8/4/2012 football Edit

Summer standouts: TEs prove to be weapons

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ThesummercampshavewounddownandtheRivals.comrecruitinganalystswerealloverthecountry,scoutinghundredsofprospects.Overthenextweek,Rivals.comisreleasingourSummerStandoutslist,position-by-position.Hereisourlistofathletes.

Note:Thisdoesnotreflectaguaranteedmoveupinournextsetofrankings.Manyplayerslistedhadexcellentsummersbutalsoprovedwehadthemrankedinthecorrectrangeinourpreviousrankings.Theseareinalphabeticalorder.

JebBlazevichClickHeretoviewthisLink.,Charlotte(N.C.),Christian:Asoneofthehottestprospectsintheclassof2014,it'snosecretthatBlazevich'sstockisontherise.HespentthesummermakinghisnameknownthroughouttheSoutheast,includingstandoutperformancesatLSUClickHeretoviewthisLink.'sandClemsonClickHeretoviewthisLink.'scamps.Whilehissize(6-5,240)leadsmanytobelievehe'smoreofablocker,Blazevichisanythingbut.He'scomfortableplayinginspaceandhastheabilitytogetopen,especiallyagainstlinebackersandsafeties.

JakeButtClickHeretoviewthisLink.,Pickerington(Ohio)NorthPickerington:WhileitwillbetoughforthehighlyratedButttomoveupintherankings,hejustifiedhisalreadyloftystatuswithaterrificsummer.UpagainstthebestplayersinthenationatTheOpening,theMichiganClickHeretoviewthisLink.commitmorethanheldhisown,drawingstrongreviewsfromobserversandfellowcampers.

PeteCenderClickHeretoviewthisLink.,Howell(Mich.):Despitebeingathree-starprospectwithgreatsize(6-5,220),Cenderhasflownundertheradarformostofthesummer.HehadhisbesteffortattheMichiganStateClickHeretoviewthisLink.camp,butalsoperformedwellattheSoundMindSoundBodyCamp.He'scurrentlycommittedtoAirForce,wherehealsocampedthissummerandhisblockingabilitycombinedwithabilitytofindopenspotsonthefieldshouldhelphimatthenextlevel.

DylanChmuraClickHeretoviewthisLink.,Waukesha(Wisc.)West:Arelativelyunknownrecruitdespitehisfamousbloodlines,ChmuraturnedasolidperformanceattheMichiganStatecampintoanofferandacommitment.He'salreadyagoodblockerandpossessessofthands.Hemissedhisjuniorseasonwithakneeinjuryandislikelytobouncebackstronglyduringhisseniorseason.

GarrettDickersonClickHeretoviewthisLink.,Oradell(N.J.)BergenCatholic:AtaRutgersClickHeretoviewthisLink.campdominatedbyreceiversbackinJune,Dickersonshowedoutforthetightendposition.Therisingjuniorisaphysicalspecimenandhasgreatspeedforaplayerhissize.He'scomfortableliningupwithhishandinthedirtandplayingoutoftheslot.Hisstrengthandleapingabilityaretwotraitsthathavealsoendearedhimtocollegecoaches.

DanielHelmClickHeretoviewthisLink.,Chatham(Ill.)Glenwood:The6-foot-5,220-pound,2014tightendwasatopperformerattheRivalsUnderclassmanChallenge,aswellastheIllinoisNIKEcamp.Becauseofhisslightbuildhehastheabilitytoplaybothtightendandreceiver,butprojectsasatightendincollege.Helmalreadyhasthepass-catchingandroute-runningabilitytoplayatthenextlevel,andhe'llonlybecomeabetterblockerasheaddsweighttohisframe.

MikeHeuermanClickHeretoviewthisLink.,Naples(Fla.)BarronCollier:Heuermanelectedtogotoonlyoneoffseasoncamp,butmadeitcount.AttheIMG7-on-7,theNotreDameClickHeretoviewthisLink.-commitwasreliablecatchingtheball,andalsoshowedsomenicespeeddownthefield.He'snotthefastestguyonthefield,buthecangetopenandisagoodsafetyvalveforhisquarterback.

O.J.HowardClickHeretoviewthisLink.,Autuaga(Ala.)AutaugaAcademy:WhetheritwastheRivals100Five-StarChallenge,TheOpeningorGridironKings,Howardoutshinedthecompetition.At6-foot-6,Howardisaphysicalspecimen.Timeandtimeagainoverthesummerheshowedthathehasthehandsandgametogowithhisphysique.HepairedwithGeorgiaClickHeretoviewthisLink.-commitBriceRamseyClickHeretoviewthisLink.tohelpleadTeamSoutheasttotheGridironKingschampionship.

TravisJohnsonClickHeretoviewthisLink.,Tampa(Fla.)Jesuit:DespiteplayingoutofhisregionduringtheGridironKingseventinOrlando,JohnsonshowedwhyheisoneofthetopmembersofMiamiClickHeretoviewthisLink.'s2013class.HehelpedTeamMidwestsurprisemanyinadvancingtothefinals,andmighthavehadabiggerdayinthechampionshipgameifitweren'tforaveragequarterbackplay.JohnsonalsoperformedwellattheIMG7-on-7andwithalittleworkintheweightroomwillbeatop-endtalent.

KodaMartinClickHeretoviewthisLink.,Monroe(La.)OuachitaParish:Arisingjuniorandalready6-foot-6,245pounds,Martinhastheattentionofmostmajorprogramsacrossthecountry.HewasoneofthetopperformersatLesMilesTigerCampinJune,standingoutforhissizeandblockingability.Becauseofthoseattributes,someschoolswanthimanoffensivelineman,buthedoesn'tcarryverymuchbadweightandshouldbeabletoplaytightendifthat'swherehewantstoplayincollege.

JoshMcNeilClickHeretoviewthisLink.,Durham(N.C.)Hillside:Thefour-starwasasurprisestandoutattheRivalsFive-StarChallengeandfollowedthatwithanimpressiveperformanceatTheOpening.He'smoreofablockerthanareceiver,buthehastheabilitytogetopenandisalsosure-handed.HeshouldcombinewithHowardtogiveAlabamaClickHeretoviewthisLink.twoqualitytightendoptionsforthefuture.

KylePennistonClickHeretoviewthisLink.,SantaAna(Calif.)MaterDei:Oneofthefewclassof2015playerstoattendtotheRivalsUnderclassmenChallengewithanofferalreadyinhand,Pennistonstartedthesummerasariser.Butaftershowinggoodcoordinationandpass-catchingabilityforaplayerofhisageandsize,it'snowonderFloridaStateClickHeretoviewthisLink.offeredhimdespitealimitedroleduringhisfreshmanseason.Pennistontransferredschoolsduringtheoffseason,andfigurestoplayabigroleforMaterDeithisseason.

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DeSeanSmithClickHeretoviewthisLink.,LakeCharles(La.)Barbe:Anotherplayerwhowillhaveatoughtimemovingupbecauseofhisalreadyloftystatus,Smithhadagreatsummer.AttheRivals100Five-StarChallenge,heplayedtohisstrengths,helpinghimstandoutandbecomeafavoritetargetofthecamp'squarterbacks.SmithisstayingclosetohometoattendLSUClickHeretoviewthisLink.andhisperformanceoverthesummershowsthattheTigersareexactlywhattheyexpected.

Jacory WashingtonClick Here to view this Link., Westlake (La.): Washington is another player who turned in a solid performance at the Rivals Underclassman Challenge followed by the LSUClick Here to view this Link. camp last month. At 6-5 and 210 pounds, he's the prototypical 21st-century tight end. He has size, speed and the ability to catch the ball on a consistent basis, the perfect foundation for success at the next level. Just a rising junior, he picked up offers from AlabamaClick Here to view this Link. and ArkansasClick Here to view this Link. over the summer and plenty of other teams are likely to follow.

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