The first five-stars: Laremy Tunsil
They are the best of the best. The players that are wanted by every program and destined to make a big impact at the college level and beyond.
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Rivals.com has identified the first five-star prospects for the 2013 class and is unveiling them this week. Ten prospects have been awarded five-stars but are not ranked at this time and we will profile two each day. The next player to receive the five-star spotlight is Lake City (Fla.) Columbia offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil.
Five stars: Laremy Tunsil
Tunsil already has a long list of offers from top college programs.
HIGHLIGHT REELS
Laremy Tunsil, OT, Lake City (Fla.) Columbia
Attributes: 6-6, 275 pounds
Top schools: Offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Purdue, South Florida, and USC with many more to come.
Scouting report: Tunsil has been a multi-year starter for Columbia and earned all-area accolades as a sophomore while handling left tackle duties for Columbia. He has benefited in his high school career of competing day-in and day-out with college-level defensive linemen such as Timmy Jernigan, now at Florida State, and Dequan Ivery, who is committed to Louisville. On Friday nights, a majority of Columbia's offense goes directly behind Tunsil's blocking at the line and he provides the ability to get down field and make a key block to spring huge plays.
Analyst's take: "Tunsil already has excellent size as a high school junior with a long, lanky frame and a great, wide wingspan. He has great bend, very quick, agile feet and is explosive off the snap. He has good strength but is continuing to make gains with regards to that. He has great instincts and reaction. His initial punch on blocking is very good and he keeps his feet moving on contact. He is an excellent pass blocker and has developed very well as a run blocker over the past season. He does a fair job of getting to the second level or into space as a run blocker and is adept at hitting a moving target." - Chris Nee, Florida Analyst, Rivals.com
Why he's a five-star: "There is no way 2013 can possibly match the 2012 offensive tackle class, but Tunsil is a guy who would fit right in with this year's bumper crop. He is a superior athlete for his size, has room to grow and add good weight, uses his long arms very effectively and pays with consistent pad level as well as with an aggressive nature. His footwork is excellent and his upside is sky high because he already has pass blocking down which is something many young tackles struggle with. He's as complete as they get at a very important position in this class. " - Mike Farrell, Rivals.com
His coach says: "He has all the physical assets to be one of the better ones to ever play his position. That kind of sums it up about him. He has the ability to be a first-round draft pick. Looking at the guys I played with and against (in college and the NFL), at this early age and this stage of his career, he has all the tools to be one of those guys they are calling off the board with a top ten pick five years from now. I really think he is that special. … I really think the sky is the limit for him." - Columbia coach Brian Allen
Odds and ends: This past summer, Tunsil earned Tallahassee Nike Camp MVP honors on the offensive line. Others who competed amongst the offensive line segment in Tallahassee included LSU senior offensive line commitment Patrick Miller…. Tunsil was one of only a few underclassmen who was invited to Nike's 'The Opening' this past summer in Beaverton, Oregon….The big man says that his biggest inspiration is his mother.
NFL player comparison: D'Brickashaw Ferguson, New York Jets
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