CORAL GABLES, Fla.- The Miami Nike Football Training Camp is annually one of the top assemblies of Division I talent in the country. Sunday’s 2011 version at the University of Miami was no exception.
Athlete Marcus Maye (Melbourne, Fla./Holy Trinity) was one of the top prospects at Sunday's Miami Nike Football Training Camp.
Here’s a roundup of thoughts, notes and analysis from the loaded event.
-Athlete Marcus Maye (Melbourne, Fla./Holy Trinity) is a prospect that could potentially make some national lists before all is said and done. He’s either a big safety or an outside linebacker in college and showed excellent lateral movement ability during drills Sunday. This week, he plans to visit Auburn and Alabama- many of the Southeast’s top programs have offered.
-Wide receiver Herb Waters (Homestead, Fla.) continues to impress in 7-on-7/camp settings and is the most underrated prospect in South Florida currently. Waters can sink his hips and is very fluid in change-of-direction and snatches the ball out of the air. We expect his offer list to expand significantly during the spring evaluation period, summer camp circuit and next season when he has more extensive film. Waters was the Most Valuable Player at the event at his position.
-Wide receiver Angelo Jean-Louis (Palm Beach, Fla./Central) continues to show that he has another gear when the ball is in the air. He’s naturally strong with a wiry body type. Jean-Louis has ideal arm length and is quick off the line of scrimmage. He’s a high-level wide receiver recruit who is probably among the top prospects at his position not only in the state of Florida but nationally.
-Of the offensive linemen that worked out, tackle Kelly Parfitt (Delray Beach, Fla./American Heritage) was the best of the bunch. He is quick in his pass set and received praise from the coaches at the event for his balance and high hands. Parfitt is getting interest from Big East and Big 10 programs currently.
-We like Ricardo Louis (Miami Beach, Fla.) to eventually end up on the defensive side of the ball. He worked out at wide receiver on Sunday and looked fine doing so, but clearly his highest amount of upside is on defense. Regardless of where he worked out, he was one of the better prospects at the event.
-Wide receiver/athlete Tavares Copeland (Port St. Lucie, Fla./Treasure Coast) burst on the scene a few weeks back at the Orlando MVP Camp and is now closing in on double digit scholarship offers. Sunday featured another impressive showing for the silky smooth prospect, who will have to make the transition from quarterback to receiver in college.
-MacGarrett Kings (Davie, Fla./Nova University) is a 5-foot-11, 180-pounder who impressed with his physicality and ability to go up and get the ball at its highest point during tryouts for the South Florida Express 7-on-7 Team in February. On Sunday, he again displayed those abilities and we expect his offer list, which consists currently of Wake Forest and Wisconsin, to expand considerably in the coming months.
Wide receiver Angelo Jean-Louis is one of the better receiver prospects in the Southeast for the 2012 class.
-Another receiver that is under-the-radar, P.J. Harris (Groveland, Fla./South Lake), had some good moments during the camp. Harris has excellent timing when he goes up to get the ball, good hands and deceptive speed and quickness. He’s not necessarily 40-yard dash fast, but he’s fast enough. Boston College is his only offer currently, but Central Florida is close and others shouldn’t be too far behind.
-Speaking of underrated, Harris’ new teammate, James Brooks, is an outstanding prospect. The 5-foot-10, 185-pounder was timed at 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the National Under Armour Combine on Jan. 2 in Orlando and his coaches at South Lake feel that once film circulates and coaches get a look at him, he could have more than 20 offers. He impressed physically on Sunday as well.
-Cornerback William Likely (Belle Glade, Fla./Glades Central) won one of the MVP awards and is football player, plain and simple. Whether it’s on Friday nights in the Muck, in 7-on-7 or at the camp setting, he’s just makes plays. He is a very physical player despite being undersized with exceptional ball skills.
-Cornerback Ne’Quan Phillips (Miami, Fla./Southridge) continues to be one of the more undervalued corner prospects in South Florida. On video, he’s a player that just makes plays whether it’s against the pass or the run.
-Here’s a guy that came out of nowhere to impress- defensive back Wolf Shaw (Fort Pierce, Fla./Westwood). Shaw is under the radar at the moment, but athletically without pads appears to be a talented defensive back prospect. He worked out at corner on Sunday and showed his quality foot quickness and liking for physical play. He has a naturally strong body type with the desired arm length. His ability to turn with recovery speed and find the ball in the air will determine his recruitment. This may be a situation where his film isn’t out yet or there isn’t a lot, but athletically he has it.
-Defensive back Cre’von Leblanc (Belle Glade, Fla./Glades Central) may have been the most physical prospect that lined up at corner Sunday. The 5-foot-9, 175-pounder attacks the game and receivers with a competitive fire full of confidence and toughness. He showed quick feet as he always does with reactive quickness. His ability to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage is his strength at corner. He visited Miami this weekend and the Canes are showing interest.
-Cornerback Chris Bivins (Gainesville, Fla.) was one of the better performers at the Badger Sport Elite 7-on-7 in Tampa a couple of weeks ago and continued to shine on Sunday. He’s a tall, physical player that has good ability to change direction. The 6-foot, 175-pounder holds an offer from South Florida.
-Linebacker Justin Horton (Cleremont, Fla./East Ridge) was one of the better prospects at last week’s Jacksonville Under Armour Combine and made the trip down to Coral Gables on Sunday, where he impressed. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Horton looks the part and is athletic. He’s definitely a sleeper to watch if his film checks out.
Miami linebacker commit Keith Brown is impressive physically.
-Dwayne Hoilett (Vero Beach, Fla.) is a defensive end/outside linebacker that won the defensive line MVP award at the camp. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder is rangy and has good athleticism and feet. He could end up with his hand down or could play in space in college, it just depends on how big he gets. Florida Atlantic, Texas A&M, Florida International and others are showing interest.
-Like Hoilett, it is unknown where Tyriq McCord (Tampa, Fla./Jefferson) will play at the next level. He moves well, so linebacker isn’t out of the question, but ultimately his highest upside probably is with his hand down rushing the passer. McCord was again impressive athletically at this event, just as he’s been at several other camps/combines/7-on-7s he has attended this spring. He’s approaching the double digit offer range.
-Miami (Fla.) linebacker commit Keith Brown (Miami, Fla./Norland) is a big, athletic inside ‘backer that performed well enough to grab one of the MVP awards after the event. He’s got tremendous physical upside and probably would shine even brighter in an actual football game with pads and full contact.
Underclassmen
-If you just went by the eyeball test, Class of 2013 running back Greg Bryant (Delray Beach, Fla./American Heritage) was the most impressive prospect at the event. Bryant is a definite BCS-level prospect at his position. He’s got quick feet and explosively pushed through the ground during drills. Bryant is at least 5-foot-10, 195 pounds and has two more years of high school left. On film, he’s a quicker version of Class of 2011 Florida State signee Devonta Freeman, who played at Miami Central.
-Class of 2013 running back Isaiah Grooms (Litchfield, Conn./Foreman School) made the trip all the way down the East Coast and displayed excellent footwork and quickness during drills. Grooms has a chance to be a Division I recruit if he continues to develop during the next two years.
-Class of 2014 running back Sony Michel (Plantation, Fla./American Heritage) continues to shine. Physically, he is one of the most impressive prospects regardless of grade at any camp, combine or 7-on-7 that he shows up to. Michel is an excellent combination of speed, size and quickness and has impressive film to back up the athleticism he displays without pads.
-Class of 2013 wide receiver Stacey Coley (Oakland Park, Fla./Northeast) continues to impress with his natural ability. Everything he does is smooth and fluid. He has very quick feet with burst, the ability to sink the hips and create instant separation and is slippery after the catch along with the ability to go get the ball in the air.
National Recruiting Analyst JC Shurburtt contributed to this report
- Gerry Hamilton
- National Scouting Director - 247Sports