January 13, 2008

Barry Every
Rivals.com Football Recruiting

Here is Every's breakdown on some of the standouts from the combine in the Alamodome, including a look at some of the schools showing early interest in some of them.

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Zach Mettenberger, QB, Watkinsville (Ga.) Oconee County Assets: Very tall at 6 feet 5 and has a live arm. What was most impressive: I predicted that if any receiver didn't have his hands ready they would get hurt. Guess What? Someone got hurt. Conclusion: If he can work on his foot speed and continue to improve his accuracy he will be an Elite 11 competitor later this year.

Xavier Su'a Filo, OT, Provo (Utah) Timpview Assets: This kid has excellent feet and is just plain mean. What was most impressive: He kept challenging the top defensive linemen over and over. Conclusion: This kid is definitely a Rivals250 kid, and will get national attention.

John Martinez, OG, Salt Lake City (Utah) Cottonwood Assets: He has great knee bend and very good technique. What was most impressive: He used his hands extremely well. Conclusion: This kid has been well coached. I really think he will be one of the top guard/centers in the nation.

Darris Ford, DT, St. Louis (Mo.) Hazelwood East Assets: He has a great frame and is very athletic. What was most impressive: He has a body that will allow him to either be a great offensive guard or possibly a big defensive tackle. Conclusion: Did not claim any offers any that is just hard to believe. He has to be one of the top players in Missouri.

Xavier Nixon, OT, Fayetteville (N.C.) Jack Britt Assets: He has great height at 6 feet 6, and a really nice frame. What was most impressive: He was a real fighter in one on ones and he uses his long arms well. Conclusion: He is definitely one of the top players in North Carolina, and a definite Rivals250 candidate.

Jacobbi McDaniel, DT, Greenville (Fla.) Madison Co. Assets: His great technique, power, and toughness pretty much everything. What was most impressive: He went against everybody and won 95 percent of all challenges, if not more. Conclusion: McDaniel gets my vote for MVP at this combine. He is a top five prospect nationally and a December graduate.

Tom Savage, QB, Philadelphia (Pa.) Cardinal O'Hara Assets: He has great overall size at 6 feet 4, 226 pounds and a beautiful deep ball. What was most impressive: He throws the most gorgeous long ball. Conclusion: Definitely one of the top quarterbacks in the nation. I'd be really surprised if he did not make the Elite11.

Lendell Buckner, DT, Chicago (Ill.) Leo Assets: He is big at 6 feet 2, 320 pounds, and holds it really well. What was most impressive: He is just so powerful, and has boat loads of talent. Conclusion: Claims only one offer, Colorado, which is really hard to believe since he plays the most sought-after position in college football.

William Campbell, DT, Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech (Michigan commit) Assets: He has great height and power. What was most impressive: He also challenged everyone and anyone, and dominated. Conclusion: He could play nose tackle or defensive tackle. Campbell is a definite top 100 guy who will excite Michigan fans.

Dominic Clarke, CB, Fredicksburg (Md.) Tuscarora Assets: He is extremely quick and has a great frame. What was most impressive: I didn't get to personally watch him in drills, but he was unbelievable in the shuttle, running a 4.18. Conclusion: Has no offers which is hard to believe. He is an excellent student and would love to hear from the Hurricanes. This guy is one of my sleepers.

Craig Drummond, DE, Chicago (Ill.) Morgan Park Assets: This kid already looks the part of a college defensive end at 6-4, 250. What was most impressive: He is just a really tough kid that wanted to go again and again. Conclusion: Already has scholarship offers from Illinois, Iowa, Ohio State and Kansas State. He definitely needs serious consideration for the Rivals250.

Marcus Hall, OL, Cleveland (Ohio) Glenville Assets: He already has great size at 6 feet 5, 290 pounds, and is athletic. What was most impressive: He was one of the offensive linemen that kept challenging William Campbell in one-on-one's. Conclusion: This kid has to be one of the top offensive linemen in Ohio next year. He has multiple offers but would love to hear from USC and Florida.

Brandon Rice, RB, Columbus (Ohio) Walnut Ridge Assets: He looked very quick, and had great hands. What was most impressive: He showed great acceleration running a wheel route leaving the defender in his wake. Conclusion: Has a lot of MAC schools recruiting him but he really impressed me with his athleticism and seemed like a very bright kid. I expect things to change real quick for this all-purpose back.

Tavon Austin, RB, Baltimore (Md.) Dunbar Assets: He is extremely quick and is a threat out of the backfield as a receiver. What was most impressive: He also left his defender in the wake on a wheel route. Conclusion: Claims offers from Maryland, Rutgers, Virginia and Boston College, and I can see why. He is has to be top 10 in Maryland. He also should be a very good all-purpose back that would love to hear from Florida and Florida State.

Corey Gaines, DT, Tallahassee (Fla.) Godby Assets: He is very athletic for a center or a defensive tackle. What was most impressive: He excelled at one-on-one's as an offensive lineman, then switched to defense and was even more dominating. Conclusion: He plays out of his natural position in high school at offensive tackle and defensive end, so throw the film out and get this kid into your camp. He can play major college football.

Justin Chaisson, DE, Las Vegas (Nev.) Bishop Gorman Assets: He has a really great frame at 6-5, 255. What was most impressive: He is a tough battler that challenged the top offensive linemen at this combine. Conclusion: He has a really high ceiling and projects as a strongside defensive or possibly a defensive tackle. He claims multiple offers but would like to hear more from USC and UCLA.

Kevin Fogg, RB, Apex (N.C.) Assets: Another kid that was impressive watching run the shuttle in 4.22. What was most impressive: He showed great hands running routes out of the backfield. Conclusion: He was injured a good part of his junior season but still managed 600 yards rushing in eight games. This is another one of my sleepers who should be a top-30 North Carolina prospect.

Trabis Ward, RB, Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) Dillard Assets: He has an unbelievable change of gears. What was most impressive: He appeared to be extremely fast to the naked eye. Conclusion: He has a great build for a tailback at 5-8, 192. He will be hard to see as he hits the line of scrimmage and he is already bulked up enough to take the blows that will be delivered at the next level. He is one I really look forward to seeing at other camps this year and on film.

Dyron Dye, DE, Sanford (Fla.) Seminole Assets: He is extremely quick, has a great frame and long arms. What was most impressive: He had tremendous get offs and would blow by most offensive linemen before they could get there hands on him. Conclusion: I was unaware of this junior prior the combine. If he looks anything on film like he showed in camp you are looking at a high-level four-star prospect.

David Collins, OT, Kernersville (N.C.) East Forsyth Assets: He is a mountain of a man at 6 feet 7, 309 pounds, and is very tough. What was most impressive: The top defensive players saw how strong and mean this kid was and the kept wanting to challenge him. Collins definitely held his own in one-on-one's. Conclusion: Some people may say he is a bit of a project after he ran a 5.8 40-yard dash. But if you look beyond that, he manhandled defenders in one-on-one's, and no one was blowing by this giant. He has no offers but if college coaches saw his performance in this camp they would be calling his coach immediately.

Thomas Ashcraft, OT, Cedar Hill (Texas) Assets: Great lower body and he plays at a high level of high school football in Texas. What was most impressive: Another prospect that was eager to battle over and over in one-on-one drills. Conclusion: He is listed as a tackle right now but I believe he may be a big guard at the next level. This is a high character kid that will represent any college team well and excel on the field also.

Quinton Washington, OG, St. Stephens (S.C.) Timberland Assets: He is really put together and a tough player. What was most impressive: There were times he was taking some real shots but he just stood in there and took it and didn't let the defender get by. Conclusion: This kid is definitely a top five player in the state of South Carolina. I look forward to seeing how he looks in his game film.

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