Let me set the table first. The camp was overbooked this year and that meant more kids spread out over the field and parents/coaches in the stands. Without a roster for numbers and a distant vantage point, it was easy for some prospects to simply blend into the herd and go unnoticed...however, the ones who deserved to be noticed had no problem doing so. It was an amazing collection of talent.
We entered the Gator Room for registration, weigh-ins and measuring...had to pass right by the Heismans and the two crystals. I expected a dull pain in my gut at that moment, but surprisingly...nada. I'm over it...finally. Anyway, nice area but I suspect there will some upgrades sooner than later as UF continues success and keeps up with the usual facilities game.
We were 30 minutes early for registration and the place was already packed. They ended up with twice as many kids as they expected...and hoped to have. I immediately recognized two players...Lamarcus Joyner and Jeff Luc. LJ is bigger than I expected...wide shoulders and solid as a rock. Jeff Luc was my first text of the day...he is a physical specimen that you rarely see.
The kids were sent to the field for 40s, then the defense went inside for a weight room tour and mini workout while the offense did a dynamic warmup. Then the groups switched...
There was an hour of individual drill work and then an hour of 1on1s.
By this time, I met up with Uncle Genron and Brett Goetz and they were pointing out the names of kids I wanted to see...and had mostly noticed already by obvious talent gaps. Jason Pughe of Athlete Vault and a handful Rivals reporters were also great for comparing notes.
Lamarcus Joyner--I was expecting to be good...but I was shocked at his skills. Bill Greene posted my text to him from FNL after I watched a few reps...can't post that here because of recruiting forum rules, but I was fired up. The kids hips are like a swivel but the pads never raise. He explodes out of every cut and glides like he is on waterskiis. Played every rep in straight press technique...no cushion at all. He is the most impressive HS DB I've personally witnessed and he the potential to be a great one. His battles with Chris Dunkley were amazing...and the handsprings and full-extension backflips would make Ozzie Smith proud. Bill Greene asked me if 6-star was a proper nickname...I told him 6 is too low.
Jeff Luc-- A man. Period. The RB/LB 1on1s were definitely the RBs advantage...but Luc was manhandling people and displaying some excellent lateral quickness and speed. He seemingly took every other rep.
Chris Dunkley-- Checked in a 6' 180...larger than his Rivals listing. Attacked the DBs and the football. He dominated everyone except Joyner.
Cody Riggs-- He looked good at times and then got burned badly a few times. However, just like LJ, I didn't see him in anything but straight press tech...last night, that took some skill.
Teddy Bridgewater-- He worked at QB and at WR...obviously a special athlete. He is filling out...already looks bigger than the pics I'd seen.
Chaz Green-- Two conflicting reports...I never made it down to the OL/DL. However, I did specifically ask about Chaz and was told by a coach and one evaluator that he had a horrible night and was visibly frustrated after getting beaten soundly a few times. Then Mike Farrell raves about him in his Rivals article today. Dunno..
Ronald Powell-- Stud. Amazing frame and athleticism for his size. He played WR/DB/LB/RB...he never wore his FNL top all night...only shirtless kid on the field and nobody said a word. He was everywhere and repped like crazy.
Urban Meyer-- Thoroughly impressed. He was great with the kids and was working the recruiting trail from the first second and still going when we left. Great guy...but there is an obvious edge to him. It wasn't difficult to understand their success after meeting him.
Anything you want to know...ask.
We entered the Gator Room for registration, weigh-ins and measuring...had to pass right by the Heismans and the two crystals. I expected a dull pain in my gut at that moment, but surprisingly...nada. I'm over it...finally. Anyway, nice area but I suspect there will some upgrades sooner than later as UF continues success and keeps up with the usual facilities game.
We were 30 minutes early for registration and the place was already packed. They ended up with twice as many kids as they expected...and hoped to have. I immediately recognized two players...Lamarcus Joyner and Jeff Luc. LJ is bigger than I expected...wide shoulders and solid as a rock. Jeff Luc was my first text of the day...he is a physical specimen that you rarely see.
The kids were sent to the field for 40s, then the defense went inside for a weight room tour and mini workout while the offense did a dynamic warmup. Then the groups switched...
There was an hour of individual drill work and then an hour of 1on1s.
By this time, I met up with Uncle Genron and Brett Goetz and they were pointing out the names of kids I wanted to see...and had mostly noticed already by obvious talent gaps. Jason Pughe of Athlete Vault and a handful Rivals reporters were also great for comparing notes.
Lamarcus Joyner--I was expecting to be good...but I was shocked at his skills. Bill Greene posted my text to him from FNL after I watched a few reps...can't post that here because of recruiting forum rules, but I was fired up. The kids hips are like a swivel but the pads never raise. He explodes out of every cut and glides like he is on waterskiis. Played every rep in straight press technique...no cushion at all. He is the most impressive HS DB I've personally witnessed and he the potential to be a great one. His battles with Chris Dunkley were amazing...and the handsprings and full-extension backflips would make Ozzie Smith proud. Bill Greene asked me if 6-star was a proper nickname...I told him 6 is too low.
Jeff Luc-- A man. Period. The RB/LB 1on1s were definitely the RBs advantage...but Luc was manhandling people and displaying some excellent lateral quickness and speed. He seemingly took every other rep.
Chris Dunkley-- Checked in a 6' 180...larger than his Rivals listing. Attacked the DBs and the football. He dominated everyone except Joyner.
Cody Riggs-- He looked good at times and then got burned badly a few times. However, just like LJ, I didn't see him in anything but straight press tech...last night, that took some skill.
Teddy Bridgewater-- He worked at QB and at WR...obviously a special athlete. He is filling out...already looks bigger than the pics I'd seen.
Chaz Green-- Two conflicting reports...I never made it down to the OL/DL. However, I did specifically ask about Chaz and was told by a coach and one evaluator that he had a horrible night and was visibly frustrated after getting beaten soundly a few times. Then Mike Farrell raves about him in his Rivals article today. Dunno..
Ronald Powell-- Stud. Amazing frame and athleticism for his size. He played WR/DB/LB/RB...he never wore his FNL top all night...only shirtless kid on the field and nobody said a word. He was everywhere and repped like crazy.
Urban Meyer-- Thoroughly impressed. He was great with the kids and was working the recruiting trail from the first second and still going when we left. Great guy...but there is an obvious edge to him. It wasn't difficult to understand their success after meeting him.
Anything you want to know...ask.
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