While five-star Class of 2013 prospects like Vernon Hargreaves III and Laremy Tunsil definitely highlighted the Orlando Nike Football Training Camp last Sunday at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, the depth of talent for both 2013 and the Class of 2014 in this group was significant. We highlighted many of the stars of this year’s cycle in our Best of the Orlando NFTC feature earlier this week, but there certainly was much more to this event.
Outside of 2013 five-star Laremy Tunsil, there may not have been a better tackle prospect than 2014 talent Mason Cole.
Underclassmen
Several high-end 2014 prospects stood out at the event and have multiple Division I/BCS-level offers either in hand or right around the corner.
Mason Cole, OT, Tarpon Springs (Fla.) East Lake
Outside of Tunsil, Cole may have had the most upside of any of the tackle prospects at the event. He measured in at 6-foot-4.5, 266-pounds and has the frame to add significant bulk and strength. During one-on-ones, he showed great ability to move his feet and slow speed rushers. Florida State and South Florida have verbally offered and more will be on the way in the near future.
Milan Richard, TE, Savannah (Ga.) Calvary Day
Richard, the nephew of former Georgia star Herschel Walker, has outstanding ball skills and athleticism. He measured in at 6-foot-2.5, 226 pounds and displayed hands, quickness, speed and route running ability in one-on-ones. Georgia, Georgia Tech, LSU, Mississippi State and Oregon all are schools of interest for Richard, who is still looking for his first verbal offer. Because he’s not 6-foot-4, programs may wish to eyeball him before pulling the trigger on an offer, but in this case, the inch and a half isn’t that big of a deal considering his skill level.
Tyler Harris, QB, Blackshear (Ga.) Pierce County
Harris was in his third day of competition (he also was at the Atlanta Elite 11 and Atlanta NFTC in previous days) but continued to display the rocket arm that will cause him to be one of the most coveted quarterbacks in the country in the 2014 cycle.
Class of 2014 defensive end Rashawn Shaw from Fort Pierce (Fla.) Central already is getting attention from college programs and was impressive during one-on-ones.
Rashawn Shaw, DE, Fort Pierce (Fla.) Central
Shaw measured in at 6-foot-3, 233 pounds and displayed good quickness in the position drills and one-on-ones. His size/athleticism combo already has him on the radar of multiple programs, including South Carolina (already offered), Florida, Florida State, Miami (Fla.) and Rutgers.
Corey Martinez, OL, Tampa (Fla.) Catholic
We saw that Martinez has exceptional strength and uses his hands well. Overall, we think he’s a tick behind Cole if you are comparing Tampa-area 2014 offensive linemen, but is still a high-end prospect. When all is said and done, we think that the 6-foot-4, 290 pound (official measurement) Martinez could end up being an excellent offensive guard on the college level. South Florida already has offered.
Keyon Brown, DE, Hardee (Fla.)
Brown, who measured in at 6-foot-2.5, 225 pounds, displayed quickness off the edge and won his share of battles during one-on-ones. He had six sacks in 2011 and is getting interest from Florida, Oregon, South Florida, Florida State and Miami (Fla.). He was at the Gators’ spring game.
Jacob Park, QB, Goose Creek (S.C.) Stratford
Park measured in at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, threw the ball well in drills and even took some reps at tight end, displaying plus athleticism. He had more than 1,700 yards as a sophomore varsity starter in 2011 and already has the attention of South Carolina and a number of other programs. He plans to camp with the Gamecocks, Florida and Georgia this summer.
There is little doubt that newly-minted four-star offensive guard Ira Denson, who has picked up multiple offers this week after his showing in Orlando, has become one of the top storylines of any camp this spring.
Undervalued
Many prospects that competed at the event perhaps aren’t being seen with the proper value in recruiting circles (sleepers). Here are a few that caught our eye.
Ira Denson, OL, Madison County (Fla.)
Now that Florida State, South Carolina and others have offered the Orlando Nike Camp’s Offensive Line MVP, it’s hard to say that he’s a sleeper. With that, here’s a kid that had no scholarship offers coming into the camp, performed well and picked up multiple offers following the event. Denson’s showing also impressed us. He debuts with an overall grade of 90, which is a four-star rating on 247Sports.
Garrett Hudson, TE/ATH, Tallahassee (Fla.) North Florida Christian
Hudson is a prospect that we absolutely think is a steal for whatever program lands him. He’s an excellent athlete, has size at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds and could play three major positions (more if you consider different linebacker spots and throw H-back into the equation) on the college level- tight end, fullback, linebacker. In this setting, he impressed us physically and in drills with his footwork and strength, but admittedly a camp does not showcase what his perhaps his best attribute- his toughness.
Devyn Salmon, DT, Plant City (Fla.)
The 6-foot-2, 277-pound Salmon has impressed us in the past and continued to look the part of a Division I defensive tackle on Saturday. He looks the part physically, moves around well in drills and showed good quickness in one-on-ones. Wake Forest recently offered Salmon and then earlier this week, Iowa State pulled the trigger on a full ride.
Quick Hitters
-We predict quarterback Asiantii Woulard (Winter Park, Fla.) will be ranked among the nation’s best at his position when all is said and done. He was extremely impressive on Sunday- arm, size, feet, speed- he’s the complete package.
-Florida State commit Tony Stevens (Orlando, Fla./Evans) made some nice tough catches, backing up what we saw on film from him at times.
-We think Travis Johnson (Tampa, Fla./Jesuit) is best-suited to play tight end in college. He has the right body type for the position.
-Of the two receiver prospects from Tallahassee (Fla.) Lincoln, we like Taj Williams over Reggie Davis, perhaps even significantly. Williams’ versatility, along with the skill level he showed last Saturday sets him apart.
Gerry Hamilton contributed to this report
- JC Shurburtt
- Director of Recruiting - 247Sports