The Opening Finals is essentially one big opportunity for top prospects all around the country to go up against players of a similar or greater talent level and prove themselves on a stage where the recruiting world is watching. Which young guns of interest to Miami stepped up and impressed and which fell behind? (Note: The 247Composite was used to determine where a player's stock was at present.)
Stock Up
OT Marcus Dumervil, #128 overall
Dumervil was quite simply dominant this weekend and made the Final 5, but just missed out on winning the OL MVP award. He played with outstanding balance, strength, and technique to handle the power rushers, while also showing the quickness and hand work to handle the speed guys. He’s certain to get a bump.
OT Issiah Walker, #148 overall
I’m already high on Walker, but even I was surprised at how well he performed. Going up against the best of the best DL’s in the nation, I expected him to struggle some with the power rushers, but Walker showed up about 20 pounds heavier than the last time I saw him and he was burying guys out there. That’s all in addition to his trademark athleticism at the tackle spot. Walker did not make the Final 5, but most of the media I talked to agreed he had an argument.
WR Michael Redding, #194 overall
Redding was the most impressive of the three Miami commitments and made highlight plays all three days. He flashed many times and stood out with multiple diving catches, demonstrating elite body control. He was particularly dangerous on crossing routes, and he really got a chance to show off his speed. He’s proved to have top notch ball skills to go along with his trademark hops and he deserves some love in rankings.
TE Theo Johnson, #242 overall
Johnson was probably the most impressive receiver I saw at the event in terms of pure production. Johnson was a reliable target all weekend when Team Pressure needed to make a play, and tore it up in the short game and the middle of the field. He’s a really precise route runner for a 6-6 245 pound target and had multiple touchdowns catches in the red zone. He was just a physical mismatch for most defenders out there. It’s an easy call to move him up the rankings considering where he’s at now.
Stock Down
DE Chantz Williams, #85 overall
I’m still high on him overall, but for how high he’s ranked, I personally think his performance this week will end up dropping him slightly in the rankings if I’m being honest. He flashed a few times, especially in his reps against Marcus Dumervil, who many felt was the best lineman there. Chantz used his speed and hands more effectively on those reps. However, he lost the majority of his reps, got manhandled a few times, and struggles if he doesn’t beat his man off the snap. He got locked up pretty good by UGA OT commit Tate Ratledge on three straight reps. Williams was getting frequently out-muscled, the strength is just not there yet with him. I also thought he wasn’t using his speed to his advantage enough and instead tried to go through a lot of guys with power rushes far too often.
Holding Steady
TE Darnell Washington, #11 overall
Washington is just an impressive athlete to watch and he’s simply a rare talent. He was running right by guys that played him too close, and he boxed out and bodied guys on jump balls that tried to give him space. Early on in the 7-on-7’s, Washington had been wide open a few times for Team Drip, but for whatever reason their QB was not really looking for him, but they quickly corrected that and featured Washington heavily from then on. He did enough to justify 5-star status.
RB Don Chaney, #28 overall
My general takeaway from Chaney’s week was that while he didn’t get many opportunities to shine, he made the most of his few chances. Team Guap’s offense was pretty clearly geared away from involving the RB’s and didn’t feature Chaney at all, but Chaney still had some of the most jaw-dropping highlights of the weekend, including in the cat and mouse drills of day 1. He proved he’s a 5-star talent in my opinion.
WR Mookie Cooper, #64 overall
I liked what I saw from him out there: cat-quick, devastating change of direction, and home run ability. At a rank like this already, though, he didn’t do enough to push for 5-star status or anything. He’s appropriately ranked.
RB Jaylan Knighton, #108 overall
He had a fast start on day 1 and made some moves in the cat and mouse drills, but went down soon after with an injury and didn’t play the rest of the week. I doubt he’s going to be faulted for that.
QB Tyler Van Dyke, #211 overall
It was a mixed bag for Van Dyke this week, as he had an above average day 1 followed by a mediocre day 2, then didn’t participate on day 3. I personally think he did enough on day 1 to balance out everything else, as he was throwing some balls into tight windows with great velocity in the 1-on-1’s. He wasn’t as good in the 7-on-7’s, but he wasn’t helped much by a receiving corps that had 3 drops and his interception was a last second hail mary heave from around midfield.
CB Kendall Dennis, #339 overall
I didn’t see a lot of him getting beat or anything, but I also didn’t really see him making a lot of plays. He had one notable pass break up that I saw, but I personally was expecting more of a breakout performance and a highlight reel of plays. For where he’s ranked, I doubt he falls.
Stock Up
OT Marcus Dumervil, #128 overall
Dumervil was quite simply dominant this weekend and made the Final 5, but just missed out on winning the OL MVP award. He played with outstanding balance, strength, and technique to handle the power rushers, while also showing the quickness and hand work to handle the speed guys. He’s certain to get a bump.
OT Issiah Walker, #148 overall
I’m already high on Walker, but even I was surprised at how well he performed. Going up against the best of the best DL’s in the nation, I expected him to struggle some with the power rushers, but Walker showed up about 20 pounds heavier than the last time I saw him and he was burying guys out there. That’s all in addition to his trademark athleticism at the tackle spot. Walker did not make the Final 5, but most of the media I talked to agreed he had an argument.
WR Michael Redding, #194 overall
Redding was the most impressive of the three Miami commitments and made highlight plays all three days. He flashed many times and stood out with multiple diving catches, demonstrating elite body control. He was particularly dangerous on crossing routes, and he really got a chance to show off his speed. He’s proved to have top notch ball skills to go along with his trademark hops and he deserves some love in rankings.
TE Theo Johnson, #242 overall
Johnson was probably the most impressive receiver I saw at the event in terms of pure production. Johnson was a reliable target all weekend when Team Pressure needed to make a play, and tore it up in the short game and the middle of the field. He’s a really precise route runner for a 6-6 245 pound target and had multiple touchdowns catches in the red zone. He was just a physical mismatch for most defenders out there. It’s an easy call to move him up the rankings considering where he’s at now.
Stock Down
DE Chantz Williams, #85 overall
I’m still high on him overall, but for how high he’s ranked, I personally think his performance this week will end up dropping him slightly in the rankings if I’m being honest. He flashed a few times, especially in his reps against Marcus Dumervil, who many felt was the best lineman there. Chantz used his speed and hands more effectively on those reps. However, he lost the majority of his reps, got manhandled a few times, and struggles if he doesn’t beat his man off the snap. He got locked up pretty good by UGA OT commit Tate Ratledge on three straight reps. Williams was getting frequently out-muscled, the strength is just not there yet with him. I also thought he wasn’t using his speed to his advantage enough and instead tried to go through a lot of guys with power rushes far too often.
Holding Steady
TE Darnell Washington, #11 overall
Washington is just an impressive athlete to watch and he’s simply a rare talent. He was running right by guys that played him too close, and he boxed out and bodied guys on jump balls that tried to give him space. Early on in the 7-on-7’s, Washington had been wide open a few times for Team Drip, but for whatever reason their QB was not really looking for him, but they quickly corrected that and featured Washington heavily from then on. He did enough to justify 5-star status.
RB Don Chaney, #28 overall
My general takeaway from Chaney’s week was that while he didn’t get many opportunities to shine, he made the most of his few chances. Team Guap’s offense was pretty clearly geared away from involving the RB’s and didn’t feature Chaney at all, but Chaney still had some of the most jaw-dropping highlights of the weekend, including in the cat and mouse drills of day 1. He proved he’s a 5-star talent in my opinion.
WR Mookie Cooper, #64 overall
I liked what I saw from him out there: cat-quick, devastating change of direction, and home run ability. At a rank like this already, though, he didn’t do enough to push for 5-star status or anything. He’s appropriately ranked.
RB Jaylan Knighton, #108 overall
He had a fast start on day 1 and made some moves in the cat and mouse drills, but went down soon after with an injury and didn’t play the rest of the week. I doubt he’s going to be faulted for that.
QB Tyler Van Dyke, #211 overall
It was a mixed bag for Van Dyke this week, as he had an above average day 1 followed by a mediocre day 2, then didn’t participate on day 3. I personally think he did enough on day 1 to balance out everything else, as he was throwing some balls into tight windows with great velocity in the 1-on-1’s. He wasn’t as good in the 7-on-7’s, but he wasn’t helped much by a receiving corps that had 3 drops and his interception was a last second hail mary heave from around midfield.
CB Kendall Dennis, #339 overall
I didn’t see a lot of him getting beat or anything, but I also didn’t really see him making a lot of plays. He had one notable pass break up that I saw, but I personally was expecting more of a breakout performance and a highlight reel of plays. For where he’s ranked, I doubt he falls.
