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Greentree practices can be deceiving. However, one area where they’re useful is eyeballing the new freshmen. Some guys jump out in terms of athleticism, size and competitiveness. Others are exposed. Here are my first impressions on the 2014 class. This is just one fan’s unprofessional opinion based on what I saw at practice and the two scrimmages. Needless to say, I’m fired up.
Brad Kaaya- In 1999, a skinny bald freshman named Ken Dorsey led the offense up and down Greentree. Kaaya is our most advanced freshman QB since Dorsey, with the added benefit of an NFL arm. Two areas of Kaaya’s game surprised me. First, his accuracy is further along than expected. Second, he is very mobile inside the pocket. He has a great feel for space and is always on balance. Kaaya does not rely on splash plays like Stephen Morris and regularly finds his checkdowns. His height and vision also make him very effective over the middle of the field. I’m NOT saying he’s anywhere near this kind of prospect, but from a physical/style perspective he will remind some of Peyton Manning. Let’s see if he can do it in games.
Malik Rosier- Unlike Kaaya, Rosier looks like a freshman. He still has a baseball player windup and frequently misses high with his passes. With that said, his arm is the strongest on the team besides Kaaya. Coach Coley has been taking advantage of Rosier’s considerable athleticism with designed QB movement and he has had some nice moments. Reminds me a of a more gifted, less polished Robert Marve.
Joe Yearby- I expect Yearby to pass Gus if he stays healthy. Not only does he have more vision as a runner, he has better overall football instincts. He’s a natural pass-catcher and competes hard in pass protection. Yearby is not a game-breaker like Duke, but his quickness and intangibles are very comparable. I see him developing into a Bishop Sankey-type player.
Trayone Gray- Not there yet. Gray has limited experience at running back and struggled with basics like taking the handoff. Once he got the ball, he moved like a guy who was thinking too much. But the more reps he got, the more he showed flashes of the guy who dominated Dade County. In the second scrimmage, Gray made a beautiful jump cut in the hole and was an inch away from breaking it. Once he gets back his athletic arrogance and sheds about ten pounds, that run will be a TD.
David Njoku- This guy is going to be huge. Watching Njoku reminds me of watching Clive Walford in 2010—you know he is going to fill out into a monster. The difference is that Njoku is a lot more explosive than Clive. Njoku has really big hands and on several occasions high-pointed the ball over our scholarship corners. The areas he struggled with (blocking, route-running) will improve with time. He’ll redshirt, but he’s one of the most impressive physical specimens in the class and has enough natural football instincts.
Chris Herndon- Unlike Njoku, Herndon is ready to play now. Very polished football player who projects as a Mondriel Fulcher-type H-back. We’ve already used Herndon out wide, in-line and in the backfield as a traditional fullback. Nothing about him wows you like Njoku, but he’s just a quality athlete who knows how to play. Still lacks strength as a blocker but doesn’t shy away from contact.
Braxton Berrios- Future fan favorite. If you had one phrase to describe Berrios, it would be “quarterback-friendly.” I saw him drop maybe one catchable pass all camp. He adjusts to low throws, works back to the ball, separates easily and has a great feel for zones. In the full-contact scrimmages, he showed he is capable of running after the catch at this level. An underrated aspect of Berrios’s game is his physical strength. He was arguably our best receiver over the last week of camp and will play early.
Tyre Brady- Almost there, but not yet. Every time it looked like Brady was about to break through, he would fumble on the goalline or bobble a spectacular catch. Brady separates very well for a big guy and has added a lot of strength to his frame. Not a Stacy Coley-type freak but a UM-caliber player who can help in the next few years.
Darrell Langham- Tough to evaluate because of his late arrival. Legit 6’4, 225 pounds. His hands are enormous and he catches everything away from his body. During the one-on-ones, he often bullied smaller corners like Antonio Crawford. Not a burner. I could see him filling the role that was meant for Jontavious Carter.
Kc McDermott- He will play a role this year. Improved a ton from spring to August. Technically sound and balanced. Not a great athlete but a good athlete who has gotten quicker with improved conditioning. Ran most of camp with the first team.
Trevor Darling- Played much better at tackle than at guard. Darling got a lot of first team run towards the end of camp, including starting the second scrimmage at RT. Good drive blocker who is still improving as a pass blocker (Central was not much of a passing team).
Nick Linder- Promising but physically underdeveloped. Worked at C and G. He handled himself well against our top DTs and may be a future starter once he gets his strength up to par.
Joe Brown- Pleasant surprise. Despite his poor strength numbers, Brown was powerful at the point of attack and even had some nice blocks in space. Decently athletic in terms of pulling and hitting smaller targets. Struggled as a pass blocker (Olsen Pierre beat him like a drum) but should improve as he reshapes his body. For someone who played mostly DL in high school, Brown is promising.
Tyler Grimsley- I expected him to play center, but he mostly lined up at guard. Too small to make an impact right now and is further behind than the other four.
Calvin Heurtelou- Aside from Kaaya, the most positive development of camp was Heurtelou seizing the NT job. He improved a ton from spring and emerged as the clear #1 guy. Very strong bottom half and he plays low. Good playing temperament for a nose tackle—embraces the role and stays consistent. One of the five most important players on the 2014 team.
Michael Wyche- This guy really needed to play spring. His conditioning is not up to par, and his technique isn’t there yet either. Needs to do a much better job of staying low. Wyche is far from soft but has the mentality of a much smaller guy. Even though he’s capable of making athletic plays, he needs to embrace the role of a clogger. His lack of lower-body strength is also holding him back. The talent is there but he’s not ready.
Courtel Jenkins- Easily the second-best NT in camp. Jenkins abused the backup interior OL and made more plays in the backfield than any DT on the roster. Quick player with more athleticism than Heurtelou.
Chad Thomas- Third down is where Chad will make his name. He usually kicks inside and causes all kinds of problems with his quickness and flexibility. Really emerged in the last week of camp with several multi-sack practices. Lacks the strength to hold up as an everydown starter right now but will make an impact in packages.
Anthony Moten- Nothing spectacular but good, solid play. He got some time with the 1s later in camp. Could see him becoming a better version of Olsen Pierre.
Demetrius Jackson- Jackson has shown flashes but doesn’t have the football experience of the three guys in front of him. Still, a very talented player who has added a ton of weight and is way ahead of schedule.
Trent Harris- Not a dynamic rusher like AQM, McCord or Jackson but a very reliable player. He ran with the first team all camp, which is incredible for a true freshman at a relatively deep position. Better player in space than the other rush ends.
Mike Smith- Still recovering from the ACL injury.
Terry McCray- Like Smith, McCray gets an incomplete grade. He’s adjusting to linebacker after spending his high school career as a stand-up rusher.
Juwon Young- Physically, he’s the best linebacker we have. Remarkable closing speed for a 245-pound player. Young has improved his recognition skills from spring although he’s still not all the way there. Occasionally lined up as a down-linemen in the pass-rush packages. Showed major flashes.
Darrion Owens- The freshman defensive player most likely to start. If Young is the most impressive physical specimen at ‘backer, Owens is 1B. Smart, twitchy and hard-working. Much better pass rusher than I expected.
Marques Gayot- Interesting player. Gayot has a huge frame and is very smooth and coordinated in centerfield. It seemed like every practice he was breaking up a pass or getting an interception. Big hitter and sure tackler. Not fast (4.8), but you don’t notice unless he’s chasing somebody. I’d be surprised if he redshirted.
Kiy Hester- Like many out-of-state freshmen, Hester has had some tough moments. But he has the talent to play here and looks like a guy who shines brightest during full contact. He really stood out in Oklahoma drills with his ability to uncoil into blockers and ball carriers.
Ryan Mayes- Hasn’t distinguished himself, but hasn’t been horrible either. He’s had numerous battles with Tyre Brady and has won his fair share. Good length. Redshirt candidate.
Brad Kaaya- In 1999, a skinny bald freshman named Ken Dorsey led the offense up and down Greentree. Kaaya is our most advanced freshman QB since Dorsey, with the added benefit of an NFL arm. Two areas of Kaaya’s game surprised me. First, his accuracy is further along than expected. Second, he is very mobile inside the pocket. He has a great feel for space and is always on balance. Kaaya does not rely on splash plays like Stephen Morris and regularly finds his checkdowns. His height and vision also make him very effective over the middle of the field. I’m NOT saying he’s anywhere near this kind of prospect, but from a physical/style perspective he will remind some of Peyton Manning. Let’s see if he can do it in games.
Malik Rosier- Unlike Kaaya, Rosier looks like a freshman. He still has a baseball player windup and frequently misses high with his passes. With that said, his arm is the strongest on the team besides Kaaya. Coach Coley has been taking advantage of Rosier’s considerable athleticism with designed QB movement and he has had some nice moments. Reminds me a of a more gifted, less polished Robert Marve.
Joe Yearby- I expect Yearby to pass Gus if he stays healthy. Not only does he have more vision as a runner, he has better overall football instincts. He’s a natural pass-catcher and competes hard in pass protection. Yearby is not a game-breaker like Duke, but his quickness and intangibles are very comparable. I see him developing into a Bishop Sankey-type player.
Trayone Gray- Not there yet. Gray has limited experience at running back and struggled with basics like taking the handoff. Once he got the ball, he moved like a guy who was thinking too much. But the more reps he got, the more he showed flashes of the guy who dominated Dade County. In the second scrimmage, Gray made a beautiful jump cut in the hole and was an inch away from breaking it. Once he gets back his athletic arrogance and sheds about ten pounds, that run will be a TD.
David Njoku- This guy is going to be huge. Watching Njoku reminds me of watching Clive Walford in 2010—you know he is going to fill out into a monster. The difference is that Njoku is a lot more explosive than Clive. Njoku has really big hands and on several occasions high-pointed the ball over our scholarship corners. The areas he struggled with (blocking, route-running) will improve with time. He’ll redshirt, but he’s one of the most impressive physical specimens in the class and has enough natural football instincts.
Chris Herndon- Unlike Njoku, Herndon is ready to play now. Very polished football player who projects as a Mondriel Fulcher-type H-back. We’ve already used Herndon out wide, in-line and in the backfield as a traditional fullback. Nothing about him wows you like Njoku, but he’s just a quality athlete who knows how to play. Still lacks strength as a blocker but doesn’t shy away from contact.
Braxton Berrios- Future fan favorite. If you had one phrase to describe Berrios, it would be “quarterback-friendly.” I saw him drop maybe one catchable pass all camp. He adjusts to low throws, works back to the ball, separates easily and has a great feel for zones. In the full-contact scrimmages, he showed he is capable of running after the catch at this level. An underrated aspect of Berrios’s game is his physical strength. He was arguably our best receiver over the last week of camp and will play early.
Tyre Brady- Almost there, but not yet. Every time it looked like Brady was about to break through, he would fumble on the goalline or bobble a spectacular catch. Brady separates very well for a big guy and has added a lot of strength to his frame. Not a Stacy Coley-type freak but a UM-caliber player who can help in the next few years.
Darrell Langham- Tough to evaluate because of his late arrival. Legit 6’4, 225 pounds. His hands are enormous and he catches everything away from his body. During the one-on-ones, he often bullied smaller corners like Antonio Crawford. Not a burner. I could see him filling the role that was meant for Jontavious Carter.
Kc McDermott- He will play a role this year. Improved a ton from spring to August. Technically sound and balanced. Not a great athlete but a good athlete who has gotten quicker with improved conditioning. Ran most of camp with the first team.
Trevor Darling- Played much better at tackle than at guard. Darling got a lot of first team run towards the end of camp, including starting the second scrimmage at RT. Good drive blocker who is still improving as a pass blocker (Central was not much of a passing team).
Nick Linder- Promising but physically underdeveloped. Worked at C and G. He handled himself well against our top DTs and may be a future starter once he gets his strength up to par.
Joe Brown- Pleasant surprise. Despite his poor strength numbers, Brown was powerful at the point of attack and even had some nice blocks in space. Decently athletic in terms of pulling and hitting smaller targets. Struggled as a pass blocker (Olsen Pierre beat him like a drum) but should improve as he reshapes his body. For someone who played mostly DL in high school, Brown is promising.
Tyler Grimsley- I expected him to play center, but he mostly lined up at guard. Too small to make an impact right now and is further behind than the other four.
Calvin Heurtelou- Aside from Kaaya, the most positive development of camp was Heurtelou seizing the NT job. He improved a ton from spring and emerged as the clear #1 guy. Very strong bottom half and he plays low. Good playing temperament for a nose tackle—embraces the role and stays consistent. One of the five most important players on the 2014 team.
Michael Wyche- This guy really needed to play spring. His conditioning is not up to par, and his technique isn’t there yet either. Needs to do a much better job of staying low. Wyche is far from soft but has the mentality of a much smaller guy. Even though he’s capable of making athletic plays, he needs to embrace the role of a clogger. His lack of lower-body strength is also holding him back. The talent is there but he’s not ready.
Courtel Jenkins- Easily the second-best NT in camp. Jenkins abused the backup interior OL and made more plays in the backfield than any DT on the roster. Quick player with more athleticism than Heurtelou.
Chad Thomas- Third down is where Chad will make his name. He usually kicks inside and causes all kinds of problems with his quickness and flexibility. Really emerged in the last week of camp with several multi-sack practices. Lacks the strength to hold up as an everydown starter right now but will make an impact in packages.
Anthony Moten- Nothing spectacular but good, solid play. He got some time with the 1s later in camp. Could see him becoming a better version of Olsen Pierre.
Demetrius Jackson- Jackson has shown flashes but doesn’t have the football experience of the three guys in front of him. Still, a very talented player who has added a ton of weight and is way ahead of schedule.
Trent Harris- Not a dynamic rusher like AQM, McCord or Jackson but a very reliable player. He ran with the first team all camp, which is incredible for a true freshman at a relatively deep position. Better player in space than the other rush ends.
Mike Smith- Still recovering from the ACL injury.
Terry McCray- Like Smith, McCray gets an incomplete grade. He’s adjusting to linebacker after spending his high school career as a stand-up rusher.
Juwon Young- Physically, he’s the best linebacker we have. Remarkable closing speed for a 245-pound player. Young has improved his recognition skills from spring although he’s still not all the way there. Occasionally lined up as a down-linemen in the pass-rush packages. Showed major flashes.
Darrion Owens- The freshman defensive player most likely to start. If Young is the most impressive physical specimen at ‘backer, Owens is 1B. Smart, twitchy and hard-working. Much better pass rusher than I expected.
Marques Gayot- Interesting player. Gayot has a huge frame and is very smooth and coordinated in centerfield. It seemed like every practice he was breaking up a pass or getting an interception. Big hitter and sure tackler. Not fast (4.8), but you don’t notice unless he’s chasing somebody. I’d be surprised if he redshirted.
Kiy Hester- Like many out-of-state freshmen, Hester has had some tough moments. But he has the talent to play here and looks like a guy who shines brightest during full contact. He really stood out in Oklahoma drills with his ability to uncoil into blockers and ball carriers.
Ryan Mayes- Hasn’t distinguished himself, but hasn’t been horrible either. He’s had numerous battles with Tyre Brady and has won his fair share. Good length. Redshirt candidate.
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