Wanted to get a recap out today so here it goes. First off hats off to EFT along with the Adidas people for putting this event on and getting it to roll pretty smoothly. This event had around 300 kids and that's never an easy thing to pull off. The showcase was split into two phases: one was a testing phase (40 yard dash pro agility shuttle (hand timed) and a vertical jump (jump pad measured) and phase two was football specific drill work and one on ones.
The field featured kids from over a dozen states and several out of state players stood out and also featured several highly recruiting and ranked kids. Again if you can find a way for me to watch 300 kids at once please email me [email protected] and I'm sure I'm missing on more than a few names. Here is my best effort
Out of State kids?
I was highly impressed with a handful of Indiana kids which included 2017 OL Curtis Blackwell who was one of the best overall OL along with 2016 Indiana QB Adian Smith who also had a very good showing. The best overall player from outside of Illinois could of been 2016 Fort Wayne DE Auston Robertson who was named as the event's overall Top defensive MVP. Missouri TE Brendan Scales was a big time target who has great size and ball skills and also Detroit King's 2016 DB Lavert Hill is about as college ready as anyone at this event on Saturday.
In State kids?
The overall best position at this event was the defensive line in my opinuon, again reflecting the strength of the Class of 2016 here in Illinois. here are some names who stood out on Saturday.
DT Naquan Jones Evanston- is highly ranked and recruited with good reason. Jones has added weight and strength and is near 300 pounds yet still moves like a 250-260 pounder. Jones just has terrific quickness, exceptional strength and just has continued to develop his interior game. Jones showed terrific hands here as well.
DE Daniel Joseph LFA- Joseph is also getting bigger and stronger. Joseph is able to show a much better array of pass rushing skills here and has always had the overall on the hoof look. Joseph looks to be about done with his growth here and is quickly becoming more college ready by the day.
DE Thomas Schaffer LFA- The Austrian Express. Played defensive end here and Schaffer has skills and potential at DE, yet I've been saying since I first eyeballed him that Schaffer will play OT at the next level. Schaffer has the frame. length, reach and overall physical tools to develop into a lean 280-290 pounds left tackle with exceptional quickness and power at the highest level of D1 Power 5 schools.
DT Devonte Dunn Nazareth Academy- also a 2017 kid who just plays with an extremely high motor. Dunn is still a tad undersized for now but his overall strength, quickness and toughness is unmatched.
OL Terrell Maclin Dupree Simeon- showed well at times here. Will play OG at the college level and will need to continue to develop his overall technique yet Maclin-Dupree has good strength and overall decent athleticism.
RB Barrington Wade Niles North- worked out at running back here and more than held his own in a pretty solid group positionally. Like most colleges I also see Wade as more of an athlete type who could play say linebacker at the next level. Just a terrific looking prospect with some very high athletic ability here.
QB Matt Little Evanston- out of the multitude of quarterbacks here (I counted 30-35) Little I felt showed as well as anyone here. Little has improved his overall accuracy and arm strength and he is just getting better every time I see him which is always a good sign. Again was very hard to even see reps from the many QB's here.....and Little was able to make the most of his reps.
DB Cristian Volpentesta Highland Park- has very impressive film so I was intrigued to see him in person. Cristian has game, speed and quickness and just plays fast and pretty physical. The only real knock I see his his overall size yet he could be say a real sleeper at the 1AA-D2 level. I could also see him as say a preferred walk-on type at the bigger level schools.
DB Houston Griffith Mount Carmel- only a freshman, yet plays like a seasoned veteran. No question Griffith, the son of former Illinois standout RB Howard Griffith has work still to do but how often do you see a freshman competing at this level as well as Griffith has this off season? Not very often.
RB Ivory Kelly-Martin Nazareth Academy- 2017 RB is still wearing a knee brace but to me that looks to be more cautionary than anything else. This was the best I've seen Ivory run and cut since before his knee injury and is on the road back to becoming a sought after prospect.
RB AJ Reis Mount Carmel- been liking a lot of what I've seen from Reis this winter and spring. Good speed and quickness here and looks to be a player that could play multiple spots at the next level.
LB Sean Williams Morgan Park- Terrific sized kid must run 6-2/6-3 and 210-220 pounds plus. Stood out in drill work and just his on the hoof look alone will draw plenty of recruiting looks and interest.
TE Noah Turner Carmel-- like a grizzled old veteran at this point of his recruiting process. Turner just shows up, performs well and never disappoints.
Marian Catholic underclassmen group- let's just say that the Spartan look to be getting closer to being Marian Catholic sooner rather than later. Kids like Justin Hall and Ty Richie are just a few of the impressive underclassmen I've seen from the Heights.
WR Jack Sorenson Stevenson- one of the overall top route runners and receivers I felt at this event. Sorenson just makes plays ans had several out of state parents and coaches in awe at times. Terrific body control and hands as well.
WR Cordell Finley Fremd- Finley, who also plays quarterback for the Vikings is just a hustler at all times and played well here. Finley has strong ball skills and potential to play at the next level. Still need to add a bit more weight and size but the tools are there.
WR/TE Micah Jones Warren- again just a young pup who can play. Not sure what his eventual spot will be in a few years from now but is another 2018 name to keep a close eye on.
More to follow
This post was edited on 3/29 11:44 AM by edgytim
This post was edited on 3/29 11:49 AM by edgytim
This post was edited on 3/30 8:27 AM by edgytim
The field featured kids from over a dozen states and several out of state players stood out and also featured several highly recruiting and ranked kids. Again if you can find a way for me to watch 300 kids at once please email me [email protected] and I'm sure I'm missing on more than a few names. Here is my best effort
Out of State kids?
I was highly impressed with a handful of Indiana kids which included 2017 OL Curtis Blackwell who was one of the best overall OL along with 2016 Indiana QB Adian Smith who also had a very good showing. The best overall player from outside of Illinois could of been 2016 Fort Wayne DE Auston Robertson who was named as the event's overall Top defensive MVP. Missouri TE Brendan Scales was a big time target who has great size and ball skills and also Detroit King's 2016 DB Lavert Hill is about as college ready as anyone at this event on Saturday.
In State kids?
The overall best position at this event was the defensive line in my opinuon, again reflecting the strength of the Class of 2016 here in Illinois. here are some names who stood out on Saturday.
DT Naquan Jones Evanston- is highly ranked and recruited with good reason. Jones has added weight and strength and is near 300 pounds yet still moves like a 250-260 pounder. Jones just has terrific quickness, exceptional strength and just has continued to develop his interior game. Jones showed terrific hands here as well.
DE Daniel Joseph LFA- Joseph is also getting bigger and stronger. Joseph is able to show a much better array of pass rushing skills here and has always had the overall on the hoof look. Joseph looks to be about done with his growth here and is quickly becoming more college ready by the day.
DE Thomas Schaffer LFA- The Austrian Express. Played defensive end here and Schaffer has skills and potential at DE, yet I've been saying since I first eyeballed him that Schaffer will play OT at the next level. Schaffer has the frame. length, reach and overall physical tools to develop into a lean 280-290 pounds left tackle with exceptional quickness and power at the highest level of D1 Power 5 schools.
DT Devonte Dunn Nazareth Academy- also a 2017 kid who just plays with an extremely high motor. Dunn is still a tad undersized for now but his overall strength, quickness and toughness is unmatched.
OL Terrell Maclin Dupree Simeon- showed well at times here. Will play OG at the college level and will need to continue to develop his overall technique yet Maclin-Dupree has good strength and overall decent athleticism.
RB Barrington Wade Niles North- worked out at running back here and more than held his own in a pretty solid group positionally. Like most colleges I also see Wade as more of an athlete type who could play say linebacker at the next level. Just a terrific looking prospect with some very high athletic ability here.
QB Matt Little Evanston- out of the multitude of quarterbacks here (I counted 30-35) Little I felt showed as well as anyone here. Little has improved his overall accuracy and arm strength and he is just getting better every time I see him which is always a good sign. Again was very hard to even see reps from the many QB's here.....and Little was able to make the most of his reps.
DB Cristian Volpentesta Highland Park- has very impressive film so I was intrigued to see him in person. Cristian has game, speed and quickness and just plays fast and pretty physical. The only real knock I see his his overall size yet he could be say a real sleeper at the 1AA-D2 level. I could also see him as say a preferred walk-on type at the bigger level schools.
DB Houston Griffith Mount Carmel- only a freshman, yet plays like a seasoned veteran. No question Griffith, the son of former Illinois standout RB Howard Griffith has work still to do but how often do you see a freshman competing at this level as well as Griffith has this off season? Not very often.
RB Ivory Kelly-Martin Nazareth Academy- 2017 RB is still wearing a knee brace but to me that looks to be more cautionary than anything else. This was the best I've seen Ivory run and cut since before his knee injury and is on the road back to becoming a sought after prospect.
RB AJ Reis Mount Carmel- been liking a lot of what I've seen from Reis this winter and spring. Good speed and quickness here and looks to be a player that could play multiple spots at the next level.
LB Sean Williams Morgan Park- Terrific sized kid must run 6-2/6-3 and 210-220 pounds plus. Stood out in drill work and just his on the hoof look alone will draw plenty of recruiting looks and interest.
TE Noah Turner Carmel-- like a grizzled old veteran at this point of his recruiting process. Turner just shows up, performs well and never disappoints.
Marian Catholic underclassmen group- let's just say that the Spartan look to be getting closer to being Marian Catholic sooner rather than later. Kids like Justin Hall and Ty Richie are just a few of the impressive underclassmen I've seen from the Heights.
WR Jack Sorenson Stevenson- one of the overall top route runners and receivers I felt at this event. Sorenson just makes plays ans had several out of state parents and coaches in awe at times. Terrific body control and hands as well.
WR Cordell Finley Fremd- Finley, who also plays quarterback for the Vikings is just a hustler at all times and played well here. Finley has strong ball skills and potential to play at the next level. Still need to add a bit more weight and size but the tools are there.
WR/TE Micah Jones Warren- again just a young pup who can play. Not sure what his eventual spot will be in a few years from now but is another 2018 name to keep a close eye on.
More to follow
This post was edited on 3/29 11:44 AM by edgytim
This post was edited on 3/29 11:49 AM by edgytim
This post was edited on 3/30 8:27 AM by edgytim