Open Post | Tuesday, March 31st
Posted on: March 31, 2020
Glancing Ahead | 2022 Offensive Line
– Darius Terrell
With the entire sports world on pause, I figured now would be a good time to get a jump on the competition. Last year, I released multiple “watch lists” for 2021 prospects weekly as a part of my Thirsty Thursday columns. You guys seemed to really enjoy it and we love to keep the people happy here at TFB. This time around we’ll give the younger guys a little bit more of their own shine. Today we will focus on the Offensive Linemen that are standing out early. This is the position where 2021 has its biggest edge on 2022.
Arlington Bowie OG/OT Devon Campbell (6’4 265)
On the hoof: Let me start off by saying that I don’t think I’ve ever seen an Offensive Lineman on tape outrunning the skills guys while trying to make block downfield until I turned this kid’s clips on. Incredible. I’m not familiar with his background yet, but somewhere earlier in life Campbell was a skill guy. He is freakishly strong, taking numerous guys off of their feet with a single push. The scary part is Campbell is only weighing in the 260 lb. range right now and doing these things. Just imagine what this guy is going to look like a few years from now.
He has the foot quickness, flexibility, and athleticism to play any spot along the Offensive front and he is the premier 2022 OL prospect in the class. It’s way too early to start worrying about favorites here. Do yourself a favor and click the highlights below.
Offers: Texas, Oklahoma, LSU, Alabama, Florida St., Texas A&M, Ole Miss
Highlights:
Duncanville Cameron Williams OT (6’6 320)
On the hoof: Big man is a beast. I’ve been able to watch Williams grow as a prospect for the past 4-5 years now. This past season was just the second that he has focused exclusively on Football (Basketball was his first love). At a legitimate 6’6 with a wingspan that is in the 7’0 range, Williams has NFL size as a high schooler. He’s already got a few big-time offers, I’m not sure what everyone else in the region is waiting on.
Offers: LSU, Oregon, Auburn, Baylor, Arizona St., Utah, TCU
Highlights:
Houston Summer Creek OT Kelvin Banks (6’5 285)
(Photo Cred: Houston Chronicle)
On the hoof: Banks is a big boy. He’s a legitimate 6’4 at 15-16 years old and he has the length that coaches desire at the Tackle position. I like his feet, he’s light on them and does a surprisingly good job of keeping a base in pass protection. He has some bad habits, but there is a LOT to like about Banks as a prospect early. I would be surprised if his current commitment were to hold up through Signing Day 2022.
Offers: Committed to Oklahoma State
Highlights:
College Station OT Cory Hendrix (6’5 280)
(Photo Cred: Tex Ags)
On the hoof: This young man doesn’t have a recruiting profile on any of the ranking websites and I wish there was something that I could do about that. He doesn’t have any offers to date, but that will be changing once he gets more exposure. Hendrix is athletic, a natural knee bender, with the ability to get out of his stance in a hurry. He can stick at Tackle. He has a mean streak and can be seen finishing blocks to the whistle repeatedly. Based on where he’s from you have to believe that Texas A&M will be a big factor once they come calling.
Offers: N/A
Highlights:
Frisco OG Cole Hutson (6’4 275)
(Photo Cred: HUDL)
On the hoof: Hutson puts guys on their backs over and over on tape. He’s strong and he is nasty. He shows the ability to move in space, break down, and engage smaller targets. He’s a road grader that projects on the inside despite his 6’4 frame. Hutson is still a work in progress in pass protection, but his offer list will look very different a year from now.
Offers: Hawaii
Highlights:
Humble Atascocita OG/OT Kameron Dewberry (6’3 290)
(Photo Cred: Tex Ags)
On the hoof: Dewberry has been a big name on the recruiting scene since his Freshman season and his offer list reflects that. He has seemingly every big boy program in college football after his services. Dewberry lacks prototypical height, but he makes up for it with an impressive reach and strong hands. I think that his feet are average compared to a few other guys and I do believe that his highest upside could be on the interior. Dewberry’s motor can run a bit hot and cold, but when he is engaged he is one of the top players in this in-state crop.
Offers: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M, Ohio St., Penn St., Virginia Tech
Highlights:
Duncanville OT Jaylen Early (6’5 260)
(Photo Cred: Twitter)
On the hoof: Early oozes potential on tape. His feet are lightning-quick for an Offensive Lineman. Once he is able to get everything in sync, he is going to be hell on wheels in the future. He moves with a purpose, easily sifting to the next level of a defense and engaging smaller defenders. Early isn’t strong at this stage, but I expect the strength will come once he’s able to get in a collegiate program. He and Cameron Williams are the reason that his school felt comfortable moving Savion Byrd to Defense despite being a 5-star OT.
Offers: Colorado
Highlights:
Fort Worth Brewer OG Camron Hutcherson (6’3 280)
On the hoof: Hutcherson spent the majority of this past season playing Nose Tackle before moving over to Offense for the final two games of his school’s season due to injuries. The move may prove to be a blessing in disguise for Hutcherson, as he showed some dominant ability in the run game. Once he locks on to a defender it’s over for them at this level. He possesses much better feet than you’d expect just by looking at him and is capable of engaging smaller players at the second level. Hutcherson reminds me a lot of 2021 Shadow Creek standout Guard Caleb Leonard, who is still being overlooked and criminally underrated. Take a look.
Offers: N/A
Highlights:
Dallas Jesuit OT Matt Craycraft (6’5 260) (Photo Cred: HUDL)
On the hoof: I actually first noticed Craycraft this past season while my school faced Dallas Jesuit in an early non-district game. When I went to take a look at EJ Smith’s work from the year after the season, there Craycraft was still doing his thing. His inclusion on the list is based strictly on projection, but Craycraft has the obvious measurables and had the mental side down enough to earn the trust of his coaching staff to get the nod at Left Tackle. He’s just scratching the surface of what he can be and should be a name to keep an eye on moving forward.
Offers: N/A
Highlights:
Kelvin Gilliam | Sooners Putting In The Work | Quick Hitter
– Charlie S
*** Touched base with 2021 defensive lineman Kelvin Gilliam (6’3″ 250) out of Highland Springs, Virginia recently.
*** Gilliam tells me the Sooners are continuing to push hard here through the COVID-19 mandated dead period.
*** Kelvin says Coach Thibodeaux and Coach Beamer are in touch with him frequently.
*** He said that he has been ‘grinding’ throughout the past few weeks and OU has been talking with him daily about both football and life off the field.
*** This is obviously a good sign for Oklahoma and an indication that the Sooners are doing all they can during this difficult period to maintain and build deeper relationships with the recruits.
Kendal Daniels | Sooners go all in
– Super K
***While the Sooners offered in-state ATH, Kendal Daniels (Beggs) a while back, the efforts to really push for Daniels weren’t particularly strong.
***The concern is a fair one, in my opinion, which was simply not knowing where Daniels can play. He’s a 6’4 safety. So you have to ask yourself (especially in Grinch’s scheme where DBs are frequently left on islands), can he cover well enough to play in this system? And if not, is he physical enough to play linebacker in this system?
***The hope was probably to get Daniels in camp this summer or see him in spring ball to gather more information on whether either of the above are true.
***That obviously won’t happen. But as I’ve been told, the staff has discussed it and have decided to go all in on Daniels. When you have a tweener like this, you really need to get a consensus from both your second and third level coaches. It’s easy for people to say, he’s a big athlete, figure it out later. But college isn’t high school. There isn’t an advantage in having a guy who can play a bunch of positions pretty well. You need a guy to be great at one position.
***As such, you have to evaluate that player versus the other linebackers on your board and then evaluate that player versus your other DBs on your board. Saying, well he’s not as good as the other DBs but he can also play LB and vice versa, doesn’t help you.
***Having said that, again, OU is making a strong push here. I asked Daniels about his contact with Oklahoma and he says that he hears from the Sooners every day now.
Snippet from: Sooners Weekend Notebook | Coaches Life With Social Distancing, New Offers & More
– James Hale
*** While at home the OU coaches and administration have been very busy on the recruiting trail. The Sooners have sent out a ton of offers recently and messages on social media as well.
*** The Sooners are still promoting their football camps this summer as well.
*** Of course, they hope to be able to hold those camps but just like Coach Riley said they are rewriting new rules and thoughts from what is going on every single day as more and more information comes in on Covid-19
*** OU is busting it on the recruiting trail. They have sent so many offers out its hard to keep up. Charlie and K I’m sure will add to this list but here is who I have that they have offered in the last few days.
*** Kaden Prater, 2021 WR, 6’3, 210, of Germantown (Northwest), Maryland. Parter is a four-star receiver that was first seen by Shane Beamer. OU just offered recently and he has a top four of Maryland, Ohio State, Penn State, and Virginia Tech.
*** Chance Biddle, 2022, S, 6’0, 170, Garland, Texas: Four-star athlete that has always liked OU. As soon as the Sooners offered they were in the picture for him. Biddle already has offers from OU, Baylor, Texas, and USC.
*** Tychaun Chapman, 2022, WR, 5’9, 165, Virginia Bech (Princess Anne), Virginia: A four-star talent Chapman is electric and has speed to burn. Great in space he can make people miss and has good hands. Early he has no leaders but has offers from OU, South Carolina, Georgia Tech, Oregon, USC, and Tennessee.
*** Ernest “EJ” Cooper, 2022 WDE, 6’4, 215, Arlington (Martin), Texas: Another four-star defender for 2022 that likes OU early and has offers from Alabama, Baylor, LSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, Texas, TCU, and Ole Miss.
*** Will Campbell, 2022 OT, 6’5, 270, Monroe (Nerville), Louisiana: You know when Coach Bill Bedenbaugh offers offensive lineman this early they have to be really good. Campbell is a four-star talent that has offers from OU, Alabama, Baylor, Florida, Arizona State, LSU, Oklahoma State, Penn State, TCU, and Tennessee to name a few.
*** Ian Jackson, 2021 OLB, 6’1, 208, Prattville, Alabama: OU is just now getting into the picture for this four-star athlete and they will have to pull hard to get him away from Alabama or Auburn but Jackson is saying all the right things right now about taking a hard look at OU.
*** Evan Stewart, 2022 WR, 6’0, 160, Frisco (Liberty), Texas. A talented four-star receiver Stewart caught 43 passes for 757-yards and seven touchdowns a year ago. Also, a talented track man Stewart competes in the 200-meter, long jump, and triple jump. Early indicates no leaders but has offers from OU, Texas, Auburn, Baylor, Kansas, Hawaii, and North Texas.
*** Gabriel McNeill, 2021 OLB, 6’4, 225, Raleigh (Sanderson), North Carolina: A three-star outside linebacker that coaches Brian Odom and Jamar Cain really like. McNeil is just now emerging on the recruiting scene for OU. McNeil has offers from OU, Oklahoma State, Arkansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, and Wake Forest.
Thanks for being a part of TFB, wash those hands, keep your social distance, and be safe.
