ESPN College Football Recruiting

Originally Published: April 25, 2009

Lattimore lives up to his rep

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By JC Shurburtt
Scouts Inc.
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ATHENS, Ga. -- Many of the Southeast's top offensive prospects competed at Saturday's Nike Football Training Camp at the University of Georgia. Running back Marcus Lattimore (Duncan, S.C./James F. Byrnes) and a loaded group of receivers, led by Under Armour All-American receiver Tai-ler Jones (Gainesville, Ga./Gainesville) were the show-stoppers.

Lattimore easily captured the running back MVP. He was impressive in the position and dominated the one-on-ones.

"There was good competition here," he said. "There were some good linebackers here that did not have very many offers, but I think they should start getting some. It was good to win the MVP award. There are some good running backs here and the competition is good."

Auburn remains the leader. Georgia and Florida State are locks, along with the Tigers, to get official visits. At the end of the summer, Lattimore plans to announce which other two schools he will visit officially. North Carolina and South Carolina will get unofficial visits in early June and he will camp at Penn State this summer.

Jones is an outstanding technician who runs excellent routes and has good speed and hands. The quarterbacks who threw him the football did not do him any favors during the one-on-one drills, but it's clear why most of the country's coaches wanted the Stanford commit.

"In my opinion, I did very well," Jones said. "I got good separation on all of my routes and made good plays when I could. I am satisfied with my performance."

He added that his commitment to the Cardinal, which took place last week, remains strong.

Here's a look at other standouts at the various positions.

Wide receiver

Although Jones was the best prospect at the event, an emerging unknown captured the camp MVP at this position.

Rodney Davis of Stanhope Elmore was a late addition to the camp roster and outshined all of the other prospects in the field, according to the coaches.

"I think it was nice," he said. "I am glad that I got into the camp. I have to thank my coach for bringing me up here."

Davis has no scholarship offers, but he boasts excellent size and hands. He caught 10 touchdowns and had more than 700 receiving yards last season.

Alabama commit Blake Sims (Gainesville, Ga./Gainesville) worked out as a receiver and displayed good hands and explosiveness during the one-on-one drills, catching a deep ball or two. This was on the heels of a solid showing at quarterback during the Elite 11 regional workout on Friday night.

Like Sims, Auburn commit Shaun Kitchens (College Park, Ga./Banneker) is on the board as an athlete. Kitchens worked out at receiver on Saturday. He has a big body and good athleticism and hands, but you can clearly see his outstanding potential on defense. It's not that receiver is completely out of the question, but his ceiling is higher on defense.

Kitchens' high school teammate, DeMarco McNeal, also worked out at receiver. He is quick, has good straight-line speed and can change directions well. McNeal also has great hips, which means he could be a cornerback in college. Right now, he could play either side and do quite well. McNeal looked good in the agility drills and in the one-on-ones.

A pair of prospects from Byrnes High in South Carolina had good moments. Nick Jones is not the tallest receiver on the field, but he has a thick build, good hands and is fast enough to make big plays. Many feel he was his high school team's best playmaker outside of Lattimore last season. Speedy Jazz King also made some impressive plays.

Class of 2011 WR Charone Peake (Roebuck, S.C./Dorman) has all the tools you would want in a receiver prospect, but like many young players, he has some maturing to do. Three years ago at this event, another South Carolina receiver, A.J. Green, dominated as a rising junior. Peake did not approach that level. Still, there's a long way to go and schools like Clemson and Georgia are already showing interest.

Other receivers who showed flashes include Chris Boyd (Roswell, Ga./Roswell), Michael Bennett (Alpharetta, Ga./Alpharetta), Class of 2011 prospect Donte Sumter (Myrtle Beach, S.C./Myrtle Beach) and Class of 2012 receiver Tramond Wilson (Myrtle Beach, S.C./Myrtle Beach).

Among the tight ends, Davis Dudchock (Birmingham, Ala./Oak Mountain) stood out. Florida State and Auburn are among the programs to offer the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder. James Power (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) also had some good moments.

Running back

Kendrun Malcome (Decatur, Ga./Southwest DeKalb) had a good day at the camp. He looked solid during one-on-ones. Though he sat out last season with an injury, his stock has continued to rise among college programs. Georgia recently offered the 6-foot, 213-pounder.

Ian Pemberton (Loganville, Ga./Grayson) is small in stature, but gave linebackers and others who attempted to cover him fits all day. He has a chance at playing in Division I as a specialist in the return game or a change-of-pace back.

Class of 2011 prospect Chris Sensabaugh (Kingsport, Tenn./Dobyns-Bennett) is one to watch from the Volunteer State. He has good vision and balance and has been playing varsity since his freshman year. His cousin plays at Clemson.

Class of 2012 prospect Imani Cross (Flowery Branch, Ga.) is definitely one to watch in the coming years. He has an excellent build and is the younger brother of Class of 2009 Georgia Tech defensive line signee Izaan Cross.

Other prospects who had some good moments at this position include fullback Martez Eastland (Ringgold, Ga.), Raymond Sanders (Stone Mountain, Ga.), Class of 2011 prospect Dureal Elmore (Abbeville, S.C.) and Rajaan Bennett (Powder Springs, Ga./McEachern).

Quarterback

Barry Brunetti (Memphis, Tenn./University Christian) had another strong showing on the heels of Friday night's Elite 11 workout. Brunetti continued to display a strong, accurate arm and looked excellent in the agility drills, displaying his athleticism.

Darian Stone (Clinton, Tenn./Clinton) captured the camp MVP at the position. He also had a solid showing Friday evening.

Class of 2011 prospect Everett Golson (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) had an outstanding showing. Golson can make all of the throws and multiple observers commented that he should be one of the most coveted prospects in the Southeast for the next recruiting cycle.

Another young quarterback, Price Litton (Charlotte, N.C./Providence Day), has some potential and should get some Division I looks during the next recruiting cycle.

Other quarterbacks who had some good moments included Class of 2011 prospect Robert Smith (Saint George, S.C./Woodland) and Ryan Singer (Dunedin, Fla./Dunedin).

Offensive linemen

Marques Pair (Sumter, S.C.) is another who will need some time in a college weight program to get to where he can go, but he has very good feet and is a good athlete. The 6-foot-5, 266-pounder had some success moving his feet and stopping several major defensive line prospects during the one-on-one portion of the camp.

Kalon Davis (Chester, S.C.) worked out at tackle and that really isn't his strength. Still, you look at his size and the potential is there to be a good interior player in college.

Kasey Morrison (Cumming, Ga./Forsyth Central) won the MVP for this group. Morrison has a lot of toughness. He has some potential once he reshapes a bit and gets in a college weight program. Tony Jacob (Atlanta/Westlake) has all the frame you could ask for. The 6-foot-7, 280-pounder showed he is still pretty raw during the one-on-ones and position drills. Jacob will need to be developed and coached up, but his physical measurements are something you can't coach.

Other offensive linemen who had some good moments include John Holman (Tyrone, Ga./Sandy Creek), Class of 2011 prospect Tarik Cook (Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson), Terry Hollingshed (Norcross, Ga./Norcross) and D'Antwone King (Calera, Ala./Calera).