USC camp: Top defensive performers
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Recruiting wrap: Hayes is committed to USC.
Performance: The five-star outside linebacker has been known to shut down opponents in coverage and he did that Wednesday on his future practice field. But perhaps the most impressive thing Hayes did in front of assistant coach Peter Sirmon was rush the passer. He blew up a couple plays by beating tackles on the outside and made sure to let them hear about it.
3
CB
Deommodore Lenoir 92017)
Los Angeles (Calif.) Salesian
Recruiting wrap: Washington is the latest to offer the four-star and UCLA and many others have offered early as well.
Performance: Lenoir has earned a reputation for being a little small in stature but being super physical at the line of scrimmage and he makes nothing easy on the receivers. On short routes, Lenoir can come over the top or step in front of a pass. On the long ball, the 2017 prospect had one of the nicest interceptions of the day. He proved time and again that every time he lines up, Lenoir is going to give 100 percent.
4
CB
Thomas Graham (2017)
Corona (Calif.) Eleanor Roosevelt
Recruiting wrap: USC offered during the Rising Stars Camp and the Trojans are considered one of the favorites. UCLA, Arizona State and Oklahoma also look good.
Performance: Graham was smooth in coverage all day and the thing that most stood out was the four-star does not get fooled or tripped up on double moves. The 2017 prospect is not overly physical -- he just sticks with receivers as they try to separate from him without much success. He had a nice deflection on a crossing route and down the sideline he was stride-for-stride all day.
5
DB
Chaz Ah You (2017)
Saratoga Springs (Utah) Westlake
Recruiting wrap: BYU, Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Utah, Washington, Washington State and Wisconsin are among the schools that have offered, but Ah You is taking things slow.
Performance: The 6-foot-1, 185-pound safety played quarterback his sophomore season out of necessity, but he didn't show any signs of rust in the secondary. Ah You looked plenty comfortable in a rover role, scanning routes as they developed and then breaking quickly to the football. On one play, the four-star prospect had a leaping interception at the goal line that got the defensive assistants excited.
6
ATH
Maleik Gray (2017)
La Vergne, Tenn.
Recruiting wrap: Gray has close to 20 scholarship offers on the table, and has Florida State and Tennessee at the top, though he is not close to making a decision.
Performance: The stocky defensive back was fluid during individual drills and earned some praise for his ability to break off his backpedal. Gray, one of the top underclassmen at the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge in Baltimore earlier this month, showed good instincts as part of the first-team defense that had its way against the offensive side.
7
DT
Ellenwood (Ga.) Cedar Grove
Recruiting wrap: Jackson plans to release his top schools in July and he could commit before his junior season.
Performance: Jackson was a bull during one-on-one drills, winning most of his reps by exploding into the offensive lineman and then beating him with power, sometimes speed. The four-star was relentless during team drills as well and swallowed up running backs on numerous occasions. Jackson was much more physical than a lot of interior offensive linemen at the event.
8
DE
Clovis (Calif.) Buchanan
Recruiting wrap: Young holds offers from Colorado State, Fresno State, Michigan, Oregon State and UCLA.
Performance: The four-star was a pass-rushing force off the edge, beating helpless offensive tackles with his pure speed and relentlessness. Young's repertoire of moves wasn't vast, but he showed a quick first step and stayed low to fight through blocks. He might have been the most physically impressive defensive end in the event and would appear to be in line for a monster senior season.
9
CB
Elijah Gates (2017)
Buena Park, Calif.
Recruiting wrap: Gates is waiting on his first offer.
Performance: Gates made one of the nicest plays all day in the back of the end zone where he timed the ball perfectly and beat the receiver to the spot and made the interception. Other times, the 2017 three-star was just about perfect in coverage and the receiver just made a really nice catch. Either way, the Buena Park prospect is someone who should emerge during his junior season and it seems offers are almost inevitable.
10
LB
Honolulu (Hawaii) St. Louis
Recruiting wrap: Iosefa is committed to USC.
Performance: The 6-foot-2, 225-pound outside linebacker moved well during the 7-on-7 portion of camp, staying with tight ends through their breaks and displaying the footwork that netted him an offer from the Trojans at the recent Maximum Exposure Camp in Hawaii. Iosefa also had a good showing in 11-on-11, plugging gaps with his size and fighting off blocks to stuff running lanes.
11
DT
Houston (Texas) Westside
Recruiting wrap: Elliott is committed to Houston.
Performance: Elliott was having a quiet day until the team drills (11-on-11), when he dominated a few reps and really used a mix of size and speed to get into the backfield. There was no tackling allowed, but the three-star would have walloped a few running backs and quarterbacks because he broke free from offensive linemen and he was standing right there to make numerous plays. Elliott came on strong late in the day.
Blair Angulo
West Recruiting Analyst
Adam Gorney
West Recruiting Analyst
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