Rivals Recap: Linemen state their cases at Elite Big Man Camp

WIXOM, Mich. - The annual Elite Big Man Camp has introduced us to players like Malik McDowell and Deron Irving-Bey. This year featured some known names, but also introduced us to several promising talents.

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There were several defensive linemen who at different times throughout the day could have been called the most impressive, but at day’s end it was Johnson who stood tallest, besting all comers in an elimination final and taking home defensive line MVP honors. Coming off a junior season in which he tallied 16 sacks for East English Village, Johnson is an explosive edge rusher who held up nicely at the point of attack despite looking a little shy of his listed height and weight numbers. He may get some looks as a hybrid linebacker/defensive end at the next level.

While Johnson’s dominance was not as expected, Sampson was a headliner coming into the event and he lived up to expectations, taking home offensive line MVP honors. The offers have not come in as quickly for Sampson as one would expect for a four-star, even though his measurables and the way he dominates events like Sunday’s Elite Big Man Camp are very similar to the class of 2016’s No. 1 ranked offensive center, Cesar Ruiz. Sampson may not have the respect Ruiz had yet, but he should start approaching that level with more performances this offseason like the one he had Sunday.

Like Johnson, Ratliff was hardly known in recruiting circles and is just starting to see his recruiting stock develop, but he and Johnson were the last two standing among the defensive linemen and he battled Sampson to a pretty even draw in their finals showdown. At one point during the competition Johnson remarked of Ratliff that he had the fastest get-off among all defensive linemen there… after himself, of course. The issue Ratliff will face when going to the next level is he is kind of caught between a three-technique and a five-technique, but his skill set should still generate plenty of suitors.

This is the second time in as many camps this winter where Lee has been among the top defensive line performers at an event I have covered. At times during Sunday’s competition he looked to be the most dominant defensive linemen in attendance, but he got stood up a couple times in the final showdown that ultimately killed his momentum toward MVP consideration. The offers have been slow coming for Lee and that may be due to his height (or lack thereof), but he has enough size that teams should eventually come around on him because of his combination of quickness and quick hands.

Of all the defensive linemen who impressed on Sunday, White may have the highest college potential of the group. The highlight of his day was getting the best of standout 2019 offensive tackle Devontae Dobbs during their showdown in the top performers showcase. White’s listed height and weight looked accurate and he utilizes his length well from the position. He checks a lot of boxes from an athleticism standpoint and because he goes to a top PSL program like Martin Luther King, he should see plenty of attention this spring.

The Elite Big Man Camp is always good for uncovering future stars every year, and this year there were several candidates to be future big-timers. Leroux gets the nod not because of the player he is right now, but for the height of his future potential. After cutting about 25 pounds following his freshman season, the northern Ohio native now checks in at an impressive-looking 6-foot-7 and 285 pounds. He is raw fundamentally, no doubt, but there’s nothing missing that cannot be taught. And, he played junior varsity this past season, so he is being brought along slowly and could emerge in the next year or two as a big-timer.

Belleville, Mich., offensive tackle Devontae Dobbs has one of the most impressive offer lists in the 2019 class, with his most recent additions coming from LSU and Wisconsin. Although his number of offers is around 20, schools he would be interested in adding to that group include Florida State, Clemson, Notre Dame and Ole Miss. Dobbs claims no leaders early in his process and wants to evaluate as many schools as possible before trimming his list. He is planning to attend junior days at Kentucky, Michigan State and Ohio State this winter.

Four-star offensive center Tyrone Sampson added his second Power Five offer of the process recently from Virginia. The Detroit East English Village lineman is just starting to learn about the Cavaliers, but he is much more familiar with Syracuse, the first Power Five school to offer him, and lists them as his leader. Other schools showing strong interest that could be next to offer include Iowa State, Kentucky, Michigan and Michigan State. An offer from the Spartans would make this recruitment very interesting, as they would likely vault to the top of his list.

One of the most physically impressive prospects at Sunday’s camp was Walled Lake (Mich.) Western 2019 lineman Spencer Brown. He is a long-limbed 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds and has the prototypical offensive tackle frame. However, on Sunday he ran mostly as a defensive end. Although he fared well as a defensive end, Brown’s ceiling is higher as an offensive lineman and if he can increase his flexibility just a touch, the rest of the tools are there to be a Power Five left tackle.