One thing I like to do after every draft is go back and study the first rounders ranked three stars or below out of high school. There are less every year, as recruiting rankings continue to improve. But this exercise helps spot trends and mistakes. Let’s start with a pair of South Florida three stars:
Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh, 86.52 rating (Miami, FL)
Miami passed on Kancey because of size. I liked him, but my comps (Keir Thomas, Nikita Whitlock) underplayed his talent. His wingspan was the biggest concern.
Two takeaways. First, South Florida kids often make leaps in strength programs because they come in underdeveloped. Kancey tested poorly in high school and weighed 260. By the time he left college, he weighed 281 pounds and ran in the 4.6s.
Second, always pay attention to front seven players who play skill positions on offense. That is common among future first rounders. This is my report from the spring of Kancey's junior year:
Zay Flowers, Boston College (85.07 rating, Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
Flowers was my guy because of his pure football ability. He was just as good on defense as offense, with explosive striking ability, timing and instincts. His recruitment was strange because he wasn't hidden- he played with two big-name recruits and produced on the field. His senior highlight was almost 15 minutes long. My takeaway is that we need more football players at WR. Very few of our signees played both ways, and aside from Restrepo (who played everything), there is a lack of toughness on Saturdays.
This was my writeup on Flowers as a junior (I think he made the right decision staying on offense):
Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois (Unranked, Pensacola, FL)
On one hand, this is your classic "slip-through-the-cracks" situation. Witherspoon didn't play football until his junior year and he didn't qualify until after Signing Day. But if a Big Ten team can find him in Florida, that means their personnel department did a better job than ours. Everything you saw at Illinois is on his 10-minute senior reel: elite ball skills, striking like a LB, a sixth sense to diagnose and trigger. And he was named player of the year in the Panhandle. Maybe speed was a question mark (11.29 100M) but he was competitive in the high jump (6'7) and there were no speed issues on tape.
The takeaways: 1) Always pay attention to basketball converts who develop at a fast pace. That trajectory tends to continue in college; 2) Don't stop working in the summer. Some of our legendary players like Ray Lewis and Jeremy Shockey signed in the summer. I'd bet we didn't even watch Witherspoon's film.
Lukas Van Ness, DL, Iowa (85.3 rating, Chicago Suburbs, IL)
Every year, Iowa and Wisconsin produce three-star freaks that fit the same high school profile: Tall, multisport Midwesterners with room to grow. Van Ness was a hockey player (defender) through high school and went from 240 to 272 in Iowa's strength program. His athleticism isn't obvious on tape- he is straight-linish- but you can see his explosiveness with multiple blocked kicks. This is another story of an upward trajectory, as he didn't play varsity until his junior year.
If you're looking for someone who fits this profile in Miami's class, look no further than 6'6, Midwestern, hockey/lacrosse/track/basketball player Jackson Carver.
Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa (87.41 rating, Cedar Falls, IA)
See above. Campbell's sport was basketball, as the leading rebounder for the state champions. He is a clear beneficiary of the Iowa weight room, going from a lanky 210 all the way to 249 pounds at the combine. Surprisingly, he doesn't play offense or rush the passer despite his athleticism. It's all linebacker. He does show off his prowess on special teams, blocking multiple kicks and competing like a madman on kickoff.
Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State (86.14 rating, Milwaukee, WI)
McDonald is another tall, multisport Midwesterner who bulked up in college. He was always a basketball player (18/12) and knew nothing about football until he joined the team as a junior. He also lettered in baseball and track, finishing first in state in the discus (179 feet, 9 inches), third in the high jump (6'4) and setting personal bests in the 110-hurdles (15.53), long jump (22'4) and shot put (47'1.25).
His tape has all the hallmarks of a front seven first rounder: blocked kicks, big plays as a skill player, and high effort on kickoff. And his ability to bend was already special, resulting in 20 TFLs and 12.5 sacks.
Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland (86.48 rating, Baltimore, MD)
Two things stand out with Banks: verified track speed and two-way dominance. He was a beast on the track, with strong times in the 100M (10.98), 200M (22.44) and outstanding 22'8 long jump. And that speed translated to offense, where he ran for 1,700 rushing yards (15 ypc) and 24 TDs. People get mad when we talk about moving playmakers to defense, but this is what first rounders look like. His 11+ minute HL is mostly offense, although you see flashes of striking ability on defense and a few INTs.
Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah (Unranked, Las Vegas, NV)
Like Witherspoon and McDonald, Kincaid was a basketball player who did not start playing football until late in his high school career. He played WR, signed with San Diego, switched to tight end and made third-team FCS All-American (835 yards, 19 ypc, 8 TDs). Josh Allen and Aaron Rodgers followed similar paths: nobody found them on the West Coast, they went to JUCOs for exposure and then signed with D1 schools. The last guy we signed like that was Beau Sandland, who didn't work here but ultimately got drafted by the Panthers.
Kincaid's high school clips show a surprisingly advanced receiver. He has a full array of routes, sinks his hips, plucks the ball and toe taps on the sideline. It's hard to understand how he ended up at San Diego.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE, Kansas State (81.05 rating, Kansas City, MO)
Played basketball and participated in 4X200, shot put, javelin, long jump and triple jump. He almost went FCS and it took him a year to get on scholarship at Kansas State. His first step, balance, burst and motor are all there on the clips, but he's small. He added 45 pounds while keeping the motor and athleticism.
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Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech (88.13 rating, New London, TX)
Small-town Texas kid who was on recruiting radars but ultimately underrated. The first thing that stands out is the verified testing: he measured at 6'5.5, 230 in high school and ran 4.67 on the lasers. He also competed in sprint relays and the shot put (36'1). It's easy to see how that combo translates to defense. Wilson also played tight end. His highlights aren't available to the public, but the measurables alone tell a story.
So what are the common themes? All of these guys either played multiple sports, played both ways, or both. They competed hard and often blocked kicks on special teams. And they were all productive, even if they were raw.
Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh, 86.52 rating (Miami, FL)
Miami passed on Kancey because of size. I liked him, but my comps (Keir Thomas, Nikita Whitlock) underplayed his talent. His wingspan was the biggest concern.
Two takeaways. First, South Florida kids often make leaps in strength programs because they come in underdeveloped. Kancey tested poorly in high school and weighed 260. By the time he left college, he weighed 281 pounds and ran in the 4.6s.
Second, always pay attention to front seven players who play skill positions on offense. That is common among future first rounders. This is my report from the spring of Kancey's junior year:
Zay Flowers, Boston College (85.07 rating, Ft. Lauderdale, FL)
Flowers was my guy because of his pure football ability. He was just as good on defense as offense, with explosive striking ability, timing and instincts. His recruitment was strange because he wasn't hidden- he played with two big-name recruits and produced on the field. His senior highlight was almost 15 minutes long. My takeaway is that we need more football players at WR. Very few of our signees played both ways, and aside from Restrepo (who played everything), there is a lack of toughness on Saturdays.
This was my writeup on Flowers as a junior (I think he made the right decision staying on offense):
Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois (Unranked, Pensacola, FL)
On one hand, this is your classic "slip-through-the-cracks" situation. Witherspoon didn't play football until his junior year and he didn't qualify until after Signing Day. But if a Big Ten team can find him in Florida, that means their personnel department did a better job than ours. Everything you saw at Illinois is on his 10-minute senior reel: elite ball skills, striking like a LB, a sixth sense to diagnose and trigger. And he was named player of the year in the Panhandle. Maybe speed was a question mark (11.29 100M) but he was competitive in the high jump (6'7) and there were no speed issues on tape.
The takeaways: 1) Always pay attention to basketball converts who develop at a fast pace. That trajectory tends to continue in college; 2) Don't stop working in the summer. Some of our legendary players like Ray Lewis and Jeremy Shockey signed in the summer. I'd bet we didn't even watch Witherspoon's film.
Lukas Van Ness, DL, Iowa (85.3 rating, Chicago Suburbs, IL)
Every year, Iowa and Wisconsin produce three-star freaks that fit the same high school profile: Tall, multisport Midwesterners with room to grow. Van Ness was a hockey player (defender) through high school and went from 240 to 272 in Iowa's strength program. His athleticism isn't obvious on tape- he is straight-linish- but you can see his explosiveness with multiple blocked kicks. This is another story of an upward trajectory, as he didn't play varsity until his junior year.
If you're looking for someone who fits this profile in Miami's class, look no further than 6'6, Midwestern, hockey/lacrosse/track/basketball player Jackson Carver.
Jack Campbell, LB, Iowa (87.41 rating, Cedar Falls, IA)
See above. Campbell's sport was basketball, as the leading rebounder for the state champions. He is a clear beneficiary of the Iowa weight room, going from a lanky 210 all the way to 249 pounds at the combine. Surprisingly, he doesn't play offense or rush the passer despite his athleticism. It's all linebacker. He does show off his prowess on special teams, blocking multiple kicks and competing like a madman on kickoff.
Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State (86.14 rating, Milwaukee, WI)
McDonald is another tall, multisport Midwesterner who bulked up in college. He was always a basketball player (18/12) and knew nothing about football until he joined the team as a junior. He also lettered in baseball and track, finishing first in state in the discus (179 feet, 9 inches), third in the high jump (6'4) and setting personal bests in the 110-hurdles (15.53), long jump (22'4) and shot put (47'1.25).
His tape has all the hallmarks of a front seven first rounder: blocked kicks, big plays as a skill player, and high effort on kickoff. And his ability to bend was already special, resulting in 20 TFLs and 12.5 sacks.
Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland (86.48 rating, Baltimore, MD)
Two things stand out with Banks: verified track speed and two-way dominance. He was a beast on the track, with strong times in the 100M (10.98), 200M (22.44) and outstanding 22'8 long jump. And that speed translated to offense, where he ran for 1,700 rushing yards (15 ypc) and 24 TDs. People get mad when we talk about moving playmakers to defense, but this is what first rounders look like. His 11+ minute HL is mostly offense, although you see flashes of striking ability on defense and a few INTs.
Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah (Unranked, Las Vegas, NV)
Like Witherspoon and McDonald, Kincaid was a basketball player who did not start playing football until late in his high school career. He played WR, signed with San Diego, switched to tight end and made third-team FCS All-American (835 yards, 19 ypc, 8 TDs). Josh Allen and Aaron Rodgers followed similar paths: nobody found them on the West Coast, they went to JUCOs for exposure and then signed with D1 schools. The last guy we signed like that was Beau Sandland, who didn't work here but ultimately got drafted by the Panthers.
Kincaid's high school clips show a surprisingly advanced receiver. He has a full array of routes, sinks his hips, plucks the ball and toe taps on the sideline. It's hard to understand how he ended up at San Diego.
Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE, Kansas State (81.05 rating, Kansas City, MO)
Played basketball and participated in 4X200, shot put, javelin, long jump and triple jump. He almost went FCS and it took him a year to get on scholarship at Kansas State. His first step, balance, burst and motor are all there on the clips, but he's small. He added 45 pounds while keeping the motor and athleticism.
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Tyree Wilson, DE, Texas Tech (88.13 rating, New London, TX)
Small-town Texas kid who was on recruiting radars but ultimately underrated. The first thing that stands out is the verified testing: he measured at 6'5.5, 230 in high school and ran 4.67 on the lasers. He also competed in sprint relays and the shot put (36'1). It's easy to see how that combo translates to defense. Wilson also played tight end. His highlights aren't available to the public, but the measurables alone tell a story.
So what are the common themes? All of these guys either played multiple sports, played both ways, or both. They competed hard and often blocked kicks on special teams. And they were all productive, even if they were raw.
