South Florida '17- The LBs

Feb 19, 2016

In case I haven’t said it enough, let me repeat it: the Class of ’17 is stacked. Linebacker is no exception. There are all types of ‘backers in this class and a bevy of Power 5 prospects.

Diego F-agot- 6’3, 230 pounds (Cavalry Christian)- The best kept secret in South Florida. When you grow up with a name like F-agot, you’re going to be tough. This guy is huge, plays extremely fast and has excelled in coverage for South Florida’s top 7on7 team. He is home-schooled and plays for a non-FHSAA team so nobody knows about him. FAU just offered, and he will have 20+ offers once people find out about him. Major sleeper.

[HUDL]athlete/2836841/highlights/313141393[/HUDL]

DeAndre Wilder- 6’3, 214 pounds (Carol City)- Rangy speed demon with a knack for the big play. Wilder reminds me of Matthew Thomas physically. Big-time talent who still has a lot of untapped potential.

[HUDL]athlete/3407581/highlights/309921401[/HUDL]

James Houston IV- 6’2, 215 pounds (American Heritage)- Complete linebacker who contributes in every facet of the game. Very explosive, as evidenced by his multiple blocked kicks. Very light on his feet changing directions.

Junior Year Highlight - James Houston, IV highlights - Hudl

Brandon James- 6’3, 200 pounds (Southridge)- Striker. James is skinny, but he has stopping power when he hits. Physically similar to Skai Moore. Can be really good if he gains weight. USCw and West Virginia have offered.

Junior Highlights - Brandon James highlights - Hudl

Raven Saunders- 6’2, 205 pounds (Dwyer via Oxbridge)- Probably the most versatile linebacker in South Florida. Saunders plays RB, S, LB, covers the slot and rushes off the edge. Really talented player who could emerge as one of the top guys in the class.

junior season - Raven Saunders highlights - Hudl

Waynmon Steed- 6’1, 225 pounds (Central)- Very smart and instinctive. Steed started as a youngster on one of the top defenses in the country, which tells you about his football IQ. He missed last year with a shoulder injury, and it will be exciting to see how he looks as a senior.

The Future - Waynmon Steed highlights - Hudl

Chai Hill- 6’1, 215 pounds (South Dade)- Hill reminds me of two guys. The first guy is Gabe Terry, another twitched-up wrestler who caused havoc off the edge. The second guy is Tyree Horton, a fellow Buc who transitioned from pass-rusher to LB (and just signed with TCU out of JUCO). Talented and productive player.

chei hill - Chei Hill highlights - Hudl
Drew White- 6’1, 215 pounds (St. Thomas Aquinas) – Tackling machine with good feet. White really stood out in the Booker T. game. Only knock is that he’s not a thumper as a tackler. Nonetheless, he should be a highly productive college player.

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3889969/highlights/291382376

Jamal Gates- 6’2, 210 pounds (Dwyer)- Very explosive athlete who also plays some WR. Plays DE for Dwyer and projects as a 3-4 pass rusher.

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3278525/highlights/313770379

Click to expand...

Facebook X (Twitter) Reddit WhatsApp Email Link

Comments (106)

View article View as thread

H
HurricaneKush

Feb 19, 2016

Holy ****, send that tape of ***ot to the staff. That's some of the best linebacker tape I've ever seen. Forget the comp level, look at how big and fast he is....there's no denying thats a 5 star talent IMO I can't believe people aren't all over him.

NVA CANE

Feb 19, 2016

Aside from Grace, Owens and Young I don't know who or how good of quality we have behind those guys.

If it's a loaded year and we have quality depth issues at the linebacker position then I say take 4 and load up on talent. Gray shirt the guys that aren't Miami caliber or just give them the chance to get their degree without being on the team.

Geo305

Feb 19, 2016

HurricaneKush said:
Holy ****, send that tape of ***ot to the staff. That's some of the best linebacker tape I've ever seen. Forget the comp level, look at how big and fast he is....there's no denying thats a 5 star talent IMO I can't believe people aren't all over him.

Already been dealt with

F
FINCHLION

Feb 19, 2016

I swear people are sleeping on Chei Hill and putting ratings above production with him not currently being rated. I don't care if sites rate this kid low or a two star/three star, this kid will make plays wherever he goes. Nothing fancy about this kids game but he is simply a baller and would come in great shape.

brock

Feb 19, 2016

Geo305 said:
HurricaneKush said:

Holy ****, send that tape of ***ot to the staff. That's some of the best linebacker tape I've ever seen. Forget the comp level, look at how big and fast he is....there's no denying thats a 5 star talent IMO I can't believe people aren't all over him.

Click to expand...

Already been dealt with

He's not better than Miller, steed or wilder. I'd take him over dunning, the kid from American heritage and some other people targets but not in those 3. Only should take 2-3 in this class because the 2018 linebacker class is looking to be very good as well

P
Paranos

Feb 19, 2016

[video=youtube;AAKcmtEgA4k]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAKcmtEgA4k[/video]

Geo305

Feb 19, 2016

brock said:
Geo305 said:

HurricaneKush said:

Holy ****, send that tape of ***ot to the staff. That's some of the best linebacker tape I've ever seen. Forget the comp level, look at how big and fast he is....there's no denying thats a 5 star talent IMO I can't believe people aren't all over him.

Click to expand...

Already been dealt with

Click to expand...

He's not better than Miller, steed or wilder. I'd take him over dunning, the kid from American heritage and some other people targets but not in those 3. Only should take 2-3 in this class because the 2018 linebacker class is looking to be very good as well

I've touched face on 2018 already. Outside of the two Booker T kids. Robert Hicks(May end up a DE) and Jaquan Beaver. Donovan Georges out of Champagnat(competition is concern, and Eriq Gilyard out of JAX at Trinity Christian.

Billy Joseph from Northwestern is a DE. Discussed it quite a bit with Blustein.

There's one more from JAX in Rashawn Yates but he's a bit of a tweener as well between DE and OLB.

What I've come across is not as strong as 2017. At least at this moment. 2018 is a good WR and DB year. Possibly the best DB year I've seen in a very long time.

As for F'agot if you go by competition. I can agree but if he makes the move to STA and adjusts to the competition. You take him in a heartbeat.

RiDLer80

Feb 20, 2016

NVA CANE said:
Aside from Grace, Owens and Young I don't know who or how good of quality we have behind those guys.

If it's a loaded year and we have quality depth issues at the linebacker position then I say take 4 and load up on talent. Gray shirt the guys that aren't Miami caliber or just give them the chance to get their degree without being on the team.

Grace will be gone after this season.

We'll be returning, IMO, six Miami-caliber LBs: Young, Perry, Owens, Quarterman, Pinckney, McCloud.

Not counting Gayot because he may never play for Miami again. King and McCray aren't Miami caliber. Mike Smith is more of a DE than LB. Gordinier may outgrow the position.

I think we should take three more this year.

Geo305

Feb 20, 2016

RiDLer80 said:
NVA CANE said:

Aside from Grace, Owens and Young I don't know who or how good of quality we have behind those guys.

If it's a loaded year and we have quality depth issues at the linebacker position then I say take 4 and load up on talent. Gray shirt the guys that aren't Miami caliber or just give them the chance to get their degree without being on the team.

Click to expand...

Grace will be gone after this season.

We'll be returning, IMO, six Miami-caliber LBs: Young, Perry, Owens, Quarterman, Pinckney, McCloud.

Not counting Gayot because he may never play for Miami again. King and McCray aren't Miami caliber. Mike Smith is more of a DE than LB. Gordinier may outgrow the position.

I think we should take three more this year.

This. Totally agreed, words out of my mouth. 3 to maybe 4 should be goal.

T
teddywestside

Feb 20, 2016

Yep. So much potential deadweight on this team. We could easily lose and get rid of enough guys to get a 30 man class. And if that happens, we will easily have the room for 3-4 LBs.

maurice3p

Feb 26, 2016

Since Marques Gayot is leaving the team, does this open a spot for a 3rd LB for 2017?

TedHendricksOffspring

Feb 26, 2016

maurice3p said:
Since Marques Gayot is leaving the team, does this open a spot for a 3rd LB for 2017?

I hope so. Too much talent to only take two now with favorable numbers.

Zbrod95

Feb 26, 2016

TedHendricksOffspring said:
maurice3p said:

Since Marques Gayot is leaving the team, does this open a spot for a 3rd LB for 2017?

Click to expand...

I hope so. Too much talent to only take two now with favorable numbers.

Do you guys even know how many LB's we're connected too?? We weren't only taking 2 even with gayot on the roster

TedHendricksOffspring

Feb 26, 2016

Zbrod95 said:
TedHendricksOffspring said:

maurice3p said:

Since Marques Gayot is leaving the team, does this open a spot for a 3rd LB for 2017?

Click to expand...

I hope so. Too much talent to only take two now with favorable numbers.

Click to expand...

Do you guys even know how many LB's we're connected too?? We weren't only taking 2 even with gayot on the roster

To your first question, I have no idea how many LB's were connected to but I know that a lot of really talented kids have expressed interest. Second of all, I'm piggybacking of of what Geo and DMoney have expressed which is that we were only going to take two due to scholarship numbers and a logjam at the position.

Zbrod95

Feb 26, 2016

TedHendricksOffspring said:
Zbrod95 said:

TedHendricksOffspring said:

maurice3p said:

Since Marques Gayot is leaving the team, does this open a spot for a 3rd LB for 2017?

Click to expand...

I hope so. Too much talent to only take two now with favorable numbers.

Click to expand...

Do you guys even know how many LB's we're connected too?? We weren't only taking 2 even with gayot on the roster

Click to expand...

To your first question, I have no idea how many LB's were connected to but I know that a lot of really talented kids have expressed interest. Second of all, I'm piggybacking of of what Geo and DMoney have expressed which is that we were only going to take two due to scholarship numbers and a logjam at the position.

what logjam we only have 9 with gayot,grace leaves next year, and I don't think McCray sticks

Last edited: Feb 26, 2016

TedHendricksOffspring

Feb 26, 2016

Zbrod95 said:
TedHendricksOffspring said:

Zbrod95 said:

TedHendricksOffspring said:

maurice3p said:

Since Marques Gayot is leaving the team, does this open a spot for a 3rd LB for 2017?

Click to expand...

I hope so. Too much talent to only take two now with favorable numbers.

Click to expand...

Do you guys even know how many LB's we're connected too?? We weren't only taking 2 even with gayot on the roster

Click to expand...

To your first question, I have no idea how many LB's were connected to but I know that a lot of really talented kids have expressed interest. Second of all, I'm piggybacking of of what Geo and DMoney have expressed which is that we were only going to take two due to scholarship numbers and a logjam at the position.

Click to expand...

what logjam we only have 9

Class separation is the issue and as of now we can only take 18 kids total next year according to Geo. Considering how much help O-Line needs, that limited numbers.

P
Paranos

Jun 26, 2016

With miami potentially losing a Linebacker on the roster, it could present an opportunity for 2017 LB Diego ***ot to earn a Miami offer at one of Miami's camps this summer, if he can show that he is a 4 down player.

Go Canes

Last edited: Jun 26, 2016