Offseason now camp season for prospects

Formanyhighschoolfootballrecruitsacrossthecountry,thereisnooffseason.

Whenthey'renotplayingfortheirhighschoolteamorarrangingvisitstocolleges,they'reoftenparticipatingincampsorvarious7-on-7tournaments.Ofcourse,it'sprettyeasytofigureoutwhysomehighschooljuniorswouldchoosetospendthespringsemesteronthecampcircuit.

GuysratedasfringeFBSprospectswanttocatchtheattentionofvariouscolleges.Two-starprospectsaretryingtoupgradetheirranking.Uncommittedplayersarestillhopingforthatdreamoffer.

Butnotalltheguysatthesecampsfitintothosecategories.Theseshowcasesalsofeatureplentyofeliterecruitswhoseeminglydon'thavemuchlefttoprove.You'llalsofindmanyguyswhoalreadyhaveverballycommittedtoaparticularschoolandapparentlywouldn'thavemuchneedtoimpressanyotherprograms.

Whydotheseprospectsspendtheirweekendscompetinginsteadofenjoyingtheiroffseason?

Togetananswertothosequestions,wetalkedtofivehighschooljuniorswhoareparticipatinginmultiplecampeventsthisspringandsummer.Oneofthemisthatclassicunder-the-radarprospectsearchingtomakeanameforhimselfandimprovehisofferlist.Theotherfourguysareallthree-starorfour-starprospectscommittedtomajor-conferenceprograms.

Eachhasadifferentreasonforhisbusyspringandsummeritinerary.Herearetheirstories.

JAKERAULERSON

Position:Offensivetackle

Height:6-foot-5

Weight:250

Highschool:Celina(Texas)

Rating:Fourstars(No.6offensivetackleandNo.51overallprospect)

College:Texas

Seekingspringtraining

Celina(Texas)offensivetackleJakeRaulersonalreadyhasthehighrankingandmajor-conferenceoffersthatmanyofhispeersareseeking.He'stheNo.51overallrecruitinthejuniorclassandbecamethefirstClassof2013playertocommittoTexas.

Sowhyishestillparticipatingincamps?Raulersonseesitashisversionofspringpractice.

TheUniversityInterscholasticLeagueinTexasonlyallowsspringpracticeforthestate'sClass4Aand5Aschools.Celina,a3Aprogram,doesn'thaveanyformalspringworkouts.

Buteventhoughhecan'ttrainwithhishighschoolteam,Raulersonstillhasplentyofopportunitiestoimprovehisskillset.HeperformedattheDallasNikeCampinlateMarchandwillentertheRivals100Five-StarChallengenextmonthinAtlanta.

"Idon'thavespringball,"Raulersonsaid,"sothisisallIgettodo.''

ThecampsshouldhelpRaulersonrecoverfromsomeoff-fieldissuesashepreparesforhisseniorseason.Raulersonmissedthreeweeksoftrainingwhilegettinghistonsilsremovedandlost20poundsintheprocess.

"I'mstillnotatapointwhereIneedtobe,"Raulersonsaid."I'mtryingashardasIcantogetbackinthatshape."

Raulerson,whocommittedtoTexasonFeb.3,wasstillrecoveringfromhissurgerywhenheattendedtheNikeCamp.

"Hedefinitelywasalittlebitdifferentthanhenormallyis,"Rivals.comTexasrecruitinganalystBrianPerronisaid."Hedidn'tgothroughalotofthepositiondrills,buthediddoone-on-onesandplayedalittlebitontheoffensivelineanddefensiveline.Hewantedtogoagainstthebestguysandstillmorethanheldhisown."

Nowthathe'sregainedhisweight,RaulersoniseagertoshowcasehisskillsagaininAtlantanextmonth.

"Ilovehiscompetitivespirit,"Perronisaid."WhenhewasinvitedtotheFive-StarChallenge,hewaswonderingwhatotheroffensivelinemenanddefensivelinemenweregoingtobetherethathe'sgoingtogoagainst.Hewantstotesthimselfagainstthebest.''

ThecampsalsoallowedRaulersontogettoknowsomeofhisfutureteammates.Thelistof2013TexascommitmentswhojoinedRaulersonattheNikecampincludedLancasterdefensiveendDaeshonHall,DallasJesuitwidereceiverJakeOliver,FortWorthArlingtonHeightsdefensivetackleA'ShawnRobinson,BeltontightendDurhamSmythe,WhitewrightquarterbackTyroneSwoopesandHoustonCypressFallswidereceiverJacoreyWarrick.

Swoopes,SealywidereceiverRickySeals-Jones,BastropcornerbackAntwuanDavisandCypressWoodsoutsidelinebackerDeoundreiDavis-allTexascommitments-areexpectedtojoinRaulersonattheRivals100Five-StarChallenge.

"TalkingtoguyslikeTyroneSwoopesandwatchingandseeinghowthey'redoingandgettingtoknowthembetterhashelpedalot,"Raulersonsaid."Itwillpayoffinthelongrun."

CHRISHAWKINS

Position:Cornerback

Height:6feet

Weight:170

Highschool:RanchoCucamonga(Calif.)

Rating:Fourstars(No.9cornerbackandNo.159overallprospect)

College:USC

LookingoutforNo.1

RanchoCucamonga(Calif.)High'sChrisHawkinsisrankedasthenation'sNo.9cornerback.AsfarasHawkinsisconcerned,that'seightspotstoolow.

"WhatmakesmegotothesecampsismywillanddesiretobeNo.1atmyposition,"Hawkinssaid."IwanttobeknownastheNo.1cornerinthenation."

NomatterhowmuchHawkinsaccomplishes,hekeepssettinghisgoalshigher.

TheRivals250prospectselectedUSCoverStanfordonApril1afterreceivinganationalofferlistthatalsoincludedthelikesofFlorida,LSU,Michigan,Nebraska,NotreDameandOklahoma.

Insteadofsettlingthingsdownaftercommitting,Hawkinsremainsasbusyasever.HeparticipatedintheIMGMadden7-on-7WestRegionalinRedondoBeach,Calif.HewasinthePassingDownSoCalElite7-on-7RegionalatFullerton,Calif.Hewillmakeacross-countrytripnextmonthtoentertheRivals100Five-StarChallengeinAtlanta.

Hisworkispayingoff.Ateachofthe7-on-7events,Hawkinssolidifiedhisreputationasatopshutdowncorner.

"He'sultra-competitiveandsurprisinglyathletic,"Rivals.comWestrecruitinganalystAdamGorneysaid."Hedoesn'tlooklikethemostathletickidwhenhe'sjustwalkingaroundonthefield,butoncehestartsplaying,healwaysbeatsreceiverstotheball.Hehasgoodvisionwhenthequarterbackthrowstheball,andheneverreallygetsbeatonanyplay.''

ThattypeofattitudecaughttheattentionofUSC'scoachingstaff.

Buteventhoughhe'salreadymadehiscollegedecision,Hawkinsbelieveshisworkisn'tdone.

"PeopleknowmeastheNo.9cornerback,"Hawkinssaid."Ithinkthat'stoofarbackformeandmystandards.IwanttobeknownastheNo.1cornerbackinthenation."

Hecontinuestomakeacompellingargument.

HawkinsatleasthasmadeacasethatheranksamongthetopcornerbacksintheWest.TheonlyWestCoastcornerbackcurrentlyrankedaheadofhimisWestlake(Calif.)WestlakeVillage'sDashonHunt,whohasmadeasoftverbalcommitmenttoUCLA.

NowthathehasmadehiscaseatacoupleofCaliforniaevents,HawkinsiseagertoshowwhathecandoontheEastCoast.

"ThethingIlikemostabouthimishe'scompetitive,"Gorneysaid."He'llgoanywheretocompete.Henevermissesanytournamentsorcamps.Healwayswantstoprovehe'sthetopcornerbackinCalifornia.He'sconsistentlydonethatthisspring.He'sreallymakingastatementtomoveuptherankings."

QUINTONPOWELL

Position:Outsidelinebacker

Height:6feet

Weight:190

Highschool:DaytonaBeach(Fla.)Mainland

Rating:Fourstars(No.18outsidelinebacker)

College:Florida

Provinghisversatility

QuintonPowellhasmadeanameforhimselfasadefensiveendatDaytonaBeach(Fla.)Mainland,whereplayedonalinethatalsofeatured2012Rivals100prospectandUSCsigneeLeonardWilliamslastseason.

AlthoughPowellhasprovedhispass-rushingskillstimeandtimeagain,healsounderstandsthathisfutureisatoutsidelinebacker.SoeventhoughPowellalreadyisafour-starprospectwhocommittedtotheUniversityofFloridaonFeb.18,hestillenteredcampseasonwithsomethingtoprove.

"IwantedtoproveIcanplaybothwithmyhandinthedirtandthatIhavetheabilitytodropintocoverage,''Powellsaid.

Powellsaidhe'dheardplentyofdoubtsabouthispass-coverageskills.Muchoftheskepticismcamefromhispeers.

"Alotofthemsay,'Hecan'tplayincoverage,'andthingsofthatnature,"Powellsaid."[They'dsay],'WhyisFloridarecruitingyou?'ItmademeworkhardertoshowIdidhavethatability."

Therearen'tnearlyasmanydoubtsabouthimnow.

PowellsharedthelinebackerMVPawardattheRivals/VTOcampinWinterPark,Fla.HealsoparticipatedinanIMGMadden7-on-7eventinBradenton,Fla.Throughoutthespring,hehasshownpass-coverageabilitiesherarelyhastoutilizeinhighschool.

"Helookslikeanaturalbackthere,"Rivals.comFloridarecruitinganalystChrisNeesaid."He'sverycomfortable.Hedoesagoodjobgettinginandoutofhiscuts.Hehasgoodacceleration....IthoughtattheFloridaVTOhewasbyfarthebestlinebackeronthefield.''

That'swhatmadethisspringsoimportanttoPowell.

Powellalreadyhasprovedhe'sanelitepass-rushingdefensiveendatthehighschoollevel,butheisn'tbigenoughtoplaythatpositionincollege.PowellcurrentlyislistedontheRivals.comdatabaseas6feetand190pounds.Whilehecertainlycouldadd30-35poundsafterarrivingincollege,Powellisbestsuitedtoplaylinebackeratthenextlevel.

Thisspringrepresentedhisbestchancetoshowalltheskillshe'llneedforhisfutureposition.

"I'mnotsurethisyearinhighschoolhe'llbeusedasalinebacker,"Neesaid."Wemightonceagainseehimliningupasadefensiveendandrushingofftheedgeandusinghisspeed,whichisagreatqualityhehasandsomethinghe'sbeenverygoodatdoingforyears.ButwhenhereachesFloridaorwhereverheendsupultimately-rightnowobviouslyhe'scommittedtoFlorida-whenheendsupthere,he'sgoingtostandup.He'sgoingtobealinebacker.

"Youwanttoknowifaguywhoshouldbeanoutsidelinebackerhasthecapabilityofplayinglaterallytothesidelinesanddroppingbackandkeepingupwitharunningbackortightendastheygodownthefield.''

Nowweknow.

DANNYETLING

Position:Quarterback

Height:6-foot-3

Weight:200

Highschool:TerreHaute(Ind.)South

Rating:Threestars

College:Purdue

Wantingthatfourthstar

TerreHaute(Ind.)SouthVigoquarterbackDannyEtlinghadn'treallythoughtmuchabouthisrecruitingrankingbefore.Nowhe'seagertoearnafourthstar.

Thecoachesathisfutureschoolemphasizeditsimportance.

"PurduekindofshowedmeifIcouldgotothesecampsandgetmyrankingup,itwouldkindofhelpwithrecruitingandeverything,"Etlingsaid.

Theideaisthatthepresenceofafour-starquarterbackrecruitinPurdue'sclassmightpersuadeotherprospectstohopaboard.Etling,currentlyathree-starprospect,justmightgivePurdueachancetotestthattheoryout.

EtlingboostedhisstockquiteabitwithimpressiveperformancesatElite11campsinDallasandColumbus.MorriscommittedtoPurdueonApril17,aftertheDallaseventbutbeforehisbreakoutperformanceinColumbus.

AttheColumbuscamp,hegaveMichigan-boundfour-starprospectShaneMorrisofWarren(Mich.)DeLaSallequiteachallengeinthecompetitiontodeterminetheevent'sMVP.Morriseventuallyreceivedthehonor,butEtlingprovedhispoint.

"He'sagreat-sizedkid,"Rivals.comMidwestrecruitinganalystJoshHelmholdtsaid."He'sallof6-3,reallythick.Helookslikehecancertainlytakeapunishingandprobablygetoutandmoveonhisown.Hehasthesizecomponent.Hehasverycleanmechanics.Histhrowingmotion,hehasaniceandquickdelivery.Iwasveryimpressedwithhisfootwork.Hegetsintohisdropsveryquicklyandstaysbalanced.Fromatechnicalstandpoint,he'svery,verycleanandwellaheadofthecurve.''

Etling'sperformanceinthesetwocampshascausedadramaticchangeinthewayhe'sregarded.Etling'shighschoolteamwent3-7lastfall.Eventhoughhehadsomeoffers,Etlingdidn'tthinkhewasgarneringmuchattention.

"NobodyreallyknewwhoIwasuntilafterIwenttothesecamps,"Etlingsaid."Ikindofwantedtoprovemyselfinasense.I'mgoingtobeaBigTenquarterback.IfeellikeIwasn'tquitegettingtherecognitionIthoughtIdeserved.''

Hesureisgettingitnow.

EtlingmadequiteacaseinColumbusthathemeritsthatfourthstarthatPurdue'scoachesapparentlywanted.ThegoodnewsforPurdueisthatEtling'srisecoulddrawotherrecruitstotheBoilers.ThebadnewsisthatitalsoalreadyhascausedrivalschoolstopaymoreattentiontoEtling.

"Ithoughtcommittingwouldkindofsealthedealandthatnobodyelsewouldtalktome,butit'sjustkindofampeditupforme,"saidEtling,acousinofformerPurduelinebackerJoeHolland."TheywanttoknowhowstrongIam[inmycommitment].Ifeelprettystrong.IwouldsayaslongasPurduedoesn'tdoanythingtomakemedecommit,I'mprettysoldonPurdue.''

EVANENGRAM

Position:Tightend

Height:6-foot-3

Weight:207

Highschool:PowderSprings(Ga.)Hillgrove

Rating:Unranked

College:Undecided

Needingmoreoffers

Allbutoneoftheprospectswe'veprofiledinthisstorywerethree-starorfour-starrecruitswithverbalcommitmentstomajor-conferenceprograms.

PowderSprings(Ga.)HillgrovetightendEvanEngramistheexception.

Engramdidn'thaveasingleofferfromacollegeprogram-FBSorFCS-beforeparticipatingintheNewLevelAthleticsElite7v7andtheRivals.com/VTOSportsElite100Georgiacampthisspring.

"Overmypastthreeyearsinhighschool,I'vekindofbeenflyingundertheradar,"Engramsaid."IthinkIhavethetalenttogetoutthereandcompetewiththetoptalentinthecountry.Ijustwantedtogetoutthereandshowcasethosetalents.IthinkIdidthat.IthinkIraisedmystock."

Hesuredid.

Atbothevents,Engramcontinuallyshowcasedthetypeofpass-catchingabilitythatcouldhelpincreasehisprofile.

"Hecanstretchthefieldnicely,"Rivals.comSoutheastrecruitinganalystKeithNiebuhrsaid."Herunssmoothroutes.Andbecauseofhissize,thequarterbackcanputitinplaceswhereotherguyscan'tgetit.Hecangoupandgettheball.He'sgotagreatsetofhands.He'sreallyasmoothreceiver.He'satightend,butherunsrouteslikeareceiver.''

Engram'sperformancehelpedhimearnacoupleofoffersfromFBSnewcomerSouthAlabamaandFCSprogramFurman.Buthestillwantedmore.EngramwasworkingtowardanofferfromanSECoranACCschool.

ThatfinallyarrivedlastweekwhenWakeForestcamethroughwithanoffer.

"Itwashuge,justtogetrecognitionoranofferfromaBCSschoollikethat-WakeForest-withtheirsuccessinfootball,"Engramsaid."Itwasreallybigformycoaches,myteammatesandmyfamily.Iwasveryexcited."

Engramplanstocontinueworkingthecampcircuitthissummerinhopesoflandingmoremajor-conferenceoffers.Heplanstodecideonaschoolmidwaythroughhisseniorseason.

Hejustmighthaveafewmoreoptionsthanheevercouldhaveimagined.

"Youcaneithergetexposedatthesethings,oryoucanriseabovethecompetition,"Engramsaid."IthinkIwentoutthereanddidwhatIcoulddo.Itendedupbeingagreatthingforme.''

SteveMegargeeisthenationalcollegecolumnistforRivals.com.Hecanbereachedatsmegargee@rivals.com,andyoucanclickheretofollowhimonTwitter.

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