March 09, 2006
As Tom Lemming headed to southern Florida to continue his Prep Football Tour, he checked in with NCSA to update us on some of the defensive standouts from the Northern and Central parts of the state.
Lemming started with a guy who really sets the tone for his Lakeland, Florida High School team. "John Brown, at 6'2" and 287 pounds is the best defensive tackle in the state. He's a guy that really, really impresses everyone with his ability to shed blockers and find the ball. And he's real strong."
From there, Lemming stayed along the defensive line, but moved outside. "One kid that I really, really liked was John Jones, 6'3" 210 pounds. I thought he was one of the better, and maybe the best, pass rushers that I saw in Florida this year. He has a lot of schools chasing him, and I watched a game against Belle Glade Central where he had four sacks. This guy can play the game. He's much better than people think. Nobody even has him ranked." That just goes to show you that not all the best press goes to all of the best players. Jones won't be unranked for long, however, as Lemming went on to list him as one of the three best defensive players he's seen thus far in Florida.
Joining Jones on the list, as well as along the defensive line, was D'Angelo McCray, a defensive end out of Andrew Jackson High School in Jacksonville, who measures in at 6'4" and 260 pounds. "He's actually ranked as the number one defensive end in the state, and he's a real good player," said Lemming.
His athleticism and versatility could play a large role in his recruiting as well. "He's good as a tight end as well a defensive end. He had 13 sacks last year and he gets off blocks well." Then again, who needs versatility when you can simply bowl people over? "He's just a big powerhouse of a guy," Lemming concluded about McCray.
Stepping away from the line of scrimmage, Tom Lemming found his number one defensive player in the northern/central parts of Florida with Lorenzo Edwards. "He's 6'2" 221 pounds out of Orlando Edgewater and he's one of the premier players in Florida." Again illustrating the versatility of a top recruit, Lemming said, "He played more at strong safety last year, but he's being recruited as a linebacker by a lot of people. He'll be one of the most recruited players in the country, and I really like him on defense." Lemming went on to say, "I think he could grow into a linebacker, but he's got good skills and I was really impressed with him when I saw him last year, and then this year once again."
After his top three players, Lemming moved to the defensive backfield, but he had to do it quickly, for fear of missing the very speedy Brandon Paul. "The top cornerback in the state is Brandon Paul," Lemming said. "At 5'10, 185 pounds, he's one of the fastest guys in the state. He runs a 10.4 100 meters. He's a great cover corner so everyone avoids him. He only had two interceptions last year because nobody threw at him." But Paul was still able to illustrate his speed and ability, taking five kick and punt returns back for touchdowns. Lemming seems to think Paul won't have too much trouble battling the recruiting process. "He can go anywhere he wants. He'll be able to write his own ticket right now. He'll be the most recruited corner in the state of Florida."
Of course, there were plenty of other great players in the Northern and Central parts of Florida, like defensive tackle Tim Lamb, out of Tallahassee Lincoln, and Greg Lloyd, whose father of the same name was a standout linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers for many years. It wouldn't be Florida without a bevy of great talent at every position on the football field. But as he did with the offensive positions, Tom Lemming offered a few tips for you defensive players looking to improve your game and put yourself in a position to play at the next level.
Defensive Ends - "Tall, lanky, cut high, which means they have long legs, enabling them to get a great burst. I think, actually, that defensive end is one of the toughest positions to fill. Big guys that are quick enough are often tough to find."
Defensive Tackle - "Height's not as important (as at defensive end). Warren Sapp was only 6'. But you have to have bulk, great strength and quick feet."
Outside Linebackers - "Outside linebackers are usually a smaller version of the defensive end. They have to be able to run, but also have to be a great all-around athlete. You need a guy who can not only rush the passer, but has the quickness and the body control to drop back into the passing lanes."
Inside Linebackers - "Again, mini versions of the defensive linemen in front of them. He can be shorter, but he's got to be powerful, very quick in a limited space, strong enough to play off blocks but quick enough to play sideline to sideline."
Safety - "Safeties can come in different sizes. The most important thing is they've got to be hard hitters with great range. You can have a 6' safety or a 6'4" safety. They have to be able to be physical, but also athletic enough to go one-on-one in the passing game."
Cornerbacks - "Corners are really the pure speed guys, maybe more so than any other position. They've got to be able to run backwards just as fast as these super-fast wide receivers run forwards. These are the real athletes on the football team. And they can be 5'8", 5'9" like Darrel Green, but most of the time you won't find too many of them over 6', because of the athleticism it takes to play the position."
NCSA will have a recap of Tom Lemming's Prep Tour of Southern Florida for you next week and while the Northern part of the state boasts some great players, the Southern area should prove to be a goldmine for talent.
