Florida and ended up at Illinois and his other brother, Emmanuel McPhearson, signed with New Mexico in 2009. Josh has tremendous upside as a cornerback or slot receiver, but which one does he excel at the most?
Michael Moore DeMatha, 6-4/245, DE, 2012 prospect
Moore already has offers from Virginia and Tennessee, and has very good size so can he be a defensive end in a 4-3 or 3-4 defense or even grow into a defensive tackle? Moore is also athletic enough to be a tight end. He is the son of former Virginia star and current UVA coach Shawn Moore so he has good bloodlines. Will he join his dad in Charlottesville?
Delonte Morton DeMatha, 6-1/260, ATH
Morton is a jumbo athlete who didn't play at all as a junior due to torn ligaments in his knee. Despite the lack of playing time and the injury, Maryland still offered and he committed. What position does he project at with his size? Is he too big to play linebacker now and will he have to play with his hand down in college? Has he lost a step due to the injury?
Dorian O'Daniel Good Counsel, 6-1/184, RB, 2013 prospect
O'Daniel is only a sophomore but already has offers from Maryland, Virginia and Pitt. As Brown's backup, will he see enough time this year to develop or will he just see mop up duty in blowouts? A Pittsburgh native, is he a lock to head back home and play for the Panthers or is it too early to tell?
Patterson has some nice offers but has long been considered the "other" defensive tackle next to Cooper. Can he shake that tag and have a stronger game than his tackle partner and how has he grown over the last six months since we saw him? Is he as versatile as Cooper or is he solely a defensive tackle at the next level?
Watson has early offers from Georgia Tech, Maryland, Stanford, West Virginia and others and at 6-3/260 already, will he remain a defensive end or grow into a defensive tackle? How will he handle the jumbo-sized tackles from DeMatha and will he get to prove himself against Kouandjio, arguably the best offensive tackle in Maryland in many years?
Richard Webb DeMatha, 6-7/325, OL, 2012 prospect
Webb has impressive size but limited playing experience and is on a team loaded with offensive line talent. Will he be playing out of position at guard and is he physical enough to play at the next level? Does he have the agility and footwork to play tackle in college and how raw is he?
Brent Wilkerson DeMatha, 6-4/245, DE, 2012 prospect
Wilkerson has early offers from Delaware and Virginia and is another good-sized defensive end on DeMatha. Will he grow into a defensive tackle or remain a big end? How quick is he off the ball and will he be able to stand out with three other D-1 players on the DeMatha line?
Williams has offers from Buffalo, Illinois, Maryland, Ohio and Towson, and many think he's one of the more underrated cornerbacks on the East Coast. How will he fare matched up against Diggs and will he be able to keep him in check? How physical is he in run support and will he be willing to sell out and take on Wes Brown in the open field if necessary.
Quick Kicks:
Both programs have been juggernauts when it comes to producing D-I prospects over the years. Since 2002, Good Counsel has produced a five-star prospect (Jelani Jenkins in 2009) and six four-stars (Akeem Hebron and Drew Gloster in 2006, Nick Jenkins in 2007, Caleb Porzel in 2009, Louis Young in 2010 and Blake Countess this year. DeMatha in the meantime has also produced a five-star (Cyrus Kouandjio this year) and four four-stars (Anthony Wiseman in 2005, Kenny Tate in 2008, Marcus Coker and Arie Kouandjio in 2010) since 2002. … DeMatha prospects tend to stay in state to play at Maryland a bit more than Good Counsel prospects. Since 2002 and including this year, eight DeMatha players have committed to Maryland compared to four from Good Counsel. Pitt, Syracuse and Virginia also do well with DeMatha prospects. Pitt has received commitments from three while Syracuse and Virginia five each. For Good Counsel, Virginia has also had success with three commitments over the years. … The last time I was at Good Counsel was in 2009 to see Jenkins and his team defeat St. John's College HS in a rout. I was at last year's regular-season matchup between the two teams as well, a 24-21 come-from-behind win by DeMatha led by Marcus Coker's three second-half touchdown runs. Good Counsel got revenge in the state title game with a 14-7 win. … Both teams have lost this year to Baltimore (Md.) Gilman, Good Counsel by a score of 28-7 and DeMatha by a score of 35-10. … This is a must-win for DeMatha, a team off to a disappointing 3-2 start with losses to Gilman and Gonzaga and narrow wins over Loyola Blakefield and Friendship Collegiate Academy. … There could be as many as 30-plus players in this game that will eventually sign to play for a D-I school.
Analyst: Brian Perroni
Game:Arlington (Texas) Sam Houston at Arlington (Texas) Martin, Friday
Top prospects:
Bellomy was a bit of a sleeper who saw his stock take off this spring before committing to Purdue. He looks like a prototypical quarterback but some still question his arm strength and delivery. Can he be a star in the Big Ten at the position?
DEVONTA BURNS Martin, 6-0/200, S
Burns is a big safety who plays a bit of a hybrid position for Martin. He is physical in the run game and plays downhill but has never truly played safety in his life. With Sam Houston having weapons at receiver, it will be a good chance to evaluate the cover skills of the Texas A&M commit.
Gildon plays the entire field well for Martin. The TCU commit is a force against both the run and the pass. He showed very well in 7-on-7 play this summer.
The four-star Oklahoma commit has been perhaps the most impressive receiver at every camp he has attended the past two years. However, injuries and other problems have limited his time on the field. Will his incredible athleticism translate when he actually has pads on?
The big interior lineman struggled with injuries a year ago but has a mean streak when healthy. The Texas Tech commit is a terrific run blocker and keeps his pad level low. He could prove to be a huge steal for the Red Raiders.
Like his twin brother, he also has a very mean streak. The nation's No. 1 center prospect, the Texas Tech commit is one of the more athletic linemen in the country. The Red Raiders plan to play him at center as he is one of the smartest football players around.
Turner has put up huge numbers the past two seasons. The Rivals250 prospect runs as well as any other quarterback in the country. The big question for the Nebraska commit remains as to whether he can play that position in college. Many schools recruited him as an athlete, but the Huskers think he is a QB all the way.
Williams is one of the top backs in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. He has had several huge games the past few weeks. However, the Oklahoma commit is set to play cornerback when he arrives in Norman. With the way he is running the ball, though, could he cause the Sooner coaches to change their minds about his future position?
Quick Kicks:
With Martin's talent, it was a very trendy pick as one of the top teams in the state this preseason. It struggled in the first two weeks before winning its last three, though. Sam Houston is a traditional bottom dweller in the district, but three four-star prospects has it looking like a potential playoff team. The key will be how the defense, which has not played to the same level of the offense, slows down Martin. Martin will have to concentrate on Turner or he will burn them.
Analyst: Barry Every
Game: San Antonio (Texas) MacArthur vs. San Antonio (Texas) Churchill, Friday
Top prospects:
People who have seen him say he physically looks like an NFL player. Can he be better than the No. 7 tight end in the country?
What kind of defensive player does Oklahoma State in Mabry? There is no film to be found and in-person evaluation has never been done.
Quick Kicks:
On paper this looks like a very evenly matched showdown between two schools in District 26-5A. MacArthur comes in at 5-1 and coach Van Fuschak is looking not only to make the playoffs but improve on a 5-5 record in each of the previous two seasons. … The Chargers are led by coach Glenn Hill have already topped last year's win total coming in at 4-2. Both losses were by one point. So expect this game to be another nail-biter.
Analyst: Adam Gorney
Game: Long Beach (Calif.) Poly vs. Lakewood (Calif.), Friday
Top prospects:
Barr is one of the top strongside defensive ends in the 2011 class after finishing with 87 tackles and 12 sacks in his junior season, and then backing that up on the camp circuit this offseason. Barr is extremely aggressive off the snap and does a good job tracking down players in the backfield or getting after the quarterback. He remains uncommitted with many national programs involved.
Cassell is a perfect-sized outside linebacker who really emerged as one of the top players at his position at the Los Angeles NIKE Camp. There had been some confusion with his recruitment and a possible commitment to Florida but he ended up pledging to Oregon in late September.
Malik Gilmore Lakewood, 6-3/200, WR, 2012 prospect
Gilmore is long and lanky and still growing into his body midway through his junior season. He was one of the top receivers at the Palo Alto NIKE Camp and said at that time UCLA, Colorado and Washington are involved early on.
Jackson committed to Washington in April and has since landed offers from Boise State and Washington State but remains committed to the Huskies. Although Jackson is a bit undersized, he's smooth in coverage and always has active hands when the ball is coming his way.
Wadood committed to Arizona State early this summer after a strong junior campaign at running back and defensive back, and then he backed up his reputation with a solid showing at the Los Angeles NIKE Camp. Wadood can be aggressive and physical, and does a fantastic job once the ball is in the air.
Waller is steadily picking up more offers as programs see him play outside linebacker after moving from defensive end. He definitely looks the part. Waller is one of the best-looking prospects in Southern California and plays with a lot of aggression. Boise State, Washington, Oregon State and others are involved. He's been hanging around USC a lot so far this season.
Quick Kicks:
This game is loaded with Pac-10 commits. Sources say Barr and Waller - arguably the top two players in the game - could end up at Pac-10 institutions as well. … Long Beach Poly is 3-2 this season but could be much better than its record reflects. The two defeats came to Ventura St. Bonaventure and Mission Viejo, two of California's top programs. … Lakewood is 5-0 and largely untested so far.
Analyst: Barry Every
Game: San Antonio (Texas) James Madison vs. San Antonio (Texas) Roosevelt, Saturday
Top prospects:
Is there a chance for him earning his 5th star?
Quick Kicks:
James Madison is led by coach Jim Streety, last year's U.S. Army West coach, coming in at 4-1. He missed the playoffs last season and is looking to take the next step and make sure that doesn't happen again. It was just three seasons ago when he helped San Antonio (Texas) Madison reach the state finals. … The Rough Riders are off to a great start at 5-1 as coach Neal LaHue looks to not only make the playoffs for a third year in a row, but improve on back-to-back 7-4 seasons. Look for this matchup to be a shootout.
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