Rivals Recap: King of IE 7on7 tournament

RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The King of the IE 7on7 tournament was held Saturday and plenty of top prospects were in attendance. Here is a look at some that impressed and surprised as the busy offseason has started in California.

Los Angeles Augustus Hawkins is loaded with prospects, nearly all of them play on the B2G 7on7 team, and they are super talented. Four-star receiver Joseph Lewis might be in line for a bump in the rankings since he’s so big, has good speed, excellent hands and should be considered among the best receivers in the 2017 class. Two-way standout Greg Johnson was excellent at running back and cornerback in the tournament and 2018 receiver Jalen Hall dominates, too.

Washington is getting a major talent in Keith Taylor, who missed a portion of his junior season because of transfer rules but continues to prove he’s one of the best cornerbacks in the West. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound four-star has outstanding length, he can turn and run, and receivers never get any separation. Taylor committed to the Huskies recently and he could be a big-time player in Seattle.

Whether Deommodore Lenoir stays in the Pac-12 or takes one of his national offers is yet to be seen but the four-star cornerback can be an asset to any program. The Los Angeles Salesian standout is super physical at the line of scrimmage, he never lets receivers have an easy time into their routes and once the ball is in the air Lenoir can make a play on it. If needed, the four-star can also play receiver but he’s probably more gifted on defense.

JT Daniels has superstar potential. It’s pretty clear to see the 2019 quarterback from Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei can make all the throws, he has a strong arm but also knows when to put touch on it, and he’s a tremendous team leader. Daniels plays the game with guts, too. From the high school that produced Matt Leinart, Matt Barkley and other top quarterbacks, Daniels is following in those footsteps after throwing for 3,042 yards with 33 touchdowns and four picks in his freshman season.

Merlin Robertson plays the game fearlessly and with reckless abandon. That’s him with pads on but in 7on7 sometimes that doesn’t translate. Still, the 2018 linebacker from Gardena (Calif.) Serra showed this weekend he can turn and run with receivers, is excellent in coverage and is really athletic for someone who is 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds. A lot of people at Serra think he could be the next national recruit and that could be the case.

Jaylon Redd showed more suddenness and athletic ability at the King of the IE tournament and that’s why many national programs are interested. He’s undersized, there’s no getting around it, but the Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., four-star comes out of the backfield and cannot be defended by bigger linebackers. On defense, Redd is physical at the line and keeps up with the fastest receivers on the field.

Others who impressed include Buena Park, Calif., three-star receiver Taariq Johnson, La Mesa (Calif.) Helix DB Scott Young, 2018 QB Jack Tuttle from San Marcos (Calif.) Mission Hills, 2018 ATH Dominic Wingfield from Anaheim (Calif.) Servite, San Diego (Calif.) Cathedral Catholic ATH Jordan Genmark-Heath, Los Angeles Cathedral WR Jamire Calvin and 2018 QB Jeff Miller from Murrieta (Calif.) Mesa, who is 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds.

Moreno Valley (Calif.) Rancho Verde has a star in the making in wide receiver Bryan Thompson, who has the speed to run by cornerbacks and the excellent hands to haul in passes. Thompson also has an athletic, physical build so cornerbacks can’t jam him or take him off routes. Arizona State, Colorado, UNLV and Washington have offered so far and many others could be coming.

D'Angelo Gunter has no offers yet and admitted that not many schools are even recruiting him but that should change because the San Diego Del Norte cornerback can play. He has great length on the outside, he doesn’t bite on double moves, he is physical with receivers and once the ball is in the air Gunter turns and goes after it. There’s a good chance Gunter could end up in the Pac-12 because he has that type of talent.

UCLA commit Rahyme Johnson is more athletic than remembered and he runs like a big safety but has the size of an outside linebacker. The Los Angeles Salesian recruit glides when running with receivers and he’s so long and athletic that the ball has to have pinpoint precision or he can tip it away. A lot of other major programs are pursuing him and his raw athleticism is a big reason why he’s so coveted.

Brevin White had a tremendous sophomore season and has been on the circuit long enough that when he throws strikes all over the field it’s really not surprising anymore. What is a little shocking is that he only has three offers at this point because the 2018 quarterback is a tremendous talent who could be a national-level recruit. The new West Hills (Calif.) Chaminade quarterback is smart, savvy and he knows when to zip it in there or put some air under it. He’s really good.

One of the next big-time prospects at Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei could be Bru McCoy, a 2019 athlete who shined at wide receiver in this tournament. He’s already 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds with excellent hands, strength and he’s an aggressive route-runner who can get open against a lot of top corners. It’s no surprise that Oregon has already offered and many more should be on the way.