Wednesday Morning Notebook

San Antonio, Texas -- While the morning practice ended early, both teams went with a live scrimmage in the cooler weather to separate the players from the playmakers.

East

One of the positions bringing the most attention and discussion with the Scout.com team is at wide receiver. Percy Harvin, the nation's top prospect at the position, and Vidal Hazelton, the former number one at the position, both dominated in the morning session.

Chris Wells continues to be a dominant player, but C.J. Spiller is showing to be a great change of pace running back.

Linebacker Micah Johnson
hits Chris Wells
photo by Glenn Nelson

Hit of the day on the East came from linebacker Micah Johnson who tattooed Chris Wells in the hole. Johnson continues to be the defensive leader and is expected to start at linebacker with Brandon Spikes and Akeem Hebron.

On the defensive line, Robert Rose is hands down the best player today. A guy that looks like he was cut out of granite but has been softer than a feather, Rose came off the ball and buckled Sam Young's knees.

Quote of the day: Micah Johnson to Vidal Hazelton, "Just 'cause you're going to USC doesn't mean you don't have to block."

Coaches at East practice: Pittsburgh and North Carolina

Cornerback Raeshon McNeil
breaks up a pass
photo by Glenn Nelson

Poor Raeshon McNeil has been in great coverage with the East wide receivers, but somehow players like Hazelton and fellow five-star Chris Bell are able to go up and bring the ball down.

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West

The battle between West QBs Mitch Mustain and Jevan Snead is far and away the most entertaining matchup this year. Both have their own strengths and weaknesses obviously, but both continue to get better each and every day as they get used to the ball. In the morning scrimmage, Mustain was 4-for-4 for 55 yards and one touchdown to Ken Beasley also completing passes to Adron Tennell, David Ausberry, and DeMarco Murray. Snead went 1-for-2 for 20 yards, with the completion to Ausberry on a great catch.

In the offensive and defensive line one-on-ones, OL Chris Stewart and DT Butch Lewis both finished first with five wins each. Gerald McCoy and Joseph Faifili had four wins apiece followed by J'Marcus Webb with three wins. It was by far Stewart's best showing of the week.

The biggest mover this week could be Texas commitment Ken Beasley, our Waco Scout.com Combine MVP. Expected to play cornerback at Texas, he could and should just stay on the field throughout Saturday's U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Not only is he one of the best cornerbacks, he is probably the best wide receiver for the West. That said, David Ausberry, Adron Tennell, and Terrence Austin are starting to have a say in that "top wide receiver" category.

Konrad Reuland had all the press for the tight ends coming into this week's practice, but Adam James, son of Pony Express star Craig James, is very, very impressive at making catches in traffic and should have plenty of offers after the week is out.

Butch Lewis is playing out of position at defensive end, but it doesn't seem to matter in pass rush drills where he has been a terror.