Under Armour Prospect Analysis: Thursday
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.– Rivals.com recruiting analyst Barry Every breaks down some of the top performers from Thursday's White squad practices at the Under Armour All-American Game.
Analysis: Under Armour All-American Game Thursday
Advertisement
ATH Stephon Gilmore, 6-1/180, Rock Hill (S.C.) South Pointe
ASSETS: Excellent change of direction, serious ball skills, and good overall body structure.
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: Would like to see him be more aggressive in run support.
WHAT WAS MOST IMPRESSIVE IN PRACTICE: Had a nice interception in 11-on-11 taking it away from a receiver and his own teammate, Craig Loston.
CONCLUSION: Gilmore is definitely a top five player in South Carolina. Look for him to get looks as a corner, free safety, and slot receiver for the Gamecocks.
OT Kevin Graf, 6-6/301, Agoura (Calif.)
ASSETS: Has tremendous overall size and a nasty disposition on the gridiron.
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: Needs to work on his lateral movement if he is to have any chance at playing offensive tackle at the next level.
WHAT WAS MOST IMPRESSIVE IN PRACTICE: Proved in pass protection that he is not a guy you can beat using the bullrush move. He is too big and strong.
CONCLUSION: Right now I think he will be a huge run mashing offensive guard at USC. He has the size to compete for a spot on the two-deep as a freshman.
WR Alshon Jeffrey, 6-3/214, St. Matthews (S.C.) Calhoun County
ASSETS: Has good height, long arms, and maybe the best hands at this event.
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: Really needs to work on overall speed and quickness.
WHAT WAS MOST IMPRESSIVE IN PRACTICE: He had a diving touchdown catch while being covered very tightly by Craig Loston.
CONCLUSION: Jeffrey should be an immediate threat inside the red zone early in his career. He has the strength and body control to take balls away from smaller defenders.
OT Taylor Lewan, 6-7/272, Scottsdale (Ariz.) Chaparral
ASSETS: Excellent height, long arms, and really athletic feet.
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: Needs to gain at least 25 to 30 pounds in order to become an effective run blocker.
WHAT WAS MOST IMPRESSIVE IN PRACTICE: His lateral movement and natural knee bend was probably the best of all the linemen on the White team.
CONCLUSION: Lewan has the ideal frame for the strength coaches at Michigan to work with. Lewan is almost definitely redshirt material, but after that watch out. The sky is the limit for this long armed mauler.
LB Ronnell Lewis, 6-3/220, Dewar (Okla.)
ASSETS: Has very good overall size and plays downhill.
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: Is a tad stiff. I would like to see him work on flexibility and lateral movement.
WHAT WAS MOST IMPRESSIVE IN PRACTICE: He took a great angle on Trent Richardson trying to kick it outside. If they were in full tackle mode it would have been a collision for the ages.
CONCLUSION: The biggest adjustment Lewis will have to make is the jump from small school ball to the college limelight. He has all the tools to be a real defensive warrior for the Sooners.
TE Arthur Lynch, 6-5/240, Dartmouth (Mass.)
ASSETS: Very good overall body structure and he does not mind contact.
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: Seems to be a tad mechanical in his route running. I would like him be more fluid in that area.
WHAT WAS MOST IMPRESSIVE IN PRACTICE: Did an excellent job in run blocking by getting the outside edge against Craig Roh. He used his long arms and low pad level to gain positional advantage.
CONCLUSION: Lynch really looks the part of a traditional tight end. He will be an every down blocking tight end and above average receiver for Georgia.
OLB Dexter Moody, 6-2/205, Twin City (Ga.) ECI
ASSETS: Really fluid in the hips. He has quick feet and is fast.
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: Still learning the position and where to properly line up. Moody just needs more reps.
WHAT WAS MOST IMPRESSIVE IN PRACTICE: During agility drills there was little doubt Moody was the most athletic linebacker on the White team.
CONCLUSION: I already know Moody is a monster on special teams, but once he learns more about the linebacker position expect him to be a real terror on defense in the SEC.
DE Craig Roh, 6-5/230, Scottsdale (Ariz.) Chaparral
ASSETS: High energy guy that plays with passion. He also has incredibly low pad level at the point of attack.
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: Needs to add at least 25 more pounds to be an effective run stopper in the Big Ten.
WHAT WAS MOST IMPRESSIVE IN PRACTICE: Roh was really quick off the edge and took advantage of the fact that there was no real left offensive tackle on the White team.
CONCLUSION: Roh has a lot of upside but is most likely a redshirt candidate that needs to get bigger and stronger in the Wolverine weight room in 2009.
LB Manti Te'o, 6-2/225, Honolulu (Hawaii) Punahou
ASSETS: Great instincts, good pad level, and plays at 110 percent on every practice snap.
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: Needs to work on his overall speed.
WHAT WAS MOST IMPRESSIVE IN PRACTICE: Sniffed out a reverse and blew the play up deep in the backfield.
CONCLUSION: Look for Te'o to be a true in your face physical inside linebacker that will make crushing hits and bring ball carriers out of their shoes.
LB Tom Wort, 6-1/210, New Braunfels (Tex.)
ASSETS: Plays full speed all the time and is very fast and athletic for a potential inside linebacker.
AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: Needs to work on his backpedal while in pass coverage. He also has a tendency to overrun plays because he is extremely aggressive.
WHAT WAS MOST IMPRESSIVE IN PRACTICE: During agility drills he flashed his superior straight ahead speed as he ran from cone to cone.
CONCLUSION: If he continues to progress in his knowledge of the game he could be a real terror in the Big 12. Wort has no fear and will run through his own teammate to make a tackle, thus the nickname "British Assassin".
[rl]