Position Picking

This weekend I was speaking with a female friend of mine and I was laughing at the fact that her younger cousin was receiving scholarship offers for a position he did not currently play in football. She kept thinking that school must have gotten his name mixed up or something because in her mind there was no way he could play a different side of the ball.

The funny thing is coaches always try and project players based on all sorts of things from size, playing ability, to even potential growth changes. A perfect example is an outside linebacker by the name of Josh Harvey-Clemons out of Valdosta, Georgia. The 6'5 210 lbs. outside linebacker is a freak of nature physically. Harvey-Clemons is currently being recruited as a wide receiver by Alabama as well as a few other SEC schools. Although he shows very capable skills at the wideout position I think the true potential comes as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. Harvey-Clemons frame is one that would allow him to bulk up 25-35 lbs. on the college level. Besides Harvey-Clemons potential, on film he shows great body positioning to leverage smaller players and the range he brings to the linebacker position is amazing. Harvey-Clemons has the raw talent and ability to play early especially on special teams, but given a year to improve physically I look for Harvey-Clemons to become a dominant force in whatever program he wishes to attend.

I urge anyone to watch Harvey-Clemons film and not see the potential oozing out of this star in the making.

Last Minute Visits

Well sports fans it is that time of season..... Yes, this is the time that the recruiting trail gets very hot. Players begin to narrow their decisions because of recruiting visits, team records, and even family pressure. So often the way teams end the season have a direct impact especially if recruits are able to witness first hand winning football.

This past weekend Jordan Jenkins a prized recruit out of Harris Count, Georgia may have become a little more intrigued by a particular program. The 6'3 245 lbs outside linebacker took an official visit to UGA for the drubbing they put on Auburn. Jenkins came away very impressed with his visit and apparently may have another legitimate school to pick from besides Alabama and Florida.

What I come way most impressed with when I watch film of Jordan Jenkins is his raw and natural talent. I mean he has a nose for the ball and plays extremely hard. Jordan plays a very aggressive style of ball that any defensive coach would love to have. Jordan does a very good job of maintaining low leverage in order to defeat blockers and has a very quick first step. I think that if a college coach continues to work on his hand work and technique that this young man can quickly make an impact on a college program. I think if Jordan will mature into a outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense and will get a lot of opportunities to get to the quarterback.

Check out Jordan's film and comment on what you think.

Ahead of the Curve

In today's recruiting climate it is always important for schools to find and sign talent before the word gets out. Schools create great relationships with high school coaches, recruiting companies, and high school visits. Anything that can be used to get a jump on the competition is essential in getting potential prospects in the door and signed. Recruiting quarterbacks is often even more difficult because there are obviously fewer it isn't often that one goes without notice.

That has been the case for Quarterback Brice Ramsey out of Camden County, GA. The 6'3 190 lbs., 2013 has only started three games in his high school career. But because of the internet, camps, and word of mouth Brice has already received 4 division I offers. The recent Georgia Bulldog commit has all the tools to really develop into a solid quarterback. Luckily Brice has time to improve on his body of work and gaining experience is one of the biggest issues.

Brice currently can make all of the throws needed for the next level. Brice possess a great ability to deliver the ball accurately on the run and shows very sound mechanics overall. The zip that he has on all of his passes compensate for his immaturity and slight issue with staring down receivers. He has very good mobility and does a good job with footwork within the pocket to avoid defenders. Brice does need to continue to gain weight in order to deal with the beating that most college quarterbacks have to endure. I look forward to Brice Ramsey not only receiving more offers, but also taking his talents to a prominent college and having an impact on Saturday's in the near future.

The Green Effect

Most people may think that when players graduate and go off to the NFL that their involvement with the recruiting process is over. Well that is far from it, often players who becomes stars in the league have a lasting impact. In the case of the University of Georgia players like A.J. Green are not only brought in to speak with incoming players, but their accomplishments and memorable moments are plastered throughout the football complex.

In the case of Georgia I have seen an increase in the amount of top tier wide receiver that have not only attended UGA, but also visit. Josh Abrams may soon be one of those future bulldogs that is a result of the Green effect. Standing at a stout 6'2 205 lbs., Josh is a physically impressive kid who has not been heavily recruited thus far. Despite this you can see from Josh's film that he is a very athletic 205 lbs. with extremely impressive body control. Josh uses this body control to shield defenders making it even more difficult to defend him. Josh also is very skilled in the return game, and uses his lateral quickness and bigger body to ward off defenders.

Although Josh Abrams is not being as heavily recruited as some other players it is clear that he can be an impactful player on the next level. Josh is the type of player that you have to evaluate on the field and not in drills. In the end I know Josh will begin to roll in with bigger offers.

Versatility in the Secondary

The game of football has evolved in so many different ways over the years. One of the biggest evolutions on the defensive side of the ball has come from the safety position. Whether it be a free or strong safety versatility and field savvy is key. Many of todays elite safeties have been compared to Swiss Army knifes because of all the responsibilities they are given on the field.

One player with a ton of potential and skill at the safety position in the 2012 class is Eddie Williams. The rangy 6'4 195 lbs., safety out of Panama City, Florida impresses me more than I originally thought. What quickly stands out from the film is Eddie's very aggressive and hard hitting mentality. For a skinnier guy you would think he would be a deep safety who is a ball hawk, but Eddie can really lay the hat. Eddie just has a knack for making big hits, but does a great job of deciding on wether to go for the interception or make that big hit.

Eddie reminds me a lot of a former UGA safety in Greg Blue. An un-traditionally tall safety that can really hit. Most coaches have slotted Eddie as an athlete rather than a safety. I think a lot of coaches shy away from taller safeties because the taller guys usually cannot turn their hips quite as well, a key in the secondary. The difference with Williams is he has a natural body lean, and has really good footwork that allows him to drop his hips quickly and with ease. Williams also possess great leaping ability that makes him very difficult to complete deep passes against.

The other great thing about Eddie Williams is his ability to play the wide receiver position. Although I think he has the talent and versatility to be an extremely talented safety he could always go to the other side of the ball and make catches.....

Beast Mode

Growing up around football I learned at an early age that the eye in the sky never lies. Well recently a friend of mine sent me a tape of a kid out of Florida that embodies the phrase "beast mode" on the high school level. And the eye in the sky definitely did not lie about this talent.

As soon as I turned on the tape of Derrick Henry I knew the kid had talent. After a little more research I found that Derrick is considered the top recruit in the state of Florida for the class of 2013. The 6'3 230 lbs., running back combines a skill set rarely seen out of an individual of his size. Henry really reminds me a lot of Michael Bush coming out of high school just a little more trim. Henry possess very good speed and an elusiveness that allows him to continuously break tackles and make defenders miss. That coupled with the ability to run over defenders in the open field is what leads me to describe Derrick Henry as Beast Mode on the high school level. One of the big things that I noticed watching Henry was his knack for cutting left. Henry uses his ability to cut going left to his advantage since most offensive plays tend to run towards the right side. Another thing is that observers may think that Henry is not running that fast, but when you see him continuously out run defender after defender regardless of position you realize he is very fast.

Although Henry still has another 2 years he has already committed to the University of Georgia. This commitment came during a Dawgs Camp at the University of Georgia. The commitment was something of a surprise since Henry had listed the hometown Florida Gators has his leading school. In the end I think UGA's lack of depth at the running back position as well as the pro style offense favors Derrick Henry's running style tremendously. Once Derrick has the chance to really get in a college weight room program and work on lowering his pad level to not run so upright the sky is the limit for this kid.

A Prime Time Effect

As most football fans know Deion Sanders, often considered the greatest cornerback of all time, was recently inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Deion was not only one of the biggest personalities off the field, but the physical skills that he possessed on the field are rarely rivaled. Deion can often be described as simply Fast, but his ball skills and ability to bait quarterbacks into throwing his way were a marvel to watch. I still remember thinking, "Man this guy is really fast.'

Not that a high-schooler could in anyway compare to Deion Sanders, but one of the best corners in the 2012 class is a young man by the name of Geno Smith. Geno Smith who is 5'11 178 lbs., is an extremely talented cover corner. Smith's ability to play off as well as he does in press coverage is very impressive considering his young age. So often kids will play more zone principals in high school considering the difficulties of man coverage. Smith also baits quarterbacks into a lot of throws by playing off and using his superior speed to make plays on the ball once it is in the air. One of the things that separates Geno from his peers are his ball skills. If Geno is around the ball it is most likely going to be his. Geno not only consistently makes tough catches, but with the ball in his hands he can return it all the way. Geno continues to separate himself from a lot of cornerbacks with his willingness to come up and make solid tackles. Smith is not your average corner looking to trip up ball carriers from behind.

With the extreme talent and skill set that Geno Smith possess, it is no wonder that he has challenged himself by attending a very defensively talented Alabama program. Alabama will do a great job of not only challenging Geno to improve, but also the chance of learning from such a great defensive mind like Nick Saban will allow Geno to one day have the opportunity to play on Sundays.

Check out Geno Smith's video and remember to comment.