The West squad returned to the practice field at Sam Houston High School in Arlington for the final time on Thursday morning for a final walkthrough in preparation for the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl.
Curry has been the total package for the West at wideout.
The team will head into the 6 p.m. matchup with the East at Cowboys Stadium with a loaded group of wide receivers.
"We've got a lot of talent," said West wide receivers coach Matthew Hatchette. "It's hard for guys to stand out because everybody does something great, but different. Some guys are better route runners, some catch the ball better than others. It's really just about who can put all that together in the game."
Leading the way over the last three days has been Oklahoma State commitment C.J. Curry, who has been the top all-around wideout over the last three days according to the coaching staff.
"C.J. is a beast, going to Oklahoma State. I'll say it again, that kid is a beast. He's got the frame, has the work ethic, has the talent, he's just got it all. He fits in with some of the guys they've brought in there over the last few years."
SMU commitment Gabriel Marks is slight in stature but he has gotten in and out of his breaks cleaner than any wideout in the game this week. It's not a surprise that a few schools, including Washington State, Kentucky and Vanderbilt are looking to change his mind.
"He's the best route-runner that there is playing," said Hatchette. "He's a hard worker, he listens and he picks things up really quickly. He's got a great football IQ. He should make a lot of plays tonight."
Curry and Marks are listed as the starters along with USF commitment D'Vario Montgomery. Also showing flashes this week was Ohio State three-star commitment Roger Lewis.
Hatchette has also gotten a chance to work with a pair of big tight ends in uncommitted four-star Pharaoh Brown and Auburn pledge Darrion Hutcherson. Hutcherson missed Wednesday's practice with a minor leg injury but retuned on Thursday and will play Thursday evening.
"He's a grown man," Hachette said of the 6-foot-7, 250-pounder. "I'm anxious to see him mash some people tonight in the blocking game and as a receiver. He took a day off, I think it was his ankle or something, but he's back and he's a guy that will be a force."
While he was out, Brown was able to step in and make some plays both as a traditional tight end and a flex receiver.
"He's a great athlete, can jump out of the gym and go up and get the ball," said Hatchette. "He goes up and gets the ball and is disciplined. He's got to keep a fire under his butt at all times."
Bayou Flavor
LSU will be represented by three players on Thursday night, with linebacker Lamar Louis and wide receiver Kavahra Holmes suiting up for the West and cornerback Dwayne Thomas taking the field for the East squad.
Thomas has been one of the top performers regardless of position on the East roster, using his size and physical presence to neutralize the East wideouts.
Lewis will start at the Sam on Thursday night and is listed as the backup inside. Ohio State commitment Joshua Perry and Tennessee commit Otha Peters will join him in the starting lineup.
Though slightly undersized, Lewis has done many things well this week in practice.
"He might be barely 6-foot, I bet he packs 210 but I think he's more like 5-11," said linebackers coach John Jennings. "He's very intelligent, that's one big thing. He's very coachable. Out of all of our linebackers he's probably the smartest as far as picking things up quickly. Him and the Peters kid have a knack with that.
"He's got great feet, great hips and he will strike. He's not scared of contact. When the fullback hits the hole, he'll deliver a blow in the hole. That's exactly what you want from a middle backer or a Sam in the 4-3.
"In pass coverage, he's been in the right spots but he just hasn't been able to make a play on the ball and pick it and reel it in."
Holmes has work to do on his receiver fundamentals, but there's no denying that his speed could be an issue for East defensive backs.
"He's a speed guy, he can flat out blaze," said Hatchette. "He's got to work on his route running and his discipline of route running. He's lackadaisical at times, but if he's focused all the time he'll be a lot better player a lot quicker."
Armstrong Grabs the Starting Spot
Nebraska quarterback commitment Tommy Armstrong was slow out of the gate on Wednesday, but turned it on in the afternoon session and drew rave reviews the West staff on Thursday.
"Tommy could be special," said Hatchette. "There are just some things like when you see two players dunk a basketball, they both dunk but one just has that little extra that you can see. That's Tommy. He's got that 'it' factor. He's made a couple throws every practice that have been very impressive, bigtime college throws."
Armstrong is slated to get the start on Thursday night over Maryland commitment Caleb Rowe, who has also been very good.
"[Rowe] has a high IQ, he makes all the right throws, all the right reads and has a very good arm. I think we're very fortunate at the quarterback position."
D-Line Stepping Up
West defensive tackle Ikenna Nwafor has continued his rise as the top defensive line prospect on the West side, but the staff would like to see him take the game a little more seriously.
"As far of potential, I think Nwafor has the greatest amount of potential on that D-line," said defensive line coach Keith Rucker. "To be honest with you, he seems a little lackadaisical, he needs to get his work ethic up a little bit, he's a little lazy and not as aggressive as he should be, but he has an outstanding physical package.
"In order to show and peak at the next level, he's got to turn up his work ethic and level of intensity. He would be the guy that I would say in three years everybody will be talking about if that happens."
Nwafor will start up front with Kentucky defensive tackle commitment Thomas Chapman and ends Joshua Dawson and Se'Von Pittman. Dawson is committed to Kentucky, while Pittman recently flipped from Michigan State to Ohio State.
"[Pittman's] got a motor, he's aggressive. He has another level to attain with his knowledge of the game, that's going to really take him over the top," said Rucker. "He's got all the intangibles that you want a player to have when he comes to you before you teach him a scheme. He gets after it pretty good.
"Dawson is a smaller kid. He's a technician, he doesn't have the size that these other guys have, but he's got a motor. He shoots his hands in there, he plays with good leverage and he reads and reacts. That's what you want as a defensive line coach."
Texas A&M linebacker commitment Michael Richardson has also played defensive end this week.
Special Delivery
The West will turn to Louisville commitment Joshua Appleby as both their kicker and punter on Thursday night. He's shown a huge leg this week at both positions.
Appleby nailed a 57-yarder with the wind at his back without kicking from a tee during Thursday's session. He was also wide right on a 62-yard attempt earlier in practice.
