Matchup No. 4: ODaniel vs. Davis
Rivals.com is counting down the top 10 matchups we can't wait to watch at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge over the final 10 days heading into the event in Atlanta.
Advertisement
Four days away: Matchup No. 4
LB Dorian O'Daniel, Olney (Md.) Good Counsel vs.
RB Justin Davis, Stockton (Calif.) Lincoln
Why O'Daniel has an edge: The Clemson commit has great hips, he's very athletic and fluid in coverage and he doubles up as a running back so he's very fast, reads plays well and has good instincts on which angles to take on both sides of the field. O'Daniel does not possess incredible size at 6-foot-1 and 200 pounds, but he's surprisingly physical and competitive. He's not the kind of undersized linebacker who's going to get pushed around by anybody. It has to be an advantage, too, that he played running back and rushed for 1,180 yards and 23 touchdowns in his junior season.
Why Davis has an edge: Davis put up 2,380 yards and 36 touchdowns in his junior season, so his productivity has never been a question. At the Oakland NIKE Camp, the USC commit proved he was physical, tough and an outstanding blocker. He took on four-star linebacker Michael Hutchings and really everyone who dared go against him during one-on-one drills and Davis did a fantastic job stopping people. Davis has proven he has the speed, power, toughness and overall ability to be one of the top-rated running backs in this class.
Overall edge: In a rare coincidence, O'Daniel and Davis are rated back-to-back in the Rivals.com ratings, which means this is shaping up to be a fantastic and intriguing matchup in Atlanta. The slightest of edges goes to Davis, though, because he has proven at camps that he is a phenomenal blocker and not just a speedy running back. He has the complete package, and although this was a tough decision, we're going with Davis over O'Daniel by a smidge.
---------
Click Here to view this Link.
[rl]