Ex-5-star recruit Eyabi Anoma resurfaces, plus other notes

During a recent UT-Martin practice, Skyhawks coach Jason Simpson saw one of his defensive ends do something he won’t soon forget.

The defensive end who did it? Eyabi Anoma, the former consensus top-five recruit who hasn’t played a college snap since making nine tackles as a true freshman at Alabama in 2018.

“He came on a little stunt where he came inside. The guard went back to get him and he caught the guard on one foot and took him with one hand and next thing I know, the guard goes flying across the screen,” Simpson told On3. “I’m talking about physically picking up a 300-pound guard with one arm and the guy leaves his feet.”

After issues that led to his dismissal from Alabama and then Houston, Anoma has resurfaced at UT-Martin, an FCS program in the Ohio Valley Conference. And if his play in practice is any indication, this year could end up serving as a reminder of why he was ranked by multiple recruiting services as the top defensive recruit in the 2018 signing class. Anoma starred at Baltimore’s St. Frances Academy in high school.

“It’s been fun to watch,” said Simpson, who’s also the father of five-star Alabama quarterback commitment Ty Simpson. “He looks really good. He’s as advertised.”

Anoma originally joined the Skyhawks last year, but as a two-time transfer, he wasn’t eligible to play immediately under NCAA rules. Now, he’s eligible, has added 25 pounds to his 6-foot-5 frame (from 238 when he first arrived at UT-Martin to 263) and seemingly is ready to cause big-time issues for OVC offensive lines.

“When he first got here at 238, he was long and fast. Now that he’s 260-plus, he’s powerful, too,” Simpson said. “In our league, as long as he’s healthy, he’s going to be hard to handle. He’s certainly talented, and most of the NFL teams have been here to see him. They watch him practice and they go, ‘Oh, my goodness’ and ‘We’ll be back.’

“Anytime a guy’s transferred twice, you’ve got questions. And Eyabi knows that. But hopefully he’ll do well and hopefully can use this as an opportunity to get to the NFL.”

An SMU receiver to keep an eye on

The two big names among SMU pass-catchers are wide receiver Reggie Roberson and former Oklahoma All-Big 12 tight end Grant Calcaterra. Both enter the season with grades in the top four rounds from the two scouting services used by NFL teams. But there’s another Mustangs pass-catcher you need to have on your radar as well — senior wide receiver Danny Gray, a former junior college transfer who is in his second season with the program.

Even with all of the talented players that SMU has on offense — including preseason All-AAC running back Ulysses Bentley — the word coming out of SMU is that Gray has been the most dynamic and impressive player on the entire team throughout preseason practice.

The feedback on Gray, who was fourth on the team with 33 receptions last season, is that he’s probably the best athlete on the SMU roster. In addition, he is much improved in areas like route-running compared to his first season with the Mustangs.

Replacing championship QBs nothing new for Bryce Young

Alabama’s Bryce Young may not have experience yet as a starting quarterback at the college level, but he does have a lot of experience with something else he’s doing for this season — replacing a championship-winning quarterback. His track record bodes well for the Tide

Young followed current Georgia star JT Daniels at not only Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei but also for the Inland Empire Ducks of the American Youth Football League, when Young was an eighth-grader. Both times, Daniels had led the team to a national championship the previous season. And both times, Young stepped in and successfully helped the team repeat as national champions.

Auburn in position to have elite defense

After talking about Alabama, let’s now shift to the Crimson Tide’s archrival. While Auburn has some question marks on offense — most notably the Bo Nix-led passing game — it continues to look as if the Tigers should have one of the better defenses in the SEC this season.

The biggest defensive concern heading into camp was the line, but it sounds as if the group has been a bright spot to this point of camp. Kansas transfer Marcus Harris, sophomore Colby Wooden and senior TD Moultry were mentioned to On3 as three guys up front who have been particularly impressive.

On3 also has heard good things about senior linebacker Chandler Wooten, who is back and “on a different mission” after opting out last season. He’s in line to be a contributor at linebacker along with potential early-round 2022 NFL Draft picks Owen Pappoe and Zakoby McClain.

Who are Auburn’s top receivers?

One of the main objectives for the new Tigers offensive staff has been finding starters at wide receiver after losing the top three players from last year’s group. Sophomore Ja’Varrius Johnson and senior Shedrick Jackson are among the guys who seem to be standing out most in camp.

Johnson is a former four-star recruit who also received good reviews during the spring. Jackson, the nephew of Tigers and NFL legend Bo Jackson, is the most experienced player in Auburn’s receiver corps. He started seven games last season and had six catches for 84 yards.