HS FOOT: Crespi's Simmons, Oaks' Adams named top performers at Nike camp
By Gerry Gittelson on April 6, 2011 9:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | ShareThis
Crespi lineman Jordan Simmons and Oaks Christian defensive back Ishmael Adams stood out at a large-scale Nike scouting combine at USC this past weekend.
Here's an ESPN rundown:
More than 300 athletes from all over the West gathered at USC for the second stop on the Nike Football Training Camp tour. It might have been the most talent-laden SoCal event in recent memory. More than 70 players in attendance had at least one scholarship offer under their belt.
Here are the top 24 performers from the camp, based on both NFTC staff feedback and college potential.
OFFENSE
QB: Matt Morin, 6-2.5, 217, Chaparral (Temecula, Calif.)
Morin surprised many onlookers with his performance on Sunday. The strong armed lefty had the tightest release, was extremely accurate and showed off an absolute cannon for an arm. The signal caller is still waiting for his first offer but he showed he can definitely play at the high FBS level.
RB: Kendyl Taylor, (NO HT/WT), Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.)
Taylor showed high level athleticism and a great burst off the line. He has loose hips and is very tough to handle in the open field. He also showed good toughness in the blocking drills and could be the top back in the Grand Canyon State.
WR: Darius Powe, 6-2, 199, Lakewood (Lakewood, Calif.)
Powe fits the mold of the big, physical and fast receivers you see dominating the college game. He has a great frame but can really run and no one could cover him on Sunday. As a junior, Powe caught 43 balls for 822 yards and six touchdowns to earn1st team all-state underclass honors.
WR: Bryce Treggs, 5-11, 167, St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)
Treggs is lightning quick and has great hands as well. He's a polished route runner and has a great understanding of how to get open and how to play his position. Treggs was a 1st team all-state underclass selection last season catching 56 balls for 1,010 yards and 12 touchdowns.
WR: Gabriel Marks, 5-11.5, 168, Venice (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Marks is as polished a high school receiver as you're going to see. Some have questioned his top-end speed but he has no problem getting open and could have the best hands in the state. He's an equally talented corner and is yet another player who was named all-state underclass a year ago after catching 34 balls for 1,344 yards and 13 touchdowns.
WR: Malik Gilmore, 6-3, 200, Lakewood (Lakewood, Calif.)
Gilmore often gets lost in Powe's shadow but he's an elite receiver prospect as well. He looks much bigger than his listed HT/WT and it wouldn't be surprising if he eventually grew into tight end. Gilmore is so strong that you can't press him and he has very strong hands as well.
TE: Taylor McNamara, 6-5, 224, Westview (San Diego, Calif.)
Good looking athlete who runs well, has very soft hands and a great frame. He's a precise route runner and is too big for safeties to cover and too quick for linebackers. The tight end has offers from schools all over the country including Ohio State, USC, UCLA, Florida State, Michigan, Cal and Stanford.
OL: Jordan Simmons, 6-4, 335, Crespi (Encino, Calif.)
Simmons took home OL MVP honors with a dominating performance for the second year in a row. The big lineman has surprising quickness and plays with a mean streak. He could benefit but leaning out a bit but is easily among the nation's top guard prospects.
OL: Ronnie Stanley, 6-5.5, 283, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Stanley was easily the most athletic lineman in the group and has great feet. He has the prototype frame you're looking for in a tackle with a long, lean frame that will hold a lot more weight, long arms and plus athleticism. He left no doubt why he's regarded the top player in the state.
OL: John Lopez ('13), 6-5, 326, Orange Lutheran (Orange, Calif.)
Lopez has a chance to be among the top lineman in the nation in two years and had a great camp. He's a big, physical player who dominated the one on ones with his combination of brute strength and technique. Lopez plays with a mean streak and already has a college body. UCLA offered following his freshman season.
OL: Cedrick Poutasi, 6-4.5, 333, Desert Pines (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Poutasi is a true road grader who just mauls opposing lineman. He has a big frame but is light on his feet and has a great punch. He has the size and athleticism to play guard or tackle at the next level but probably projects best as an interior lineman.
ATH: Derrick Woods, 5-11.5, 171, Inglewood (Inglewood, Calif.)
Woods showed his versatility working out with the wide receivers and having an incredible camp. Prior to the event, he was thought of more as a hard hitting safety but after Sunday, there's no doubt he could play on either side of the ball in college.
DEFENSE
DL: Ellis McCarthy, 6-5, 308, Monrovia (Monrovia, Calif.)
One of the most impressive looking tackles you'll see at the high school level. McCarthy has a huge frame but looks lean and moves like a player half his size. He's physically strong enough to just bull rush people but showed a variety of pass rush moves and should be considered among the nation's top defensive tackles.
DL: Aziz ****tu, 6-2.5, 275, Buhach Colony (Atwater, Calif.)
****tu was one of the surprises of the camp and earned DL MVP honors. He took reps at both defensive end and tackle and didn't come close to losing a rep in the one on ones. He has a great first step off the snap, is very strong in the upper body and is among the most explosive lineman in the region.
DL: Chauntee Jackson ('13), 6-4, 230, Inglewood (Inglewood, Calif.)
Young rush end has a ton of upside. Jackson is a great athlete and showed tremendous speed coming off the edge. He's still raw and needs to learn how to use his athleticism but he has a great motor and can be as good as he wants to be.
DL: Kyle Kelley, 6-3, 230, Woodbridge (Woodbridge, Calif.)
Kelley is a natural pass rusher and a tremendous athlete. He plays both linebacker and defensive end and athletically, was just too much to handle for all opposing lineman. He's a high effort guy who really competes and showed why he has offers from schools like Florida, Arizona State, Colorado, and Washington.
LB: Jabari Ruffin, 6-3, 219, Downey (Downey, Calif.)
Has all the tools to be a star at the next level. Was one of the most physically impressive looking players at the event and dominated the drills before tweaking his ankle, causing him to miss one on ones. Has size, speed and just the right amount of nastiness and USC landed a good one here.
LB: Butch Pauu, 5-10, 209, Servite (Anaheim, Calif.)
Pauu does everything well and earned LB MVP honors. Plays with a non-stop motor and loves to be coached. Runs well, is very aggressive and has greatly improved his cover skills. BYU, Washington and Iowa State have offered but the Cougs could be tough to beat.
LB: Aaron Porter, 6-0.5, 229, La Habra (La Habra, Calif.)
Natural inside 'backer with great toughness. Had some great plays in the one on ones including the pick of the day covering a corner route in the end zone. Has incredibly strong hands and does everything fundamentally well.
LB: Jeremiah Allison, 6-0, 202, Dorsey (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Played primarily defensive end the past two seasons and had 40 quarterback sacks. Showed he can move like a linebacker and has very good athleticism and toughness. Another player who loves to be coached and will only get better as he leans the position.
DB: Ishmael Adams, 5-8, 183, Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.)
Strong and stocky and showed great quickness in coverage. Is a natural cover man who looked good in press coverage and can turn and run with anyone. Ran three events in track the day before the camp but still came out and earned DB MVP honors.
DB: Davonte Neal, 5-9.5, 172, Chaparral (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
Neal is known primarily as a game breaking receiver but showed he can easily play corner in college as well. He has great speed but showed he can be very physical at the line. Neal has offers from just about every top program in the country and could be the top skill athlete in the region.
DB: Raymond Ford, 5-9, 155, Serra (Gardena, Calif.)
No one performed better in the one on ones than Ford. He had more interceptions than any other corner and several acrobatic pass breakups. He'll need to get bigger but does play physical and has great closing speed.
