OFFENSE
QB:
Aquante` Braswell
Brookhaven High Columbus, Ohio 2008
This was a tough one to pick as Braswell and Trotwood-Madison sophomore Willie Ballard both were very impressive. Ballard had deft touch on his deep balls, but overall we felt Braswell had a little more zip and was more athletic throwing outside the pocket. He does not have ideal size, but his athleticism will give him some options.
RB:
James Cravens
Centerville, Ohio
Cravens passed the looks test and should provide a potent punch for Centerville this year. With the departure of Will Johnson, Cravens will be the man this year for the Elks. He looked very smooth and quick for a big back.
RB:
Ryan Nathan
Lima, Ohio
Nathan is not big, but he has cat-like quickness and very good vision. He has very solid ball skills and is a threat out of the backfield.
WR:
DeVier Posey
Cincinnati (Ohio) LaSalle
It was easy to see why Ohio State jumped all over Posey very early. Posey is an outstanding route runner. He is so quick out of his breaks that it looks unnatural. Where you really see the difference between Posey and other receivers is when he catches a ball in stride, it’s almost as though he gets faster.
WR:
Daryl Gooden
Ann Arbor (Mich.) Huron
Gooden was as physically impressive as any wide receiver in attendance. He started out kind of slow, but once seven-on-sevens started Gooden came alive. He flashed good ball skills and used his body well to shield would be defenders from the ball.
WR:
Sam Gaymon
Detroit (Mich.) Renaissance
Gaymon is a very solid receiver, but at the combine what impressed us was not anything that had to do with snagging passes. We were impressed by his desire to compete. Gaymon continually moved to the front of the line and challenge what ever defensive backs that would line up across from him.
WR:
Charles Hollowell
Detroit (Mich.) Renaissance
We knew about Gaymon coming into the combine, but his teammate Charles Hollowell was a pleasant surprise. Hollowell scream slot receiver. Not a big guy, but he makes up for that with speed and quickness
TE:
Marquis Singleton
Cincinnati (Ohio) Harmony Prep
Singleton is an unsigned class of 2007 prospect who will be playing at the post-graduate level at Harmony this season. Singleton has thickened up and looks like a solid prospect right now. We expect him to garner a few offers at harmony.
OL:
Donald Mathis
Detroit (Mich.) Crockett
Mathis is not your average 6-3/6-4 center, but there aren’t too many guys who play with leverage like he does. Mathis plays the game with unmatched intensity. He was clearly the best offensive lineman at the combine.
OL:
Rick Schmeig
Cincinnati (Ohio) Oak Hills
Schmeig won most of his one-on-one battles during the combine. He showed a real compact and quick punch and good feet. It shouldn’t be long before schools start taking notice.
OL:
Ernest Brown
Detroit (Mich) Crockett
Brown is not a prototype interior guy, but he is a bull. He could probably play center-guard or defensive tackle. He is a very strong player with great quickness at the point of attack.
OL:
Blaine Schafer
Plymouth, Indiana
At a legitimate 6-5 and 272 pounds, Schafer will get some looks and should be able to secure a few offers this season. He was one of the top pass blocking tackles in attendance.
OL:
Zachary Brown
Canal Winchester, Ohio
Brown had a decent day. He is very fundamentally sound, but needs to work on his strength. He had trouble with bigger and stronger player, but his feet are very good.
ATH:
Shane Covington
Milwaukee (Wisc.) Riverside
Covington took reps at running back and at wide receiver. He is a very explosive athlete who excels in open space. He is very versatile and could play a number of positions at the next level.
DEFENSE
DL:
Shelton Gaines
Detroit (Mich.) Crockett
Every combine that you go to, you will always see smaller, faster edge rushers dominate the one-on-ones. Gaines is smaller and faster, but he is also strong as a bull. Not only is he quick off the edge, but he is strong enough to take on blockers head on.
DL:
Jerel Worthy
Huber Heights (Ohio) Wayne
Worthy proved that he is for real. He should end up as one of the states top defensive tackles. Worthy has lost some weight and showed up at the combine in great shape. He is very stout and strong. He comes off the ball low and fast and uses his hands well.
DL:
Larry Black
Wyoming, Ohio
On Saturday Coleman showed why he is one of the fastest rising defensive line prospects in the state. Black is an impressive looking specimen, who could pass anyone’s look test . He checked in at a shade under 6-3 and weighed 287 pounds. He showed good explosiveness and strength. We knew from film that he could stop the run, but at the combine he also showed he is a capable pass rusher as well.
DL:
Chandler Burden
Cincinnati (Ohio) LaSalle
It took all of five minutes and watching the first set of agility drills for Burden to catch our collective eye. He is a very solid 270 pounds and has outstanding feet. He looks like an athlete playing on the defensive line. Burden got after it in the one-on-ones and just narrowly lost the MVP honors to his teammate DeVier Posey. We expect Burden to see a lot of interest over the next few months.
LB:
J.K. Schafer
Cincinnati (Ohio) LaSalle
We didn’t know a lot about Schafer coming into the combine, but we learned a lot at the combine. All day long Schafer continued to make plays. He checked in at a shade over 6-0 and weighed 209 pounds, but it was 209 pounds of solid muscle.
LB:
Jamiihr Williams
Trotwood-Madison, Ohio
Williams continues to impress us a little more each time we see him. You can tell he has found the weight room at his new school. Williams came to Cincinnati a lot thicker and stronger then he was when we last saw him in San Antonio back in January.
LB:
Chris Carlino
Hamilton Southeastern, Indiana
Carlino is a similar player to Schafer, a little light and exceptional in pass coverage. He has an decent frame and will play in the 225-pound range on the college level. .
LB/S:
Douglass Rippy
Columbus (Ohio) Linden-McKinley
The only thing stopping Rippy from having offers is the lack of film out on him. He is a very solid 217 pounds and he gets after it. Like Williams, Rippy is very solid in pass coverage.
DB:
Demetrius Trapps
Defiance (Ohio) Ayersville
The very first time he matched up against a receiver on Saturday he made a terrific break on the ball and stepped in front of the receiver and picked it off. That would be a trend for the day as he did it multiple times. “He has the chance to be real special,” defensive back coach Don Cox said shortly after the event.
DB:
Isaiah Scott
Fairfield, Ohio
Keep an eye on this one as he should be one of the top cover corners in the state next season. It would not shock us to see Scott emerge as a big time recruit if he fills out and adds a few inches the next two years.
DB:
Quinn Parnell
Detroit (Mich.) Renaissance
Another solid prospect from Detroit, imagine that. Big play safety that plays centerfield and picks off everything.
DB:
Darrian Cordell
Columbus (Ohio) Beechcroft
Cordell is a leader in the secondary. He is always in the right place at the right time.
The all-combine team is for the best of the best performers in all facets of the camp, but there were a few other players who were extremely close to making the list who deserve mention:
WR Ricardo Duncan Lima (Ohio) 2009
DE J.B. Lageman Huntington (WV) 2008
WR Von Wise Finneytown (Ohio) 2008
QB Willie Ballard Trotwood-Madison (Ohio) 2010
TE Chance Boone Elizabethtown (Ky) 2008
RB Bryan Schroeder North Harrison (Ind) 2008
DE Aaron McCord Crockett (Mich) 2009
S Jowann Peterson Withrow (Ohio) 2009
RB Kameron Alexander Buchtel, Ohio 2008
RB Storm Klein Licking Valley, Ohio 2009