Competition draws top propsects to N.C. combine Mike Farrell
CHARLOTTE, N.C.
- The VTO Sports Elite 100 Camp & Combine took place at Mallard
Creek High School over the weekend. And despite spring games at both
Clemson and South Carolina, plenty of top talent made the trip for the
event. Led by Rivals100 cornerback
Victor Hampton
from Charlotte (N.C.) Independence, the skill positions were well
represented. However, there were also plenty of top big men competing
hard.
Florida commit Victor Hampton was eager for the opportunity to show his skills.
Hampton,
ranked as the No. 58 prospect in the nation and a member of the
Rivals100, was a surprise addition to the camp. The cover corner
checked in at 5 feet 11 and 173 pounds and was outstanding all day.
Despite an early commitment to Florida and little reason to compete and
test, Hampton wanted to come out and show what he could do.
"I
love things like this, the chance to compete," Hampton said. "It's a
chance to get better and also a chance to try to improve myself. I am
always striving to improve and I want to get that fifth star. Even
though I'm done with the process and committed doesn't mean I stop
being a football player and if you love football, you come out to
events like this."
Hampton impressed in many ways. He ran a
4.4-second 40-yard dash, locked down receivers at the event and wowed
fellow prospects and the crowd with his change of direction and double
moves at wide receiver.
Despite his efforts, Hampton didn't
come away with the defensive back MVP honor. As selected by the
position coaches at the event, Manning, S.C., cornerback
John Fulton ,
was deemed to be the best of the d-backs. Fulton checked in at 6-1 and
183 pounds and ran a 4.44-second 40-yard dash. Fulton played hurt much
of the day with an injured left foot that had swollen quite a bit by
the end of the one-on-ones. His desire and heart impressed everyone.
Like Hampton, he didn't have to come out to the event.
"I have
offers from Clemson and South Carolina and I could have gone to one of
those Spring Games," he said. "But I can see a game anytime. I want to
get better and events like this allow me to. I learn something new
everything I go to a camp like this and compete against good players."
In
addition to his in-state offers, Fulton also has offers from Alabama,
Georgia, Tennessee and also mentioned an offer from Florida. He claims
no early leaders.
John Fulton won the defensive back MVP.
Another
top defensive back made the trip to the VTO event from South Carolina –
a long trip. Coming all the way from Allendale (S.C.) Allendale
Fairfax, athlete
Bashaud Breeland
was also a standout. Breeland plays quarterback in high school but his
future is on the defensive side of the ball as a free safety with his
length and range. He checked in at 6-1 and 179 pounds and ran a
4.41-second 40-yard dash. Breeland has offers from Clemson and South
Carolina as well as from Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Maryland, NC State
and a recent tender from Michigan. He said he'd like offers from
Florida, Alabama and Georgia Tech if he could get them. While he claims
no leaders, Clemson appears to be the team to beat.
Other defensive backs who stood out at the event include Columbia (S.C.) Irmo standout
Nehemiah Shelley ,
who ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash, posted a 38-inch vertical and was
physical in one-on-ones all day and Lawndale (N.C.) Burns safety
Keliko Labuauan who was solid in coverage all day.
And
at wide receiver and tight end, there were plenty of good-looking
prospects who tested the defensive backs. The wide out MVP Award went
to Raleigh (N.C.) Sanderson star Matt James. James, who has offers from
Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Wake Forest, East Carolina and others,
was impossible to cover with his 6-foot-6, 194-pound frame. He used
excellent body positioning and showed good hands and was too tall for
most of the defensive backs. James also ran an impressive 4.6-second
40-yard dash at the event.
Durham (N.C.) Mt. Zion wide receiver
Tehvyn Brantley
was also outstanding during the one-on-ones and showed off his
change-of-direction speed with a 4.19-second shuttle. The 5-foot-9,
167-pounder is very physical for his size and catches everything.
Statesville (N.C.) West Iredell stud
P.J. Clyburn
was also impressive playing both offense and defense and stood out at
wide out. Clyburn, who has offers from Illinois, NC State and East
Carolina, projects as a safety at the next level but he showed
excellent ball skills as well on offense. He checked in at a solid 6-2
and 203 pounds and ran a 4.50-second 40-yard dash.
Others who looked good at wide receiver include Matthews (N.C.) Butler's
Nate Charest , Raeford (N.C.) Hoke wide out
Vernon Brandon , Charlotte (N.C.) Independence 2011 future star
Adrian Gamble , Durham (N.C.) Hillside receiver
Mike Brown and Raleigh (N.C.) Wakefield 2011 standout
Nigel King .
Tight end MVP Eric MacLain wore the colors of his future team.
At tight end, the clear standout was 2011 star
Eric MacLain
from Fayetteville (N.C.) Jack Britt who took home the tight end MVP
award. MacLain checked in at 6-5 and 267 pounds and was solid muscle.
He showed good hands and rare athletic ability for a big man. MacLain
is already verbally committed to Tennessee. Another 2011 tight end
prospect,
Drew Owens
from Charlotte (N.C.) Ardrey Kell, looked the part as well. Owens
measured 6-6 and 221 pounds and ran a 4.78-second 40-yard dash. He's
still raw when it comes to route running, but you can't teach his size
and athletic ability.
The Quarterbacks The quarterback MVP at the event was Chester, S.C., 2011 rising star
Tony McNeal
who threw a tight spiral and hit receivers with accuracy much of the
day. He is thin at 165 pounds on his 6-foot-2 frame but he has a whip
for an arm and the frame to grow out a bit.
Another 2011 quarterback,
Price Litton
from Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day, was also impressive. Litton has
filled out his frame and improved his arm strength since the last time
we saw him at the NUC Ultimate 100 in Atlanta last summer and he's just
as accurate. He also has excellent footwork.
Charlotte (N.C.) Independence quarterback
Anthony Carrothers
checked in at 5-10 and 178 muscled-up pounds and ran an impressive
4.66-second 40-yard dash with a 4.45-second shuttle. He showed off a
strong arm and good touch on his passes throughout the day.
Durham (N.C.) Hillside athlete
Vad Lee
is an impressive looking specimen at 6-3 and 200 pounds. However, his
future might be at another position as he's very raw as a quarterback
with a hitch in his delivery. He ran a 4.40-second 40-yard dash at his
size so becoming a top-notch wide out or safety at the next level is
certainly a possibility. He's also only a 2011 prospect with two years
of high school left to develop.
Finally, Southern Pines (N.C.) Pinecrest athlete
Bret Toomer
worked out at quarterback although his future seems to be as a
defensive back or wide receiver. Toomer was one of the best all-around
athletes at the event, running a 4.43-second 40-yard dash, a
4.48-second shuttle and posting a 35-inch vertical jump at 5-foot-11
and 180 pounds.
In The Trenches Offensive tackle Quinton Spain was dominant in one-on-ones.
The offensive-defensive line one-on-ones were the highlight of the event because of the intensity of the combatants.
On the offensive side of things, Petersburg, Va. offensive tackle
Quinton Spain
was clearly the most impressive prospect. Spain showed up late to the
event so no height or weight or testing numbers were taken, but he
clearly looked every bit his listed 6-5 and 330 pounds with not much of
it bad weight. The West Virginia commitment dominated the one-on-ones,
winning almost every battle by using his arms and an aggressive punch
so well he knocked most defensive linemen outside the ring where the
action was being held. He easily took home the offensive line MVP award.
Other impressive offensive linemen included Chester, S.C., guard
Kalon Davis and Tarboro, N.C., tackle
Takoby Cofield .
Davis checked in at a massive 6-6 and 353 pounds and held his own in
the one-on-ones even against much smaller speed rushers. His
5.02-second shuttle time was impressive for such a large prospect. And
Cofield checked in at 6-5 and 289 pounds and ran a 5.00-second 40-yard
dash. He was also excellent moving his feet and using his arms in
one-on-ones.
A few other offensive linemen to note include Charlotte (N.C.) Mallard Creek guard
Devin Flowers , Havelock, N.C., tackle
Corey Robinson , Fayetteville (N.C.) Douglas Byrd guard
Jenard Whitfield and Monroe (N.C.) Piedmont tackle
Mitchell Simpson .
On the defensive side of things, Greensboro (N.C.) Western Guilford defensive end
DeEric Baldwin
came out of nowhere and won the defensive line MVP award. With his
6-foot-2, 240-pound frame and array of pass-rushing moves, Baldwin won
nearly every one of his matchups. He has a non-stop motor and a
tremendous desire to get better.
In addition to Baldwin, Wadesboro (N.C.) Anson defensive tackle
Tra Thomas and Jamestown (N.C.) Ragsdale defensive end
Daniel McNeil
were also impressive. Thomas is a bit undersized at 6-2 and 274 pounds
but this is the second event in North Carolina he's been dominant at in
a month. And McNeil has a good 6-foot-3, 245-pound frame with an
excellent bull rush.
DeEric Baldwin took home the defensive line MVP.
Columbia (S.C.) Dreher rush end
Farrington Huguenin
was one of the fastest defensive linemen at the event with a
4.90-second 40-yard dash. At 6-4 and 230 pounds, he's a bit skinny
right now but he has a great first step and is explosive.
Linebackers/Running Backs The
two fastest times in the 40-yard dash at the event were posted by
running backs as Allendale (S.C.) Allendale Fairfax speedster
Jerrell Priester posted a 4.31 and Forest City (S.C.) East Rutherford all-purpose back
Tyler Hamilton ran a 4.32. But the running back MVP went to Charlotte (N.C.) Victory Christian standout
Nigel Johnson .
Johnson posted a 4.44-second 40-yard dash and an identical time in the
shuttle. He also jumped 39 inches and was outstanding in drills and
one-on-ones.
A few other running backs of note include Tarboro, N.C., back
Damarius Harper , Durham (N.C.) Hillside 2011 back
Jamaal Williams and Allendale (S.C.) Allendale Fairfax tailback
Emmanuel Ochotukpo .
At linebacker, there were co-MVPs named. Charlotte (N.C.) Independence 'backer
Timothy Furr might be undersized at 6-1 and 176 pounds, but he can move and was excellent in coverage. And 2011 linebacker
Christian Russell from Fayetteville (N.C.) Westover Senior is 6-foot-1 and a solid 208 pounds already with great athleticism.
Other linebackers that stood out include Mount Ulla (N.C.) West Rowan stud
Chris Smith who was the most physically impressive at his position and Lenoir (N.C.) Hibriten athlete
Darius Lipford
who is already committed to Duke. Smith, who has offers from Duke,
Virginia and East Carolina, measured in at 6-3 and 227 solid pounds
with long arms. He ran a 4.63-second 40-yard dash and a 4.47-second
shuttle. Lipford is a long athlete at 6-4 and 208 pounds and he has
excellent leaping ability, posting a 32-inch vertical.
Another linebacker to keep an eye on is 2011 prospect
Stephone Anthony
from Wadesboro (N.C.) Anson who checked in at 6-4 and 223 pounds while
running a 4.59-second 40-yard dash and showing excellent athleticism.
And fellow 2011 linebacker
Treshawn Council from Durham (N.C.) Hillside is also a good-looking prospect at 6-1 and 208 pounds with a 4.63-second shuttle.
Special
thanks to the folks at VTO for providing the testing information so
quickly over a holiday weekend and for putting on an excellent event.