NUC Baton Rouge: Top Performers

The National Underclassmen Combine series rolled through Zachary, La. on Sunday and there was a good assortment of talent from the 2014 class all the way down to 2017.

Here are some of the top performers that caught our eye listed in no particular order.

2014 Top Performers

Devin Voorhies 6-2/190 Woodville (MS) Wilkinson County
On a day where the temperature was in the 50’s and a wind at times, the conditions were not good for prospects to post good times. Add in the amount of prospects and the dead time between events and it’s not a chocker that Voorhies clocked a 4.8 (40) and 4.66 shuttle.

The LSU commit compares very favorably to LSU 2013 signee John Diarse in that he will not blow you away with his times. But when the lights come on and it’s time to compete on the field he shows up in a big way.

Voorhies worked out at receiver and caught the ball clean and looked more polished than you would expect someone who plays quarterback for his high school team to look. His short area quickness is very good and he can stick his foot in the ground and burst out of cuts as good as anyone in attendance.

Jacory Washington 6-4/220 Westlake (LA)
Washington did not take part in any of the testing, but when it was time to for 1-on-1’s he was in the mix. The four-star tight end caught the ball clean and was comfortable going outside his frame. His ability to get down field and use his height in going up to grab the ball was apparent.

Washington only got about 45 minutes and few opportunities to get in on the action, but when he did he made plays.

Russell Farris ATH 5-9.5/210 Livonia (LA)
Farris was a first team all-state selection as a junior at linebacker, but on Sunday he worked out at running back. His junior film as a back is impressive as he has the ability to stop, plant and burst out of cuts. He showed some of that ability on Sunday and is a solid one-cut runner that can play running back on the collegiate level.

Farris clocked a 4.75 (40) and 4.65 shuttle and caught the ball well. He was a sponge to the coaching he received and is very well put together up top and from the waist down.

Dontrell Hilliard ATH 5-11.5/184 Scotlandville (LA)
Hilliard made a name for himself when he earned an invitation to The Opening when he posted some eye-popping numbers at the Nike Combine in New Orleans. He was just as good this time around with a 4.5 (40), 9-9 broad jump and 34”vertical.

Hilliard could play several positions at the next level but worked out at running back on Sunday showing quick feet and elusiveness that would make him a threat whenever he gets the ball in his hands. He is explosive and expect his offer list that included Oklahoma State, Tulane, and several others, to blow up.

Peyton Winbush 6-2/275 New Orleans (LA) St. Augustine
St. Augustine has several prospects that already have scholarship offers, and surprisingly Winbush is still waiting on his first one. He plays every position on the line for St. Aug but with his size, feet and strong punch he should get plenty of offers for anyone that needs a center. He was nearly impossible to beat in 1-on-1 battles whether he was trying to keep the edge or getting bull-rushed inside.

Bloodied nose and all Winbush was dominant.

Kentrell Fisher WR 5-3/132 Zachary (LA)
The 5-3, 132 pounds is not a typo and neither is the 4.46 (40) he ran. Fisher is small and that will be tough to overcome. But his speed and explosiveness should find him a home on the D2-NAIA level.

Allenzae Staggers ATH 6-1/170 Woodville (MS) Wilkinson County
Staggers has the height and length for a cornerback that will attract college coaches. He was fluid and had pretty good quickness in being able to transition.

LaAllan Clark DT 6-2/250 Central (LA)
Clark has been solid on both sides of the ball since his sophomore season at Scotlandville. He has transferred to Central and is putting his emphasis on playing down in the trenches on defense.

Clark was one of the top D-linemen in attendance showing good feet and some quickness in being able to dip his inside shoulder and beat his man off the edge.

2015 Top Performers

Arthur McGinnis LB 6-2/205 New Orleans (LA) Warren Easton
McGinnis used the Nike Combine in New Orleans as a launching pad but there were no on-field workouts. This time around he got to put his skills on display in some drills and he showed why he will be a big name in 2015.

Not only does he have the size, but McGinnis has quick feet and moves well laterally. He has the speed to be a sideline-to-sideline guy and the mentality you want to see in a linebacker. You could tell when he got to the ball carrier it was everything he could do to not lower the boom.

Carlos Robinson WDE 6-3/195 Monroe (LA) Ouachita
We first saw Robinson at LSU’s camp last July and he worked out at receiver. He’s added anywhere from 15-20 pounds to his frame and has filled out some where you can see he has the chance to add some nice size.

Robinson posted a 4.69 shuttle, which turned out to be good relative to the other times that some of the other top prospects posted. He has some work to do from a technique standpoint, but has the look of someone that coaches will like as a tight end or defensive end down the road.

Xavier Lewis CB 5-11.25/171 Reserve (LA) East St. John
Going into this event, Lewis was in the running for one of the top overall prospects in Louisiana for 2015. He made a stronger impression on me Sunday with his cover skills and how much of a competitor he is. He is strong in press man coverage, and showed the awareness and instincts to make plays on the ball and beat the receivers to the spot.

Richard Preston 6-0.75/174 Boutte (LA) Hahnville
Preston led Hahnville in receiving as a sophomore and he tested well with a 4.68 (40) and 9-4 broad jump. He was good in 1-on-1’s showing natural hands and solid route-running skills.

Diante Bridgewater WR 5-10/175 Livonia (LA)
Bridgewater is a solid slot wide receiver that will make some waves on the recruiting front in 2015. He has good quickness and explosiveness to be a guy that gets a lot of yards after the catch.

Hakeem Collins ATH 6-3.25/180 Geismar (LA) Dutchtown
Hakeem, who is the younger brother of Alabama signee Landon Collins, looks great on the hoof. He transferred from O.P. Walker in New Orleans and hasn’t really had much work in the weight room. He has a frame that will fill out nicely and once he gets more experience and adds some weight he is a guy that could get some looks at anywhere from receiver to tight end to defensive end.

Kameron Eloph DT 6-2/260 Bossier City (LA) Parkway
Eloph is a guy that could give coaches options at defensive tackle or on the other side of the ball inside. He used his hands well and showed good feet in several different situations.

2016 Top Performers

C.J. Morgan CB 5-9/155 Bossier City (LA) Parkway
Morgan has that cornerback mentality that coaches love to see. He embraces the notion of being locked in man coverage with no help over the top, and he just makes plays.

Kazmi Antoine S 5-10/180 Belle Chasse (LA)
Kazmi is the younger brother of 2012 Mississippi State signee Quadry Antoine. Quadry was known as a physical safety/outside backer, and the younger Antoine is in the same boat. He looks a little quicker and more athletic than his older brother, with excellent technique for someone his age.

Malik Antoine S 5-10/175 Baton Rouge (LA) U-High
Antoine saw action as a freshman at U-High and he showed why. He is physical and solid in coverage with good ball skills and awareness.

Devin Hamilton LB 6-0/180 Lake Charles (LA) Washington-Marion
Hamilton’s size/footwork combo was better than any freshman that was on the field. He did not have any issues in trying to cover smaller and quicker receivers, and played the ball well when it was in the air.

Garren Mitchell QB 5-11/155 New Orleans (LA) St. Augustine
The southpaw threw the ball well and got some nice velocity on his passes. Already with a 27 on the ACT and ability to make throws inside and outside the hash, Mitchell will be a name coaches hear more about.

2017 Top Performers

Adrian Ealy OT 6-3/250 Baton Rouge (LA) U-High
Size was the first that jumped out when looking at this eighth grader, but he also had pretty good feet.

Ethan Harvey OL/DT 6-1/260 Haynesville (LA) Claiborne Academy
Harvey has good size for an eighth grader and he moved well in both OL and DL drills.