#NCEC Nashville: Top Performers – Defense
If you thought we had talent on offense for the #NCEC Nashville Combine, we had even more on the defensive side of the ball, full of future Division 1 and Power Five football players. Here we breakdown and take a…
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Continue ReadingIf you thought we had talent on offense for the #NCEC Nashville Combine, we had even more on the defensive side of the ball, full of future Division 1 and Power Five football players.
Here we breakdown and take a look at the top ten players per position and how they performed in Murfreesboro this past Sunday.
Defensive Line
- Trevor Duncan Trevor Duncan 6'5" | 270 lbs | DL Knox. Catholic | 2023 State TN (6’5 240) – Knox. Catholic ‘23
- Austyn Keen (6’4 215) – Beech
- Josiah Jackson Josiah Jackson 6'1" | 285 lbs | DL FRA | 2022 State TN (6’0 295) – Franklin Road Academy
- Matthew Bell (6’4 225) – Hillsboro
- Matthew Plunkett (6’4 215) – McCallie
- Jamarr Jones Jamarr Jones 6'2" | 260 lbs | DL FRA | 2023 State TN (6’2 250) – Franklin Road Academy ‘23
- Tyrone Ford (5’10 265) – Ensworth
- Jason Manaker Jason Manaker 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB Maryville | 2023 State TN (6’3 210) – Maryville ‘23
- Christian Grimes (6’2 250) – Ensworth ‘23
- Kayvon Henderson (6’2 235) – Blackman
Overview
– This was a loaded group of D-linemen with multiple guys playing their future in Power Five football. Leading the way was Duncan, a big, long and active guy that has the physical look of a college defensive end. He stood out at camp for his natural physical abilities and upside as a pass rusher on the next level; Keen had a standout day and really proved that he has the abilities to be a college rush end; He has a quick get-off and can bend; Keen could also develop into a 3-4 outside linebacker; Strong, stocky and active, Jackson is a forceful guy in the middle that can rush the backfield or plug the run; Jackson is a athletic guy for his size that has a mobile lower body; Bell had one of his best days yet displaying quickness off the edge and improvement with his hands and bend; Plunkett was one of fastest Def. Ends we had on the day; Showing a great bend and flexibility, Plunkett has the speed of the edge to cause problems for the opposition.
A standout underclassmen on the day, Jones was an active guy that showed equal capabilities as a inside rusher and someone that can plug the run, especially with added weight; The guy may be undersized but Ford is a fearless and had some of the best hands and spin move of anybody at camp; Ford may not play big time college football but the guy is a warrior and capable of being a disruptor; If we gave out a MVP for underclassmen, Manaker would get the honor; Long and tall with tons of room for growth, Manaker has big time speed off the edge and shows the potential to become a college edge rusher in the near future; A beast in the middle at camp, Grimes stood out for his motor, power and ability to consistently find himself in the backfield; Henderson is a versatile lineman that played at end during camp but has the frame and game play to move inside in college; He did have a strong day showing skills on the edge with his active hands and deceptive athleticism.
DL MVP: Co MVP’s: (DE) Austyn Keen – Beech, ‘23 (DE) Trevor Duncan Trevor Duncan 6'5" | 270 lbs | DL Knox. Catholic | 2023 State TN – Knox. Catholic
Linebackers
- Blake Johnson (6’2 215) – Ooltewah
- Stryker Aitken Stryker Aitken 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB MUS | 2023 TN (6’1 223) – MUS
- Jacob Ferguson (6’1 209) – Gatlinburg-Pittman
- Brayden Hoy (5’11 210) – Maryville
- Eli Davis Eli Davis 6'2" | 215 lbs | LB Anderson County | 2023 TN (6’1 205) – Anderson Co. ‘23
- Corbin Frith Corbin Frith 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Ravenwood | 2022 TN (6’1 210) – Ravenwood
- Tate Wirth Tate Wirth 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB St. George’s | 2023 State TN (6’1 210) – St. George’s ‘23
- Larry Lockett (6’0 205) – Smyrna
- Hayden Smith Hayden Smith 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Westview | 2023 State TN (6’1 195) – Westview ‘23
- Rashad Owens (6’2 190) – Davidson Academy
Overview
– It was a lite group of linebackers at the #NCEC Combine but we had some talented prospects on hand; Coming back for his 2nd appearance at the #NCEC, Johnson put together another strong showing displaying great size along with improved scores during testing; He is a breakout star in the making; Traveling up from Memphis, Aitken had an impressive day, especially during testing; He is a thick true middle backer that showed good range and the ability to track the ball very well; Ferguson is another thick true middle backer that not only looks the part but plays with that certain attitude you want on defense; His standout moments of the day came during positional drills where he seemed to always be around the ball; Attending his 2nd #NCEC Combine, Hoy had another good day and improved his stock after testing well and showing his ability to cover during the competition part of camp; An underclassman to know is Davis, especially having a solid day at camp and proving he has the size to make it into the college ranks.
Frith is a consistent, hard working guy that shows up to any opportunity given to him and he did not disappoint on Sunday; He had a solid testing day and an even better showing during positional drills; Wirth is a young, up and coming linebacker that certainly looks the part and handled himself well among other high quality talented prospects; Lockett has had an impressive offseason thus far; He has shed some pounds and toned up and you could tell during camp as he moved with more flexibility and fluid body movements towards the ball; Smith was new to the camp setting, especially around this much talent but he more than handled himself, he performed very well. Smith sports good size with room for more growth along with having the awareness to listen to direction and execute; A guy who still has a ways to go when it comes to adding weight is Owens but he has the frame for added weight and the guy can move; He tested very well and if he can put on the weight needed, Owens could find a way into the college game
LB MVP: Co-MVP’s – Brayden Hoy – Maryville, Corbin Frith Corbin Frith 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Ravenwood | 2022 TN – Ravenwood
Defensive Backs
- LaMarion Pierce LaMarion Pierce 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Marshall Co. | 2022 State TN (6’0 165) – Marshall Co.
- James Reed III James Reed III 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Father Ryan | 2022 State TN (6’0 172) – Father Ryan
- Roland McGhee Roland McGhee 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB Ensworth | 2022 State TN (6’1 173) – Ensworth
- John McAdams (6’1 185) – McCallie
- Alex Ford Alex Ford 6'0" | 185 lbs | DB Father Ryan | 2022 State TN (6’0 178) – Father Ryan
- Jaydon Jones (6’0 182) – Northeast
- Charles Ingram V Charles Ingram V 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Ensworth | 2022 State TN (6’0 183) – Ensworth
- Kaleb Beasley Kaleb Beasley 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Lipscomb Academy | 2024 State TN (6’0 172) – Lipscomb Academy ‘24
- Bryghton Peters – (6’0 180) – Norcross (Ga)
- P’Shon Robinson – (5’9 170) – Memp. Overton
Overview
– The deepest and most talented position group of anybody at camp was the defensive backs and several guys could have walked away with MVP honors; If anybody had themselves a breakthrough day, it was Pierce. The 6’0 long cover corner had a stellar camp clocking a 4.4 in the forty and then proceeded to look awesome during positional drills and 1 on 1 competition (His camp performance has now led to three college offers); It was another consistent performance from Reed who always shows up and shows out (4.5 flat 40) when he is placed into a camp setting; McGhee was another standout that really put himself on the map at camp blazing a 4.47 forty during testing and picking off several passes during 1 on 1 competition. McGhee is a versatile guy that can play every position in secondary and running in the 4.4’s shows he could stay outside at corner; McAdams was a pleasant surprise at camp checking in at 6’1 185 lbs and running a 4.57 forty during testing; The Chattanooga area product certainly opened the eyes of many with his fluid game play and physical look at safety; Much like his Father Ryan teammate in Reed, Ford consistently shows up and performs well and he did just that at the #NCEC Nashville Combine; He clocked a 4.56 forty and dominated during positional drills.
Stepping up to the plate and knocking it out of the park is something that Jones did on Sunday; He not only put together strong times during testing but he clocked a 4.4 forty then proceeded to show that speed during 1 on 1 competition; His showing on Sunday should definitely earn him offers sooner than later; Ingram V is a natural athlete that looks the part and plays it whenever he steps onto the field; His showing on Sunday was solid and continued to show why he is a college recruited prospect; The top DB underclassmen of camp, Beasley continued his progression and development on Sunday by showing nice flexibility and ball skills along with a solid day during testing; Peters come up to Tennessee from the Peach State and had himself a very good day; He tested very well and then performed strong during positional drills; He is an underrated talent that should have college coaches looking his way very soon; Robinson did more than help himself at camp, he put himself on the radar to be a college recruited prospect; A versatile DB that could stay outside, Robinson ran well with his 40 then showed out during 1 on 1 competition; Watch out for Robinson this Fall to have a breakout senior season.
DB MVP: LaMarion Pierce LaMarion Pierce 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Marshall Co. | 2022 State TN – Marshall Co.