Profile: Jermauria Rasco
Location: Shreveport, Louisiana.
High School: Evangel Christian Academy
Position: Defensive End
Size: 6-4/244
Scouting Report
The state of Louisiana is loaded with talent at the top in 2011 and one of the best will be Rasco. He is an elite defensive end and could end up being the top 2011 prospect in the Bayou State.
Something that really jumped out on film was the use of his hands and how he disengages from the offensive lineman. He keeps his hands active, he extends his arms, and those things really help him get off blocks and get to the football. He makes it very difficult for offensive linemen to lock him up for a long period of time. His hands are one of his biggest strengths.
Another thing he does very well is play recognition. He keeps his head up and locates the ball quickly. Whether it be in the backfield, coming right at him, down the line, or in the pocket, Rasco does an excellent job of finding the ball and getting to it quickly.
His speed is so evident when watching him in action. He closes on the ball exceptionally well and he goes full speed until the whistle blows. He makes plays in the backfield, at the line of scrimmage, and down field. He is a defensive end that will chase the ball from sideline to sideline with good speed. He seems to play with a lot of energy.
Arguably the most impressive thing about Rasco as a junior is his discipline. He does not over-pursue, he stays home, and he plays his assignment. He really does a nice job of recognizing the screen play and instead of taking a clear shot at the quarterback, he drops back in coverage and makes the QB eat the ball or throw it away. He just has a good feel for the game and he is in the right position much more than he isn’t. Not too many juniors in high school show the level of intelligence that he does and that is a big reason why he is as good as he is.
While he has many strengths, he still has room to improve in some areas.
He does not show a lot of moves off the edge when rushing the quarterback, so he can definitely work on a spin move, using the rip move, faking in and out, and so on. What uses most of time now is just the simple bull rush. While it is effective for him now, he will have to take more with him to the next level to be that immediate impact player many expect him to be.
Like many high school DLs, he has a tendency to stand up a little too soon. He can get away with that now because of his hands and strength, but he needs to work on playing more behind his pads, staying low out of the box, and using more leverage. If he comes off the ball low and uses those hands and his speed, then he could be even better than he is now.
Explosiveness is a big key for defensive ends and Rasco could show a little explosiveness off the ball. He does not get that consistent jump, but his closing speed is so good that he makes up for that. He needs to anticipate the snap a little better, improve his get-off, and show more explosiveness.
Overall, Rasco is one of the top defensive ends in the country. The country is loaded with prospects at that position in 2010 and he will be the cream of the crop in 2011. With his understanding of the position, his size, his speed, and the intangibles he brings to the table, he is going to be a national recruit. He is around 245 pounds now and he is only going to get bigger and when he improves his technique and adds more moves to his game, then he will be that complete package on the edge.
Recruiting Notes: He has offers from schools like Alabama, LSU, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Stanford, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt among others. He said he is wide open to everyone at this time.
Chad Simmons is the Recruiting Manager for the South Region and he can be reached at ChadSimmons@Scout.com.