New Orleans – The NFL Prep 100 Series was held in New Orleans over the weekend and there was an abundance of talent on display for the 2014 and 2015 classes.
Leonard Fournette (L) & Tony Brown (R) stole the show in New Orleans
Here are our top performers on Sunday in the 7-on-7 play and OL/DL drills, along with some other prospects who grabbed our attention.
Top Offensive Performer
RB Leonard Fournette New Orleans (La.) St. Augustine
Every time five-star running back Leonard Fournette shows up at an event I think there isn’t anything he can do to impress me anymore than he has since he burst onto the scene as an eighth grader. And yet, he continues to do something to make me like him even more.
It’s very tough for backs to steal the spotlight in a 7-on-7 tournament. But, Fournette managed to with his speed, and his ability to stop and go and burst. He was the fastest guy on the field and was also the biggest. He caught the ball with his hands pretty consistently and clean, minus a couple of drops, and showed that he can be a weapon in the passing game on the next level.
Fournette also played some defense at safety and made a highlight on that side of the ball too with a pick six where he darted from one side of the field to the other and got the corner to take it to the house.
Top Defensive Performer
DB Tony Brown Beaumont (Texas) Ozen
Normally, there would just be one top overall performer at an event like this. But, you can’t overlook the day that five-star cornerback Tony Brown had.
Brown played mostly safety due to there being a shortage of safeties on his squad, and that allowed him to get more action. He played the ball very well when it was in the air and his range was outstanding.
Brown was able to flip his hips and transition effortlessly and was so smooth in everything he did. He is known for being aggressive and physical, and while most guys will tone it down in these settings that was tougher for Brown to do.
Other Top Performers
LB Demetro Stephens Jr. Lithonia (Ga.) Arabia Mountain
Just as it is for running backs, it’s very tough for linebackers to shine in these types of settings. However, Demetro Stephens managed to with the plays he made. He was comfortable playing in space and with his drops, and is the type of backer that you can leave on the field in passing situations.
LB Donnie Alexander New Orleans (La.) Edna Karr
Donnie Alexander was right there with Demetro Stephens as far as linebackers go. He didn’t look quite as comfortable with his drops, but he showed a nice burst and closing speed in getting to the ball. Alexander likes to mix it up and he wasn’t one that shied away from getting his hands on guys and trying to knock them off their routes.
ATH Anthony Milton New Orleans (La.) O.P. Walker
Anthony Milton is known for being one of the top safety prospects in the New Orleans area for 2014, but he also showed that he can be a playmaker on the other side of the ball. He has excellent ball skills and attacked the ball in the air to come down with some big grabs for scores. The key with Milton is he is a bit of a ‘tweener’ as he has a slight build for a safety and narrow frame, and not quite the hips you want to see in a corner.
CB Troy Vincent, Jr. Rockville (Md.) Gilman
We all knew that Troy Vincent, Jr. had the pedigree with his father – Troy Vincent, Sr. – having a successful career in the NFL. However, the younger Vincent showed that he will not have to live off his father’s name on the next level. He was physical in press coverage and has real good instincts. He has a high football IQ, and it’s evident that he has been around the game for a long time with his keen awareness.
CB Jermaine Roberts New Orleans (La.) St. Augustine
Jermaine Roberts spent much of Sunday at safety and he looked right at home despite being a true cornerback with his size in the 5-9, 170-pound range. Roberts had good ball skills and was able to break on the ball very well. He transitioned well and won a few battles in jump ball situations going against bigger receivers.
OG Peyton Winbush New Orleans (La.) St. Augustine
There were some good OL/DL battles on Sunday, and Peyton Winbush was one of the guys who looked the part. He looks like a guard on the college level, but he flashed pretty solid footwork in sliding and mirroring guys who tried to get the edge on him. He has a strong punch, and if he continues to improve his knee bend he should see a number of offers come his way.
DL Courtney Garnett New Orleans (La.) St. Augustine
This type of setting is not the best for a defensive tackle like Courtney Garnett, who is best at clogging gaps and freeing up linebackers. He still impressed with the power he generates from his hips and lower body and with his strength to push his opposition into the backfield.
TE Anthony Jones New Orleans (La.) Edna Karr
Standish Dobard got the large majority of the reps at tight end for Edna Karr during the 2012 season, but those will go to Anthony Jones in 2013. He is raw with his route running, but Jones flashed good quickness and he accelerated nicely once he caught the ball to get up field. He dropped some passes he should have caught, but those were technique issues that he will learn with more experience. He isn’t going to grow into an in-line guy with his frame, but Jones will be a guy that schools like as he can flex out and create some mismatches with his size and speed.
QB Tyler Harris Blackshear (Ga.) Pierce County
Tyler Harris was easily the top quarterback in attendance. He had the strongest arm and definitely passed the eye test at a legit 6-feet-2 and hovering around the 200-mark. His footwork is rough around the edges and he missed on some passes a high four-star passer is expected to make. But, you can see that there is a lot to work with.
- Sonny Shipp
- LSU Insider - Geaux247