Reminder: All info is pulled from the web, including social media. When preparing the Big Board, I filter the info to identify recruits that we appear to have a better chance with. My goal is to focus the discussion on more realistic targets. I make this assessment by reading interviews and looking at offer lists.
Deac94s Big Board – Defense (Version 2)
Defensive Tackles
Christian Colon (DT - 6’3 / 300) – Independence High School / Charlotte, NC
Rating: 3-star, #39 DT in the country, #25 player in North Carolina
Power 5 Offers: Wake, Notre Dame, UNC, NC State, South Carolina, Boston College, Virginia
Background: Several articles mention how relentless of a worker he is. Supposedly has a really great work ethic. One of my favorite notes is that during track practice he participates in speed drills with the track athletes even though he competes only in the shot put. Former HS teammate of Isaiah Robinson. One of only two juniors named to the postseason 1st team all-area defense by the Charlotte Observer. Has seen his stock rise after losing 25-30 pounds before his junior season and showing improved speed and explosiveness on film.
Visits: He participated in a number of camps in the summer including Ohio State, West Virginia, Clemson, UNC, NC State and South Carolina. He told an interviewer that Wake Forest, Ohio State and UNC were his favorite camps of the summer. Visited NC State on September 27th for FSU game and UNC October 4th for the Virginia Tech game. Was supposed to attend the Wake-Clemson game but was forced to cancel.
Recruitment: NC State got themselves off to an early lead by getting in the first offer that Colon received. NC State also has two of his former teammates on the roster. In May he was listing NC State as his leader with Kentucky (no offer) second, UNC third and Wake fourth. By June that had changed and NC State and Wake were tied for the lead with Kentucky running third. In early December, 247 said that the perception was that the UNC had taken the lead in his recruitment. Then Notre Dame shook up his recruitment in December when they offered despite not having had much contact with him. South Carolina followed with their offer shortly after Notre Dame.
Defensive Ends / Outside Linebackers
Keith Simms (DE/OLB – 6’3/225) – The Landon School / Bethesda, MD
Rating: 3-star, #19 OLB in the country, #14 overall player in Maryland
Power 5 offers: Wake Forest, Maryland, Boston College, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, UNC, Pitt, Rutgers, Syracuse, Virginia and West Virginia
Background: A high-end pass rusher who features lots of quickness and athleticism. In a 4-2-5 defense I would suspect that he would play the “drop end” spot that Ziggy Allen played last year. 3-4 and 4-3 teams will likely recruit him as an OLB. His ultimate position probably depends on how much he grows over the next 2-3 years.
Visits: Attended Maryland’s Junior Day in 2014, which was the first of several visits there. He grew up less than 15 miles from the Maryland campus. Camped at Duke last summer. Visited Penn State (no offer yet), Ohio State (no offer yet) and West Virginia during the fall. He has plans to visit Boston College, UNC, Iowa, Pitt, Syracuse, and Rutgers.
Recruitment: Illinois was the first to offer, followed by Iowa and Boston College. He is a top target for Maryland and they are certainly the early favorite in his recruitment. In a November interview he mentioned Maryland, UNC, Boston College, Iowa and West Virginia as the schools standing out to him the most. However, in the most recent article on Simms he told Scout that over the Xmas holidays he and his family had been discussing Maryland, UNC, Boston College, Virginia and Wake Forest the most. That looked to me like he was starting to slant his recruitment towards the high-end academic schools. He also said that Maryland, UNC, West Virginia and Rutgers were recruiting him the hardest.
Julian Okwara (OLB – 6’4 / 210) – Ardrey Kell HS / Charlotte, NC
Rating: 3-star, #23 OLB in the country, #15 player in North Carolina
Power 5 offers: Wake Forest, Boston College, Duke, UNC, NC State and Vanderbilt
Background: Classified as an OLB, but has the versatility to play DE as well. Possibly the biggest in-state riser after his junior season film was released. He went from being unranked in the Rivals state rankings to being the #15 player in the state. He also received a number of offers in a very short period of time. Younger brother of current Notre Dame DL Romeo Okwara. His family stresses academics and this will be a consideration in his recruitment. He says that his father is very high on the Duke program.
Visits: Has visited UNC on multiple occasions, including for the UNC-VT game. Visited N.C. State for the NCSU-Wake game. He plans to visit Wake Forest and Duke soon and would also like to go to Ohio State, Clemson and Tennessee.
Recruitment: Boston College was the first to offer. N.C. State was the second when they offered during his unofficial visit.
Safeties
Keyvone Bruton (Strong Safety, 5’11/196) – Oscar Smith HS / Chesapeake, VA
Rating: 3-star, #27 overall player in Virginia
Power 5 Offers: Wake Forest, Virginia Tech and Duke
Background: His first few articles speculated that he might eventually end up at OLB (he weighed 192 lbs at a combine before his junior season). Also plays some TE on his HS team. Had 6 INTs, 5 sacks and 5 tackles for loss during his sophomore season, but had only 2 INT’s his junior year. His HS coach thinks he will be 215 lbs by the time he graduates. This, together with the fact that he is strong against the run, leads me to believe Wake Forest would be recruiting him for the Rover position. His coach made a point of noting his competitiveness and drive both during practice and in the weight room. Teammate of Virginia Tech commit Deshawn McClease. Wants to major in business.
Recruitment: Virginia Tech offered very early (spring 2014) and is considered the early favorite. By April 2014, Bruton had already visited Blacksburg twice. By December he was saying that Virginia Tech already “felt like home”. Already has three 247 Crystal Balls predicting Virginia Tech. Duke was the 2nd Power 5 offer in October 2014. Wake Forest offered in December 2014.
Javon Jackson (Safety, 5’11/180) – Sandy Creek HS / Tyrone, GA
Rating: Unrated
Power 5 offers: Wake Forest, Kentucky and UNC
Background: Sees himself as more of a free safety. Some have speculated that he might end up at CB at the college level (247 actually lists him as a CB).
Visits: He has taken unofficial visits to Kentucky (November 12 for Georgia game), Tennessee and Ohio State
Recruitment: Kentucky was the first to offer (February 2014) and is considered to be the early favorite. He camped at Kentucky in June. UNC and Wake Forest both offered in December 2014. Told an interviewer in late December that he planned to attend junior day events at all 3 schools that had offered.
Cornerbacks
Martin Mangram (CB 5’11 / 180) – Buford HS / Buford, GA
Rating: Unrated
Power 5 offers: Wake Forest
Background: 247 says he is 5’11, which would provide the height that the staff is looking for at corner. Also plays some RB on his HS team. From watching his highlights I buy that he is 180. He is not a skinny CB. In my opinion, he could be a physical player at the college level. That’s a great profile for a 4-2-5 CB. A newspaper article from last year reported that he had a 40 time of 4.36.
Recruitment: Wake Forest offered in October and was the first to offer. He gave a nice quote to Rivals saying that he thinks highly of Wake, especially for being the first school to offer him.
Phillip Patterson (6’1 / 175 CB/S/WR) – Bayside HS / Virginia Beach, VA
Rating: 3-star, #75 WR in the country, #15 overall player in Virginia
Offers: Wake Forest and Duke
Background: The recruiting websites list Patterson as a WR, but Duke offered him as a DB. The initial thinking is that he could be a tall, physical CB but if he fills out over the next 18 months they would take him as a safety. So I am going to assume that Wake is taking the same approach and will put him on the Big Board as a DB for now.
Recruitment: Duke was the first to offer (October 16th). Patterson has visited Duke multiple times, including an unofficial visit for the Duke-Virginia game an 10/18. Patterson was expected to visit Wake Forest for the Virginia Tech game and was offered by Wake a few days later.
Mark Gilbert (Cornerback, 6’2/170) – Terry Sanford HS / Fayetteville, NC
Rating: 2-star
Power 5 offers: Wake Forest, Boston College, Duke and N.C. State
Visits: Visited UNC in October for the UNC-Georgia Tech game. Also visited Pitt and Duke. Camped at N.C. State this past summer.
Background: Related to Darrelle Revis (cousin). Also cousins with highly-rated 2016 DE Zack Gilbert. Had only 3 INTs and one tackle for loss last season. Did tell Scout that no WR had more than 2 catches against him. He wants to go to law school after his playing career is over. Academics will be a factor in his recruitment.
Recruitment: In October he declined to name favorite, but did note that Duke and Boston College were standing out to him. They were his first Power 5 offers (Duke was the first to offer in October 2014). Doeren extended the NCSU offer personally.
Sir Patrick Scott (Cornerback, 6’1/170) – Riverdale Baptist HS / Upper Marlboro, MD
Rating: Unrated
Power 5 offers: Wake Forest, Boston College, Kentucky and Michigan State
Zech McPhearson (Cornerback, 6’0/185) - Riverdale Baptist HS / Upper Marlboro, MD
Rating: Unrated
Power 5 offers: Wake Forest and Boston College
Background: His father played at Boston College in the ‘80s. Played through an injury during his entire junior season.
Visits: Has visited Penn State and Maryland.
Recruitment: Boston College was the first to offer (in November).