High school scouting reports 1-10
by Flynn Hill
We release our top 10 high school prospects in an ongoing high school scouting series by analyst Flynn Hill.
1. Russell Shepard
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6’2
Weight: 185
School: Cypress Ridge (Tex.)
Committed to: Louisiana State
Positives: Shepard brings unreal athleticism to the quarterback position. He’s a threat to score on every snap because he has legitimate 4.4 speed and has excellent acceleration. He’s able to make one cut, head upfield, and take off to the races — a race he wins most of the time, even against some top defensive backs. Despite an unspectacular completion percentage, Shepard shows the ability to put nice touch on the ball, especially when forced to out of the pocket. He is tailor made to play in a spread offense and shows the ability to read where the hole is when it is a designed run for him.
Negatives: As great of an athlete as Shepard is, he still needs a lot of work throwing the ball. He’s not a fundamentally sound quarterback in terms of both his footwork and his mechanics. Too often he holds the ball up too high. Also the great throws he has on film are more great catches by his receivers, who completely stretch out to make a tremendous grab. Unlike most great dual threat quarterbacks, Shepard doesn’t show top-notch throwing power.
Overall: Shepard is the best prospect in the country this year, and one of the most athletic, regardless of position. His blend of precision, speed and agility is extremely dangerous, and a skill set that is rarely seen at the position. With coaching and being put in the right system, the sky is the limit.
Best Case Scenario: Tyrod Taylor (with more mobility), Viriginia Tech
Worst Case Scenario: Marcus Vick, Virginia Tech
Junior year statistics: 49-108, 794 yards, 8 TD, 4 INT; 176 car, 1,525 yds, 18 TD
2. Devon Kennard
Position: 4-3 Weak-side defensive end
Height: 6’4
Weight: 240
High School: Desert Vista (Ariz.)
Considering: Southern Cal, Arizona State, Miami, Texas, Oklahoma
Positives: Kennard is a terror coming off the edge. He’s one of the best pass rushers in the country for several reasons. First, he has exceptional quickness and always gets an excellent jump. He has excellent technique, especially with his hand fighting, and it is clear Kennard has been well-coached. While he can blow by just about any tackle using his speed, he also shows that he can use his swim or spin. He just has a nose for the ball and shows good instincts, especially on play action and the zone read. He is a violent hitter and never looks to just bring the quarterback down. Kennard wants to inflict as much pain and punishment as any recent defensive end.
Negatives: His frame isn’t amazing, nor does he have excellent size. If he was like 2008 prospect DaQuan Bowers, coming in at 270 pounds, or like 2007 prospect Ben Martin, who was a thin 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, this would not be a concern. He already looks somewhat filled out at this point and it’s possible that he could only top out at 260 pounds. It’s unsure as to how strong he is. Most of the time he just uses finesse moves and more or less runs around a slower offensive tackle. It works for some ends some of the time, but that will never work all of the time.
Overall: Kennard is the most complete defensive player in the country. He plays the pass and the run equally well and always seems to be in the right position. He’s an instant impact player, if for nothing more than being a 3rd down pass rusher as a true freshman. In the long run, if he can add weight, this is a franchise caliber rush end, who can single handedly take over a game.
Best Case Scenario: A pre-injured Jevon Kearse while on the Titans
Worst Case Scenario: DE Calvin Pace
Junior year statistics: 120 tackles, 24.5 sacks
3. Name: Matt Barkley
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6’3
Weight: 225
High School: Mater Dei (Calif.)
Committed to: Southern Cal
Positives: He’s one of the best drop back passers to come along over the past three-to-five years. He’s a fundamentally sound quarterback who has near-flawless footwork and mechanics. Time after time, he puts the ball on the money and allows his receivers to catch the ball in stride. He plays in a spread offense and shows tremendous ability to read defenses. He can pick apart a defense with short passes and stretch the field, as he has more than adequate arm strength. It’s rare, especially at the high school level, that a quarterback stand in the pocket, wait until the last possible second and then deliver a perfect strike, but Barkley does whenever he has too. He has very good mobility within the pocket and is able to sidestep defenders well.
Negatives: His pocket presence is very good, but he will never be mistaken for Russell Shepard and beat a defense with his feet. He has to stay humble and not let the hype get to him, as it did to other quarterbacks such as Brock Berlin, Ben Olsen and Xavier Lee. He’s been so great for so long, it’s a question if he may become complacent or slack off and feel he’s become as great as he can. His size, while adequate, is not prototypical.
Overall: He has as much raw talent in terms of being a pro-style quarterback as anyone that’s come along over the past few years. Week in and week out he plays the best talent that California has to offer, with teams like Servite (had Matt Kalil and D.J. Shoemate last year, Chris Galippo the year before) and Centennial (Ryan Bass last year and Vontaze Burfict this year). Barkley is fearless when he throws the ball. What Barkley does just can’t be taught and he can be as good as he wants to be.
Best Case Scenario: QB Tom Brady, New England Patriots
Worst Case Scenario: QB Brock Berlin, St. Louis Rams
Junior year statistics: 213-340, 3,560 yards, 35 TD, 9 INT
4. Manti Te’o
Position: Outside Linebacker
Height: 6’2
Weight: 230
High School: Punahou (Haw.)
Schools Considering: Southern Cal, Hawaii, BYU, Colorado, Oregon, UCLA
Positives: Don’t blink or you may miss Te’o coming off the edge on a blitz for a sack or lighting up a running back. Te’o is one of the fastest linebackers in the country and can close with the best. Make no mistake about it, when Te’o sees someone with the ball, he will get hit. He’s an excellent tackler who always wraps up, grabs cloth and drives. When Te’o tackles anyone, they go no further. He has excellent size for an outside linebacker and has the frame to get up to 250 pounds with ease. He looks good in pass coverage and takes great angles to the receivers when they make a catch.
Negatives: Te’o will take a two-year mission after his freshman year of college. While he will still have full eligibility after the mission, it’s something that teams need to take into account. Will the time away from the game hurt him? It certainly can’t help. Hawaii isn’t exactly a hotbed for talent, so competition is a question, especially when you consider that he’s been the best player in the state since his sophomore year. Te’o also doesn’t display the ability to shed blockers as well as would be desired from a top prospect like him.
Overall: Te’o is one of the most athletic linebackers to come along, ranking up there with past top 10 prospects such as Ernie Sims, Chris Gallippo and Arthur Brown. Unlike Brown and Sims, his size is not a question, and can play from day one wherever he chooses to go. The top indicator of his greatness is that coaches are not deterred from the fact he will take a mission — he has offers from just about every major school in the country.
Best Case Scenario: OLB Ernie Sims (bigger version), Detroit Lions
Worst Case Scenario: OLB Saleem Rasheed, arena football
Junior Year Statistics: 92 tackles, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries (8 games)
5. Bryce Brown
Position: Running back
Height: 6’0
Weight: 210
School: Wichita East (Kan.)
Committed to: Miami (Fla.)
Positives: Brown is ready right now to play D1 football. He was the best player on the field every time he’d suit up, even better than his older brother, Arthur, who was one of the top players in the country. He has unbelievable speed and as soon as he gets to the corner its over — he’s going to the house for six. Bryce’s feet almost move too fast for his body. While it’s not listed, his shuttle time must be in the low four-second range. He has amazing vision and sees the cut-back lanes very well. It only takes one step for him to reach top speed. Brown rarely goes down upon first contact and keeps his feet moving when someone has him wrapped up. It’s hard to ignore the bloodlines.
Negatives: The main knocks on him at this point are things that aren’t shown. He, like most young running backs, doesn’t show how good they are at picking up the blitz. This is extremely common, however it’s something that can separate him from the rest of the pack. Also, his ability to catch out of the backfield is unknown. His lower body looks to be a bit lean at this point and it’s unknown if he can be an every down back. Kansas isn’t a hotbed for talent, so competition is questionable.
Overall: Bryce is a tremendous prospect because he plays the game at such a fast speed. There are few players who are as fast and as big as Brown. He doesn’t just have tremendous straight-line speed. He plays the game at a speed few do and is a home run threat every time.
Best Case Scenario: RB Darren McFadden, Arkansas Razorbacks
Worst Case Scenario: RB Jerious Norwood, Atlanta Falcons
Junior year statistics: 2,039 rushing yards, 26 touchdowns
6. Name: Jamarkus McFarland
Position: Defensive tackle
Height: 6’3
Weight: 280
High School: Lufkin (Tex.)
Schools Considering: Texas, Louisiana State, Oklahoma, Florida, Texas A&M
Positives: McFarland is one of the quickest and strongest linemen in the country. Weight room strength doesn’t always translate to the field, but his 365-pound bench press doesn’t come as a surprise if you watch his film. Despite his strength and very good size, he still looks like he’s relatively thin. His frame is a tremendous asset, as he should be able to get up to the 310-pound range with relative ease. He’s a disruptive player and almost always finds himself in the backfield. McFarland appears to have a no-nonsense attitude when it comes to the game because it’s clear he is held on every play and he continues to fight through it and make plays.
Negatives: His greatest strengths can be his biggest weaknesses at times. Sometimes he gets too far up field and takes himself out of plays. McFarland needs to realize that he can’t do this against a D1 running back. Also, he tends to get a little bit high in his stance and just tries to bench press the offensive linemen. He needs to use his strength in a bull rush rather than a bench press.
Overall: In a year of excellent defensive tackles, McFarland is the cream of the crop. He’s got the size, strength and agility that will put him on the two-deep immediately. Just as 2007 recruit Marvin Austin came in with freakish measurables, McFarland’s quickness and power can’t be taught. He’s an incredible physical specimen who can go very far if he makes slight changes in his game.
Best Case Scenario: DT Tommie Harris, Chicago Bears
Worst Case Scenario: DT Ryan Sims, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Junior Year Statistics: 67 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 6 sacks
7. Name: Marlon Brown
Position: Wide receiver
Height: 6’5
Weight: 205
High School: Harding Academy (Tenn.)
Schools Considering: Tennessee, Notre Dame, Southern Cal, Florida, Kentucky
Positives: Brown has an excellent combination of size and athleticism. He’s a top 100 prospect in basketball, playing small forward, showing he is not just a big body to throw a jump ball too. He shows top-notch speed, as he breaks away from defenders on a regular basis, especially on screens. It’s a rarity to see a big receiver like Brown take a bubble screen to the house by burning every player, but he somehow does. He’s a fluid athlete who makes big plays after the catch. Whether it is a jump ball to the corner of the end zone or a three-yard slant, he’s capable of hurting a defense in a number of ways. His size also helps him to block defensive backs very well.
Negatives: It’s the same problem that every receiver over 6-foot-4 faces. Can Brown separate from defensive backs at the next level? Can he sell the double move on a stop and go? Only time will tell. He’s more of an athlete playing receiver right now. He needs to use his basketball skill and try and box out defensive backs when he goes up for a ball. He’s probably going to have to give up basketball at the next level in order to maximize his potential, although it appears as though he wants to play both in college.
Overall: He’s the best receiver in this class, hands down. He shows a size and speed combination that just can’t be taught. While it’s not certain if he’s going to be able to be a weapon over the middle, he’s a home-run threat because he won’t be out-jumped for a ball and he has legitimate 4.5 second 40-yard dash speed.
Best Case Scenario: WR Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions
Worst Case Scenario: WR Justin Gage, San Diego Chargers
Junior Year Stats: 58 carries, 629 yards, 10 touchdowns, 41 catches, 861 yards, 6 TDs
8. Name: Nico Johnson
Position: Middle linebacker
Height: 6’2
Weight: 230
High School: Andalusia (Ala.)
Schools Considering: Alabama, Auburn, Louisiana State, Florida, Clemson, Florida State
Positives: Johnson has excellent size for a middle linebacker. He’s listed at 230 pounds, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he were playing his senior year at 240. He’s put together really well and is a thick kid. He closes really well and looks to have a nice burst. What really stands out is his ability in pass coverage. He shows good overall vision and has tremendous instincts and football IQ. He re-routes the underneath receivers when they come over the middle on him and shows good recognition when backs catch passes in the flats. He’s a big hitter who makes sure everyone take account for where he is.
Negatives: He doesn’t look to be as fast as other prospects like Te’o. His burst is excellent, but it’s just a burst. He doesn’t look like he can maintain that burst for more than a few yards. He’s plays a little stiff and isn’t as fluid of an athlete. Too often he arm tackles and will not be able to do that against some of these smaller, shiftier running backs. There are slight injury concerns, as he did partially tear his MCL.
Overall: He’s a big physical linebacker who can play in a 4-3 or 3-4. He’s a football player in every sense of the word. Johnson’s an instinctive kid who has been well coached. He’s got future All American written over him, especially if he plays in the SEC.
Best Case Scenario: LB Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers
Worst Case Scenario: LB Napoleon Harris, Kansas City Chiefs
Junior year statistics: 80 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 3 sacks
9. Nick Alajajian
Position: Offensive guard
Height: 6’3
Weight: 280
High School: Naples (Fla.)
Schools Considering: Florida, Florida State, Miami, Georgia, South Florida
Positives: Alajajian is the best offensive lineman to come along since current Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith. He’s got the best nasty streak in the country and plays hard until the whistle. His drive blocking is near perfect and he typically finishes plays with a pancake block. He’s extremely mobile and pulls very well. While his run blocking is clearly better than his pass blocking isn’t too shabby. He’s very light on his feet and he’s able to switch between pass rushers easily. He uses his hips really well and has a nice pop when he initiates contact. He sets up defenders extremely well and destroys pursuit on reverses and screens.
Negatives: He’s a little on the light side and his frame isn’t the best. He can probably top out at 300 pounds, but it’s not certain he will get much bigger than that. He’s able to outmuscle just about anyone he plays right now and gets away with not staying square to the line when blocking. His hand quickness is suspect right now. Too often, his hands are on the outside, rather than getting control inside of his opponent.
Overall: Alajajian dominates the competition and is a major reason his high school had two 1,000-yard rushers and an undefeated junior season. His feet and nastiness can’t be taught. He’s the premiere lineman target in the country and has offers from just about every major program in the country. If he can add weight, his potential is limitless.
Best Case Scenario: OG Steve Hutchinson, Minnesota Vikings
Worst Case Scenario: OG Kendall Simmons, Pittsburgh Steelers
10. Craig Loston
Position: Free safety
Height: 6’2
Weight: 195
High School: Eisenhower (Tex.)
Schools Considering: Clemson, Louisiana State
Positives: Rangy and violent are the first two words that come to mind when describing Loston. He’s extremely fast and has been timed 10.4 seconds in the 100-meter dash. He makes up ground quickly and has excellent recovery speed. He’s a devastating hitter who is always capable of forcing an interception. In coverage, Loston shows great timing and makes very good breaks on the ball. He always gets his head to the ball side and tries to jar it loose. Loston has a nose for the ball and is always around it. He’s a does a nice job of helping in run support. Loston is a formidable return option and shows a really nice burst when he has the ball. Lastly, he has a really good frame and can get to an imposing 6-foot-2, 220 pounds without a problem.
Negatives: He tends to gamble a bit too much. He always looks for the big hit, rather than just deflecting the ball or getting the interception. Fundamentally, his tackling is weak. He doesn’t stick his shoulder pad through the offensive player’s stomach or chest. He goes for ankles or tries to horse collar the carrier. Loston is a 15-yard flag for a horse collar waiting to happen. He looks like he may get Rodney Harrison syndrome occasionally, punk out on certain tackles and be very selective as to who he hits.
Overall: Loston’s raw physical tools are more than enough to put him in the top 10 players. His skill set isn’t matched among defensive backs in this class and is one of the better safeties in the past few years. He can come in right away and help out either Clemson or Louisiana State.
Best Case Scenario: S LaRon Landry, Washington Redskins
Worst Case Scenario: S Brodney Pool, Cleveland Browns
Junior Year Stats: 65 tackles, 3 interceptions