First look at Maryland’s 2027 ranked prospects: Part 7

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'll be giving my first evaluation on ranked prospects in the Class of 2027 over the next several weeks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's Part 7.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2107865"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69af4eb525613"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Barkus is a cornerback who trusts his instincts, which allows him to make plays on the ball. Early in his highlights, he shows discipline near the goal line. He stays in his zone and intercepts a pass, intended for a running back running a wheel route, in the back of the endzone. He highlights that he is in zone coverage a lot and capitalizes on poor quarterback throws, recording a couple of interceptions. There are also several reps where Barkus closes quickly on out and flat routes and ends up either causing an incompletion or limiting yards after the catch. Barkus is strong in zone coverage and shows good playmaking ability when the ball is in the air. At 6-1, that's nice, lengthy for a cornerback. Would like to see more reps of him in true man coverage against vertical routes. At 150 pounds, he'll want to keep getting stronger and put on a little more weight. Right now, his best fit would be a program that emphasizes zone play.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2107866"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69af4eb5256c2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ebongue primarily lines up at defensive end but shows some positional flexibility in his highlights. On his opening play, he takes on a guard, sheds the block quickly, and finishes the tackle at the line of scrimmage. There are a couple of plays where Ebongue does a good job with his run fits and finishes tackles when he gets to the ball carrier. You also get a good idea of what he looks like in pursuit of a play where he tracks down a running back and makes the tackles. As I mentioned earlier, he can be seen lining up on the edge or more along the interior. I like Ebongue's gap shooting ability. There are a few plays where he is unblocked beteween the guard and tackle, enabling him to attack the open gap quickly and make plays from behind. He definitely has a motor and is active around the football. Most of the plays come in run support. Would like to see more pass-rush reps, particularly those where there's an attempt to block him. I'd also like to see more reps of him actually coming off the edge to get a better idea of what his pass-rush arsenal looks like. I think more plays like this would dramatically improve how recruiters evaluate him. His best fit at the next level would be at strong-side defensive end. Ebongue's film shows most of his impact coming in run defense situations, which is a major responsibility of a strong-side end.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2107872"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69af4eb52573b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kareem Oyekan brings real big-play upside to the table. His length, ball skills, and ability to win down the field stand out in his highlights. At 6-foot-2, he's a long, reliable target who looks comfortable attacking vertically and making plays in the red zone. You consistently see him track the ball well in the air and finish through contact. That's clearly evident on the fades and contested throws that he makes plays on. He does a solid job of tracking the ball on vertical routes. There's a nice over-the-shoulder grab that he makes that demonstrates that.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oyken comes down with multiple touchdowns on fades and slants. He does a good job of using his body control and length to win at the catch point. In the red zone, as I alluded to earlier, he's a proven scoring threat.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not to nitpick, and it's not his fault, but I'd like to see him run a few more different routes (mostly fades, slants, and posts). I'd like to see him identify himself in his highlights before the play starts as well. During this off-season, he'll want to continue to work on his speed to get even more separation and put on some additional weight to his frame.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">All that being said, he's a vertical threat, a red-zone target, and can make explosive plays when given the opportunity. He'd be a nice fit in a vertical/air raid system at the next level.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2107873"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69af4eb5257a8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Clark has a lot of good things for him, specifically when it comes to pass protection and his ability to finish. On multiple pass protection reps, he demonstrates the ability to square up edge rushers and redirect their path. There's one play where he rides the defender completely out of the pocket. Another rep shows him mirroring a rusher effectively before finishing the rep with a pancake. Clark's film also shows him locking on and stonewalling a pass rusher. He does a solid job on a couple of combo-blocks as well. In the run game, his point-of-attack aggressiveness is there. At his size, I'd like to see him really move people out of the way. I think some of his better plays are later in the highlights because it's constructed that way. I'd like to see him put his true best 5-10 plays at the front of the highlights. Coaches will also want to see how he looks pulling, trapping, and working in space on perimeter runs.&nbsp;<br><br><br><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->