Rising Stars MLK Camp Impressions

It's always nice to attend a quality camp this early in the offseason. It's a rare opportunity to watch great talent in the peak of Michigan winter. I'm happy to have seen so many prospects, particularly the class of 2027, showing out today. Right now, most colleges in Michigan are shifting focus to the class of 2027. Once the coaching carousel finally ends (most schools filling coordinator and position coach roles), it's all-in on 2027.   Below are my quick notes regarding seven standouts from today's camp.    Mason has been working hard on his craft for years now. I'm used to viewing Mason as a super high-upside yet very raw prospect. I hadn't seen Mason in person in a while, and let me tell you, he's clearly improved since the last time I saw him.   For one, he is slightly bigger. Not a huge jump, but Mason has gained a little muscle, which is a positive.   Second, Mason looks like a more fluid athlete. He did well in the testing portion, sporting above-average change of direction (COD) and explosiveness for his size. COD can still improve, and Mason had moments where he didn't get out of his break fast enough. Though he does look much improved as a DB.   I hope to see Mason continue playing both ways. I really like him as a high-upside DB in college.     LJ did his thing. During the testing portion, LJ easily set himself apart from the pack.   More important than testing, LJ was the best RB during the 1-on-1 portion. He's continuing to prove himself as a pass catcher, running clean, quick routes to all areas of the field. Great hands and runs routes like an elite high school slot WR.   I like LJ's upside in a West Coast offense. He's one of the few RBs I've scouted that I would call a receiving HB.     The #1 standout of the second session. Rayshawn had the best DBs lining up to go against him, and even against the best, Rayshawn prevailed.   Athletically, Rayshawn reminds me of a number of high school slot WRs. Great release, fast feet, and lots of double moves in his route tree. He's on par with athletes that I've seen attend MAC schools.   Most high school slot receivers struggle a little more than most when it comes to ball tracking, and many of them struggle with hands & eye discipline. Not Rayshawn. He's not afraid to run a corner, post, or fade, even against a much taller DB. Far above average hands, catch in traffic, and body control. Rayshawn looks like a complete WR, and I would not be shocked if he earned much more D1 attention this offseason.     It was nice to see Drew compete again. He's been at all the camps I've been to in the past few months, and others I didn't have the opportunity to attend. He's been everywhere, and schools are beginning to take notice.   If you haven't watched Drew yet, let me give another quick rundown. He's an OL/DL prospect with legit 6'4" 270 size, alongside above-average athleticism. That athleticism shows up, particularly when playing OT. Drew's feet are quick, and he's very quickly developing his punch, anchor, and all-around IQ. Defensively, there are moments of great getoff, and again, developing IQ.   Most people I've talked to see Drew as an offensive lineman at the next level. I lean that way, too. Though he absolutely has the frame to play just about anywhere on the defensive line. No matter what position he ends up playing in college, I do think Drew will receive GLIAC attention this Spring/Summer.     Shane has a unique skill set at receiver. He breaks the mold in a few ways.   For one, he's bigger, taller, and stronger than most other WRs. True 6'3"-6'4", with great strength for his age. He passes the eye test with flying colors.   Better yet, Shane plays up to his size. He looks like a true X receiver. I like his overall route-running, release, and athletic profile, but he can definitely improve in those areas. While he sometimes changes direction a tad too slow, he makes up for it by having great ball skills and hands. With a DB draped all over him, Shane was consistently able to snag the ball. Shane has consistently strong hands and does an incredible job of catching in traffic. I love Shane as an X WR or even TE in college.     Nico was a major standout! While I didn't see him a whole lot in the competition portion, I did shadow him throughout most of the testing period. In short, Nico easily had the best all-around athletic testing numbers in the RB group. My notes say Nico had a 36 inch vertical, 10ft broad jump, and 4.50 40 yard dash (with a lackluster start).   Perhaps the best overall tester from today. His testing will absolutely continue to turn heads. I would expect colleges to do their homework on Nico in the coming months.     I'm happy to finally get a quality in-person look at Dylan. First off, he passes the eye test. Amazing frame, and good muscle for his age. There's plenty of room to get stronger, and I hope he continues to hit the weight room in order to make the most of his amazing frame.   As for skill, he showed exactly what he showed on tape. Every once in a while, Dylan's explosiveness would pop. He had a few elite getoffs, blowing by some solid interior O-Linemen. Though, as I said, he only did this every once in a while. Dylan's getoff is pretty inconsistent.   In short, Dylan is an extremely high-upside DT. Continuing to upgrade strength and explosiveness is key to reaching his potential. You can already see the flashes!

It's always nice to attend a quality camp this early in the offseason. It's a rare opportunity to watch great talent in the peak of Michigan winter. I'm happy to have seen so many prospects, particularly the class of 2027, showing out today. Right now, most colleges in Michigan are shifting focus to the class of 2027. Once the coaching carousel finally ends (most schools filling coordinator and position coach roles), it's all-in on 2027.