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2013 Top Prospect Elite Top Performers - Class of 2016/2017

Courtesy: Barry Every / Schuman's National Underclassmen           Release: July 30, 2013

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2013 Top Prospect Elite (Class of 2016/2017) Barry's Top Performers Norman, Oklahoma- Over 450 athletes from around the nation were on hand for one of the premier football camps in the country. Each participant took part in agilities, position specific drills and one-on-ones. The skilled position players coached themselves in a 7-on-7 round robin tournament. Below are those athletes in the Class of 2016/2017 that stood out amongst their peers. Each demonstrated the skill set and size to play football beyond high school. NUC National Analyst Barry Every breaks down their assets and areas of improvement. It's never easy evaluating and projecting athletes that have three or more years left in high school. Not only are they young but they have the most room for physical maturation. This was one of the most talented rising freshman and sophomore groups that had ever assembled at an NUC sponsored event. We encourage each player that attended this event in this age group to continue hitting the camp circuit and improving their football skill set. Your future is like clay and the mold has not even come close to being set.

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Running Backs Joshua Land, Hubbard, IL (2017) Official Size: 5-6/153 Assets: Land was one of the youngest participants at the Top prospect Elite Camp but that did not stop him from impressing. Early on during agilities he was able to show off his top flight speed and quickness. His stride length is that of an athlete six inches taller. During one-on-ones his speed was such that he had no problem dispensing of bigger linebackers. Than during 7-on-7 he proved to be an adept pass catcher getting up field in a hurry while leaving defensive players flailing in the wind. He ended up being one of the key offensive weapons for the red squad on their way to the 7-on-7 Championship. Development: This will be his first year playing varsity football. We will find out how durable this all-purpose back is at his next juncture in football. Regardless of his current size he clearly has the skill set to project as a legit DI prospect. He has four more years to physically mature and make his mark. Tre Nation, Leeds, AL (2016) Official Size: 6-0, 205 Assets: This huge back continues to impress on the NUC Camp circuit. Most other rising freshman where left slack jawed by his size and skill set. Nation is your typical one cut back and get vertical runner. He wasted little time churning downhill chewing up large chucks of yardage. His build is such he will surely make yards after contact. During one-on-ones the size/soft hands combination proved unstoppable for the young linebackers. Nation has the ability to adjust to the ball once in the air and he does not shun away from heavy traffic. For his strong effort he earned RB MVP in the deepest group of athletes in this camp. Development: I have alluded to this before; Nation may already be at his ideal playing weight. So he will need to be careful how much more weight he adds or linebacker will end up being his projected position. He could work on lengthening his stride thus improving his top end speed just a tad. He is a no doubt DI prospect. Sewo Olonilua, Kingwood, TX (2016) Official Size: 6-1, 201 Assets: Olonilua is another repeat offender when it comes to excelling at NUC events. His size alone causes mismatch problems for linebackers and defensive backs. He has a long smooth stride that surprises defenders as he goes from point A to B. His build lends itself for projecting at several positions like LB, DB, RB and WR. He was unstoppable during one-on-ones making quick cuts and getting deep vertically with little resistance. Olonilua definitely has the potential to become a double digit offer guy. Development: He sort of disappeared during 7-on-7 not taking advantage of his size and speed to create mismatch problems. As a back he must find the holes in the defense and use his backside to screen off defenders. I still think his best position will be receiver but he has three years to prove me wrong. Big one cut speedy backs are rare but he does have that potential. Ricardo Rosario, Pembroke Pines, FL (2016) Official Size: 5-9/175 Assets: I took a look back in my notes and this back was the second number I wrote down for the class of 2016. He looked extremely quick and balanced while navigating the agility stations. During one-on-ones he was able to show off his crisp route running and soft hands. Then during the 7-on-7 play he stood out as a pass receiver. I then went and looked at his testing numbers from the SE U100 only to find out they matchup to his skill level. He has the size and athleticism to project as a DB, WR or APB. Development: I would like to see him get some work at cornerback. Because he has hips on a swivel and superior ball skills. Colleges can only take so many all-purpose backs but they will surely take more corners. As a back he will need to add about 15 pounds of muscle while proving he can hold up running between the tackles. Brian Tillery, Maryville, TN (2016) Official Size: 5-9, 156 Assets: I said this before and I'll say it again; for those college coaches that like the skill set of 2014 4-Star athlete Braxton Berrios of Leesville Road then you'll want to get this kid on your radar. Tillery is an exceptional route runner. He has tremendous change of direction and acceleration. Attacking he ball with his hands is second nature as he makes the tough catch look easy. This is one tough competitor that loves meeting whatever challenge is put in front of him. He was the underneath target for the Red Team as they waltzed all the way to the Championship. I will leave you with one stat that proves the point I am trying to make. Below are the testing numbers of Berrios and Tillery at the same age gathered at an NUC U100. Berrios 5-9, 166, 4.54 40, 4.31 Shuttle. Tillery 5-9, 156, 4.59 40, 4.32 Shuttle. Development: This will be his first year as a starter for Tennessee powerhouse Maryville. He needs to do whatever it takes for his team to win. So if that is as a slot receiver, all-purpose back or even a return man stay focused and do the best you can. Good things will surely come your way while helping your team win championships.

Wide Receivers Kolby Easley, Northview, AL (2016) Official Size: 6-1, 167 Assets: Easley has excellent height for the receiver position at such a young age. He was able to high point the ball over top smaller defensive backs with regularity. When he lifts off it looks like he was shot out of a cannon as this receiver has some serious hops. He is an above average route runner that has very good body control. He ended up being a real vertical threat for the 2016 7-on-7 Champions. His hard work did not go unnoticed as he won WR MVP. Development: Easley is rail thin at this time and will need to add muscle mass to withstand the punishment bigger defensive backs deal out. He could improve his top end speed just as a tad which should come with strength training. But one thing is for sure he can jump out of the building. Phillip Patterson, Bayside, VA (2016) Official Size: 6-0, 160 Assets:  The first agility group was loaded with quick twitch young talent. And Patterson was the third player I noticed regardless of position. He demonstrated very quick feet and superior change of direction. He again caught my eye during 7-on-7 using his hands to snag the ball away from his body. Like Easley this guy can get vertical ripping balls out of the air like a rebounder. He is also silky smooth in space. Though he did not win an award I thought he was one of the top overall athletes in the entire camp. Development: Patterson has a great fame for adding muscle mass. So hitting the weights hard will not only help him become more durable but it could also improve his top end speed which is already pretty good. I'd like to see him get some reps at defensive back because he could project as a coveted tall cornerback. Justin Weller, Nazareth Academy, IL (2017) Official Size: 5-10, 172 Assets: Again Weller proved to be a perfectionist as a route runner. He really knows how to stick that foot in the ground while keeping his arms pumping. His ability to come back to the ball while screening defenders is also very impressive. So many young receivers don't fight their way back to the ball allowing the defensive back to get in on the play. Right now Weller is that sure handed slot receiver that really knows how to find the openings in the defense. Rumor has it that this young receiver impressed the Tulsa coaching staff earlier in the week earning a verbal offer. Development: He will be thrown into the fire of varsity football this fall. It will be interesting to see how he holds up battling older kids all season long. He has excellent change of direction and good hops but he will need to lower his 40-time just a bit. Tight Ends Riley Cole, Oneonta City, AL (2016) Official Size: 6-2.5/187 Assets: Cole came to this camp as a receiver but ended up shining as a tight end and linebacker during 7-on-7. He is a smooth route runner that knows how to find the open holes in the defense. His size and skill set proved too much for defensive backs and linebackers to stop. Cole really knows how to high point the ball and is then dangerous after the catch. I was also impressed with his mobility and lateral movement as a linebacker. He may want to start taking more reps at his position because he will be considered a long, lean athletic backer with ball skills. For his strong effort he was honored as TE MVP for the class of 2016. Development: If Cole continues to fill out he could easily project as a hybrid TE/WR or linebacker. His testing numbers are excellent for his size and age. He needs to remember that versatility is the key to long term success in this game. Look for him to have a blowout sophomore season this fall.

Offensive Line Alfred Beverly, Westbrook, TX (2016) Official Size: 6-3, 328 Assets: What stands out about Beverly is the fact that he already has the size, girth and strength to combat bigger interior lineman. He has a quick punch that at times staggers defenders unwilling to use their hands. This is not an offensive lineman you can just go straight down the middle against. He proved physical at the point of attack and really liked to mix it up with pass rushers. He also did a nice job of staying squared up on defenders. Development: He can start working on reshaping some of his bad body weight. His ideal weight for his height would probably be closer to 310 pounds. This will improve his lateral quickness and ability to get to the second level when run blocking. Matt Farniok, Washington, SD (2016) Official Size: 6-5/293 Assets: Farniok is a real eye catcher. For his age his size and body type dwarf other prospects. He is without a doubt a major DI prospect with three years of high school ahead of him. He looked very nimble for a big man going through the agility stations. During one-on-ones he was quickly moved up to the 2015 class because his size and strength were too much to handle for his peers. His arm length is ideal for playing the left offensive tackle position. Once his hands are locked onto a defender he has the ability to drive them in any direction. Farniok has a powerful two handed punch that stunned several pass rushers. He was the easy choice for OL MVP for the class of 2016. Development: It's hard to find defensive ends his age that can give him a real test. He does struggle a tad with the shorter faster pass rushers that use good pad level. Once he learns to get back into his pass set quicker he will become every college coach's dream. Jonathan Gruetzmacher, Prairie River, WI (2017) Official Size: 6-7.5, 250 Assets: Well one thing is for sure you can't teach a kid to be this tall and long with a frame ideal for adding more muscle mass. It was simply hard to fathom that Grutezmacher just finished the eighth grade. This was one guy that the defensive ends did not want to take an outside rush on. He was able to use his long arms to steer pass rushers into the next hemisphere. For a huge teenager he actually has pretty good mobility and proved willing to turn each rep of one-on-ones into a dogfight. At this time he is really raw. But it's plain as day that he has the potential to become one of those coveted Wisconsin type lineman. Development: Like most young offensive lineman he will need to work on lowering his pad level with good knee bend thus getting his hands below the shoulder pads. He did struggle with the power bull rush but once he fills out that will not be an option for defenders going against this behemoth.

Defensive Line Brandon Adams, Brentwood Academy, TN (2016) Official Size: 6-2/292 Assets: Adams was easily the best looking interior defensive lineman in his age group. He is also the defensive tackle with the most upside. His upper body and lower body were made for playing the position as he has little to no bad body weight. And unlike his previous NUC camp where he relied solely on the bull rush he began to use his hands. At times they were violent knocking down the arms of would-be-blockers. He also did a nice job winning the battle for pad level. I have no doubt that he is a major DI prospect. Development: He needs to continue to hone all his pass rushing moves. Once he puts it all together size, strength, quickness and hand usage he will become unstoppable as a pass rusher. I look for him to have a big sophomore season for Brentwood Academy. Josephus Smith, III, Wenonah, AL (2016) Official Size: 5-9, 250 Assets: This guy has killed it for the third camp in a row. He lacks the ideal height but makes up for it with quickness, pad level and violent hands. I mean real violent hands that he uses to knock down the arms of offensive lineman. We had to move him up to compete versus the Class of 2015 because he was flat out destroying kids his age. Smith is just so low and quick off the ball he is in the midsection of the offensive lineman before they can get into their pass set. The NUC coaching staff had no choice but to name him DL MVP again. Development: There is no way to know at this time how tall he will grow. But I do know this he would make a great DII interior defensive lineman. He can add about ten more pounds on his frame and still have the quickness to surprise offensive lineman off the ball.

Linebackers Joshua Ross, Orchard Lake St. Mary's, MI (2016) Official Size: 5-11, 190 Assets: Yes this is the younger brother of James Ross, III sophomore projected starting linebacker for the Michigan Wolverines. The younger Ross is already bigger at the same age than James. He was able to get good depth on his drops. Ross was also very physical rerouting backs near the line of scrimmage. His size and overall build are very advanced for his age. He has the frame to easily hold another 25 pounds of muscle mass. NUC linebacker coach Tony Daniels was very excited about Ross's long term potential. He was the easy choice for LB MVP. Development: This gridiron monster has three more years to continue to physically develop and hone his craft. There is no reason to think he won't be as good as his older brother. Ross will need to continue to improve his top end speed if he wants to play outside linebacker. But I really think he will end up projecting as an ILB.

Defensive Backs Reid Harrison-Ducros, Colleyville Heritage, TX (2016) Official Size: 5-8/145 Assets: This cover corner caught my eye early on in the camp during agilities. He is just so smooth with his change of direction and his feet move quicker than the human eye can register. Harrison-Ducros proved to have a very smooth and balanced backpedal while possessing hips on a swivel. His skill set is everything you want in a cornerback. He has excellent ball skills to go along with all his cat-like reflexes. If he continues to physically mature he could become one of the top cover guys in Texas for the class of 2016. Development: He loves to get right up in the face of the receiver at the line of scrimmage. But he lacks the size and pop to really reroute bigger wideouts. He will need to hit the weights in order to gain that needed mass that is used for physical domination. Added strength will also help him in run support. Rorrick Steward, Hubbard, AL (2016) Official Size: 6-2, 151 Assets: Steward stands out because he already possesses excellent height and length. He also proved to be able to go up with big receivers and steal the ball out of midair with his tactile hands. Steward roams the field like the Sheriff of a small town. Any ball with too much air is his as he uses his elegant long strides to track it down. He made it really tough on the signal callers to go over the top on long plays. He was awarded as the DB MVP for his hard work. Development: Steward is the definition or rail thin. He will definitely need to add some muscle mass in order to become that physical intimidator in the deep middle third of the field. Added strength should improve his overall speed enough to catch the watchful eyes of college coaches.

Athletes Jeremy Lemmon, Steinbrenner, FL (2016) Official Size: 5-8, 175 Assets: Lemmon came to the camp to work out at linebacker the position he plays in high school. And he proved impressive with his change of direction and closing speed. But when it came time for 7-on-7 he did most of his work in the secondary a position his skill set is better suited for. Boy did he cover some ground; knocking down balls left and right that were just a little bit off target. He was also able to track down passes completed to the boundary not allowing the receivers to get any yards after the catch. If he embraces the defensive back position he could turn into one heck of a safety in my opinion. Development: Now that he realizes the best fit for his skill set is defensive back he can begin to get needed work at that position. This means working on his off man coverage and turning his hips quick enough to turn and run with receivers. Rajah Preciado, College Station, TX (2016) Official Size: 5-9, 164 Assets: What can I say about this young athlete that I did not say a few weeks ago at the SW U100. Preciado, without a shadow of a doubt, was the best overall athlete/football player at the Top Prospect Elite regardless of age. For starters he possesses superior speed and change of direction. His overall athleticism is a ten on a scale of one to ten. He runs sharp routes and has freaky body control. As long as you get the ball close to him he will bring it in. And if he is given a sliver of space he will surely score. His size and athleticism will allow him to project as a receiver, defensive back, and all-purpose back. Oh yeah I would definitely have this guy returning punts. He really reminds me of a faster version of Bralon Addison. But he is more than a superior athlete. Preciado is a humble person that happens to be a stellar student. For his overall play he earned Athlete MVP. Oh Yeah, I almost forgot his team won the 7-on-7 Championship. Imagine That! Development: As I told his parents get a plan ready because it is going to get crazy real soon. That means getting a bigger mailbox and a cell phone package big enough to handle the onslaught of text messages that will be coming their way. Stay focused and humble while leading your new high school into UIL play.

Other Top Performers  QB's: Grayson Barry, Chaparral, AZ (2017); Trevor Boone, Tulsa Memorial, OK (2016); Cole Johnson, Cox, VA (2016), Tadarryl Marshall, Leeds, AL (2016); Mitchell Miller, QB MVP, Liberty North, MO (2016); Darius Peterson, Leadership Award, Marin Catholic, CA (2016); Jack Smith, Bloomington North, IN (2016). RB's: Michael Grimsley, South Florence, SC (2106); Jesse Martin, Crown Point, IN (2016); Derrick Mayweather, 7-on-7 MVP, Chisholm Trail, TX (2016); Xavier Scott, Denton, TX (2016). WR's: Tyson McDaniel, Arlington, TX (2016); Dillon Mitchell, White Station, TN (2016); Chris Taylor-Yamanoha, Rancho Cotate, CA (2016). TE's: Stephen Puhl, Franklin Regional, PA (2016). DL's: Tyler Kippenberger, Bishop McGuiness, OK (2016). LB's: Bryan Mead, Rejoice Christian, OK (2016); Jose Rossi, Katy, TX (2016).