I was out at the 7 on 7 and big man sessions this week and wanted to drop a few tidbits on the board.
Quarterbacks:
Hamilton's Tyler Shough (2018) is headed elsewhere, but proved that he deserved the attention he's received this summer. You probably won't have to worry about seeing him in the Pac-12.
Chandler's Jacob Conover (2019) is extremely accurate and a proven natural leader who has the benefit of training with and being surrounded by top-tier talent. I do not believe he'll end up on ASU's list of 2019 targets, nor do I believe he'd be overly responsive to overtures should ASU target him, for a variety of reasons.
Desert Ridge 2020 QB Matthew Purnell is someone I'm keeping an eye on. He's just above 6-0, and around 180 pounds. If he grows 2-3 more inches, I see him becoming a big name on the west coast.
Running Backs:
No one of note, the only 2018 RBs in the state that are really worth a look are hybrid slotback Lance Lawson of Red Mountain, Brimhall clone Draycen Hall of Higley, and Zidane Thomas of Centennial, who frankly, ASU should really have already offered. TJ Green was in attendance to watch Chandler- obviously ASU already had the backs they wanted for the 2017 class, and he'll be compared closely against Smith and Benjamin as their careers unfold. He's a meek, humble kid, but he's made it pretty clear that he's taken his lack of contact with either in-state FBS program as a point of motivation.
Wide Receivers:
I've been genuinely confused about what has taken several schools, not just ASU, so long to offer 2018 WR Gunner Romney. He's tall, strong, has the best hands/route running of any FBS-level WR to come through AZ in years. He played well with Likens/Napier looking on, and was offered by ASU as a result. This is a kid who had 1300+ yards receiving on a roster that also included Johnny Johnson (who was also out there to watch Romney before heading off to Oregon). That total is far more than Harry, Jan, Wheaton, Okonkwo, Mills, Williams or any other D1-level receiver they've produced. He's going to be special, and ASU needs to make a serious run at him. Failing to do so will just damage this staff's credibility with a high school that feels like they were already ignored in 2016.
As of now, 2018 WR Solomon Enis is a longshot for ASU, their best hope is that his older brother Samson develops into a Pac-12 caliber talent while in JuCo, and they find a way to bring both brothers aboard as part of a package deal. Physically, he's the best prospect in AZ. I'd go ahead and ignore that Rivals put Shough ahead of him- that's based primarily on Shough's recruiting heat. He looked good out at ASU, and with North Canyon being able to surround him with a little more talent, should have a big year statistically.
As far as some of the other WRs that may have done enough to get them some attention from ASU, 2018 Jarick Caldwell of Chandler is around 6-3, 215. His size might be intriguing given that he has the skillset of a WR, and the frame to support some extra muscle.
Tight Ends:
Grant Mileski of Horizon is the only local TE I could see ending up on ASU's radar (maayyyybe Boulder Creek's James Reed). But with the level of recruit that Billy Napier is pursuing, nationwide, I don't expect ASU to look locally for a TE. At least not in the high school ranks.
Offensive Line:
I got a good look at several of the 2018 OLs that I consider to be top-tier in AZ, and it's pretty evident that ASU isn't considering any of them unless they can at least plug in to a tackle role if necessary. Deer Valley's Joey Ramos is good, and with his size he could probably play some tackle (he's best in pass protection), but to me, Ramos is a guard prospect. I talked tith Desert Edge C Max Wilhite out there, and he told me that ASU has told him that they aren't taking any guards or centers. He said he felt like Josh Henson was close to offering him before he left for Oklahoma State, and that he's on Oklahoma State's radar now, and is also hearing from Stanford. My guess is that ASU's either got another C prospect they like more, or they'll move a player that's currently on the depth chart at guard to back up Nathe, because it doesn't make sense to not be in the market for a position that you're losing 2/3rds of after this season.
There are several other FBS level guards that were out there, like Horizon's Isaiah Mursalat and Justin Segura, Desert Edge's Tyson Young and Austin Jones, Hamilton's Hunter Mayginnes and Deer Valley's Xavier Delgado. One underclassmen tackle prospect that I've been high on for the last 6 months is Mountain Pointe's DeAndre Henry (2020). He's a legit 6-6, great feet, and HUGE wingspan. He performed well against some seasoned competition.
Front 7:
Outside of Chandler's Chris Manoa, it's hard to envision any interior defensive lineman end up on ASU's radar, much less out of the talent that was in attendance during the 7 on 7 competition (but I'd also argue that Shomari Hayes of Mountain Pointe deserves some serious evaluation). Without his poofy hair, Manoa is sub-6 feet, but has long arms and has been transformed by Chandler's strength and conditioning program. He's sitting on 5-6 offers right now and I wouldn't be surprised if his first Pac-12 offer comes in soon.
Mesquite's Robert Jordan is someone I've been high on since seeing him scrimmage against Hamilton last year. He's got the same body type as Hamilcar Rashed Jr, and some of the same skills. ASU offered him, and I think that he'd be smart to take it if it's committable. Mesquite's not really on coaching radars and it'll take some serious film to increase his profile across the MWC and PAC-12. He's a smaller, less proven version of Chandler's Brayden Flynn, but has the potential for a higher ceiling. Flynn was out there as well, and looked like he's added some muscle, which is the one thing that he'll need to put himself in position to be recruited at the level Kyle Soelle was last summer.
Defensive Backs:
I'm not sure ASU is searching locally for DBs outside of Kenny Churchwell, Josiah Bradley, and Dominique Hampton, but I was impressed with Desert Ridge's Donjae Logan- especially in his matchups against Gunner Romney. He's a tad thin, but he's long, fluid and disciplined. Chandler's Bryce Jackson and Ezekiel Robbins are probably FBS caliber prospects at CB and S, but they're both sub-six feet, and I'm not sure ASU sees them as a good fit. One player ASU needs to have offered yesterday is Chandler's 2019 DB/RB DeCarlos Brooks.
Quarterbacks:
Hamilton's Tyler Shough (2018) is headed elsewhere, but proved that he deserved the attention he's received this summer. You probably won't have to worry about seeing him in the Pac-12.
Chandler's Jacob Conover (2019) is extremely accurate and a proven natural leader who has the benefit of training with and being surrounded by top-tier talent. I do not believe he'll end up on ASU's list of 2019 targets, nor do I believe he'd be overly responsive to overtures should ASU target him, for a variety of reasons.
Desert Ridge 2020 QB Matthew Purnell is someone I'm keeping an eye on. He's just above 6-0, and around 180 pounds. If he grows 2-3 more inches, I see him becoming a big name on the west coast.
Running Backs:
No one of note, the only 2018 RBs in the state that are really worth a look are hybrid slotback Lance Lawson of Red Mountain, Brimhall clone Draycen Hall of Higley, and Zidane Thomas of Centennial, who frankly, ASU should really have already offered. TJ Green was in attendance to watch Chandler- obviously ASU already had the backs they wanted for the 2017 class, and he'll be compared closely against Smith and Benjamin as their careers unfold. He's a meek, humble kid, but he's made it pretty clear that he's taken his lack of contact with either in-state FBS program as a point of motivation.
Wide Receivers:
I've been genuinely confused about what has taken several schools, not just ASU, so long to offer 2018 WR Gunner Romney. He's tall, strong, has the best hands/route running of any FBS-level WR to come through AZ in years. He played well with Likens/Napier looking on, and was offered by ASU as a result. This is a kid who had 1300+ yards receiving on a roster that also included Johnny Johnson (who was also out there to watch Romney before heading off to Oregon). That total is far more than Harry, Jan, Wheaton, Okonkwo, Mills, Williams or any other D1-level receiver they've produced. He's going to be special, and ASU needs to make a serious run at him. Failing to do so will just damage this staff's credibility with a high school that feels like they were already ignored in 2016.
As of now, 2018 WR Solomon Enis is a longshot for ASU, their best hope is that his older brother Samson develops into a Pac-12 caliber talent while in JuCo, and they find a way to bring both brothers aboard as part of a package deal. Physically, he's the best prospect in AZ. I'd go ahead and ignore that Rivals put Shough ahead of him- that's based primarily on Shough's recruiting heat. He looked good out at ASU, and with North Canyon being able to surround him with a little more talent, should have a big year statistically.
As far as some of the other WRs that may have done enough to get them some attention from ASU, 2018 Jarick Caldwell of Chandler is around 6-3, 215. His size might be intriguing given that he has the skillset of a WR, and the frame to support some extra muscle.
Tight Ends:
Grant Mileski of Horizon is the only local TE I could see ending up on ASU's radar (maayyyybe Boulder Creek's James Reed). But with the level of recruit that Billy Napier is pursuing, nationwide, I don't expect ASU to look locally for a TE. At least not in the high school ranks.
Offensive Line:
I got a good look at several of the 2018 OLs that I consider to be top-tier in AZ, and it's pretty evident that ASU isn't considering any of them unless they can at least plug in to a tackle role if necessary. Deer Valley's Joey Ramos is good, and with his size he could probably play some tackle (he's best in pass protection), but to me, Ramos is a guard prospect. I talked tith Desert Edge C Max Wilhite out there, and he told me that ASU has told him that they aren't taking any guards or centers. He said he felt like Josh Henson was close to offering him before he left for Oklahoma State, and that he's on Oklahoma State's radar now, and is also hearing from Stanford. My guess is that ASU's either got another C prospect they like more, or they'll move a player that's currently on the depth chart at guard to back up Nathe, because it doesn't make sense to not be in the market for a position that you're losing 2/3rds of after this season.
There are several other FBS level guards that were out there, like Horizon's Isaiah Mursalat and Justin Segura, Desert Edge's Tyson Young and Austin Jones, Hamilton's Hunter Mayginnes and Deer Valley's Xavier Delgado. One underclassmen tackle prospect that I've been high on for the last 6 months is Mountain Pointe's DeAndre Henry (2020). He's a legit 6-6, great feet, and HUGE wingspan. He performed well against some seasoned competition.
Front 7:
Outside of Chandler's Chris Manoa, it's hard to envision any interior defensive lineman end up on ASU's radar, much less out of the talent that was in attendance during the 7 on 7 competition (but I'd also argue that Shomari Hayes of Mountain Pointe deserves some serious evaluation). Without his poofy hair, Manoa is sub-6 feet, but has long arms and has been transformed by Chandler's strength and conditioning program. He's sitting on 5-6 offers right now and I wouldn't be surprised if his first Pac-12 offer comes in soon.
Mesquite's Robert Jordan is someone I've been high on since seeing him scrimmage against Hamilton last year. He's got the same body type as Hamilcar Rashed Jr, and some of the same skills. ASU offered him, and I think that he'd be smart to take it if it's committable. Mesquite's not really on coaching radars and it'll take some serious film to increase his profile across the MWC and PAC-12. He's a smaller, less proven version of Chandler's Brayden Flynn, but has the potential for a higher ceiling. Flynn was out there as well, and looked like he's added some muscle, which is the one thing that he'll need to put himself in position to be recruited at the level Kyle Soelle was last summer.
Defensive Backs:
I'm not sure ASU is searching locally for DBs outside of Kenny Churchwell, Josiah Bradley, and Dominique Hampton, but I was impressed with Desert Ridge's Donjae Logan- especially in his matchups against Gunner Romney. He's a tad thin, but he's long, fluid and disciplined. Chandler's Bryce Jackson and Ezekiel Robbins are probably FBS caliber prospects at CB and S, but they're both sub-six feet, and I'm not sure ASU sees them as a good fit. One player ASU needs to have offered yesterday is Chandler's 2019 DB/RB DeCarlos Brooks.
