Director Andy Bark speaks with one of the largest turnouts ever for a
Nike Camp. The Nike camps keep getting bigger and better, and Andy Bark is a
major reason why.
ESPN's Chris Mortensen shakes hands with Andy Bark. Mortensen
brought his son Alex, a sophomore QB, to participate in the camp. The younger
Mortensen showed well, and he will be a prospect to watch for the class of 2004.
UGA quarterback DJ Shockley was on hand to demonstrate some of the
drills.
The star of the camp was Independence, NC QB Chris Leak. While there
are no guarantees at the next level, Leak showed that he was everything that he
has been stacked up to be at this point. With a fluid release and good footwork,
the ball seems to fly out of his ear hole on his throws. His accuracy is
uncanny, and he has a well deserved reputation as the #1 player in the south.
Chris Leak shows that he is more than just an arm. His lower body was
more powerfully built than most of the running backs on campus.
The reigning Douglas County (GA) Player of the Year was on hand, and Armand
Cauthen was well built and made several nice catches against corners that
were given a lot of latitude in their coverage.
Antwuan Jackson not only had several nice catches during the day, he
showed uncanny poise during the one on ones. Jackson got knocked down by one of
the corners coming off the line, and he fell in to the crowd of boisterous
defensive backs that circled him while he was on the ground like a pack of
wolves and let him know what they thought of his chances of catching another
pass were. Jackson got up calmly, got back in line, and proceeded to burn
the next man in line for the DB's and haul in a catch.
Atlanta, GA's Brandon Allen showed up at impressive 6'4 and 190
pounds. The receiver has big goals for the year, trying to go for 90 catches on
the season.
Two sport stand-out Hiram Moore came all the way from Huntington, WV
to try and make a name for himself in the south. Moore showed the skills on the
field that has earned him multiple D1 scholarship offers in both football and
basketball.
In one of the best matchups on the afternoon, Duncan, SC receiver Terrell
Allen lined up against Tallahassee's Marcus Clayton. Allen was able
to get open, but the ball was not delivered. Call this one a draw for now, but
we may see these guys line up against each other on Fall Saturdays.
A WR in a LB's body, Valdosta's Cory Clemons caught the ball well in
drills.
Chattanooga, TN was well represented by 6'4-6'5 WR Darius Bowman. Bowman
moved well in drills and looked fluid catching the ball.
Harrison's (GA) Paul Oliver was the staff's choice for top defensive
back in the camp. While the DB's were having a big time hooping it up on the
sidelines, Oliver seemed content to just go out and shut people down.
Slowed by a shoulder injury to some extent, Milton's (GA) Sean Bailey was
still fast enough to run a 4.4, haul in this catch, and be named one of the top
WR's in a camp that was loaded with receiving talent.
Stephenson's (GA) Kregg Lumpkin comes out of a cut and shows why he is
being considered one of the top RB's in the nation. He was named outstanding
back in the camp on Sunday.
Lumpkin looks on at TheInsiders.com's Jamie Newberg, raises an
eyebrow and thinks to himself, "He looks taller in on TV."
Lumpkin's teammate at Stephenson Reggie Ball drops back for a pass.
Perhaps one of the most physically gifted QB's at the camp, Ball has a strong
arm, and he ran a sub 4.5 forty.
The 3rd member of Stephenson's potent offensive attack is TJ Gartrell (front
center). Gartrell was the third member of the group to run a sub 4.5, and he was
named one of the top WR's in the camp.
The strongest arm at the camp may have belonged to Eric Priester of
Fairfax, SC. At 6'4, Priester has ideal height for a pocket QB. When he relaxed
and threw with a nice easy release, he had one of the prettiest throws on the
day, a skinny post that arrived on a line.
Referred to as "possibly the top running back in Florida this
year," Brian Dennison proved it on the field.
Taking home the honors of top LB, Dacula's (GA) Des Williams is as
physically imposing a player as was seen on Sunday. A huge middle linebacker,
he'll be physically capable of playing early at the next level.
