NextGen: Dallas combine loaded

After finding 15 athletes in Georgia, the NextGen All America Showcase Camp headed to Texas, the second stop of Big 5 recruiting states, with a stellar camp in Dallas. Prior to arriving in the Lone Star State, there was a lot of chatter about the lack of middle school athlete representation from Texas in the Rivals.com recruiting database. The fact that other states were represented, while the "football proud" state of Texas was left out, put a sizeable chip on the shoulders of the athletes. And it was obvious from the beginning of the event the prospects were out to prove they belonged.

"We have always heard about the talent level in Texas, but we had to see it for ourselves," said NextGen Founder Brent Williams. "We were not disappointed."

NextGen Combine records fell almost immediately as eighth grade running back James Fullbright blazed a 4.14 pro shuttle, and posted the second best 40-yard dash time of the Spring with a 4.65. Class of 2020 running back Cody Crist posted the best time for a seventh-grader with a 4.65, equaling Fullbright. Crist also set NextGen (7th grade) records in the pro shuttle (4.15) and 20-yard dash split (2.68). Not to be outdone by the seventh and eighth grade speedsters, 2021 running back Dontrey (Majik) Caruth-Rector smashed Nextgen's 40-yard dash record for sixth graders -- posting a 4.86. All in all, more than 30 athletes posted 40-yard dash times under 5 flat.

Shattering combine records is one thing, but you have demonstrate football skills to qualify for the Rivals.com recruiting database.

"We are looking for football players", Williams said. "I love seeing athletes post great times, jump far and do a bunch of push-ups - but it has to translate into football."

As the showcase moved to the position drills -- the event was held up for 30 minutes by lightning, which forced an abbreviated individual position evaluation segment. In addition, there were 175 athletes in attendance. But even with the shortened position time and large number of participants the cream began to rise to the top.

Eighteen players from have been selected to receive Rivals.com profiles. The event was dominated by impressive offensive skill performances.

Quarterbacks

There were 47 quarterbacks vying to have their headshots posted on the site. There were eight quarterbacks selected to participate in The Battle (the showcase portion of the event) and four separated themselves from the group. NextGen Dallas will have three immediate additions to the Rivals.com database and a fourth will likely be added in June after NextGen completes #TheSearch.

Class of 2019 dual-threat quarterback Collin Carter followed his impressive combine performance with a strong performance during individuals and one-on-ones. Carter used his athleticism, strong arm and great timing to separate himself from the group. While 2020 prospect Harrison Bohannon (also a dual-threat passer) separated himself with great mechanics and a very fluid throwing motion, which produced excellent accuracy. Bohannon displayed confidence and leadership well beyond his years.

Eighth grader Carson Collins (5-foot-10, 160 pounds) separated himself from the pack almost immediately. The ball explodes out of his hand, he's extremely polished and can make every throw on the field. He is athletic enough to be a running quarterback and big and strong enough to sit in the pocket and deliver the ball. Collins posted an impressive 4.95 second 40-yard dash and a strong 4.57 pro shuttle. But it was his arm that caught NextGen evaluator Nick Malantis' eye.

"Even his incompletions were impressive," Malantis said. "When he missed he put the ball where no one but his receiver could catch it".

Class of 2021 prospect Bronson McClelland threw some of the best balls of the day. As he continues to grow and develop, he will become even more consistent. He has an incredibly strong arm and may have the highest upside of any quarterback at the event. He will likely be added to the database at the end of this year's camp series.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Four wide receivers/tight ends earned their way into the database. Class of 2019 prospect Theo Wease (6-foot-0, 165 pounds) was the most impressive receiver of the day, while big-bodied combo receivers (WR/TE)'s Brandon Theus (6-foot-0, 190 pounds) and Easton Reeves (6-1, 165 pounds) proved to be too much for the defensive back group to handle.

Wease is the rare combination of size, speed and quickness. He has soft hands and is at his best on double moves because of his ability to stop and start with great efficiency. Theus fought through an early leg injury to prove his picture was worthy of being displayed on Rivals. He uses his size extremely well and is a solid route runner. He has a long frame and has a chance to grow into a pass-catching tight end. Although Theus wasn't 100 percent healthy, he posted a sub 5.0-second 40-yard dash, and ran 4.52 and 4.49 in the pro shuttle and L-drill respectively.

Reeves' addition to the Rivals database demonstrates why our events have four segments. Reeves posted solid numbers in the combine phase -- but his performance in the one-on-one's pushed him to the forefront of wide receiver evaluator Ken Barger's list of top performers.

Class of 2020 wide receiver prospect [db Graham II][Davon Graham II[/db] looks and plays longer than his 5-foot-10, 141-pound frame. Graham is extremely explosive, finishing in the top of nearly all running and jumping events. But it is Graham's hands and competitiveness that separates him from rest. "I don't think I have ever seen a kid compete for balls the way he does," Williams said. "He never gives up on a route, and if the ball was near him he caught it." Graham grabbed early attention with a one-handed sideline grab that he made look routine.

Running Backs

If offensive skill stole the show in Dallas, James Fullbright was the reason why. Powerfully built at 5-foot-7 and 185 pounds, Fullbright demonstrated why he is recognized as a combine freak as he landed near the top in every event. He followed up his impressive combine performance by displaying great lateral quickness and explosiveness. Fullbright is light on his feet, and displayed great hands during passing drills.

Class of 2019 prospects Velton Gardner and Corbin Johnson (both 5-foot-8, 160 pounds) earned their way into the Rivals.com database with impressive combine numbers that translated into impressive performances in football drills and one-on-ones. Gardner is very efficient in his movement and moves effortlessly. Johnson is extremely elusive and has great hands. Furthermore he was very impressive in the change of direction evaluations, and nearly untouchable in one-on-ones.

It would have been very easy for seventh grader Cody Crist to rest on his record-setting combine numbers. At 5-foot-11, 165 pounds Crist may have the most upside of all of the backs NextGen has evaluated this Spring.

Class of 2021 prospect Majik Caruth-Rector will also be a June addition to the Rivals database. Majik was magic on the field. He showed great change of direction during running back drills and caught passes and ran routes like a polished receiver. The 5-foot-7, 125-pound back exploded to a 2.56 20-yard split.

Offensive Line

Two eighth graders from a solid offensive line group earned profiles. [db N'Doma-Ogar Jr.][Elton Ndoma-Ogar Jr.[/db] (6-foot-2, 274 pounds) at tackle has extremely long arms and looks like he has a lot more growing to do. Ndoma-Ogar competed at both guard and tackle throughout the day. Standing 6-foot-7 and weighing 260 pounds, offensive tackle prospect Jonah Brewster has something that can't be coached -- size. Extremely long and with a frame that will probably hold 320 pounds as he matures - Brewster is the kind of prospect that offensive line coaches love to have in their programs. He was coachable, displayed toughness and improved throughout the day.

Defense

There are not as many additions to the defensive side of the ball -- and that may have been because the offensive group was so talented. Several players who may have earned profiles at other events will be added to our watch list -- and may have a strong chance of being added later.

Three defensive backs, two linebackers and one defensive lineman will be added to the Rivals.com recruiting database. Starting with the back-end, 2019 prospects Xavier Player, Devyn Butler and 2020 RJ Mickens separated themselves from the pack. Butler and Mickens had impressive combines and strong performances during the individual position drills. Mickens a 5-foot-7, 140-pound long-armed corner, impressed evaluators with his smooth and efficient athleticism. Although Butler (5-foot-7, 165 pounds) struggled during the Battle Showcase, he was extremely impressive during the early drills. It was his tenacity and competitiveness that earned his way onto the list. He repeatedly stepped up to compete against Wease, arguably the event's most impressive prospect.

We will also likely add 2021 prospects Shunte Nettles and Demarco Roberts at the end of this Spring's events. Nettles competed at wide receiver and Roberts impressed as a defensive back.

The most impressive defensive back prospect was Player. Player is a natural cover corner with great ball skills. He understands how to use his body and length to challenge receivers. Even when beaten, the eighth-grader was glued to the receiver -- forcing them to make "circus" catches to beat him.

Two eighth grade linebackers took different paths to the list. Ricky Figurell (6-foot-0, 160 pounds) was solid throughout the day -- his most impressive combine number was his 4.32 pro shuttle, which came in handy during one-on-one pass coverage. NextGen linebacker evaluator and former NFL'er Vernon Crawford described Figurell as a natural Mike 'backer that has the ability to also play on the edge as a Sam.

The second linebacker earning a spot from Dallas is Koa Katoa. At 5-foot-10 and 230 pounds, Katoa was the biggest linebacker on their field. Katoa's path is different in that NextGen evaluators added him to the database as a defensive lineman. His performance at linebacker was solid, but the staff reviewed his combined numbers that would have put him at the top of the list as a defensive lineman.

"Sometimes, we have to take a chance on a kid with great athleticism when you're evaluating middle school prospects," Williams said. "We had two kids in Georgia, Chilton Tolliver and Keiondre Jones, that deserved more attention than they received after our event -- but they were working different positions. Jones has received his first offer from Alabama and Tolliver will is on the radar of nearly every SEC program.

The best example of making the right position decision is our last addition from NextGen Dallas. Six-foot-2, 220-pound defensive lineman Jayden Jernigan initially signed up to compete at tight end. After advice from his coach, he switched to defensive end.

"I don't know if he would have been noticed as a tight end," Williams said. "Tight end is the most difficult position to evaluate at this age -- middle school tight ends grow into tackles or defensive ends. Tight ends at the college level usually were big wide receivers when they were young, much like Theus and Reeves."

Jernigan's decision to play defensive end proved to be wise. He was unblockable. He worked at both defensive end and tackle -- he has an incredible motor and his ability to start/stop and change direction was almost unfair during the one on ones.

"We are nearing the midway point of #TheSearch and there are some athletes that have been really impressive," Williams said. "After seeing so many great players, we are starting to go back to our watch list and move players up or down -- because we have more to compare them with. Most importantly, we are starting to see kids who have attended our showcases receive scholarship offers. After all, that's why we do what we do.

"A medal, trophy or MVP title from an event is temporary, but a scholarship to get a great education will change these young men's lives forever."

NextGen now moves on to Ohio where they will host a combine at Ohio State.