NC Future Stars: Class of 2027 Practice Standouts
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The Future Stars Game features many of the nation’s top talent. The 2022 version of this game features athletes in the 8th grade (2026), 7th grade (2027) and 6th grade (class of 2028) in the states from Georgia, Florida, North…
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Continue ReadingThe Future Stars Game features many of the nation’s top talent. The 2022 version of this game features athletes in the 8th grade (2026), 7th grade (2027) and 6th grade (class of 2028) in the states from Georgia, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina. Below, here’s a look at the athletes that stood out from the North Carolina seventh-grade team during the practices.
Akedran Crumel | Wide Receiver/Defensive Back | 2027
Crumel is a big, two-way skill guy has the ability to be a difference-maker. Listed on the roster at 5-foot-11 and 150 pounds, he’s an impressive looking kid for just being in the seventh grade. Moves around the field extremely smoothly. Does a nice job of catching the ball with this hands and makes every play look natural and easy. I didn’t know of Crumel until this week, but glad I saw him live.
Christian Freeman | Linebacker | 2027
It was difficult to identify prospects without a number and with their helmets on from practice-to-practice. However, after going through my pictures and notes, I found that I wrote down Freeman’s name twice—meaning I liked what I saw on multiple days. Not the biggest, but well put-together. Very active Linebacker who was consistently in a position to make a tackle.
Cooper Overfield | Offensive Line | 2027
Overfield looked to be every bit of 6-foot-2 or 6-foot-3 and 230 pounds. A long, lean two-way lineman, I can see him coming into his own as an Offensive Tackle. Right now, not explosive enough to be a Defensive Lineman or a Tight End, for that matter. However, has a promising frame that can be worked with. Better feet than I expected. But needs to add strength and quickness to reach his highest ceiling.
Davion Jones | Defensive Back | 2027
Jones stood out pretty quickly as a Safety during defensive install periods and 1-on-1’s. He’s on the roster at 5-foot-7 and 115 pounds but looked significantly taller than that on the field. He’s a long kid who covered a ton of ground at a quick rate in the secondary. Did a nice job of high-pointing the football and overwhelming receivers with his length.
Demari Ruth | Defensive Line | 2027
In my opinion, the best player involved in the North Carolina Future Stars program in 2022—regardless of age. Throughout the practices and into the actual games he was special. During a live period at practice versus the eighth-grade team, Ruth got into the backfield quickly. Then, in the same motion, wrapped up the Quarterback while stripping the ball and running into the end zone for a touchdown.
Amari Broome | Defensive Line | 2027
Broome had a pretty good week of practice for the North Carolina Future Stars. Physically he wasn’t the biggest, strongest or fastest, but he did his job on the interior defensive line. The seventh-grade team was a nice mix of athletes and space-eaters, and the 5-foot-10, 210-pound Broome was somewhere in the middle. Has a long way to go, but has an encouraging showing at practices.
Joshua Moore | Offensive Line | 2027
Had very good size at an estimated 6-foot-2 and 240 pounds. A yes sir, no sir type of kid who was clearly out there competing and trying to do the best he could. Took snaps primarily at Guard but also had some reps at Center. Has room to improve his feet but has the size and football IQ coaches would like to work with as he moves forward.
Lance Henderson | Wide Receiver | 2027
Listed on the roster at 5-foot-9 and 156 pounds, Henderson looked the part of a talented athlete early and often during the week of practices. Long arms helped him consistently catch balls, on both offense and defense, at its highest point. Showed a competitive streak throughout the week. Certainly, has a shot to be something if he continues to develop.
Myles Eatmon | Running Back | 2027
Eatmon took nearly every snap at Running Back for North Carolina during the week. Listed at 5-foot-9 and 190 pounds on the roster, I don’t think those measurements are too far off. He’s a very compact, solid Running Back who punishes would be tacklers. Doesn’t have the track star speed at this point, but easily picks up the tough yards between the tackles. Also played Linebacker on defense.
Nicholas Rankin | Quarterback | 2027
It was pretty evident to see very early that Rankin was going to be the catalyst to the North Carolina Future Stars offense. Listed at 5-foot-10 and 145 pounds on the roster, Rankin was a one-man show throughout the week at practice. He took every snap for the bulk of the week and consistently beat the defense with his arms and legs.
Talik Mccollum | Wide Receiver | 2027
One of, if not the, go-to target for the North Carolina offense at the Wide Receiver position. Throughout practices they moved McCollum around frequently and used him in motion a good bit. The offense seemed to revolve around where he lined up at the time of the snap. Ran some good routes and looked a bit more advanced than others.
Tristan Freeman | Defensive Back | 2027
When coaches asked the skill group if there were any pure, lockdown corners in the group, Freeman raised his hand confidently. The light-footed Cornerback has some obvious room for development, but I liked his fundamentals. Stayed low in his back pedal and didn’t allow for his. Eyes to get stuck in the backfield.