Tuesday December 11, 2007

Shrine Bowl Observations

Shrine Bowl Observations
I thought it was Shrine Bowl week but it felt more like the Hula Bowl. During the all-star game workouts at Dorman High School Monday temperatures reached into the low 80s and the Clemson commitments made a nice impact.

I have been going to Shrine Bowl practice since for almost 20 years spanning from Garringer High School to Butler High School to Northwestern High School to its current location. Most of the times the venue could have been mistaken for the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field but Monday’s practice felt like San Diego.

It was only two practices but here are my impressions of the four Clemson commitments and the three other targets the staff is heavily involved with on the South Carolina squad:

DaQuan Bowers is one of the best looking prospects I have ever seen come through this state and he was clearly the best prospect on either team on Monday. Bowers has been called “the best defensive linemen to play in South Carolina in the last 25 years” by one veteran high school coach and he did not disappoint Monday. I remember how Julius Peppers looked at his practices his senior season and he was impressive. I also recall clearly Shaun Ellis and Courtney Brown during their workouts. Peppers was taller and leaner than Bowers and Ellis and Brown weighed about 20 pounds less than Bowers but they all remind me of each other because of the athleticism.

Bowers is a special player. He is a unique talent and reminds me of a story from about eight or nine years ago. Greg Jones was a tailback/linebacker from the lower part of the state and was one of the best looking physical specimens I have seen. College coaches love to think they know about a players height and weight but then-Clemson current assistant asked a bunch of college assistants what they thought Jones weighed. One guy guessed 219. Another said 222. Most said between 220 and 228. Stockstill who was recruiting Jones at the time said, “I saw him on the scales last week and he was 254.” College coaches don’t miss like that but Jones looked so much lighter because he was so athletic and was so light on his feet.

Bowers is similar and I asked several people Monday what they thought he weighed and most said about 240. A college coach said Bowers weighed in at 262 just a couple of weeks ago. The point is that he runs like a 240-pounder and moves around like a 240-pounder but he is a 260-pounder.

The Bamberg, SC native is a rarity in that he can play in space and drop into coverage but he can be a run stuffer in the interior of a defensive line. Bowers could play linebacker in the game on Saturday, he will play mostly at defensive end but could also line up as a nose guard. How is that for versatility?

Here is another great line from a college coach on Bowers. An SEC assistant coach came to one end of the field to watch the Sandlapper defense. A website guy asked him to watch another player for a few plays and let him know what he thought. After four or five plays the internet guy asked the SEC coach what he thought and the coach replied, “I am sorry. I know you wanted me to watch the linebacker but I just can’t stop watching number 40 (Bowers).

How many players that are firmly committed to a school can make other assistants stop what they are doing so they can just watch him? Bowers is a freak. I asked one Clemson assistant if they thought about putting together a short yardage situation for him on offense nest year. “We may need to. That is a good idea,” he said today.

I would even go one step farther. Here is a plan I think the Tiger staff needs to look at. I would think about asking Rickey Sapp to drop back to about 235 pounds and let him play outside linebacker. This would allow Sapp to play in space and come off of the edge as a pass rusher. This would also allow Bowers and Phillip Merling to get on the field at the same time.

I know A.J. Green is supposed to be the cat’s meow but in my opinion Marquan Jones stole the show Monday. Jones is perhaps the smoothest looking athlete on the South Carolina squad. I am always impressed with athletes that make things look easy and athletes that just look smooth in their efforts. That is exactly what you get with Jones. Whoever first compared Jones to Chansi Stuckey hit it on the head.

I am not sure what former Clemson back Andre Ellington reminds me of. He is not a big back but he is more powerful than you may think. He has some wiggle but also can run through some tackles. I did not see him catch the football but I do know he has great top end speed. Ellington is a polished athlete with terrific skills.

Brandon Ford is a big, physical wide receiver prospect who has a body that kind of looks like Rod Gardner. He has big hands and catches the ball well. I can see Ford being a tough matchup on a smaller corner Saturday. I like the versatility the Tigers will get with Marquan Jones and his open field ability and Brandon Ford and his physical presence.

Dalton Freeman will need to red-shirt but he has a great upside. He is a good athlete that has good fundamentals. Freeman will remind many of some of the past great Clemson offensive lineman. He is not a can’t miss guy but his work ethic and character will help him become the player he can be. I would say Freeman is the top offensive lineman in South Carolina this year.

Kenneth Page got mixed reviews yesterday but I think he is a solid prospect. Like Freeman, Page is not a can’t miss guy but he has too many things going for him not to take him. He has a good frame and looks like he is athletic enough to make an impact at the ACC/SEC level. Page is farther along than many linemen the Tigers have taken in recent years.

Jaron Brown played wide receiver yesterday and was a pleasant surprise. He caught the ball well and showed better than average speed and athleticism. Some think he is a wide out and some think he is a safety. I think he is a guy that you definitely sign and then figure out later where he best fits in.

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