Players impress at Rivals New Speed Combine in Dallas
More than 1,600 prospects came out to Duncanville High School for the Dallas stop of the Rivals New Speed Combines presented by adidas on Saturday afternoon. Five players were invited to return on Sunday to Lancaster High School for the Rivals 3 Stripe Camp presented by adidas. Those recruits are all excited about what Sunday’s appearance could mean for their recruitment going forward.
The first invite of the day from the speed combine was extended to Lewisville defensive end Emmanuel Adesina. The powerfully-built prospect, who was a teammate of 2017 Rivals250 WR Tyrell Shavers, is new to the recruiting process and is hopeful his invite to the 3 Stripe Camp will springboard his recruitment.
“For me, this is my first year doing events like this,” he said. “This my first combine… I tried my best and I’ll continue to get better. I’m not satisfied until I pass my limits every single day.”
A top performance on Sunday could be just what he needs to get the ball rolling. Despite the exposure Shavers brought to Lewisville, things didn’t pick up for Adesina or his teammates last fall.
“He helped us out during spring ball last year introducing us to some coaches,” Adesina said. “I think the thing that hurt us last year was the wins and losses.”
Oklahoma City (Okla.) Putnam City’s Collin Clay took full advantage of his weekend in Dallas. The class of 2019 defensive end came into the combine already having been invited to Sunday’s camp, but still went out and tested strong, including a 5.0 40-yard dash and a 4.66 shuttle. SMU came through with Clay’s first scholarship offer just three weeks earlier.
“I’ve heard stuff about them and I’ve been looking at them too,” Clay said. “I’ve seen some pretty good stuff about their defensive line, and also they have stuff with sports medicine, which I want to major in.”
Oklahoma State and Texas Tech are also showing early interest, but Clay would like to hear more from Southeast schools. He moved to Oklahoma just four years ago and is originally from North Carolina, where he grew up a fan of the Tar Heels' program.
Hayden Conner hasn’t even started his freshman high school season, but he's a player that those who follow Texas football recruiting might already be familiar with. Conner is already 6-5 and 260 pounds and has been playing tight end on the 7-on-7 circuit but will work at offensive line on Sunday.
“They’re a little surprised when they see how big I am for the first time,” he said of college coaches. “That’s kind of normal for me now.”
Connor has been on the move checking out campuses already and naturally has coaches across the country thinking about his future potential. He’s been to LSU, UCLA and Wisconsin, among others.
“Right now my favorite visit was probably to UCLA,” he said. “I thought the campus was really beautiful and they’re really focused on academics.”
2020 Aledo freshman Jason Kerl is fresh off seeing his high school team win a Texas 4A State Championship and will be back on Sunday for the 3 Stripe camp after his showing on Saturday. Kerl will join fellow Aledo freshman sensation Jase McClellan at the camp at Lancaster.
“All I can say is it’s going to be a No-Fly Zone tomorrow,” he said. “For sure it’s going to be a No-Fly Zone.”
Kerl said that he is planning on making a visit to Oklahoma State in two weeks for the Cowboys’ spring football game. Other than that, he’s ready for his recruitment to take off starting this weekend.
“I’m just really looking forward to seeing the college and the academic environment,” he said.
2020 running back Myles Nash earned his way into the 3 Stripe camp on Saturday, joining a talented group of teammates from Sachse on Sunday. Nash is the cousin of four-star quarterback and fellow Sunday camper Jaylen Mayden and is looking forward to participating with him.
“It’s great, I love to play with my cousin,” he said. “Whether we’re playing around the house or competing on the football field, I’m looking forward to getting out there and catching passes from him.”
Nash said that Auburn would be a dream offer for him, but regardless of what the future holds in his recruitment he’s trying to follow in Mayden’s footsteps.
“It’s been fun to get to watch for me,” he said. “I see the potential that he brings and where I need to be to get recruited like him.”
DeSoto offensive lineman Evan Henry didn’t see a ton of action last season behind a loaded offensive line on last season’s state championship team, but after earning his 3 Stripe camp invite on Saturday he could be the next top Eagles offensive line prospect. Last season, behind LSU signee Edward Ingram, Henry tried to soak up as much as he could to prepare for this year.
“I got a little bit of playing time under Ed,” Henry said. “I haven’t had much interaction with college coaches yet, but that offensive line group last season was a real strong group.”
Henry’s performance on Saturday was the first event he’s participated in while trying to get his recruitment started. After this Sunday, he’s looking to continue being proactive about getting looks from college programs.
“I’m just trying to hit a few more camps this summer and get my name out there,” he said.