Sean and I attended the National Playmakers Academy tryout yesterday, and that is where we caught up with Vanderbilt commit JoeJuan Williams. We also caught up with Vanderbilt targets Jacob Phillips, Joseph Sewell, Obinna Eze, Rodney Owens, and more. You can be on the lookout for those interviews throughout the week.
Thoughts from the camp:
- Davidson Academy's Obinna Eze is an impressive prospect. He has the look of a definite 4-star prospect. He's only played football for one year, but he has length and athleticism. He's a legit 6-foot-7, and he has a frame that could hold 320-pounds or so. He held up extremely well in pass protection with his long arms and quick feet. He currently has offers from Duke, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt. I expect him to add a ton of offers in the next year or so.
- Vanderbilt commit JoeJuan Williams competed, and he dominated as expected. The only wide receiver that could compete with him was Lavergne's Princeton Fant. The wide receiver is coming off of an ACL injury, but he seems to have recovered nicely. He has several offers including Vanderbilt.
- Recently offered prospects Joseph Sewell and Rodney Owens had good days. Blackman's Sewell has a knack for getting open and catching the ball. He had a nice one handed grab in traffic. Rodney Owens was good in coverage for most of the day. He worked against slots and tight ends, and he has excellent ball skills.
- Vanderbilt target Jacob Phillips was one of the top performers on the day. He was excellent in coverage, and he showed why he is considered one of 2017's best. Phillips is physically imposing, and he is an explosive athlete with a quick burst.
- MBA's Ty Chandler was also there competing. Chandler doesn't really stand out in the camp setting, but he had a good day catching the football. He's a quick athlete with good hands.
- 2018 offensive lineman Max Wray is a big time offensive lineman. Wray has excellent technique for a young offensive lineman, and he won the majority of his one-on-one's. Wray is an intelligent lineman, and he seems to have a good bond with Obinna Eze.
- Dickson County's Caleb Rozar was an impressive prospect as well. He has made the transition from wide receiver to defensive back, and it has been a smooth one. He played mostly corner, and he breaks on the football well. He isn't overly fast, but he has length that made it tough on smaller wide receivers. He reminds of Ikenna Okeke at this time last year.
- Hardin Valley's LaTrell Bumphus also stood on the day. He worked mostly at defensive end, and he is a big prospect with a quick get off. He's a bit raw, but he definitely has the tools to be SEC-caliber prospect. It would not surprise me to see him garner some offers in the future.
- Some others that caught my eye included Wilson Central's TJ Minnifee and Davidson Academy's Ani Izuchukwu. Miniffee is a 2017 3-4 outside linebacker that can also put his hand in the dirt at defensive end. He gets off the football well in pass rushing situations, but he also possesses the athleticism to cover. He has a strong lower body that allowed him to get in under taller tackles. Izuchukwu may be the top prospect in Tennessee's class of 2019. He's raw, but he has unbelievable potential. He has freakish athletic ability.
- Of note, former Vanderbilt offensive lineman Joe Townsend was working with the offensive linemen. In some of our videos, you will be able to see him in the background.
We will have the interviews with some of these prospects uploaded throughout the week. It was a well run camp with some good prospects.
Thoughts from the camp:
- Davidson Academy's Obinna Eze is an impressive prospect. He has the look of a definite 4-star prospect. He's only played football for one year, but he has length and athleticism. He's a legit 6-foot-7, and he has a frame that could hold 320-pounds or so. He held up extremely well in pass protection with his long arms and quick feet. He currently has offers from Duke, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt. I expect him to add a ton of offers in the next year or so.
- Vanderbilt commit JoeJuan Williams competed, and he dominated as expected. The only wide receiver that could compete with him was Lavergne's Princeton Fant. The wide receiver is coming off of an ACL injury, but he seems to have recovered nicely. He has several offers including Vanderbilt.
- Recently offered prospects Joseph Sewell and Rodney Owens had good days. Blackman's Sewell has a knack for getting open and catching the ball. He had a nice one handed grab in traffic. Rodney Owens was good in coverage for most of the day. He worked against slots and tight ends, and he has excellent ball skills.
- Vanderbilt target Jacob Phillips was one of the top performers on the day. He was excellent in coverage, and he showed why he is considered one of 2017's best. Phillips is physically imposing, and he is an explosive athlete with a quick burst.
- MBA's Ty Chandler was also there competing. Chandler doesn't really stand out in the camp setting, but he had a good day catching the football. He's a quick athlete with good hands.
- 2018 offensive lineman Max Wray is a big time offensive lineman. Wray has excellent technique for a young offensive lineman, and he won the majority of his one-on-one's. Wray is an intelligent lineman, and he seems to have a good bond with Obinna Eze.
- Dickson County's Caleb Rozar was an impressive prospect as well. He has made the transition from wide receiver to defensive back, and it has been a smooth one. He played mostly corner, and he breaks on the football well. He isn't overly fast, but he has length that made it tough on smaller wide receivers. He reminds of Ikenna Okeke at this time last year.
- Hardin Valley's LaTrell Bumphus also stood on the day. He worked mostly at defensive end, and he is a big prospect with a quick get off. He's a bit raw, but he definitely has the tools to be SEC-caliber prospect. It would not surprise me to see him garner some offers in the future.
- Some others that caught my eye included Wilson Central's TJ Minnifee and Davidson Academy's Ani Izuchukwu. Miniffee is a 2017 3-4 outside linebacker that can also put his hand in the dirt at defensive end. He gets off the football well in pass rushing situations, but he also possesses the athleticism to cover. He has a strong lower body that allowed him to get in under taller tackles. Izuchukwu may be the top prospect in Tennessee's class of 2019. He's raw, but he has unbelievable potential. He has freakish athletic ability.
- Of note, former Vanderbilt offensive lineman Joe Townsend was working with the offensive linemen. In some of our videos, you will be able to see him in the background.
We will have the interviews with some of these prospects uploaded throughout the week. It was a well run camp with some good prospects.
