#NCEC Nashville Combine Top Performers: DL’s, LB’s & DB’s

Defensive Line  - A deep and talented group of defensive linemen made their way to Murfreesboro on Sunday where several guys had strong days and put themselves on the map as an eventual college recruited prospects. The top guy of the day had to be King’s Academy (TN) DE/OLB Abdul-Malik SholankeMalikSholanke6'3" | DLKing’s Academy | 2022StateTN. The 6’3 240 pound edge rusher has only been playing football for a short time but already has the physical body and traits (arm length, athleticism) to become a force on the next level. He showed that on Sunday going up against some of the best tackles (F.Anderson, J. Hood) we have in this state and he more than performed well, he won a few battles. No offers yet for Sholanke but that will change very soon! - Peabody (TN) DE/OLB Jordan Jelks-Shepherd didn’t have the best day at the Nashville Combine and even he would tell you that but he did show flashes of explosive traits and athleticism throughout several testing drills. As the offseason goes on and Shepherd puts in more work, the better and more he will see his game change.  - So far this offseason, ‘22 USJ (DT) Joshua JonesJoshuaJones6'1" | OLUSJ | 2022StateTN has attended multiple camps/training sessions with #NCEC and each time he shows up, he performs at a high level. Sunday was no different as Jones displayed his power and lower body agility throughout testing as well as during 1 on 1 competition. No offers yet for this Jackson, Tennessee lineman but should change in the near future.  - Multiple defensive tackles had stellar days and possibly put themselves on the map as a college recruited prospect. Those players include Myles SaulsberryMylesSaulsberry6'2" | DLGermantown | 2022StateTN (‘22) from Germantown, Nehemiah StoreyNehemiahStorey6'2" | DLRockwood | 2023TN (‘22) from Rockwood and Ethan JonesEthanJones6'2" | DLSt. Benedict’s | 2023TN (‘23) from St. Benedict’s. Saulsberry was one of the more active, agile D-tackles we had at camp. He shows explosive traits along with knowledge of knowing how to get after the quarterback.  Storey is a small classification prospect that stepped up to the big boy table on Sunday and battled it out with college offered offensive linemen, competing hard and winning his share of his battles. The Tigers senior lineman has some quicks in his lower body along with active hands, so Storey shows the tools to work himself into the college level with more development.  Jones is much like Saulsberry with his active motor but is more of a hole plugger that works well in small spaces. He has the upside as a run stuffer on the next level but must work on his conditioning and overall athleticism. Sunday was definitely a step in the right direction as Jones competed very hard and had shining moments.  Top Performers: Myles SaulsberryMylesSaulsberry6'2" | DLGermantown | 2022StateTN, Jordan ShepherdJordanShepherd6'4" | DLPeabody | 2022StateTN, Abdul-Malik SholankeMalikSholanke6'3" | DLKing’s Academy | 2022StateTN, Nehemiah StoreyNehemiahStorey6'2" | DLRockwood | 2023TN, Ethan JonesEthanJones6'2" | DLSt. Benedict’s | 2023TN, Matthew Bell (Hillsboro - ‘22), Joshua JonesJoshuaJones6'1" | OLUSJ | 2022StateTN, Jorhdan Brown (Harvest, AL - ‘22), Colbe HaddoxColbeHaddox6'4" | DLBoyd Buchanan | 2022StateTN (Boyd Buchanan - ‘22), Mason GreenMasonGreen6'2" | DLFranklin | 2023TN (Franklin - ‘23)   Linebackers  - Athletic and smart along with great size. Those were the traits shown by the linebacking group this weekend with a few guys that put forth strong showings which in turn should help put them on the recruiting radars of college coaches.  Leading the way had to be ‘22 Baylor School (LB/DE) Trey McDonaldTreyMcDonald6'4" | LBBaylor School | 2022StateTN. Coming up from Chattanooga, McDonald was an impressive looking young man the moment he showed up at camp as he looks the part along with a frame that can add more size. A versatile, athletic guy, McDonald showed the ability to play in space while also displaying upside as an eventual pass rusher on the edge.  Multiple college programs have been showing interest in McDonald (6’4 225) but haven’t pulled the trigger on an offer yet. Well that will change soon, especially after his performance at Sunday’s combine.  - Everybody in these parts already knows about ‘22 Summit (TN) senior to be Keaten WadeKeatenWade6'4" | LBSummit | 2022StateTN and on Sunday, he did nothing to hurt his reputation. Wade is an elite talent that can run and cover but is also highly smart on the football field. He already holds 15 plus Power Five (Arizona St, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, etc) offers but look for that to expand very soon.  - One of the biggest surprises of the day was Ooltewah (LB) Blake Johnson. Fresh to the camp scene, Johnson competed hard throughout camp and showed fluid body movements along with a great frame to mold that screams college upside. Johnson is an under the radar talent right now but with more development through the offseason, the Southeast Tennessee product has a shot to make it to the next level.  - Three other guys who had solid days at the Nashville combine include DaCorian Jones-MontgomeryDaCorianJones-Montgomery6'1" | LBBaylor School | 2022StateTN (‘22) from Baylor, Aaron CrowderAaronCrowder6'0" | LBMcCallie | 2022StateTN (‘22) from McCallie and Cole BeckerColeBecker6'2" | LBFather Ryan | 2022StateTN (‘22) from Father Ryan.  Jones-Montgomery is a strong, stocky guy that showed explosive traits, especially when running sideline to sideline. He already holds a Eastern Kentucky offer, so you can assume more are sure to come. Crowder checked in at 249 pounds but still ran a 4.7 in his forty, which shows you he has explosiveness in his lower body. A true middle backer, Crowder will work off some of that weight and when he does, those offers should come.  Becker is another true middle backer that can run and diagnose plays very well. He had a productive junior season and showed in camp why he posted over 100 tackles during the fall football year and why he should be on several college recruiting boards.  Top Performers: Keaten WadeKeatenWade6'4" | LBSummit | 2022StateTN, Trey McDonaldTreyMcDonald6'4" | LBBaylor School | 2022StateTN, Blake Johnson, David Stewart (Lausanne - ‘22), Ethan CrispEthanCrisp6'3" | LBMt. Juliet | 2023TN (Mt. Juliet - 2023), Aaron CrowderAaronCrowder6'0" | LBMcCallie | 2022StateTN, Cole BeckerColeBecker6'2" | LBFather Ryan | 2022StateTN, Jacob BervenJacobBervenLBOak Ridge | 2022TN (Oak Ridge - ‘22), Corbin FrithCorbinFrithLBRavenwood | 2022TN (Ravenwood - ‘22), DaCorian Jones-MontgomeryDaCorianJones-Montgomery6'1" | LBBaylor School | 2022StateTN    Defensive Backs  - Serious talent from the defensive backs showed up at Blackman high school on Sunday and multiple guys stole the show. It was hard to pick a top performer in this group as a handful of prospects could have easily taken the top spot, which tells you how talented this group was.  The immediate two guys that jump to the front of the list are ‘22 Ensworth (Ath) Charles Ingram IV and Father Ryan (DB) Alexander Ford. The Adidas Dream Team teammates had multiple shining moments throughout camp from Ingram running a 4.4. Forty and displaying great ball skills at cornerback or Ford dominating his position during 1 on 1’s, allowing nobody to get off the line or catch the ball on him. These are two elite prospects that already hold Division 1 offers but will soon see an increase in their options.  - A guy that has been on my radar for a while came up to Nashville on Sunday and really made a name for himself. Collierville (TN) defensive back Marcus LeeMarcusLee6'2" | DBCollierville | 2022StateTN was an impressive guy and might have positioned himself at the #NCEC Nashville Combine as one of the top 20 in-state defensive back prospects for the 2022 class.  Lee has very nice measurables at 6’0 180 pounds plus along with length and a wide upper body that can cover up receivers. The West Tennessee product must continue working on his craft but the talent and upside is there to be a possible Division 1 recruited prospect.  - The 2022 defensive back class is pretty deep for the state of Tennessee, so the ones mentioned above were not the only guys who opened eyes and made people look twice. Four guys who really stood out were James Reed IIIJamesReed III5'11" | DBFather Ryan | 2022StateTN from Father Ryan, Roland McGheeRolandMcGhee6'0" | DBEnsworth | 2022StateTN from Ensworth, River KatinaRiverKatina6'1" | DBIndependence | 2022StateTN from Independence and Kaleb LyonsKalebLyons6'0" | DBBrentwood Academy | 2022StateTN from Brentwood Academy.  All four of those defensive backs carry similar traits with length, technique, flexible hips and the ability to find the ball at its highest point. McGhee in particular had a really strong day, showing that he could play anywhere in the secondary, even possible outside on the island.  Top Performers: Charles Ingram, Alex FordAlexFord6'0" | DBFather Ryan | 2022StateTN, Marcus LeeMarcusLee6'2" | DBCollierville | 2022StateTN, James Reed, Baylor Brock (Science Hill - ‘22), Roland McGheeRolandMcGhee6'0" | DBEnsworth | 2022StateTN, Brady PierceBradyPierce6'0" | DBSummit | 2022StateTN (Summit - ‘22), Eric Harper (Nolensville - ‘23), Kaleb LyonsKalebLyons6'0" | DBBrentwood Academy | 2022StateTN, River KatinaRiverKatina6'1" | DBIndependence | 2022StateTN