As a College Recruit
One of the best run and hit linebacker prospects in the last handful of classes. Makes big plays on both sides of the ball. Ability to chase plays from the weak-side with ease and fluidity. Improvement in taking on blocks and blowing up offensive linemen is evident on senior video. Has also improved in timing blitzes. Playing snaps at safety and linebacker as a senior. Hands and ball skills are on the high-end. Doubles as a big-play running back for Cy Park. Creates explosive plays by winning foot races and brute physicality. Averaging over 15 yards per carry and scoring on one out of every four carries as a senior. Has had a number of jaw-dropping athletic plays as a senior on offense, defense and special teams. Athleticism shows up on the Cy Park basketball team as well with many plays well above the rim. Athleticism carries over to the combine setting. Posted a 4.49 second 40-yard dash on grass prior to junior season at 200-pounds. Carrying nearly 210-pounds as a senior while retaining athleticism. Has the frame to carry over 230 pounds.
Reminds Us Of
Both Harold Perkins and Shaq Thompson were two-way threats at the high school level as dynamic running backs who projected on defense long-term. Thompson was an On3 Consensus top ten prospect coming out of Sacramento Grant Union in the 2012 cycle. The future Carolina Panther linebacker was primarily viewed as a big safety prospect at the time. Thompson was a prolific running back in high school, rushing for over 3,000 yards and 47 touchdowns while averaging 10.8 yards per carry. Perkins was similar, rushing for 1,194 yards and 18 touchdowns as a senior while averaging an amazing 17.8 yards per carry. Both Thompson and Perkins also showed top-end speed. Thompson posted a 10.96 second mark in the 100 meters while Perkins ran an electronically-timed 4.47 40-yard dash prior to his junior season. Thompson appears to have a little more length than Perkins, who may be a touch taller. Like Thompson, Perkins also has the talent to see some time on offense in college, before ultimately settling in at linebacker long-term.
