re: Class of 2017 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: Say Your Goodbyes Edition

LINK

quote:

---

CANTON, Ohio – Sunday was the first day of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Academy and campers got to go through their first practice Sunday night. Here are some of the key takeaways from the first of six practices.

I WAS IMPRESSED WITH ...

There aren’t many occasions during camp season when there is a collection of this many talented defensive backs on the same field. Five-star Tyreke Johnson, the top rated defensive back in the 2018 class, lived up to his ranking, displaying crisp footwork and winning the large majority of his reps during one-on-ones. Highly rated four-star Asante Samuel wasn’t far behind Johnson. The 2018 prospect on the smaller side for a cornerback, but his technique is very advanced, he is very patient, and is extremely explosive. Fellow 2018 defensive backs Kalon Gervin, Brendon Radley-Hiles, and Isaiah Humphries were also very good.

The entire group of running backs was outstanding. Florida State commit James Cook and four-stars Lorenzo Lingard, Ricky Person, and TJ Pledger were pretty much unstoppable. Cook and Pledger had the best feet during drills and Lingard and Person excelled during the one-on-one session. Leddie Brown, another 2018 running back, was also very impressive. He’s added some good weight and did a good job separating from the defenders in the open field.

Defensive end K.J. Henry was the most dominant lineman on either side of the ball. He is faster, has better technique, and is more experienced than any of the offensive linemen he went against. Expect the coaches to challenge him more and more as the week goes on.

I WAS SURPRISED BY ...

When we saw 2018 Rivals100 defensive tackle PJ Mustipher at the Rivals Camp in New Jersey in April, he looked a bit out of shape and a little slow off the line. The Owings Mills (Md.) McDonogh star showed up in Canton looking much slimmer and seemed to have his quickness back. None of the offensive linemen Mustipher faced could stop his forward momentum and he did a good job of shooting the gaps to get to the quarterback.

The way Richard Gouraige played at offensive tackle instantly made everyone watching forget that he is listed as a defensive end. The four-star is every bit the 6-foot-5 he is listed and he has a ton of room to fill out his frame. Gouraige’s quick feet, physicality, and strong punch are major assets that he can build upon. He already has a long offer sheet, but many more offers are in store for him.

Defensive tackle Marcus Kidd has only play one season of football and his technique is very raw but he possesses athleticism that few players his size have. He is very quick off the line of scrimmage and has a good motor. Kidd may not pan out as a defensive lineman, but he has all the tools to be an impressive right tackle with the right coaching. Don’t be surprised if he is a late offer for a Group of Five or Power Five school.

MORE OBSERVATIONS

Penn State 2018 Rivals100 commit Micah Parsons is a very impressive prospect. He will play defensive end in college and he is exceptionally athletic. On Sunday, he did position drills with the wide receivers and could consistently get open during the one-on-one sessions. Parson also took a few reps as a defensive back but had mixed results.

The linebacker group isn’t very deep but is headlined by 2018 Rivals100 prospect Dax Hollifield. As an inside linebacker, he will rarely have to cover running backs in games like he does in the camp setting, but he still held his own.

Quarterbacks Jalen Mayden and James Foster led the quarterback group. Foster is committed to North Carolina and his skill set seems to be a good fit in the Tar Heel offense. Mayden, a four-star prospect, has a very high ceiling and showed that he is a seasoned veteran of the camp circuit.

---

LINK

quote:

---

CANTON, Ohio -- Day three of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Academy was very competitive and players seemed much more focused and intense. Some new players emerged after showing improvement from one practice to the next and others continued to dominate the competition.

I WAS IMPRESSED WITH ...

Five-star Tyreke Johnson and 2018 Rivals100 prospect Asante Samuel went at it again on Tuesday but Samuel seemed barely edge out Johnson in one-on-ones. As a cornerback, Samuel broke up some passes in impressive fashion and had near perfect technique defending deep passes. Johnson didn’t have a bad day but Samuel just seemed to shine a little more.

Defensive tackle PJ Mustipher has been imposing his will all week. The 2018 Rivals100 prospect is in great shape and has been showing off more and more of his arsenal of hand techniques. Offensive linemen barely have a chance to get their hands on him before Mustipher was already around them and on his way to the quarterback.

Four-star defensive back Kalon Gervin had a very good day and was singled out as an example by the coaches for his footwork in drills. He was very physical with the wide receivers he faced in one-on-ones and it really gave them problems. The quarterbacks had a tough time keeping their timing with the wide receivers and Gervin’s explosiveness off his plant foot helped him keep the receivers from creating separation.

I WAS SURPRISED BY ...

Even though he will play defensive end in college, 2018 Rivals100 prospect Xavier Thomas was practicing with the defensive backs on Tuesday. He joined 2018 Rivals100 Penn State defensive end commit Micah Parsons playing out of position but both had a lot of success. Watching them go against each other during the one-on-one session was fun for everybody in attendance. Their athleticism and ball skills are outstanding for players for their size.

Anther defensive lineman playing out of position was 2018 Rivals100 prospect K.J. Henry. He played as a tight end and even threw some passes. There is a decent chance Henry could seem some time as a tight end in college. His height, wingspan, good hands, and leaping ability makes him a tough matchup for any defender. Henry did take some reps during linemen one-on-ones and wasn’t challenged by the competition.

The linebacker group doesn’t feature many highly coveted prospects but 2018 Rivals100 prospect Merlin Robertson had a very good day Tuesday. He moved very well in the open field despite being one of the bigger players out there. The way Robertson was able to close on running backs while the ball was in the air made it tough for quarterbacks to complete many passes against him.

Running backs Lorenzo Lingard and Ricky Person have drawn a lot of praise from the coaches for their work ethic, attention to detail, and leadership. The 2018 Rivals100 prospects have been virtually unstoppable during one-on-ones despite challenge themselves by running new routes and adjusting to passes that miss their mark.

The large majority of the quarterback play hasn’t been pretty but two underclassmen was some natural abilities and could see some recruiting interest in the coming months. Braeden Zenelovic is a 2018 prospect from Ontario Center (N.Y.) Wayne and Adam Cecere graduates in 2019 from Sidman (Pa.) Forest Hills. Both have strong arms, pretty good throwing mechanics, and have gotten more accurate as the week has progressed.

---

Anybody know what's up with Xavier McKinney, the safety that just decommitted?

quote:

---

Looks like Kirby strikes again

---

Don't think this is UGA.

Article from today on Al.com

quote:

---

McKinney said he's 100 percent committed to Alabama, but said Clemson and Florida will definitely get future visits. Georgia, he said, doesn't "really show me as much attention as they have

---

LINK

quote:

---

This opens a spot up for Hamsah!

---

Hamsah had a spot already. At least according to Hank South. We need a true FS in this class though. I wonder who we will go after next? Or if Townsend will fill that role?

Maybe they make Devon Hunter a priority or Jacoby Stevens

Maybe he did. But one of the DBs we were looking at probably didn't. Maybe you're right about Townsend at FS. He's been saying he'll start out at DB. We seem to be in the "take CBs and turn some of them into safeties" mode. For the era that we're in with Spread offenses, I like having one of my safeties that's a converted CB. I like having the SS being a destroyer that can also cover. That's not asking too much, is it?

McKinney already got a CB for Clemson