Mid-Atlantic Spotlight: Five prospects on the rise
In-season evaluations are in full gear for colleges. If doesn't matter if the player is committed or not. Everybody is getting a fresh look. Here are some players from the Mid-Atlantic that have improved their stock.
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The fact that Alfano is on this list should come as no surprise to anybody that has been following him or what has been written about him on on Rivals.com lately.
The Alabama commit is having a truly dominant season. Alfano’s strength and technique are excellent but the thing that has made him unstoppable this year has been his quickness at the snap. He is in the backfield before the offense knows what to do and by the time they figure it out it’s too late. It generally doesn’t matter if an offensive lineman can get a hand on Alfano or not. That speed combined with his strength and leverage helps him gets past offensive linemen with ease. Alfano will remain a regular on lists like these as long as he remains consistent on and off the field.
An outstanding offseason hasn’t made Rouse complacent. The Stanford commit has added a significant strength and mass to his frame and it has taken his game to the next level. There are still some technical glitches Rouse needs to work out before he plays elite competition, but he has improved in all the areas of weakness from the offseason.
Last year the late bloomer on the recruiting scene in Northern New Jersey was Ohio State freshman Javontae Jean-Baptiste. This year it is Vilbert. The 6-foot-7 defensive end is in the middle of his third season of serious football and he is blossoming into a major recruit. Vilbert's motor, balance, athleticism, and improving techniques scream high-end Power Five prospect. Some school is going to get a potential under-the-radar star in Vilbert.
A familiar name from a familiar school, Simon has turned into an excellent prospect in his own right. The younger brother of Notre Dame freshman Shayne Simon has grown a few inches, added some lean muscle, and is making a ton of big plays this season. Simon has great instincts and a knack for the big play. Look for his recruitment to continue to expand.
The 2020 defensive line class in North Carolina is already pretty exceptional, but Murphy's emergence helps elevate it even further. His burst off the line of scrimmage, strength, and abilities to make plays in the backfield are impressive. Murphy's length and frame can hold a lot more mass and college coaches will be banging down his door to try to get him.