MCDONOUGH, Ga.- For a third straight year, the MVP Camp in Atlanta brought out some of the top talent the state of Georgia has to offer. On hand Sunday were many of the states top prospects in the 2013, 2014 and 2015 classes with many having offers from programs in the SEC, ACC, Big East and Big 10.
Slot receiver Ryan Jenkins was one of the top performers at Sunday's MVP Camp in Atlanta. His older brother plays at Clemson.
The challenge on Sunday at the talent-laden event was selecting the 247Sports MVP’s, and top performers among a laundry list of deserving prospects. Taking home the MVP’s were jet quick receiver Ryan Jenkins (Lassiter, Ga.) and the versatile David Johnson (Lithonia, Ga.).
Top Performers
Ryan Jenkins, slot WR, Lassiter (Ga.)
The brother of Clemson cornerback Martin Jenkins took home 247Sports Offensive MVP honors with an uber-impressive route running performance. The 5-foot-10, 178-pound Jenkins was the day's best route runner featuring electric quickness, change of direction and the ability to snatch the ball in traffic when playing through contact. Clemson and Louisville have offered.
David Johnson, DE/OLB, Lithonia (Ga.)
Johnson first impressed by weighing in at 253-pounds on Sunday, and then put together a dominant performance in drills and the one-on-one setting earning 247Sports defensive MVP. He showed an excellent first step, showed a lightening quick spin move and displayed a powerful bull rush and competed against all comers. His leverage was outstanding throughout the day. South Carolina is the current leader for Johnson, who was a high school teammate of current Gamecocks linebacker Cedrick Cooper and 2012 recruit Joe Harris at Lithonia.
Dashawn Benton, CB, Atlanta (Ga.) Grady
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Grady prospect came into Sunday as a little known defensive back prospect but ended the day as one of the top cover corners at the event. His ability to press and redirect, as well as quickly react and recover on the two times he was beaten in press coverage were very impressive.
Delando Crooks, OG, Atlanta (Ga.) Carver
Crooks measured in at 6-foot-4.5 and 259-pounds, and proved to have some of the quickest feet of any offensive lineman. In the one-on-one setting, he proved to have a lot of fight and battled through the whistle on every rep. His ability to move laterally, and react to sudden change of direction movement impressed more than once.
Shamire DeVine, OT, Tri-Cities (Ga.) East Point
The 6-foot-6, 340-pound DeVine was dominant in the one-on-one portion of the combine. After taking a while to get going during drill work, he displayed very good feet, a powerful initial punch and played with near perfect extension. In one-on-one’s, he easily won his reps after making initial contact. His ability to redirect, react to sudden change of direction and finish was very impressive. DeVine currently has a top three of Georgia, Georgia Tech and Vanderbilt.
Cameron Fraser, OG, Phenix City (Ala.) Central
Fraser stood out on Sunday in one-on-one’s earning the combine offensive line MVP award from the instructors. The 6-foot-4, 290-pound Fraser was solid at the point of attack, and one of the strongest offensive line prospects on hand. His competitive nature caught the eye of all observers. Frazier plans to visit Auburn, Ole Miss and South Carolina in the next few weeks.
Hampton (Ga.) Lovejoy tight end Arshad Jackson was one of the top performers at Sunday's MVP Camp in Atlanta. The 6-foot-6, 232-pounder showed the ability to make tough catches in traffic during one-on-ones.
Tyler Harris, QB, Blackshear (Ga.) Pierce County, class of 2014
Harris displayed as strong of an arm as 247Sports has seen at any event this spring. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound sophomore made an umber of big time throws including a jaw dropping skinny post into a tight window in one-on-one’s. While Harris will have to continue to work on his accuracy and changing ball speeds in the short and intermediate game, there is no doubt he will be a nationally recruited. His ability to make all of the tough throws look routine. He will camp at Georgia, Florida, FSU and FIU camps this summer, and grew up an SEC fan.
Uriah Horne, OG, McDonough (Ga.) Eagles Landing
Horne was one of the most solid offensive lineman in one-on-one’s. He was He possesses the frame to stack considerable muscle mass and good weight. The 6-foot-3, 260-pound Horne entered Sunday as a prospect that hasn’t been publicized as much as others, but walked off the field having dominated on his home turf.
Arshad Jackson, Lovejoy (Ga.)
Jackson may have had the best ball skills and body control of any skill position prospect on hand. The 6-foot-6, 232-pounder isn’t necessarily as quick off the line as others, but he has an innate understanding of how to get where he wants on the field, and present an easy target. He made a number of tough catches in traffic in one-on-ones. Jackson currently has offers from Louisville, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt as a tight end, and Clemson as a defensive end.
Brendan Langley, CB, Marietta (Ga.) Kell
Langley may end up best 2013 prospect on hand when all is said and done. In limited reps, he was never beaten in one. His recovery speed, ability to turn and run and stay attached were very impressive. The 6-foot-1, 177-pounder was the lone corner to turn and run with Ryan Jenkins the entire day. Langley clocked a 4.51-forty yard dash Sunday.
Demarquis Polite, WR, Lithonia (Ga.) MLK
The 6-foot-, 175-pound little publicized Polite was one of the best route runners on hand Sunday. His ability to get into a route quickly, sink his hips and create separation in the short and intermediate game frustrated would be cornerbacks through the combine. Polite, who has offers from Tennessee, Louisville, Wake Forest and Western Kentucky, showed the ability to adjust and make the tough catch on several occasions.
Brice Ramsey, Kingsland (Ga.) Camden County
Ramsey entered the combine as the top quarterback, and likely top prospect overall. The 6-foot-3, 197-pounder backed up his national reputation delivering a number of impressive throws in drills and in the one-on-one setting. His strengths on Sunday werehis consistency, and his ability to change ball speeds, and was particularly impressive throwing the wheel route. Ramsey came out on Sunday to get reps more than take part in the competition portion of the combine.
Traveon Samuel, RB, Phenix City (Al.) Central, class of 2015
The 5-foot-7, 172-pound freshman running back nicknamed “Playstation” proved to be impossible to cover in one-on-one’s for any linebacker. He created instant separation on angle route, and quickly burst up the field vertically after snatching the high throw out of the air. On a wheel route, his ability to turn up the field and quickly zip past any linebacker drew oohs and ahs. Samuel’s feet were among the quickest in attendance.
Maetron Thomas, RB, Forest Park (Ga.), class of 2014
Thomas caught our eye quickly in drill work with a combination of quick feet, a smooth and darting quick change of direction and the soft hands in passing drills. The 5-foot-10, 175-pounder drew constant praise from running backs coaches, and excelled in drills and in the one-on-one setting. He proved to be a near impossible cover for linebackers.
Jay Woods, DT, Jackson (Ga.)
Woods showed a quick first step, the ability to fire off the ball low and an excellent inside rip move in one-on-one’s. Woods, 6-foot-2.5 and 271-pounds, worked through drills with quick feet pushing through the ground. Woods has the frame to carry 290-quality pounds or more in time.
Others of note:
- One of the most impressive class of 2014 prospects on hand was quarterback Elijah Staley (Marietta, Ga./Wheeler). The 6-foot-7, 203-pound signal caller and forward on the hardwood is a raw prospect on the football field, but has a high ceiling with the ability to spin the ball. He has basketball offers from Georgetown, Georgia Tech and Georgia.
- Class of 2014 wide receiver Demare Kitt (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek) was solid on Sunday. Physically he is advanced, and his feet are quick for his size. Kitt had the look of more of a possession receiver on Sunday.
- Class of 2014 cornerback Wesley Green (Lithonia, Ga./MLK) impressed at times on Sunday. The 5-foot-10, 166-pound sophomore showed quick feet and above average change of direction during one-on-one’s and drill work. His ability to explode out of a T-step drew praise from the combine defensive back coaches.
- Class of 2015 signal caller Tyler Queen (Kennesaw, Ga./North Cobb) was one of many standouts at the quarterback position Sunday. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder flashed his compact release and accuracy in the intermediate game on a number of reps.
- Another impressive quarterback on hand Sunday was Brooks Barden of Cartersville, Ga. The left-hander was smooth throughout the day, excelling in the short and intermediate passing game.
- Jeremy Tyler (Lithonia, Ga./MLK) lined up at cornerback on Sunday and showed well in press coverage and reacting on throws in front of him. The 6-foot-0, 195-pounder reports verbal offers from South Carolina, Central Florida and Vanderbilt. Safety is likely where he projects at the next level.
- Class of 2013 prospect Deangelo Yancey (Atlanta, Ga./Mays) was another standout receiver Sunday. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder is receiving interest from N.C. State and Duke.
- Gerry Hamilton
- National Scouting Director - 247Sports