Recruiting is beginning to get earlier and earlier, and although it is tough to predict how prospects will develop, some youngster simply have the look of a future top prospect. Throughout June and July, we saw a few of those guys.
Michael O'Connor burst onto the scene during last year's 7 on 7s when the 6'4 quarterback showed the arm and maturity of a big time prospect. He has transferred from Canada down to Baylor Prep in Tennessee, and this summer, added quite the handful of offers. By the time he is a senior, his current list should be well into the double digits.
Other young quarterbacks we saw throughout the summer were two from Michigan, Detroit Cass Tech's Jayru Campbell, DeWitt's Jake Johnson and St. Charles (Ill.) East's Justin Berry. Campbell lead the Technicians to the state title a year ago, Johnson also played varsity as a freshman, and Berry was named one of the top performers at Illinois' satellite camp at Mt. Carmel.
The top overall sophomore to be in the Midwest may be Madison Southern (Ky.) running back Damien Harris, who has legitimate 4.4 speed in a 195-lb frame, and earned offers this summer from Illinois, Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan and others. Another running back we saw who should become a big time prospect is Detroit Southwestern's Romello Ross. He's a speedy back with great hands and definitely put himself in line for future offers.
On the line, Joshua Alabi, a 6'4, 245-lb defensive end from Detroit Cass Tech impressed. He's still learning, still raw, but has a ton of talent. His line mate, the stout, powerful Keith Jones, is an interior guy to watch out for.
Two offensive linemen from Illinois are ones to watch. Brennan Bosch earned himself an Illinois offer already, and Javon Burruss of Chicago De La Salle is already 6'5, 310-lbs, and had a nice performance at the Illini satellite camp.
I don't know where he'll end up playing, but Detroit Consortium has a freshman to be who is a big time athlete in Eddie Rhodes. At 6'3 right now, he'll play outside linebacker, but may grow into an end. He impressed at Sound Mind, Sound Body. Another linebacker prospect is class of 2017 product Joshua Ross, whose older brother James is headed to Michigan. It is definitely very early, but LSU just offered a kid in his class, so Josh deserves some mention here.
Finally, in the secondary, watch out for John Kelley of Oak Park, a confident, long armed corner prospect who excelled at three different camps we were able to see him at.