jc shurburtt of 247 has his impressions spread out in about five posts over on the 247 blue board. i've summed it all here.first, his friday top ten and then his thumbnails on the kids he watched.JC ShurburttNational Recruiting Analyst for 247Sports.comThe Opening - Friday Top 10
1 Landon Collins, S, Geismar (La.) Dutchtown
Collins has great size, athleticism and ball skills and the winner of Wednesday’s SPARQ National Championship continued to show he was one of the best players at the event with two interceptions in one of his team’s game, including an electric return for a touchdown on the first one. We expect Collins to move up to five-star status on 247Sports when our rankings are re-worked in the coming months. His recruitment is an Alabama-LSU battle.
2 (tie) Chris Casher, DE, Mobile (Ala.) Faith Academy
After running a respectable 4.63-second 40-yard dash during testing on Wednesday, Casher backed it up during the offensive line/defensive line challenge by dominating in nearly every rep he took. Casher has the size, athleticism and first step to be an elite defensive end at Florida State, where he is committed. He has been one of the top performers here this week and should move up in the rankings when 247Sports reworks them in the coming months.
2 (tie) Nelson Agholor, ATH/WR, Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley Prep
You don't get a sense of how electric Agholor is with the ball in his hands until you see him in a setting like this. He has good size, but what makes him special is the ability to make people miss in the open field and get upfield in a hurry. Currently, Agholor says he's open, but USC, Texas and all of the in-state Florida schools, along with possibly Georgia, should be considered the teams to watch currently. Agholor is 247Sports' highest-ranked four-star prospect. He will push for five-star status.
3 Kyle Murphy, OT, San Clemente (Calif.)
During the offensive line/defensive line challenge, Murphy again showed why he’s one of the top prospects in the country and a five-star prospect according to 247Sports. The 6-foot-7, 280-pounder was dominant during one-on-ones. He has such good feet and balance and his strength (which will improve in time) allows him to stonewall defensive linemen that attempt to bull rush him. Murphy’s recruitment could come down to Oregon and Stanford, according to the buzz we heard on Friday.
4 Aziz Shittu, DT, Atwater (Calif.) Buhach Colony
There may not have been a quicker and more explosive defensive tackle during the offensive line/defensive line challenge than Shittu. He has an extremely quick first step, is elite with the use of his hands and has excellent strength. Shittu, who was committed to Stanford, now is back to open, but is expected to ultimately stay on the West Coast. USC is in the mix.
5 Connor Brewer, QB, Paradise Valley (Ariz.) Chaparral
Brewer, a Texas commit, isn’t going to blow anyone away in a camp setting, but on film and in a live 7-on-7 situation, he’s impressive. Brewer may not always throw a tight spiral, but he’s outstanding at finding and hitting the open receiver. He was firing the ball all over the field and hitting receivers in the hands for most of the afternoon Friday.
6 Duke Johnson, RB, Miami (Fla.) Norland
This setting is perfect for Johnson, a Miami (Fla.) commit, to display his outstanding quickness and hands. Multiple times, he showed the ability to make quick moves and make defenders miss in the open field, something that is not easy to do in a 7-on-7. Folks in Dade County, Fla., will tell you that Johnson is one of the more under-appreciated players in the Sunshine State in this recruiting cycle. Judging from his skill set he displayed on Friday, there may be something to that.
7 Johnathan Gray, RB, Aledo (Texas)
Heading into an event like this, you wouldn’t expect that Gray, a Texas commit, isn’t going to be one of the most impressive prospects- after all, what elite, five-star running backs like Gray do is shine in pads during actual games. But Friday, Gray showed outstanding ability to catch the ball in the open field and make people miss. Playing on Brewer’s team, he was an excellent short target for his future teammate.8 Ifeadi Ogenigbo, DE, Dayton (Ohio) CentervilleAt 6-foot-3, 212 pounds, Ogenigbo doesn’t have the size that a Casher has, but he’s extremely tough to block because of his speed and athleticism. Ogenigbo probably will have to make a transition to playing in space at the next level, something that he will likely be able to do with no problem considering his quickness and ability to shed blocks. His recruitment is wide open. Ohio State, Oregon, Alabama and others all are in the mix. 247sports ranks Ogenigbo the No. 1 overall prospect in the Buckeye State and we honestly haven’t seen a better player from that state in this recruiting cycle.9 Sean Price, TE, Citra (Fla.) North MarionPrice, a South Florida commit, has impressed at every 7-on-7 we have seen him at this recruiting cycle and Friday was no exception. The difference, though, was that Price looks like he’s put on 15-20 pounds of muscle since we scouted him in March- that’s a big deal because gaining weight and strength was one of the things he needed to work on. He played on the same team as Brewer and Gray and was a favorite target of Brewer for a good portion of the afternoon.
10 Armani Reeves, CB, West Roxbury (Mass.) Catholic Memorial
Reeves continues to show why 247Sports has him ranked among the best cornerback prospects in the nation. He’s not afraid to battle or play physical and also has excellent ball skills, hips and recovery speed. Very few times Friday did his man get open. Turn on the tape and you also will see a physical cornerback that isn’t afraid to come up and make a big hit in the running game. Reeves remains uncommitted, but most believe he will ultimately land at Penn State where his best friend, four-star linebacker Camren Williams, is committed.
The Opening - Player Impressions
Nelson Agholor — Agholor, the nation’s highest-ranked four-star prospect, did not disappoint. He’s got excellent quickness and speed for a player his size. Playing wide receiver, he was able to consistently get open and make big plays. He’s a five-star candidate for sure. Stock up.
Kwon Alexander — This isn’t an event where linebackers can showcase their skills in terms of tackling and playing the run game. This is an event where they can, however, show off their athleticism. That’s exactly what Alexander did during the course of the event. Stock up.
Dakota Ball — The Alabama commit isn’t a defensive tackle prospect that’s going to blow you away with the eyeball test, but in one-on-one drills with helmets and shoulder pads, he proved to posses outstanding strength and an ability to bull rush. Ball is a hard-nosed player who should translate well to the college level. Stock the same.
Zach Banner — The 6-foot-8 Banner looks like a future NFL offensive lineman when you eyeball him, but when he gets on the field in drills, it’s clear he has a ways to go. Banner plays too high and can’t win the leverage battle at times. On the positive end of things, though, if he gets his hands on you, it’s over because of his size and strength. He’s a spirited competitor, too. Stock down.
Corey Batey — Batey, a Nashville prospect and Vanderbilt commit, was one of the more impressive receivers during the 7on7 portion of the event. He has speed, explosiveness, hands and size and plays with extreme confidence. Stock up.
Chris Bivins — As he has done many times before, Bivins, a South Florida commit, battled and stood toe-to-toe with many talented receivers in this type of setting. He has good speed and change ofdirection. Bivins is a Bull for right now, but watch out if an SEC program like Tennessee starts making a big charge. Stock the same, already risen.Travis Blanks — Blanks was superb during the early games on Saturday. In one half, he had two interceptions, nearly had a third and had numerous pass break-ups. It’s my opinion that the Clemson commit is not a cornerback, he’s a big-time, rangy, tall free safety — like former Tiger Michael Hamlin but an upgrade. Stock up.Connor Brewer — Brewer makes all the right decisions and has a quick enough release and good enough field vision to consistently find open receivers. He doesn’t always throw a tight spiral, but he gets it to where it needs to be. He was consistently impressive throughout the event. Stock up.Deforest Buckner — The Hawaiian has a lot of upside. He’s still a bit raw, but showed some of his quickness and athleticism during one-on-one drills in the offensive line/defensive line challenge. He was not a prospect we had seen before this event, but was impressive. Stock up.James Burgess — Burgess is a player I saw back at the Miami Under Armour Combine in February and liked, but during this event he appears to have taken it up a notch. The linebacker was active in coverage and had a nice interception. Stock up.
Deon Bush — Bush played some cornerback and some safety at this event. He’s got good size and enough speed to cover a lot of ground in a hurry. I think his best position in college is at free safety. Stock the same.
Joel Caleb — Caleb has a big body, good hands and enough speed to make plays down field. I also saw some elusiveness out of the four-star wide receiver in the open field that I had not previously seen. I know Virginia Tech is pushing hard for him right now. Stock the same.
Alex Carter — Carter, a Stanford defensive back commit, has excellent size and range. He had a couple of great pass break-ups where he displayed tremendously quick reflexes and a break on the ball. Stock up.
Chris Casher — Casher was outstanding during the offensive/line defensive line challenge — he could not be blocked on a number of occasions — and the Florida State commit projects to be a 260-pound monster defensive end at the collegiate level once he’s finished developing. Stock up.
Landon Collins — Collins was the MVP of the entire event and I can think of a more impressive, dominant player in the event — and he’s a safety. He had multiple pick-6’s, several pass break-ups and he’s a physical specimen. Alabama or LSU will get a special player. Stock up.
Corey Coleman — The Baylor defensive back commit showed good quickness and had some impressive athletic moments during the event. Stock the same.
J.C. Coleman — Coleman showed an ability to hit another gear during one swing pass in particular on Saturday. His speed and burst is what makes the Virginia Tech running back commit dangerous. Stock the same.
Mike Davis — Davis was a player I didn’t mention during the event, but I should have. He’s always had great speed, but a slight build was a concern for the Florida running back commit. Well, he’s added muscle/size, is just as fast/quick and has a chance to have a downright special senior year. Impressive. Stock up.
Torshiro Davis — Davis is quick off the edge and with coaching/development should do just fine at LSU. He’s still a bit raw, but has the chance to be very good. Stock the same.
Kenyan Drake — Drake, an Alabama all-purpose running back commit, is a versatile prospect that uses his speed, size and hands to make big plays in the passing game. We knew he had great speed coming into the event, but his size and athleticism, combined with that speed caused him to stand out. The possibilities for an offensive coordinator here are many. Stock up.Cedric Dozier — It seemed every time I turned around, Dozier was making a play. Washington and Cal have offered, I feel he should have more soon. Stock up.Markuss Eligwe — Eligwe, a Florida State linebacker commit, had an electric interception return and was all over the field in pass coverage. His size and athleticism was impressive and once he gets coached up and develops, the possibilities are definitely there. Stock up.Malik Gilmore — Gilmore, an underrated Oregon State wide receiver commit, impressed by using his big body to shield defenders and make tough catches in traffic. He’s not ever going to be the fastest receiver on the field, but he’s a handful for defensive backs to cover. Stock up.
Johnathan Gray — Gray, a five star Texas running back commit, is a special player and if he can stay healthy is in for a special career in Austin. As is the case with linebackers, you don’t get a true sense of what a running back can do in a 7-on-7 setting. Gray, however, impressed with his ability in the passing game — he has soft hands and runs good routes out of the backfield and showed that throughout the event. Stock the same with bonus for catching ability.
Deontay Greenberry — Greenberry in my eyes was probably the runner-up to Collins for the overall MVP award. Every time you looked up, the Notre Dame commit was either making a ridiculous catch on offense or a big play on defense, including several interceptions. If Greenberry can approach his level of play in pads that he shows in this type of setting (remember he burst on the scene during the Badger 7-on-7 in Vegas in March) then he can be special. He’s a five star without pads on for sure. Stock up.
De’Vantre Harris — Harris is slight and needs to add strength, but he’s got excellent hips, quickness and ball skills. He locked down some of the better receivers at the event. The Oklahoma commit has as much upside as anyone at the event at the cornerback position. Stock up.
Mark Harrell — Harrell struggled against some of the better defensive linemen at the event and needs to get quicker and stronger if he is going to play tackle at the college level. On Day 2 of the offensive line/defensive line challenge, though, he did show improvement. Most offensive line prospects are developmental anyway, but when you talk about the best vs. the best, there has to be some sort of evaluation that separates the players. Stock down slightly.
Derrick Henry — The Class of 2013 prospect, who could be one of the best in the country in the next recruiting cycle, played tight end during this event and we aren’t so sure this won’t be where he finds a home at the next level at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds. Henry is a running back in high school and insists that’s where he is going to play in college, but he’s likely to outgrow that position and most of the time, prospects realize if they want to play in the NFL, they need to transition to the position that can get them there. Henry has soft hands, runs good routes and uses his superior athleticism to make plays in the passing game and given his height on top of that, he’s a nightmare matchup for linebackers. Stock the same, but was already quite high.
Dwayne Hoilett — Hoilett, a Miami defensive end commit, had two impressive days during the OL/DL challenge. He’s stronger than we anticipated and his quick first step makes him a handful for opposing offensive linemen. Hoilett won more than his fair share of reps and once he adds more weight to his frame, he could be nasty. Stock up.
Germone Hopper — Hopper, who already is close to our Top100, showed lightning quickness and elusiveness during the 7on7 portion of the event. His hands are also good. He’s the type that could make one defender miss and take it to the house in an actual game (where you can’t just tag them). Stock the same.Angelo Jean-Louis — Jean-Louis has a big body and showed enough speed to get open deep on a post route a couple of times. He usually thrives in this setting and this week was no different. Miami is getting a great wide receiver prospect who can contribute early. Stock the same.Peter Jinkens — Again, it’s tough to really judge linebackers outside of athleticism and the eyeball test, but Jinkins passes the latter. He’s got a good frame and length and runs well. The Texas linebacker commit from Dallas Skyline definitely showed his upside. Stock the same.Duke Johnson — Johnson was one of the top playmakers in the open field during the event. He’s extremely quick and elusive and has excellent hands coming out of the backfield. He’s got great versatility as an offensive player (could be a slot receiver, running back, etc.) and Miami is getting a weapon here. Stock up.
Cayleb Jones — Jones has good size and hands and made a couple of plays here and there during the event, but never seemed to really get into a groove. Stock the same.
Corey Jones — Jones, a wide receiver from Penn Hills High in Pittsburgh, was one of the more elusive players at the event. When he got the ball, he showed the ability to make people miss and make a play and he has good hands. He only has a couple of offers right now and we think if he can back up this showing this season, he could get a lot more. Stock up.
Cyrus Jones — Jones is a player that college coaches absolutely love and after watching him on both sides of the ball this past week, I’d have to agree. On offense, he showed he could catch and a great burst when he got the ball in his hands and on defense, he did a lot of things naturally playing against the pass. Stock up.
Chad Kelly — Kelly has a strange delivery. He almost winds up to throw the football, but it gets there on target and he had a tremendous weekend working with the best team at the event. Stock the same.
Korren Kirven — Kirven had a better second day in the OL/DL challenge than the first, where he wasn’t as good as we expected. Kirven currently is the nation’s No. 63 overall prospect and we may have overshot him a bit. He’s probably more in the 100-150 range based on where he’s at now and where he can go. Stock down.
Zach Kline — Kline has the best arm in the country right now. He was up and down in terms of accuracy and getting into sync with his receivers, but there is no question he has a rifle. The Cal commit may be the best prospect at his position in America this year if you are only considering upside in the passing game. Stock up.
Kenny Lawler — Lawler isn’t a player that is going to wow you with his speed, but he is good at making tough catches in traffic and has an excellent set of hands. He made several outstanding plays in traffic when I watched him. Watch for UCLA to really be a big factor here. Stock up.
Dillon Lee — Though this isn’t a setting where linebackers can show their entire skill set well, Lee was exceptional moving around and playing in coverage. He showed off his quick hands, batting down several passes and seemed to have a nose for defending the passing game. This is a good thing considering he will probably stand up/play in space at Alabama, where he’s committed. Stock up.
Drew Madhu — Madhu has thrived in this setting everytime I’ve seen him and this past week/weekend was no different. He breaks on the ball well and has excellent anticipation for the passing game. I watched the Stanford commit pick a couple when I focused on him and in general he was always around the ball. Stock up.Erik Magnuson — Magnuson had a good run in the offensive line/defensive line challenge. He’s so big and athletic and has excellent strength and footwork. It was good to see him in this setting, which featured helmets and shoulder pads, you get a sense of what he’s all about. Stock up.Tyler Matthews — The TCU quarterback commit did some nice things in leading his team to victories in the 7-on-7 portion of the event. Matthews has good size and a good arm and still has room to improve, so a high ceiling is there. Stock the same.Ellis McCarthy — McCarthy did not participate in the first day of the OL/DL challenge, but was dominant in the second. McCarthy is a tall, athletic monster on the inside and every rep he took backed up what we saw on film — which is a player that has NFL written all over him. Stock up.
Deontay McManus — McManus did not get a lot of reps early in the 7on, but after he got to play, he caught one beautiful game-winning touchdown on a corner route. I still believe he’s a defensive player when all is said and done, but he continues to make plays on offense in this setting. Stock the same.
Patrick Miller — Miller isn’t going to be as dominant as say a Kyle Murphy, but he’s got a high-level skill set. He’s got the height/frame, of course, and good feet — he’s just raw and probably won’t contribute as early in his career as say a Murphy. Stock the same.
Kwionte Moore — When I saw Moore previously, I had concerns about his top-end speed, but he had close to a 100-yard touchdown return on an interception that ended those concerns. He’s a player that probably is ranked too low by us right now. Stock up.
Wayne Morgan — It’s no secret that I am a big Wayne Morgan fan and he did nothing to disappoint. That being said, I never personally witnessed him make a big-time interception or anything like that, just continues to be smooth and good in coverage. Stock the same.
Kyle Murphy — I have to tip my hat to fellow analyst Barton Simmons, who first evaluated Kyle Murphy on film and decided to make him a five star. I’ve seen Murphy twice this spring/summer and he hasn’t disappointed in the slightest. He’s an elite offensive tackle prospect and has the chance to be a high NFL Draft pick if he keeps developing. Another note — the buzz was its Oregon or Stanford, but I found out recently USC is very much a factor. Stock up, but he’s already pretty high.
Davonte’ Neal — Neal played mostly corner and looked just as impressive at that spot as he did at receiver when I saw him at the Stanford Nike Camp back in May. He’s got hips, recovery speed and more. Stock up.
Dan O’Brien — I love O’Brien’s toughness and tenacity. None of the offensive linemen at the event particularly enjoyed going against him. He has excellent strength and is a great bull rusher. What he lacks in athleticism, he makes up for in other ways. Stock up slightly.
Ifeadi Odenigbo — Odenigbo looked special the first day of offensive line/defensive line work. He’s got exceptional quickness and athleticism, uses his hands well and though not the biggest end out there, can get around larger/stronger offensive linemen. He may play linebacker at the next level and I don’t think he will have an issue doing that. I think we have him ranked about right. Stock slightly up.
Mario Ojemudia — Like Odenigbo, Ojemudia used his superior quickness and athleticism to blow past some of the offensive linemen during one-on-one drills. At 6-foot-2, 215-pounds, he too may have to transition to linebacker in college or could simply be a pass rushing defensive end. Stock up.
David Perkins — Perkins is a physical specimen. He can run, has long arms and a great frame. He did well among the linebackers there and the South Bend Notre Dame commit has a bright future in his home town with development. Stock up.Sean Price — Price was dominant at times. He caught nearly everything that was thrown to him, including several touchdowns and was a matchup nightmare for defenders. The South Florida commit has the potential to develop into a weapon in the passing game at the next level because of his superior hands and athleticism. Stock up, way up.Armani Reeves— We are the only network that has Reeves ranked as high as he is and he backed up that ranking. Reeves showed the ability to lock down receivers, turn and run and outstanding recovery speed. Combine that with his ability to film to be physical in the run game and you have a special player. Penn State is the favorite here. Stock up.Terry Richardson — Richardson is an excellent prospect, but is somewhat undersized and was not as dominant in coverage as we expected him to be. With that, it’s 7-on-7 and the film really tells the story. Stock down slightly.
Marcus Rios — Rios, who is committed to Boise State, showed out for most of the event. The first thing that stands out is his size, which is good for a cornerback. Then, his closing speed is excellent, along with his technique. He’s fundamentally sound in this setting, which is a positive thing. Stock up.
Curtis Riser — Riser was flat-out nasty in one-on-one drills. He pancaked Ellis McCarthy on back-to-back reps and was a tough, tough matchup for any of the defensive linemen he faced. He’s not going to test well — probably ever — but if he develops properly at Texas he could be All-Big 12 and a high NFL pick simply because he gets the job done. Stock up.
Jake Rodrigues — Rodrigues started off well, but really, really struggled after that. He’s been good in these settings before, so perhaps it was an off event for him, but he did not make good decisions, was not particularly accurate with his passes and at times did not have zip on the ball. Stock down.
Keivarae Russell — We probably have Russell rated too high. He’s a good back and his film is outstanding, but it surprised me how small he is. That makes him more of an all-purpose type back or even a player that could slide into the slot. Stock down slightly.
Isaac Seumalo — Seumalo is one that will definitely be moving up in the rankings and likely will be switching positions to offense. Next to Kyle Murphy, he was the most technically sound offensive lineman at the event. He’s going to play on that side of the ball in college, according to what I hear. Stock up, way up.
Aziz Shittu — This was my first time seeing Shittu perform in person. If you go strictly by the eyeball test (which some in our business love to do), then you wouldn’t think much. But when you see how quick he is, your perspective quickly changes. He’s one of the quickest defensive tackle prospects that I’ve seen in person in my 8 years in this business. Stock up, way up.
Jordan Simmons — Simmons needs to reshape, but for a big, big man, he can move. He has good strength and a good punch and his massiveness actually gives him an advantage. I don’t know if he’s a guard or tackle, I just know he’s good. Stock the same.
Corey Thompson — Thompson has height, speed and athleticism. In speaking with my colleague Gerry Hamilton, we are curious as to why several programs that recruit the state of Texas had passed on Thompson. It’s easy to see why after watching him this past week — he was one of the better players there. Stock up.
Bryce Treggs — Treggs, who committed to Cal (where his father played) during the event, is a great route runner, has above average hands and deceptive speed. After seeing him at his school in March, I felt like Treggs had a chance to be one of the better receiver prospects on the West Coast this class and he proved me correct at this event. Stock up.Pio Vatuvei — Vatuvei has a big body and a quick first step, which is a big positive. Right now, he isn’t a 6-4 (right around 6-2.5/6.3) but has the frame to grow into a big time defensive line prospect. He told me if USC offers, the Trojans will be tough to beat. Right now, Cal, Arizona and some others are in good shape. Stock up.Cleveland Wallace — Like Rios, Wallace is a tall, rangy corner with excellent closing speed. He’s another steal early in the process for Oregon State. I thought he displayed excellent technique and coverage ability when I focused on him. Stock up.
Herb Waters — Waters has been a camp/combine hero since the start of the recruiting cycle — dominant in nearly every setting like this. Out in Beaverton against some of the best competition in the country, he took it to the next level. He has hands, speed, better size than people think and can get open finding holes in a zone. He has to do it in pads, but call me impressed and call me someone that thinks Miami is getting a steal. Stock up.
P.J. Williams — When I’ve seen Williams in the past, I’ve felt that safety is probably his best long-term position. After watching him play corner at times this past week, I don’t think that position is out of the question. The Florida State commit has great speed and size and good ball skills. Stock up slightly.
Trey Williams — Williams is one of the top running backs in America primarily because of his speed and elusiveness. We had the chance to see that on a couple of swing passes the Texas A&M commit caught and raced up the sidelines, nearly taking it to the house. He’s rated highly already so stock the same, but he was impressive.
Derrick Woods — I didn’t see Woods do much except for one long pass he caught on the final day of competition. I love his film, though, and think he’s one of the best prospects in Los Angeles in this class. Stock the same.
1 Landon Collins, S, Geismar (La.) Dutchtown
Collins has great size, athleticism and ball skills and the winner of Wednesday’s SPARQ National Championship continued to show he was one of the best players at the event with two interceptions in one of his team’s game, including an electric return for a touchdown on the first one. We expect Collins to move up to five-star status on 247Sports when our rankings are re-worked in the coming months. His recruitment is an Alabama-LSU battle.
2 (tie) Chris Casher, DE, Mobile (Ala.) Faith Academy
After running a respectable 4.63-second 40-yard dash during testing on Wednesday, Casher backed it up during the offensive line/defensive line challenge by dominating in nearly every rep he took. Casher has the size, athleticism and first step to be an elite defensive end at Florida State, where he is committed. He has been one of the top performers here this week and should move up in the rankings when 247Sports reworks them in the coming months.
2 (tie) Nelson Agholor, ATH/WR, Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley Prep
You don't get a sense of how electric Agholor is with the ball in his hands until you see him in a setting like this. He has good size, but what makes him special is the ability to make people miss in the open field and get upfield in a hurry. Currently, Agholor says he's open, but USC, Texas and all of the in-state Florida schools, along with possibly Georgia, should be considered the teams to watch currently. Agholor is 247Sports' highest-ranked four-star prospect. He will push for five-star status.
3 Kyle Murphy, OT, San Clemente (Calif.)
During the offensive line/defensive line challenge, Murphy again showed why he’s one of the top prospects in the country and a five-star prospect according to 247Sports. The 6-foot-7, 280-pounder was dominant during one-on-ones. He has such good feet and balance and his strength (which will improve in time) allows him to stonewall defensive linemen that attempt to bull rush him. Murphy’s recruitment could come down to Oregon and Stanford, according to the buzz we heard on Friday.
4 Aziz Shittu, DT, Atwater (Calif.) Buhach Colony
There may not have been a quicker and more explosive defensive tackle during the offensive line/defensive line challenge than Shittu. He has an extremely quick first step, is elite with the use of his hands and has excellent strength. Shittu, who was committed to Stanford, now is back to open, but is expected to ultimately stay on the West Coast. USC is in the mix.
5 Connor Brewer, QB, Paradise Valley (Ariz.) Chaparral
Brewer, a Texas commit, isn’t going to blow anyone away in a camp setting, but on film and in a live 7-on-7 situation, he’s impressive. Brewer may not always throw a tight spiral, but he’s outstanding at finding and hitting the open receiver. He was firing the ball all over the field and hitting receivers in the hands for most of the afternoon Friday.
6 Duke Johnson, RB, Miami (Fla.) Norland
This setting is perfect for Johnson, a Miami (Fla.) commit, to display his outstanding quickness and hands. Multiple times, he showed the ability to make quick moves and make defenders miss in the open field, something that is not easy to do in a 7-on-7. Folks in Dade County, Fla., will tell you that Johnson is one of the more under-appreciated players in the Sunshine State in this recruiting cycle. Judging from his skill set he displayed on Friday, there may be something to that.
7 Johnathan Gray, RB, Aledo (Texas)
Heading into an event like this, you wouldn’t expect that Gray, a Texas commit, isn’t going to be one of the most impressive prospects- after all, what elite, five-star running backs like Gray do is shine in pads during actual games. But Friday, Gray showed outstanding ability to catch the ball in the open field and make people miss. Playing on Brewer’s team, he was an excellent short target for his future teammate.8 Ifeadi Ogenigbo, DE, Dayton (Ohio) CentervilleAt 6-foot-3, 212 pounds, Ogenigbo doesn’t have the size that a Casher has, but he’s extremely tough to block because of his speed and athleticism. Ogenigbo probably will have to make a transition to playing in space at the next level, something that he will likely be able to do with no problem considering his quickness and ability to shed blocks. His recruitment is wide open. Ohio State, Oregon, Alabama and others all are in the mix. 247sports ranks Ogenigbo the No. 1 overall prospect in the Buckeye State and we honestly haven’t seen a better player from that state in this recruiting cycle.9 Sean Price, TE, Citra (Fla.) North MarionPrice, a South Florida commit, has impressed at every 7-on-7 we have seen him at this recruiting cycle and Friday was no exception. The difference, though, was that Price looks like he’s put on 15-20 pounds of muscle since we scouted him in March- that’s a big deal because gaining weight and strength was one of the things he needed to work on. He played on the same team as Brewer and Gray and was a favorite target of Brewer for a good portion of the afternoon.
10 Armani Reeves, CB, West Roxbury (Mass.) Catholic Memorial
Reeves continues to show why 247Sports has him ranked among the best cornerback prospects in the nation. He’s not afraid to battle or play physical and also has excellent ball skills, hips and recovery speed. Very few times Friday did his man get open. Turn on the tape and you also will see a physical cornerback that isn’t afraid to come up and make a big hit in the running game. Reeves remains uncommitted, but most believe he will ultimately land at Penn State where his best friend, four-star linebacker Camren Williams, is committed.
The Opening - Player Impressions
Nelson Agholor — Agholor, the nation’s highest-ranked four-star prospect, did not disappoint. He’s got excellent quickness and speed for a player his size. Playing wide receiver, he was able to consistently get open and make big plays. He’s a five-star candidate for sure. Stock up.
Kwon Alexander — This isn’t an event where linebackers can showcase their skills in terms of tackling and playing the run game. This is an event where they can, however, show off their athleticism. That’s exactly what Alexander did during the course of the event. Stock up.
Dakota Ball — The Alabama commit isn’t a defensive tackle prospect that’s going to blow you away with the eyeball test, but in one-on-one drills with helmets and shoulder pads, he proved to posses outstanding strength and an ability to bull rush. Ball is a hard-nosed player who should translate well to the college level. Stock the same.
Zach Banner — The 6-foot-8 Banner looks like a future NFL offensive lineman when you eyeball him, but when he gets on the field in drills, it’s clear he has a ways to go. Banner plays too high and can’t win the leverage battle at times. On the positive end of things, though, if he gets his hands on you, it’s over because of his size and strength. He’s a spirited competitor, too. Stock down.
Corey Batey — Batey, a Nashville prospect and Vanderbilt commit, was one of the more impressive receivers during the 7on7 portion of the event. He has speed, explosiveness, hands and size and plays with extreme confidence. Stock up.
Chris Bivins — As he has done many times before, Bivins, a South Florida commit, battled and stood toe-to-toe with many talented receivers in this type of setting. He has good speed and change ofdirection. Bivins is a Bull for right now, but watch out if an SEC program like Tennessee starts making a big charge. Stock the same, already risen.Travis Blanks — Blanks was superb during the early games on Saturday. In one half, he had two interceptions, nearly had a third and had numerous pass break-ups. It’s my opinion that the Clemson commit is not a cornerback, he’s a big-time, rangy, tall free safety — like former Tiger Michael Hamlin but an upgrade. Stock up.Connor Brewer — Brewer makes all the right decisions and has a quick enough release and good enough field vision to consistently find open receivers. He doesn’t always throw a tight spiral, but he gets it to where it needs to be. He was consistently impressive throughout the event. Stock up.Deforest Buckner — The Hawaiian has a lot of upside. He’s still a bit raw, but showed some of his quickness and athleticism during one-on-one drills in the offensive line/defensive line challenge. He was not a prospect we had seen before this event, but was impressive. Stock up.James Burgess — Burgess is a player I saw back at the Miami Under Armour Combine in February and liked, but during this event he appears to have taken it up a notch. The linebacker was active in coverage and had a nice interception. Stock up.
Deon Bush — Bush played some cornerback and some safety at this event. He’s got good size and enough speed to cover a lot of ground in a hurry. I think his best position in college is at free safety. Stock the same.
Joel Caleb — Caleb has a big body, good hands and enough speed to make plays down field. I also saw some elusiveness out of the four-star wide receiver in the open field that I had not previously seen. I know Virginia Tech is pushing hard for him right now. Stock the same.
Alex Carter — Carter, a Stanford defensive back commit, has excellent size and range. He had a couple of great pass break-ups where he displayed tremendously quick reflexes and a break on the ball. Stock up.
Chris Casher — Casher was outstanding during the offensive/line defensive line challenge — he could not be blocked on a number of occasions — and the Florida State commit projects to be a 260-pound monster defensive end at the collegiate level once he’s finished developing. Stock up.
Landon Collins — Collins was the MVP of the entire event and I can think of a more impressive, dominant player in the event — and he’s a safety. He had multiple pick-6’s, several pass break-ups and he’s a physical specimen. Alabama or LSU will get a special player. Stock up.
Corey Coleman — The Baylor defensive back commit showed good quickness and had some impressive athletic moments during the event. Stock the same.
J.C. Coleman — Coleman showed an ability to hit another gear during one swing pass in particular on Saturday. His speed and burst is what makes the Virginia Tech running back commit dangerous. Stock the same.
Mike Davis — Davis was a player I didn’t mention during the event, but I should have. He’s always had great speed, but a slight build was a concern for the Florida running back commit. Well, he’s added muscle/size, is just as fast/quick and has a chance to have a downright special senior year. Impressive. Stock up.
Torshiro Davis — Davis is quick off the edge and with coaching/development should do just fine at LSU. He’s still a bit raw, but has the chance to be very good. Stock the same.
Kenyan Drake — Drake, an Alabama all-purpose running back commit, is a versatile prospect that uses his speed, size and hands to make big plays in the passing game. We knew he had great speed coming into the event, but his size and athleticism, combined with that speed caused him to stand out. The possibilities for an offensive coordinator here are many. Stock up.Cedric Dozier — It seemed every time I turned around, Dozier was making a play. Washington and Cal have offered, I feel he should have more soon. Stock up.Markuss Eligwe — Eligwe, a Florida State linebacker commit, had an electric interception return and was all over the field in pass coverage. His size and athleticism was impressive and once he gets coached up and develops, the possibilities are definitely there. Stock up.Malik Gilmore — Gilmore, an underrated Oregon State wide receiver commit, impressed by using his big body to shield defenders and make tough catches in traffic. He’s not ever going to be the fastest receiver on the field, but he’s a handful for defensive backs to cover. Stock up.
Johnathan Gray — Gray, a five star Texas running back commit, is a special player and if he can stay healthy is in for a special career in Austin. As is the case with linebackers, you don’t get a true sense of what a running back can do in a 7-on-7 setting. Gray, however, impressed with his ability in the passing game — he has soft hands and runs good routes out of the backfield and showed that throughout the event. Stock the same with bonus for catching ability.
Deontay Greenberry — Greenberry in my eyes was probably the runner-up to Collins for the overall MVP award. Every time you looked up, the Notre Dame commit was either making a ridiculous catch on offense or a big play on defense, including several interceptions. If Greenberry can approach his level of play in pads that he shows in this type of setting (remember he burst on the scene during the Badger 7-on-7 in Vegas in March) then he can be special. He’s a five star without pads on for sure. Stock up.
De’Vantre Harris — Harris is slight and needs to add strength, but he’s got excellent hips, quickness and ball skills. He locked down some of the better receivers at the event. The Oklahoma commit has as much upside as anyone at the event at the cornerback position. Stock up.
Mark Harrell — Harrell struggled against some of the better defensive linemen at the event and needs to get quicker and stronger if he is going to play tackle at the college level. On Day 2 of the offensive line/defensive line challenge, though, he did show improvement. Most offensive line prospects are developmental anyway, but when you talk about the best vs. the best, there has to be some sort of evaluation that separates the players. Stock down slightly.
Derrick Henry — The Class of 2013 prospect, who could be one of the best in the country in the next recruiting cycle, played tight end during this event and we aren’t so sure this won’t be where he finds a home at the next level at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds. Henry is a running back in high school and insists that’s where he is going to play in college, but he’s likely to outgrow that position and most of the time, prospects realize if they want to play in the NFL, they need to transition to the position that can get them there. Henry has soft hands, runs good routes and uses his superior athleticism to make plays in the passing game and given his height on top of that, he’s a nightmare matchup for linebackers. Stock the same, but was already quite high.
Dwayne Hoilett — Hoilett, a Miami defensive end commit, had two impressive days during the OL/DL challenge. He’s stronger than we anticipated and his quick first step makes him a handful for opposing offensive linemen. Hoilett won more than his fair share of reps and once he adds more weight to his frame, he could be nasty. Stock up.
Germone Hopper — Hopper, who already is close to our Top100, showed lightning quickness and elusiveness during the 7on7 portion of the event. His hands are also good. He’s the type that could make one defender miss and take it to the house in an actual game (where you can’t just tag them). Stock the same.Angelo Jean-Louis — Jean-Louis has a big body and showed enough speed to get open deep on a post route a couple of times. He usually thrives in this setting and this week was no different. Miami is getting a great wide receiver prospect who can contribute early. Stock the same.Peter Jinkens — Again, it’s tough to really judge linebackers outside of athleticism and the eyeball test, but Jinkins passes the latter. He’s got a good frame and length and runs well. The Texas linebacker commit from Dallas Skyline definitely showed his upside. Stock the same.Duke Johnson — Johnson was one of the top playmakers in the open field during the event. He’s extremely quick and elusive and has excellent hands coming out of the backfield. He’s got great versatility as an offensive player (could be a slot receiver, running back, etc.) and Miami is getting a weapon here. Stock up.
Cayleb Jones — Jones has good size and hands and made a couple of plays here and there during the event, but never seemed to really get into a groove. Stock the same.
Corey Jones — Jones, a wide receiver from Penn Hills High in Pittsburgh, was one of the more elusive players at the event. When he got the ball, he showed the ability to make people miss and make a play and he has good hands. He only has a couple of offers right now and we think if he can back up this showing this season, he could get a lot more. Stock up.
Cyrus Jones — Jones is a player that college coaches absolutely love and after watching him on both sides of the ball this past week, I’d have to agree. On offense, he showed he could catch and a great burst when he got the ball in his hands and on defense, he did a lot of things naturally playing against the pass. Stock up.
Chad Kelly — Kelly has a strange delivery. He almost winds up to throw the football, but it gets there on target and he had a tremendous weekend working with the best team at the event. Stock the same.
Korren Kirven — Kirven had a better second day in the OL/DL challenge than the first, where he wasn’t as good as we expected. Kirven currently is the nation’s No. 63 overall prospect and we may have overshot him a bit. He’s probably more in the 100-150 range based on where he’s at now and where he can go. Stock down.
Zach Kline — Kline has the best arm in the country right now. He was up and down in terms of accuracy and getting into sync with his receivers, but there is no question he has a rifle. The Cal commit may be the best prospect at his position in America this year if you are only considering upside in the passing game. Stock up.
Kenny Lawler — Lawler isn’t a player that is going to wow you with his speed, but he is good at making tough catches in traffic and has an excellent set of hands. He made several outstanding plays in traffic when I watched him. Watch for UCLA to really be a big factor here. Stock up.
Dillon Lee — Though this isn’t a setting where linebackers can show their entire skill set well, Lee was exceptional moving around and playing in coverage. He showed off his quick hands, batting down several passes and seemed to have a nose for defending the passing game. This is a good thing considering he will probably stand up/play in space at Alabama, where he’s committed. Stock up.
Drew Madhu — Madhu has thrived in this setting everytime I’ve seen him and this past week/weekend was no different. He breaks on the ball well and has excellent anticipation for the passing game. I watched the Stanford commit pick a couple when I focused on him and in general he was always around the ball. Stock up.Erik Magnuson — Magnuson had a good run in the offensive line/defensive line challenge. He’s so big and athletic and has excellent strength and footwork. It was good to see him in this setting, which featured helmets and shoulder pads, you get a sense of what he’s all about. Stock up.Tyler Matthews — The TCU quarterback commit did some nice things in leading his team to victories in the 7-on-7 portion of the event. Matthews has good size and a good arm and still has room to improve, so a high ceiling is there. Stock the same.Ellis McCarthy — McCarthy did not participate in the first day of the OL/DL challenge, but was dominant in the second. McCarthy is a tall, athletic monster on the inside and every rep he took backed up what we saw on film — which is a player that has NFL written all over him. Stock up.
Deontay McManus — McManus did not get a lot of reps early in the 7on, but after he got to play, he caught one beautiful game-winning touchdown on a corner route. I still believe he’s a defensive player when all is said and done, but he continues to make plays on offense in this setting. Stock the same.
Patrick Miller — Miller isn’t going to be as dominant as say a Kyle Murphy, but he’s got a high-level skill set. He’s got the height/frame, of course, and good feet — he’s just raw and probably won’t contribute as early in his career as say a Murphy. Stock the same.
Kwionte Moore — When I saw Moore previously, I had concerns about his top-end speed, but he had close to a 100-yard touchdown return on an interception that ended those concerns. He’s a player that probably is ranked too low by us right now. Stock up.
Wayne Morgan — It’s no secret that I am a big Wayne Morgan fan and he did nothing to disappoint. That being said, I never personally witnessed him make a big-time interception or anything like that, just continues to be smooth and good in coverage. Stock the same.
Kyle Murphy — I have to tip my hat to fellow analyst Barton Simmons, who first evaluated Kyle Murphy on film and decided to make him a five star. I’ve seen Murphy twice this spring/summer and he hasn’t disappointed in the slightest. He’s an elite offensive tackle prospect and has the chance to be a high NFL Draft pick if he keeps developing. Another note — the buzz was its Oregon or Stanford, but I found out recently USC is very much a factor. Stock up, but he’s already pretty high.
Davonte’ Neal — Neal played mostly corner and looked just as impressive at that spot as he did at receiver when I saw him at the Stanford Nike Camp back in May. He’s got hips, recovery speed and more. Stock up.
Dan O’Brien — I love O’Brien’s toughness and tenacity. None of the offensive linemen at the event particularly enjoyed going against him. He has excellent strength and is a great bull rusher. What he lacks in athleticism, he makes up for in other ways. Stock up slightly.
Ifeadi Odenigbo — Odenigbo looked special the first day of offensive line/defensive line work. He’s got exceptional quickness and athleticism, uses his hands well and though not the biggest end out there, can get around larger/stronger offensive linemen. He may play linebacker at the next level and I don’t think he will have an issue doing that. I think we have him ranked about right. Stock slightly up.
Mario Ojemudia — Like Odenigbo, Ojemudia used his superior quickness and athleticism to blow past some of the offensive linemen during one-on-one drills. At 6-foot-2, 215-pounds, he too may have to transition to linebacker in college or could simply be a pass rushing defensive end. Stock up.
David Perkins — Perkins is a physical specimen. He can run, has long arms and a great frame. He did well among the linebackers there and the South Bend Notre Dame commit has a bright future in his home town with development. Stock up.Sean Price — Price was dominant at times. He caught nearly everything that was thrown to him, including several touchdowns and was a matchup nightmare for defenders. The South Florida commit has the potential to develop into a weapon in the passing game at the next level because of his superior hands and athleticism. Stock up, way up.Armani Reeves— We are the only network that has Reeves ranked as high as he is and he backed up that ranking. Reeves showed the ability to lock down receivers, turn and run and outstanding recovery speed. Combine that with his ability to film to be physical in the run game and you have a special player. Penn State is the favorite here. Stock up.Terry Richardson — Richardson is an excellent prospect, but is somewhat undersized and was not as dominant in coverage as we expected him to be. With that, it’s 7-on-7 and the film really tells the story. Stock down slightly.
Marcus Rios — Rios, who is committed to Boise State, showed out for most of the event. The first thing that stands out is his size, which is good for a cornerback. Then, his closing speed is excellent, along with his technique. He’s fundamentally sound in this setting, which is a positive thing. Stock up.
Curtis Riser — Riser was flat-out nasty in one-on-one drills. He pancaked Ellis McCarthy on back-to-back reps and was a tough, tough matchup for any of the defensive linemen he faced. He’s not going to test well — probably ever — but if he develops properly at Texas he could be All-Big 12 and a high NFL pick simply because he gets the job done. Stock up.
Jake Rodrigues — Rodrigues started off well, but really, really struggled after that. He’s been good in these settings before, so perhaps it was an off event for him, but he did not make good decisions, was not particularly accurate with his passes and at times did not have zip on the ball. Stock down.
Keivarae Russell — We probably have Russell rated too high. He’s a good back and his film is outstanding, but it surprised me how small he is. That makes him more of an all-purpose type back or even a player that could slide into the slot. Stock down slightly.
Isaac Seumalo — Seumalo is one that will definitely be moving up in the rankings and likely will be switching positions to offense. Next to Kyle Murphy, he was the most technically sound offensive lineman at the event. He’s going to play on that side of the ball in college, according to what I hear. Stock up, way up.
Aziz Shittu — This was my first time seeing Shittu perform in person. If you go strictly by the eyeball test (which some in our business love to do), then you wouldn’t think much. But when you see how quick he is, your perspective quickly changes. He’s one of the quickest defensive tackle prospects that I’ve seen in person in my 8 years in this business. Stock up, way up.
Jordan Simmons — Simmons needs to reshape, but for a big, big man, he can move. He has good strength and a good punch and his massiveness actually gives him an advantage. I don’t know if he’s a guard or tackle, I just know he’s good. Stock the same.
Corey Thompson — Thompson has height, speed and athleticism. In speaking with my colleague Gerry Hamilton, we are curious as to why several programs that recruit the state of Texas had passed on Thompson. It’s easy to see why after watching him this past week — he was one of the better players there. Stock up.
Bryce Treggs — Treggs, who committed to Cal (where his father played) during the event, is a great route runner, has above average hands and deceptive speed. After seeing him at his school in March, I felt like Treggs had a chance to be one of the better receiver prospects on the West Coast this class and he proved me correct at this event. Stock up.Pio Vatuvei — Vatuvei has a big body and a quick first step, which is a big positive. Right now, he isn’t a 6-4 (right around 6-2.5/6.3) but has the frame to grow into a big time defensive line prospect. He told me if USC offers, the Trojans will be tough to beat. Right now, Cal, Arizona and some others are in good shape. Stock up.Cleveland Wallace — Like Rios, Wallace is a tall, rangy corner with excellent closing speed. He’s another steal early in the process for Oregon State. I thought he displayed excellent technique and coverage ability when I focused on him. Stock up.
Herb Waters — Waters has been a camp/combine hero since the start of the recruiting cycle — dominant in nearly every setting like this. Out in Beaverton against some of the best competition in the country, he took it to the next level. He has hands, speed, better size than people think and can get open finding holes in a zone. He has to do it in pads, but call me impressed and call me someone that thinks Miami is getting a steal. Stock up.
P.J. Williams — When I’ve seen Williams in the past, I’ve felt that safety is probably his best long-term position. After watching him play corner at times this past week, I don’t think that position is out of the question. The Florida State commit has great speed and size and good ball skills. Stock up slightly.
Trey Williams — Williams is one of the top running backs in America primarily because of his speed and elusiveness. We had the chance to see that on a couple of swing passes the Texas A&M commit caught and raced up the sidelines, nearly taking it to the house. He’s rated highly already so stock the same, but he was impressive.
Derrick Woods — I didn’t see Woods do much except for one long pass he caught on the final day of competition. I love his film, though, and think he’s one of the best prospects in Los Angeles in this class. Stock the same.
