For what it's worth, though, they did address the run game at the second level, using a third-rounder on my No. Recruiters praised Life Christian's development of interior linemen. But sometimes recruits at smaller schools (KW plays in Class 2) can fly under the radar, in part because recruiters question production based on the level of competition. After all, there's no competition when you can take anyone in the class. It's tough to really nail a draft when you have five picks and nothing before No. Carter chose Virginia in December and had 11 offers, according to 247 Sports, including Virginia Tech, Florida and Penn State. Cox is 32 years old and back for just one year, and given how much emphasis general manager Howie Roseman puts in building from the trenches, this selection sets the Eagles up with a solid duo up the middle going forward. There aren't many success stories for older QB draft prospects, but again, this is a good situation. Walker emerged as a junior, playing running back, safety and linebacker for Varina. The last Richmonder to have a talent set like his was Russell Wilson. Every year, the NFL Draft gives fans the opportunity to get a preview of the next generation of NFL talent and young players take the next steps on their journey to becoming household names. So I'm picking out the single best pick for each of the 32 franchises, from the perfect Day 1 matches to the Day 3 steals. Tenuta was named to the All-ACC Third Team in 2020 and was invited to the East-West Shrine Bowl in 2022. The Saints have Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams, but Miller is going to see some touches in this offense. 6 on my final board. He racked up 14.5 sacks and 28.5 tackles for loss over the past two seasons. He will create even behind marginal blocking, using his shiftiness to find seams and pull away in the open field. 6, swapping firsts, picking up a third and losing a second and fifth. He de-committed, however, and ended up at Louisville in 2019, where he missed the season due to injury. Or write about sports? 8). Overshown has tremendous range. The Cincinnati Bengals drafted Murphy No. Gilliam committed to Oklahoma three weeks after Harmon. Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas (Round 1, No. The Packers are getting a reliable pass-catcher with big-play ability, underrated speed and impressive acceleration. Improving the protection for newly acquired Aaron Rodgers was key for the Jets over these three days in Kansas City. I think he was an under-recruited guy, another said. He's only 5-foot-10 and 187 pounds, but he's versatile, explosive and savvy in his routes. So while I think the Trenton Simpson add in Round 3 was terrific value, there's just no arguing that Flowers was the team's top selection of the week. A great performance at the combine boosted his stock, too. During that season, Cincinnati ranked No. Played quarterback in high school and was a backup QB for the University of Richmond. Adonis Alexander, NFL cornerback; Jacob Coggins, former professional soccer Recruiters think if Claiborne had been at a bigger school, he would have had offers from everybody. 2 defensive tackle in the first round should help inject some life into that unit. High school student and artist Kyan Patel talks about his passion for sports and art. I really like how the Titans navigated the board and landed a top-four quarterback almost 30 picks after the other three were gone. He'll rejoin former teammate and fellow first team All-Metro honoree Jaelin Montgomery on the Dukes offensive line. This is the seventh of 11 positional breakdowns leading up to the NFL Draft (April 27-29). Downs has explosive traits and can change directions in an instant. He was all over the guy in that last play. Hes got length, hes got good speed, another recruiter said, complimenting Harmons instincts and ball skills. Tippmann brings really impressive awareness and the ability to drop an anchor against bull rushers. And Carter is strong against the run, too. Kincaid accelerates in a flash, can win down the seam and is a smooth route runner. This one was tough to choose. 9 and taken Jalen Carter. In 2022, he had 24 tackles and two interceptions in 13 more games. Because of his 5-foot-9, 188-pound size, Achane might never be a three-down back but he doesn't need to be to have a big impact. Mike Quick one of Hamlets most successful players | Richmond The son of University of Richmond basketball star Peter Woolfolk, Jay missed most of his junior football season with an injury and played a shortened senior season because of the pandemic. But his speed and aggressiveness led 27 schools, including Alabama, Clemson and Georgia, to offer him. Richmond Senior High School | Jostens He's my highest-graded running back since Saquon Barkley in 2018 and finished No. Varina's Jailin Walker (21) scores a touchdown during an April game at Varina High School. A swiss army knife of a weapon for the region finalist Patriots, recruiters compared Mines to Varina's Anthony Fisher, the All-Metro offensive player of the year, in terms of their versatility and importance to their programs. Marshall and UMass had offered, and Clemson, Penn State and Virginia Tech were interested. Ramsey was All-State for Class 3 in the 4x200 relay (second place, 1:32.19) and 300-meter dash (seventh place, 36.17). 5 in scoring defense, No. 2023 NFL Draft grades for all 32 teams | NFL Draft | PFF Stroud, QB, Ohio State (Round 1, No. He dealt with an ankle injury last season, which limited him to six games. I think he was hard to figure out, Criswell said, adding that Boston College is a good destination for Jones. A total of 234 high schools contributed to the 255 players selected in the seven rounds of the NFL Draft on April 23-25. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Independent Contractor (Newspaper Carrier), Pauly D from 'Jersey Shore' to DJ in Richmond, VEC lays off 157 workers, raising new questions about long-term funding, Richmond finalizes deal to replace The Diamond, Lohmann: New life for a Richmond fat cat whose story has circled the world, Meet the 2023 All-Metro girls basketball team, led by Manchester's Mia Woolfolk, 4 VCU students arrested protesting second anti-abortion event, John Hinckley Jr. will not be playing a concert at Bandito's Burrito Lounge, Stanley's hoagie bar opens in former Robin Inn spot in the Fan, The first Wawa in North Carolina will open on the Outer Banks, Lucas accuses N.Va. He committed to Liberty on June 13after comments from Hokies coach Brent Pry that Tech "didn't feel good about bringing him here.". There's a lot to like with his game. Players of the Game. NFL. Good range and can tackle. Another coach called him a product of great coaching and development at Highland Springs. Daiyan Henley, ILB, Washington State (Round 3, No. Check again. Whether its a short vacation or theyre jetting off to begin their career, show the future traveler you care with a meaningful graduation gift. 1 overall prospect in this class and has the skill set to turn around a dreadful Carolina pass game. 61). At 6-foot-2 and 198 pounds, Rush ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash and earned an 80.3 coverage grade in 2022. 3 to No. Brown carried 166 times for 1,132 yards and 17 touchdowns as the centerpiece of the Lancers' high-flying attack. Unluckily, none of those 11 were first-round selections. He's not supposed to sit behind a cubicle. (Rockingham, NC) football team in its game Holly Springs High School on Nov 4, 2022. High School: George Washington (Danville). He has all the physical traits to be a really reliable cover man in the NFL. I'd like to see a more diverse pass-rush move arsenal, and he's still leaving some opportunities to make plays out there, but the potential is really good. In high school in Southeastern Virginia, Stout was all-state and all-conference three times and was perfect in his nine field-goal attempts as a senior. "Those are the type of players you look for at the skill positions, guys who are very loose and athletic and that can excite folks," Bly said. Turner blazed a 4.26 in the 40-yard dash at the combine, the fastest time for the event this year. He will likely be in a backup role or on special teams, but anything is possible given the amount of uncertainty surrounding Kansas Citys secondary this year. Hermitage (Richmond, VA) Alumni Pro Stats And now he's down below 340. 69 of 510 70 of 510 Kenny Daniel: John F. Kennedy High School (Richmond) - Unknown class circa 1979 Daniel (No. There was a problem saving your notification. Plus he's a talented pianist to boot. OVERALL 0-0 0.00 Win % CONFERENCE 0-0 1st3A/4A Sandhills. "He doesn't move like he's 6-8, 340 pounds, size 18 shoe. Philadelphia Eagles. All Players Table; Player Pos Teams From To; Duane Brown: T: HOU,SEA,NYJ: 2008: 2022: Curtis Grant Harmon is the next great defensive back to come out of Highland Springs, following Malcolm Greene (Clemson) and KVon Wallace (Philadelphia Eagles). Slotting Tippmann between Alijah Vera-Tucker and Laken Tomlinson will build a wall on the interior, even if New York still needs a long-term answer for the tackle spots. His ability to change direction quickly is elite, one recruiter said. K.J. Recruiters were also wowed by Greene's athleticism on the basketball court -- perhaps Hubert Davis' Tar Heels have a reserve guard spot open? It's great when you have an elite, top-of-the-league pass-catcher, but it can't be all you have. When you look at his highlight tape and you look at 'Dre in person, it just all makes sense.". Manchester averaged 40 points on its way to the Region 6A semifinals behind Brown, a four-star prospect (247Sports) who verbally committed to Virginia Tech in July 2021 before signing with Maryland on early signing day amid coaching changes in Blacksburg. Tyler Allgeier went from fifth-round pick to 1,000-yard rusher as a rookie. Hes the total package. Hes good enough to play defense, too, though he probably wont. Langston Wertz Jr. is an award-winning sports journalist who has worked at the Observer since 1988. There was some buzz that Turner could go in the first round in the weeks leading into the draft, but the Bengals landed him in the final picks of the second round. Kiper Big Board | McShay's top 350 Both were among the best high school players in the area, but they didnt garner offers from big-time college programs. Check. 25). Before his injury last season, Hooker led the nation in Total QBR (89.5) and yards per attempt (9.5), while putting together a wild 27-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Strange is also a powerful in-line blocker. He ran a 4.89-second 40 and jumped 9-foot-8 in the broad jump at 291 pounds. The coach also complimented Harmons coverage on the last play of the state championship game, even though the opposing receiver scored and Highland Springs lost the game. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. NFL draft: Rams address trenches with TCUs Steve Avila, other The Commanders' pass defense was solid last season, recording the league's second-best completion percentage against (59.9%) and allowing the 10th-best yards per dropback (5.9). 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"He's pretty special," said Gary Hess, the longtime voice of high school football in Richmond on 910 The Fan. A starter for Dale as an underclassman, Madison went to Georgia to play his junior year before returning for his senior season at Dale. No moment is too big for him, and he plays with such composure, even when the play is crumbling around him. Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon (Round 1, No. He pleaded not guilty in March to felony and misdemeanor charges for battery after allegedly punching, kicking and stomping a man in Las Vegas during Pro Bowl week. Hes also the highest recruited athlete from a Richmond city school in more than a decade. Luckily, Los Angeles came into the draft with 11 picks to attack those needs. 67 on my board, but I had a feeling he'd be underdrafted. Leighton Vander Esch had a solid season (90 tackles), but adding depth here is smart. With Mike Hilton locking down the slot, the Bengals can use Awuzie, Turner and Cam Taylor-Britt on the outside to lock down receivers and try to help this team back to the Super Bowl. Flowers has the chance to make an instant impact, using his instincts and afterburner to bring in deep balls and toast defenses after the catch. Forbes is at his best in off coverage, where he can use his fast eyes and recognition skills to jump routes and create turnovers. Lancers coach Tom Hall said the Terrapins were extremely high on Brown, and that he's been up in College Park since graduating. DJ Turner, CB, Michigan (Round 2, No. 64). North Carolina's strong connections in the Richmond area "go back decades," Criswell said. God didn't make too many human beings that size. Nobody's sure what his position is at the next level, and Fisher himself said UVA recruited him as an all-around athlete and a preferred walk-on (PWO). Stroud was QB2 on my board behind Bryce Young, but he is the best pure pocket passer in this class. 27 to get Kincaid at No. Mike Kropf/TIMES-DISPATCH. At 281 pounds, Kancey is a tweener, so he'll be at his best next to a true nose tackle. ", Life Christian defensive lineman, 6-5, 300. Now he goes to Seattle where he can operate again out of the slot and stand out in a similar way, with Metcalf and Lockett taking some pressure off him. (804) 649-6109. 2, in my opinion. 16). Johnson started all 13 games as a redshirt sophomore and junior at Marshall University. He has a really explosive first step and closing burst, and it's no surprise that Young lit up the combine with a 4.43-second 40 at 250 pounds, along with wild 11-foot broad and 38-inch vertical jumps. It's hard to not like the No. At 6-foot-2 April 21, 2023 4:01 PM PT. And here's the thing: Smith-Njigba posted those numbers with first-round talents Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave lined up next to him. Wertz -- a West Charlotte High and UNC grad -- is the rare person who can answer Charlotte, when you ask, What city are you from., Support my work with a digital subscription, South Carolinas Jovaughn Gwyn selected in NFL Draft, headed to Falcons. He mixes speeds on his passes, leads receivers into yards after the catch, has mobility when healthy and throws a beautiful deep ball. Reed is fun to watch, and he was the most dynamic receiver down in Mobile, Alabama, in January during Senior Bowl week. He has drawn comparison to Hanover graduate Sam Rogers. Walker had 16 scholarship offers, including ODU, Richmond and William & Mary, Yale and Penn. Recruiters also love his intangibles as a soft-spoken, humble kid who's smiling all the time and works hard in the classroom. Renaissance Overview Research & Success Stories Events Get Started Resources Awards Use "Jefferson" instead of The 2021 A-List: The area's top high school football recruits. Plus roster updates, Reid watch, Foster decommits, new offer, 2 students shot near George Wythe High School, Month after it declares housing crisis, City Council nixes project that builds affordable homes, drawn praise from NFL receiver DeAndre Hopkins, voice of high school football in Richmond, first team All-Metro heavyweight wrestler, signing with the Hokies on early signing day. Interview with Barty Smith | More from Gary Forbes joins Kendall Fuller and Benjamin St-Juste to form a solid cornerback trio, and he could start right out of the gate. He chose Tennessee in May of last year. Hes the best lineman Ive coached in 25 years. Montgomery had 16 offers according to 247, including East Carolina, Liberty, Old Dominion and Richmond. NFL players The Chesapeake native praised Greene's athleticism, and said he's been in Chapel Hill since mid-June. Tillman could quickly become a starter in this offense, especially since he's similar to the type of receiver Deshaun Watson found success with at Clemson -- big and physical with good hands. For a team that was shut out of the first two rounds, I was impressed with the caliber of players the Browns were able to find in the draft. He impressed the heck out of me.". He caught 59 balls for 875 yards and eight touchdowns last season, but he was downright dominant the year prior, catching 100 passes for 1,593 yards and 17 TDs while at Pitt. In fact, I'm excited about it. It'll be a long way from the league-low 1,517 receiving yards from the Ravens' WR crew last season. They have a really tight family, Parker said. College coach Jeff Hafley called him the "Energizer Bunny" and it fits; Flowers plays with so much juice. NFL We're very excited to have him.". North Carolinas divorce law is clearly an outlier. The Saints were in the bottom half of the NFL in rushing last season (4.3 yards per carry), and Williams will definitely help, but Miller should be able to sprinkle in some big gains when he gets touches. And I'm not sure Chicago needed to pick two defensive tackles -- Florida's Gervon Dexter and Pickens -- on Day 2, especially when it scooped up run-stuffer Andrew Billings in free agency. Criswell said he stood out on an always loaded Springers defensive unit. Hess saw the Knights play Dinwiddie in November and, though the Generals won 35-21 behind a dominant ground game, he said Madison "lived in Dinwiddie's backfield. Coming out of high school, Smith was ranked the 12th overall player in the nation, No. In 2021, he was an honorable mention to the All-Conference USA team. Willis already has faced off-the-field issues. In comes Jawaan Taylor via free agency, and Lucas Niang is getting a promotion to a starting gig. This pick is all about the upside. Independence High School (Charlotte, North Carolina He skipped his senior season as a result of the pandemic. The 215-pound back averaged 6.7 yards per carry over three seasons, and he just ran for nearly 1,400 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2022. So they took advantage and slid back, but then they were able to get back ahead of the offensive tackle run to still get their guy. Hes going to prosper there in the option game, Deep Run coach Chad Hornik said last fall. He can play quarterback, defensive back, and he's a stellar pitcher. He has a smooth delivery and can change arm angles when necessary. The pick that stood out most to me was Moss, a 6-foot-1, 193-pound cornerback. Hes on a different level than everybody else, the recruiter said. Finding more options at inside linebacker has a trickle-down impact for the Cowboys. This pick gives Lions GM Brad Holmes options. We're all fired up and excited to see what he can bring to our football team. High School As for his age, yes, he's 25 years old. "When he really gets motivated he spends a lot of time in the backfield.". 2023 NFL Draft: See where Clemson football players landed It's a solid fit no matter how you look at it. At 6-foot, he's an undersized baller with plus accuracy, and he can develop into a solid backup behind Derek Carr if Jameis Winston doesn't return in 2024. "He can really get off the ball," Hess said. The Chiefs' two starting offensive tackles from their 2022 Super Bowl roster are gone. Dems of backing Spruill to force her out, Road rage shooting wounds man in Chesterfield, VA Education Association: Youngkin administration misappropriating lab school money, VCU hoops notes: John Marshall coach praises local trio. Donovan Peoples-Jones is coming off a good season, but he's entering the final year of his contract. Regardless, Moss has the traits to really help this defense. That burst and power up the middle will define his pro game.