Coaches looking for defense are going to be very happy with what they find in
the deep south this year. The linebacker position is particularly deep this
year, and it was especially deep at TheInsiders/MSL Combine this weekend, so
that's where we'll start.
Darius Dewberry (right) of Peach
County was my pick for the top prospect at the combine this weekend
regardless of position. He measured in at just under 6-4 and 222 pounds, and he
had a 33 inch vertical jump. His size speed combo was outstanding and he stood
out in all of his drills. Dewberry is pictured with teammate Brandon
Lowe.
Lowe helped himself tremendously this weekend with the second forty time on the
weekend. his 4.51 on the soggy turf makes me feel confident in saying he will
run in the 4.3's at several camps this summer. Lowe is a straight A student, and
he works a part time job as well. Looking for a speed and character? Pay Lowe a
visit this spring.
Antonio Clay was one of the few top players in the state of Georgia that I
didn't recognize by face. I mention that because there was an NFL Regional
tryout going on across the street at Morris Brown, and several players came over
to Clark because of the long lines of athletes forming. After sending a couple
of the players to Morris Brown, I walked down the registration line and picked
out Clay. I asked him "You're in high school, right?" He smiled and
said "Yes Sir."
Yes Clay looked like he easily could have been in the wrong line and should have
been heading over to the NFL tryout. At 6-0 and 215 pounds, one look and it was
easy to see why Clemson and Florida have already offered this monster from Twiggs
County.
MSL Coach Pete Ewald is putting Ware
County's Maurice Goettie through the paces at defensive line. Goettie plays
defensive line for the Gators, but he projects as a middle linebacker in
college. He had a terrific day on Saturday.
So you think you want to come over the middle? Tokumbo Abanikanda plays
linebacker for Osborne,
and he played as well this weekend as he looks fierce.
Westlake always
has players, and this year is no different. Taalib Tucker missed part of his
junior season, but he is back and ready to go full speed. He plays outside
linebacker for Westlake, but he has the look of a run stuffing middle linebacker
in college.
Antonio Prude made the trip over from Carrollton, Ala. to compete in the
combine, and he used his time well. He looked good on Saturday, and he is a
player that should get a look from several colleges this spring and summer.
Trey Brenner is another out of state player that showed well. Brenner made the
trip down from North Carolina, and he proved early on that he belonged.
Three players not pictured that did very well for themselves this weekend were
Andrew Dete of Marist,
Kyle Giella of Parkview,
and Eric Schultz of GAC.
Schultz had one of the best testing days on the weekend. He hit a 39.5 vertical
jump, and he long jumped 10 feet. Those numbers would put him in the Top 10 of
both categories in the five deep south combines I went to.
It was a day of the linebackers on Saturday, but there were some defensive
linemen worth keeping an eye on as well.
Quentin Wesley (left) of Crim
and Brian Truelove of Brookwood
were the two best defensive linemen on the day Saturday. Wesley measured at over
6-4 and Truelove came in at 6-2. I was surprised at how lean Truelove was. It
showed too, because he was extremely quick. He also set the mark on the weekend for bench press reps with 40. I think he ends up at offensive
guard in college, but he's going to be a beast at defensive tackle for Brookwood
this year.
Johnnie Walker of Centennial
is not pictured, but he is definitely a player that deserves mention as well. He
ran with the linebackers on Sunday, and he held his own, but at 6-3 and a lean
210 pounds, it is easy to picture him at defensive end on the next level.
There were probably several opponents of Cherokee
that couldn't wait to see Jayson Foster graduate. Well, I have bad news for you,
Anthony Steele ran the 3rd fastest time I've seen this spring with a 4.46 on a
slow track. More importantly though, the Cherokee quarterback looked just as
good in other footwork drills, and he held his own throwing the ball. I have him
in the defensive review, because I think his best college position may be
corner, but he is going to be a nightmare for opponents of the Warriors this
year.
Not pictured but should be mentioned are Jeffery Thompson of Trinity Catholic in
St. Louis and Mike Patterson of Salem.
Thompson made the trip down from St. Louis and earned praise from the defensive
coaches as one of the top defensive backs on the weekend. Sharing that honor was
Salem's Mike Patterson. I look forward to reviewing their camp performance on
film at the MSL Website.
This was the first time MSL had been back to a city, and the fledgling group has
grown leaps and bounds since they were here in July. The rain may have scared a
few people off on Sunday, but the group that turned out this weekend in Atlanta
not only showed a lot of talent, but they showed a lot of heart. The parents,
coaches, and community deserve a big thanks for making this combine so great.
MSL - Atlanta
(Offense Report)
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