Shrine Bowl: Awards from the week
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Dawkins had a slow start to the week but seemed to get better each day and he
capped it off with a very good performance on Saturday. He led the South
Carolina team in receptions (six), receiving yards (62) and receiving touchdowns
(2). N.C. State and Wake Forest are Dawkins' biggest offers so far but
South Carolina is showing interest but his performance in the game might push the Gamecocks to offer.
Best Hands
WR Larry Collins | Hopkins
(S.C.) Lower Richland
Throughout the week of practice, Collins was South Carolina's best option at wide
receiver. Like Dawkins, he got better and more consistent each day but he was
always good for at least one spectacular catch per day. There was one play in
practice where he was guarded by Troy Pride and ran a deep route.
Collins kept his concentration and caught a tipped pass. N.C. State, Wake Forest
and East Carolina look to have the best shot at landing Collins' commitment.
Most Imposing
OL John Simpson | North
Charleston (S.C.) Fort Dorchester
Simpson, a Rivals250 prospect, is 6-foot-4 and about close to 300-pounds with
little bad weight on him. On top of all that, Simpson is extremely strong and
runs very well for a player that size. He's the type of person that fills a
doorway, someone that offensive line coaches dream of. Aside from how he is
contenders.
Most Athletic
WR Cornell Powell | Greenville
(N.C.) Rose
The way Powell moved on the practice field and in the game on Saturday left
little doubt that he was the most athletic player on either team. He is very
strong but not bulky so he runs and cuts effortlessly. There were plays when
defenders had the angle on Powell but he made one subtle move and they went
flying passed him. Powell also made some great leaping catches in skeleton
drills during the week.
Most Versatile
RB Rico Dowdle | Asheville
(N.C.) A. C. Reynolds
There were few things Dowdle could not do on offense during the entire week of
the Shrine Bowl. He is very explosive, ran with good vision out of the
backfield, and showed a lot of toughness running between the tackles. Dowdle was
an asset in the passing game, making a lot of catches in the flats and picking
up big chunks of yards after making the first defender miss. He even lined up as
a slot receiver and ran good routes. There were times when the quarterbacks
started favoring Dowdle in practice and making sure he was getting the ball.
South Carolina offered him last week and he already holds offers from N.C.
State, Boston College, Wake Forest and a few others.
Raised Stock
WR Divine Deablo |
Winston-Salem (N.C.) Mount Tabor
If prospects were assigned ratings based on having the best name, Deablo would
already be a five-star. This week, capped off by a good performance in the game,
Deablo raised his stock. He's shown improved athleticism and his hands have been
more consistent than before. Deablo's game still needs polishing in critical
areas but this week was a success for him.
Dropped Stock
RB Tavien Feaster |
Spartanburg, S.C.
Feaster was bumped up in the last rankings update to be the highest rated
running back in the country. There is no doubt he has that type of skill set but
his performance in practice and in the game did reflect his ranking. Feaster ran
hard in the game and it was easy to see how fast he is, but he didn't make
defenders miss in the open field and he was a very effective receiver. Feaster's
offensive line wasn't terrible, but he'll have another opportunity at the Army
All-American Game with even more talent up front.
Mr. Old School
OL Landon Dickerson | Hudson
(N.C.) South Caldwell
The anchor of the North Carolina offensive line, Dickerson opened holes and
threw defensive linemen around all week. The running backs knew he would get the
job done and that's why their biggest runs came they got behind Dickerson when
he was pulling or driving his man off the ball. If the blocking scheme on a
particular play wasn't working, Dickerson adjusted and the ball carrier knew
when he could pick up the most yards. Florida State, Auburn,
Tennessee and
Alabama are just a few of the schools Dickerson is considering.
The New Breed
RB Jordon Brown | Durham (N.C.)
Southern Durham
There are multiple combinations of "Thunder and Lightning" in
backfield and Brown is going to fit perfectly into that "Lightning" role
perfectly. There are seemingly more and more all-purpose backs that have success
at the college and NFL levels. They can take handoff out of the backfield or be
a dangerous wide receiver. That's exactly what Brown is. He is too fast with the
ball in his hands for linebackers and too quick for most defensive backs while
running routes. Look for Brown to break off big play after big play in Chapel
Hill.
Hardest Hitter
LB T.J. Brunson | Columbia
(S.C.) Richland Northeast
Brunson, a Louisville commit, brought a physical presence to the South Carolina
defense all week. He made a lot of stops on runs up the middle during team
drills and was physical with wide receivers as they crossed the middle of the
field. In the game, Brunson had a couple of big hits, including one on
B.J. Emmons that brought the fans to their feet.
Adam Friedman
Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Analyst
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