AYF All-Star Practice: Initial Reactions on East Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last Thursday and Friday I got the opportunity to check out three practices leading up to the AYF National All-Star Game, which was played on Saturday in conjunction with Pro Bowl weekend. There were nearly 60 kids from AYF-sanctioned teams that were selected and showed up to the prestigious event. While all the prospects in attendance have a very bright future in the sport, the six below really stood out to me during the practices <strong><em>before</em></strong> the game. We'll look at the position groups throughout the week, but we'll start out with the prospects who made the the biggest impression on me from the East Team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["551745"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Dennis is probably the most complete player I saw for the East team over the 3 practices I watched. Played both side of the ball in an Elite way and did not shy away from competition. It was hard to tell what his main position was because of how good he played at each of them. The Mississippi native has a bright future on both side of the ball.\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003eMade quick breaks at Db/WR. Can stop instantly on a dime and has great speed out of the break\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003eShorter player but makes up for it with speed and strength. His height causes no issue for him at all\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003eElite route runner. One of the best on team East \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003eIsn't afraid of contact and made good blocks on some bigger dudes \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003eMost Fundamentally sound player on the East team and possibly the field \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["690101"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Brown is another player on the East squad that caught my eye immediately. Probably one of the faster guys on the field he's another guy that played very well on both sides of the ball, but his speed off the line and in and out of breaks was elite. One of a few Jersey guys that impressed\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli style=\u0022font-weight: 400;\u0022\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022font-weight: 400;\u0022\u003eVery quick off the line \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli style=\u0022font-weight: 400;\u0022\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022font-weight: 400;\u0022\u003ehas good size right now standing at 5'10 \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli style=\u0022font-weight: 400;\u0022\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022font-weight: 400;\u0022\u003eKnows how to win routes with technique which makes him so good cause he's already got the speed \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli style=\u0022font-weight: 400;\u0022\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022font-weight: 400;\u0022\u003eIs a baller on both sides of the ball \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli\u003ecompeted in some very good 1v1 battles with Jamorie Dennis\u003c/li\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli\u003eoverall electric player to watch\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["409942"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Kemp reclassifying to 2029 raised his stock even more in my eyes. The fact that he has another year to develop before entering into high school is scary for opponents of the Brick City Lions. Theres not much more you can say that hasn't already been said about one of the best Rb's in New Jerseys 2029 class.\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003eHas great height right now and looks and runs strong \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli\u003eanother year before high school will allow him to put some more weight and muscle on\u003c/li\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003eGreat footwork in the backfield and can makes moves on defenders with ease \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003eShifty RB with great vision and power\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli\u003eoverall an elite RB who's only gonna get better\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["412080"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Shakir was the first kid I noticed when practice #1 started for the East. Being already 6'5 265 he's hard to miss being around other 2028 prospects. Although he was the biggest player on the field I quickly learned he is not big for no reason he's a dawg as an Offensive Tackle. One of a few guys from Maryland selected for the game, he impressed me with his size and athletic ability being so young with that frame.\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003eHuge kid and still very athletic\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli\u003efuture D1 offensive tackle. Already has the size to do so.\u003c/li\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003ecan move very well for his size\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1006508"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Varnado was another Mississippi native that impressed me with his strength and his ability to disrupt an Oline. Don't run up the middle with Varnado on the other side of the ball was my take away from watching him over all 3 practices.\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003eVery strong \u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli\u003ehas the ability to not only disrupt an Oline but has some speed to track down a QB in the backfield\u003c/li\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli\u003enot the tallest but very dominant on the interior Dline\u003c/li\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003eoverall Dawg on DL\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["969576"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Vernon was another Defensive Linemen that impressed me immediately. Along with Varnado was a dominant force for the oline, disrupting most run plays. Standing at 6'0 285 Vernon has an extremely bright future ahead of him. The Philly native has a few top high school programs in play right now with St. Joes prep, Roman Catholic, and Imhotep. Super excited to see what he does over the next couple years.\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003edominant DL\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003estrong/physical\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\r\n \t\u003cli style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003e\u003cspan style=\u0022font-weight: 400\u0022\u003eoverall dawg\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\r\n\u003c/ul\u003e","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65c1185ae3d3d"} /-->