Monday, November 30, 2009

Superior Athlete

As Rivalry week comes to a close and seasons are pretty much defined the recruiting search begins to heat up. Not only our this years seniors a hot topic, but teams are also trying to build solid relationship with the rising juniors. That early relationship is key in not only getting early visits and consideration from recruits but also getting them into your summer camps for more evaluation.

As I continue to search for the best talent in the Southeast I came across a superior athlete at the quarterback position. Nick Marshall out of Rochelle, Georgia is an amazing find that will not remain a secret for very long. This 6'2 185 lbs. playmaker is dynamite running the ball. He has the speed and quickness to take a broken play and turn it into a game changing play. As I continue to watch him I am even more amazed by his arm strength. The clip I have of him is a short one, but its of him throwing two deep passes. The second one is a 70 yard bomb that is in the air the whole time. This type of talent does not come along very often and given coaching and refined quarterback skills the sky is truly the limit.

Check out this clip and see what you think. Also attached is a clip of him in action as a team player. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEQh1cSX18I&feature=related)

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

A Man Up Front

Offensive line is probably one of the most sought after positions in college recruiting. I mean think about it....if you can protect a quarterback as well as run the ball effectively you give yourself a chance to win. So when a player that has size, agility, and a mean streak college coaches are quick to jump on him.

The same could be said for Robert Crisp's recruitment process. A 6'7 306 lbs. tackle out of Hillsborough, North Carolina it is clear from film or in person why Robert would be the best lineman in the Southeast. Robert brings so much to the table as a player. First off the kid is huge and has a frame to add more muscle and still become more agile. The length of this kids arms make rushing the passer an extremely difficult task. Also, the fact that Robert is pretty agile and quick on his feet makes him a terror because if he gets in front of you he stays there.

This is probably one of the most talented offensive lineman to come out in a while especially if you look at his potential. I think with college coaching he will become a left tackle. Also, with added muscle he will become more balanced and really cause some issues in the running game. He just has too much size and speed not to be an elite blocker. I look for Crisp to make an early impact and have the ability to play in the NFL one day as well.

Check out the video and see what you think......

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Where You Win and Lose...

Between the two sports that I cover it is clear that players make quicker impacts in basketball. Because of the nature of the two sports; basketball does not require as much physical play and does not inflict the same type of toll on the body. Regardless of the lessened physical nature of basketball, the players who develop their bodies do seem to have a distinct advantage and have a more successful Jump to the Next Level.

Now I do not usually profile kids outside of the Southeast, but a player by the name of Tobias Harris (Glen Head, New York) has really caught my eye. This evening he will be deciding where he will attend college and a few of his schools of choice are in the South: Georgia Tech, Tennessee and Kentucky. Regardless of his choice Tobias has increased his stock tremendously over the last couple of years (from Top 150 to #5). The reason for such a jump in the rankings is his work ethic and dedication to getting in the gym an not just on the court. Tobias has increased his quickness, and strength down low. The 6'8 230 lbs power forward could likely be moved to small forward so his increased speed is a plus. That along with his ball handling improvement makes Harris a nightmare match up in the post, in the open floor, and on the perimeter.

Check out this talented player who does everything really well and plays the game smooth and effortlessly.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

The Next Big One

College basketball is built on big time players doing well and building programs. With this thought in mind coaches are always looking for the next phenom to take their team to the promise land. As this search widens often kids get noticed at younger ages, but only if they possess the skills to play with the older kids. Camps often provide this venue for younger players.

Well in my search for the next big recruit I have come across an young man with a world of talent and time to develop that skill level. Rodney Purvis who is a 2013 kid (that means he is in 8th grade) seems to be the next big thing. The 6'3 young gun really does some nice things on the court that make you reminder yourself that wow this kid is only in 8th grade.

What you see from Purvis on film is a naturally strong kid that gets to the hole fairly easily and can finish with both hands around the rim. He has good ball handling skills that will only get better. Rodney also has a nice mid range jumper that keeps the defense honest. Defensively he continues to learn, but its clear that in another 2 to 3 years Rodney will be an elite player if he continues to improve at his current pace. Check out this video and see what you think.......

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Clogging Up The Middle

Certain years certain positions are more in demand than others. While some positions are always coveted. This year it seems that defensive lineman are in demand especially when it comes to the interior guys. Also, the fact that there are not a lot of elite players speaks volumes as to why many 4 star recruits have the pick of the litter when it comes to schools so to speak.

One guy who is very much in that situation is a defensive tackle by the name of Jeff Whitaker. The 6'3 290lbs. man has offers from most of the big schools in the South and around the country and has finally narrowed his list to North Carolina, South Carolina, Auburn, California, and Georgia. With all of these schools vying for his services it would seem his play warrants the attention.

Once you pop on the film of Jeff the thing that popped into my head was "space eater." I mean he is usually the biggest kid on film and every time you watch him it looks like kids struggle to block him. And when they do seem to block him its not much of a block. Jeff constantly stalemates his opponents and must be run away from since he does clog up so much space. I think he can be an excellent 3 technique. He has good explosion, but needs to improve on hand placement as well as extension and locking his opponent out. He will not wow you with his speed an pass rushing ability, but given proper coaching he will be extremely tough to run against and will push the pocket into the quarterbacks lap. Check out his video and see what you think.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Electrifying

Today's post is pure personal interest. I mean so often fans coaches and everything in between watch an comment on things based on their preferences. Well I love to see exciting playmakers on both sides of the ball. Give me an inconsistent playmaker who has potential an skills over a polished player who has reached their potential any day. I like seeing kids who play on raw ability because I believe with proper coaching they can become great decision makers and in the end great ball players.

Today I am looking at an electrifying receiver out of Bradenton, Florida. Ace Sanders who is listed at 5'9 170 lbs. is one of those kids that just has "it". All you have to do is get Ace the ball and he does the rest. To me in the open field this kid can be a real nightmare. He has so much quickness laterally and burst in an out of cuts he reminds me somewhat of Noel Devine in his ability to make things happen. This past year he averaged 19 yards per catch and per run, so however you can get the ball in his hands he will do the rest.

Of course I think Ace has only begun to show what he can do on the field. He can improve on his route running and at times he tries to do too much since he does have so much ability. I think given the right offense Ace's skills can be maximized, but regardless I see Sanders committing to a big school who comes in late possibly Clemson or Florida State.

Check out Ace's skills and see what you think.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Early Signing Period

For the last couple of years the NCAA has enacted the early signing period for basketball recruits. The first period was this past Friday, an some of the top talent across the nation got their choices out of the way an can focus on the season.

One of those top talents is a shooting guard out of Hinesville, GA by the name of Rion Brown. I have seen this kid play a few times in AUU tournaments and the more I see him the more I am impressed. When you see Rion the first thing that jumps out to you is his height standing at 6'5 185 lbs. His long frame makes for a difficult match-up in terms of defending Rion. His offensive game is a mature one an the thing that sticks out to me is the patience that he plays with. Rion is never in a hurry weather making a drive to the hole or shooting the perimeter jumper.

Rion is a very very good shooter. He can extend the defense with his shot from beyond the arch. He consistently knocks down this shot, thus making him a hard cover when he pulls it down and takes it to the hole. His long arms allow him to take it up over most defenders. The best an most polished part of Rion's game is the back to the basket portion. Rion is able to isolate smaller defenders and fade away which makes him almost impossible to defend. This coupled with his ability to spin an take it to the whole is why Rion is one of the better shooting guards in the Southeast.

Check out Rion's talent an see what kind of recruit the University of Miami is getting.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Brushing It Off

So often people think that the only people in recruiting that get burned are the coaches or the schools win players commit an then de-commit, or transfer, or they just don't become very good collegiate players. Well I would beg to differ on that, players get burned all the time. Schools look to stock pile talent and often provide empty promises that leave young men wondering what happened.

In the case of Devin Burns he was hit with a different type of disappointment. The 6'4 185 lbs. athlete out of Columbus, GA. was ready to make a decision on what school he was going to attend. After trimming down the 10+ offer list he had decided to go with the hometown Georgia bulldogs. Well much to his disappointment when he was ready the bulldogs were having second thoughts and rescinded their offer. Despite that set back the athlete who plays quarterback for Carver high kept moving like he does when defenders get in his way and decided to go with Maryland University. Although it was not his original plan it seems as though with Devin's positive outlook things will work out.

Now as far as Devin's ability on the football field he has a world of talent. I believe at the Maryland the fact that Devin runs so well will be an asset to their spread offense. He also is an extremely accurate passer, who was not asked to throw the ball deep very often, but did work the sidelines well and over the middle. The best thing about Devin's game is the ability to extend the play with his feet in avoiding the rush. For a running quarterback Devin does an excellent job of not only keeping his eyes down field for open receivers, but stepping into throws even as defenders rush to make hits. And if quarterback doesn't work out his has the athletic ability to become a good receiver as well.

Check out Devin's skill set an let me know what you think......

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

The Last of a Dying Breed

As college football and football as a whole continues to change an transform some things are added and thus some things are taken away. One of the things that has clearly been somewhat taken away from football is the position of fullback. In a sport that praises points and exciting offenses the fullback position tends to be relegated to traditional I-set offenses and more consistent running attacks.

Despite the fact that the fullback position is becoming extinct, some programs continue to use it. In the SEC the University of Georgia, LSU, and Alabama all use the position. In the ACC Miami, Georgia Tech, and Virginia Tech use the position as well. Well one player is clear to show why the position should not soon be forgotten. Brandon Worle out of LaGrange, GA stands at 6'1 237 lbs. An imposing figure to say the least, Brandon brings a lot to the field that coaches want in a player. He catches, blocks, and runs the ball very well. But his size and versatility will allow him to play and dominate because of his match ability on the field. He is a tough cover since he uses his body well in the passing game. And as a blocker its a great joy as a coach to watch him consistently pave a path for running backs with crushing hits.

I think with proper conditioning and a regimented weight lifting program Brandon Worle will be very successful. He has signed with LSU and reminds me very much of a former Tiger running back in Jacob Hester. After watching his film let me know what you think of this dominant player.....

Monday, November 9, 2009

A Tall Order

When you see a 6-7 228 lbs. young man your first thought is wow that guy must play basketball. Better yet a guy who stops playing football after his sophomore year in order to focus more on basketball seems logical. Even more interesting is a highly touted power forward who hangs up the gym shoes for a pair of cleats.

All of the above is referring to Adrian Hubbard. A senior at Norcross high school just outside of Atlanta, GA. In one of the biggest late bloomers I have ever seen on a football field this former basketball player has spent the last year focusing all his efforts on the gridiron. The standout weakside defensive end has come on in his senior season and the recruiting trail has reflected his impact. This unknown player at the beginning of the season, has recently picked up upwards of 20 offers including most of the SEC and ACC schools.

What Adrian brings to the field is something to rave about. Most players of his stature do not have the mobility and agility that Adrian has. When I watch him I think of a taller version of Jason Taylor. He has excellent feet that position him to make plays all over the field. Adrian also uses his hands and extension to engage and get rid of blockers. With his long stride he can make plays behind the line of scrimmage as well as down field. The biggest thing that standout to me is his advance level of play for a guy who is really a basketball player. Adrian has a very aggressive reckless style that makes him a dream to coach. His unlimited potential is what has coaches raving. Check out his film an see how talented and advance this guy really is.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Old Players Revisited

Its Sunday night and as I look through local recruiting sites and recent offers I would like to point out some notable players that I have profiled that are continuing to get attention and offers and in some cases beginning to get offers.

Union Grove is the big winner with Avery Walls, who last month got his first offer from the University of Oklahoma. The junior safety has an additional offer from Standford an is constantly getting calls as the season comes to a close.

Union Grove also has a senior athlete who has become the target of many SEC schools. His superior athleticism and ability to make things happen with the ball in his hand has gotten the attention of the University of Georgia and Mississippi, as well as Georgia Tech.

Storm Johnson along with Eduardo Clements have both signed as running backs with the University of Miami. These two dynamic backs will bring a lot of talent to the program. Their combination of size and speed make for a great asset. Storm is more of a between the tackles runner, while Eduardo can catch screens an run on pass routes both causing the defense real issues.

Video's on all of the above can be found on older post throughout my blog. Continue to read an check for updates and see me profile the best seen and unseen players across the Southeast specifically in Georgia and Florida.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Just Get'em On The Field

As I sit on the couch each Saturday and watch college football its clear that one thing separates the big schools from the small ones. Athletes! The more you have the better chance you have to win the game. It is my opinion that players are the ones that win games. So when I see great players in high school that play both ways or any position that their team needs I say Just get them on a college field no matter what the position.

When I watched a recent high school game I felt the same when I saw Damian Swann. The athlete out of Grady high school in Atlanta, Ga can really do it all. First off he plays free safety, wide receiver, and most recently quarterback. As a safety Damian is a ball hawk that is always a threat to return an interception for six points. His physical style is a apparent with 6'0 180 lbs. frame coupled with 4.4 speed. When lining up as a receiver Damian just needs a little room and he can wreak havoc on a defense. And when he lines up as quarterback he just flat out runs around and makes plays to move the chains.

As I project Damian to the next level I see him playing either safety or wide receiver. His allusive style really makes him a promising playmaker in any system. But I cannot deny the fact that he has great potential as a deep safety that with added weight will be a real player. Seeing as Damian is only a junior an is already getting offers from SEC schools its only a matter of time before he is known around the country as a Percy Harvin type playmaker. Check out his video, Damian is #1.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

A Winning Trend

So often certain programs are defined by a unique style. A style that brings in recruits and wins games. Florida has their spread offense, UGA has its pro style offense, South Carolina its aggressive defense. Each school has its trade mark an recruits according to its style of play.

Well the style of the Alabama is a ruff an rugged running game that controls the line of scrimmage and the clock. Glenn Coffee, Mark Ingram, and now Jalston Fowler is the key to this style of ball. In high school this bruiser played both linebacker as well as running back. But in college I see him playing either running back or fullback. The thing I like most about this kid is his size an aggressive nature in which he attacks the line of scrimmage. Listed at 6'0 240lbs it is clear that he has talent in just a physical nature. With college coaching and an offensive line to pave the road Fowler will definitely get some playing time in the near future.

The thing is Fowler does not get enough credit for his speed and quick feet through the hole. He should be given the opportunity to play at running back. He can block as well as get to the corner on any defense. He also can catch the ball out of the back field with soft hands. The biggest plus for Fowler is that he moves the pile with force as well as brings an attitude to an offense. The areas of improvement will be better down hill running through the hole as well as continuing to drive his feet, but with the coaching and competition at Alabama I see this being a no-brainer.

Check out his video below an see if you would want to tackle him......

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Playing Below The Radar

Basketball is a lot different than football when it comes to exposure. Not many places have passing leagues that go on during the summer to the degree that the AAU circuit goes on during the basketball off season. In my mind basketball has no off season especially when it comes to AAU games, tournaments, and workouts. With so much time to improve and mold a players game it usually doesn't take long for players to get noticed.

Well in the case of K.T. Harrell, getting notice to the degree that he is now took a little longer than usual. K.T. who is a shooting guard out of Montgomery, AL is very solid. Now some would say that isn't really a compliment. Well in my mind it speaks volumes as to how good this 6'4 guard's game really is. K.T. is the type of player that can shoot, defend, rebound, and anything else a coach would ask of him. He just understands how to play the game and works extremely hard in order to continue to improve his game.

K.T. is valuable as a defender because he knows how to use his body and hands in the passing land, and moves his feet extremely well in order to gain position on players. He also has a very good offensive game. He has one of the more developed mid range games that you will see on the high school level. That coupled with his ability to knock down shots from beyond the arc consistently make him very dangerous. If K.T. continues to improve his ball handling and his much underrated post game (very nice fade away jumper) he will cause a lot of problems for opposing teams. Check out his clips an let me know what you think.....

Monday, November 2, 2009

Versatility Is Key

With the changes in offenses and defenses throughout college football the affects in recruiting are clear. Versatility is the name of the game. Finding players that can do a lot of different things on the field as well as playing on both sides of the ball can make an break a recruitment for both players and coaches. One current issue brought this to my mind. The University of Georgia has a sophomore running back named Richard Sammuels who has not produced much at the position, but talk of moving him to linebacker is only possible because of his versatility.

The same can be said for a Florida recruit, Gerald Christian out of Palm Beach Gardens, FL. The 6'3 225 lbs. TE/LB has a lot to offer on the field. Not only can he run from side line to side line but he also has the ability to catch the ball and make plays all over the field. Gerald has the frame to add weight, and his speed is the biggest part of his game. I cannot see him much as a blocker, but will improve somewhat. Florida's offense will suit his skill set.

As I evaluate Gerald I would begin him at TE much like Florida seems to be doing. His ability to stretch the middle of the field and make tough catches will make a difficult match up for any team. That coupled with his rough and rugged running style that shows why he is a good defender makes for a tough task for any defense. When checking out Gerald's film, he is #32 and is shown on both sides of the ball, but mainly as a pass catching TE.

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