Since this is aimed at me I'll respond with these questions:
Which talents of Henning's do you like?
Do you think his HS production is ND level?
Is AJ a better target than Roman Wilson?
(Roman's faster, more productive, no injury concerns and is Jordan Botelho's teammate.)
Who would you sign?
Henning (5-9.5)
https://www.cbssports.com/video/pla...ting/1493636675936/0/2019-opening-a-j-henning
or Wilson? (6-0)
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At the St. Louis Opening, Henning looked a little stiff when making the next move at the top of his route. In addition to stiffness, some routes just looked awkward to watch. So route running is the main area of his game that needs to be addressed. But, the same can be said for about 50% of WRs coming out of high school. His game film, I enjoyed watching. Despite being on the shorter side, he does a tremendous job of high pointing the football, and shows the competitiveness to do so, which is a must, especially if you are a shorter wide receiver. On his film, it’s easy to notice his running back background. He sees the field quite well, and has the moves to create more space when in space. I did notice his sophomore film he had a bit more explosiveness, so it shows me his injury is still not quite resolved. But, in terms of speed, at least straight line, he’s still a burner. It’s not elite, but a 4.46 (is what he ran last month at The Opening regionals) is excellent. Also, his testing numbers, do show quality athleticism. Again, not elite level, but still great.
Is his production ND level? A good question. I try not to look at production as so much of an indication of whether an athlete can translate to ND. It’s more about traits that can be beneficial and built upon as he continues his development. Now, can I say that Henning will undoubtedly be a contributor, a star, at ND? I can’t say. Some big names flop, while the under the radar guys are the ones that flourish. I try not to expect anything. Expectations lead to disappointments. But, in my opinion, if Henning can continue to improve from injury, and fine tune much of his game, like all players transitioning to the next level, pairing all that with his athletic ability, than yes, I can see him as a meaningful contributor to the offense.
Ramon Wilson, a new name to keep an eye on. Like you mentioned, teammates with Jordan Botelho, and an impressive last weekend in Oakland. Will Fuller comparisons will probably pop up. Speed, heigh-weight similarities. His film shows the ability of downfield separation. Which we all want. I feel it would a smart move to get on his recruitment. Many schools have recently given out offers to him, and I feel it would be wise to stay with pack and eventually try and separate.
I can’t say who I would sign. But it comes down to what the player can do, or more importantly, how the staff thinks a player will develop into what role. If Wilson is a deep threat guy but can’t get off press or work the intermediate traffic of the field, he’s really only good for one thing. But, it’s a good thing to have on an offense. Henning, I feel has a little more versatility. He can be used in many ways, and probably can do more for the offense as a whole.
In an ideal situation, I’d take both players, but I get what I need, not what I want. I think Henning has more value in what he can do. Short pass, bubble screen, intermediate, and enough speed to work down the field. But, I’m not cementing my position. There’s still camp circuits, senior seasons, and all-star practices and games to take into account down the road.
