Under Armour All American High School Game: WR review

January 5th, 2009 by Vince Mullins

The Under Armour All-American High School Football Game provided quite the offensive show (unusual since defenses usually rule all-star games), previewing to all who some of the next college fantasy football stars will be in 2009. The White squad, led by USC commit QB Matt Barkley, defeated the Black team 27-16 on Sunday night.

With both teams running the spread formation, both defenses running man-coverage and the running games being stuffed by better prepared defenses, let me focus on some first impressions from the wide receivers. (pictures to come soon from our own Jason Roberts, I am editing player interviews as you read this)

Marlon Brown - 6-5, 205, Harding Academy (TN) Undeclared

The highest ranked in the ESPN 150 and the heaviest. QUICKLY put it in fifth gear to open the White team scoring on the first play for a 71 yard TD. It was nice to be in sync early with stud QB Matt Barkley who put it right on his chest to make the slant route effective. In second series, seemed to be caught off guard that Barkley threw the out from the off hash – Barkley focused a laser that got over coverage and hit him in the facemask. To Marlon’s defense, he likely has never seen a pass like that.

Andre Debose – 6-0, 180, Seminole High (FL), Undeclared

part of the Seminole Three (Dyron Dye and RayRay Armstrong) that played both sides of the ball for the state 6A Champions. DeBose secured an amazing catch in the final minute of the title game (scroll down to 3:47) Debose got loose on a 92-yard TD catch, the last 50 of which had him spinning S Stephen Gilmore like a top. Kudos to LSU-commit QB Russell Shepard for standing in the pocket and getting smacked as he delivered the bomb.

Jamal Reid (ATH), 6-0 175, Lafayette (FL), Verbal Miami (FL)

could play safety as well, ran a nice go route for the second TD of the game from Barkley, then caught a perfectly-timed slant from Minnesota-commit QB Moses Alipate later in the first half. Reid will have his work cut out for him at WR initially with solid guys like Aldarius Johnson and Travis Benjamin.

Duron Carter, 6-3, 183 St. Thomas Aquinas (FL) Verbal to Ohio State.

Cris Carter’s son, so we know why he is going to Columbus. Big-time program is Aquinas, another title in 2008. Laid the wood to his cousin on the first play, very willing to block but seemed lost while running a fly down the seem with Garret Gilbert at the helm. He made up for it with a father-like adjustment in traffic in Q3. With Buckeye wideout Brian Robiskie graduating and exciting Terrelle Pryor at the helm Carter could impact immediately.

Jheranie Boyd – 6-2, 185, Ashbrook (NC), Verbal to UNC

(First team sounds like Jeremy) Could make an early impact with Hakeem Nicks likely parlaying his new superstardom into the NFL. Some nice catches in traffic, didn’t get to show off much YAC though.

Terry Hawthorne – 6-0, 165 East St. Louis (IL), Verbal to Illinois

A little light in the britches and it showed in the game, but the quicks are undeniable. Nice adjustment to an errant pass from Shepard in Q4 while maintaining possession inbounds.

Alshon Jeffrey – 6-3, 214 Calhoun (SC), Verbal USC

Very physical, but is a body catcher. As with any player going to SoCal, gotta be ready to fight through a super-deep group.

Nu’Keese Richardson, 5-11, 160 Pahokee (FL), Verbal to Florida

State title 3-peat in 2B (see story about overcoming tragedy here). Not much of an impact but I give him some propers because he is a hand-catcher. Lots of balls to go around in Gainesville especially if the Tebow-child sticks around.

Keenan Davis – 6-3, 195 Washington (IA) Verbal Iowa

Decommitted from USC, got loose on another deep ball from Barkley in Q4. I am not too high on Hawkeye WR talent and Shonn Green is gone to the NFL, so maybe he can play immediately.

Jamal Patterson – 6-2, 194
will team with Black QB Josh Nunes at Stanford but had most of his success with Garret Gilbert under center

ESPN 150 WR

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