We’ve offered well over 200 high school players for 2017. I have no idea how many of those are serious, committable offers. Regardless, quite a few are to players who would obviously be “great gets.” But, seriously, 4 and 5 star recruits with offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame, and 20+ other P5 programs are HIGHLY unlikely to come to Tulane. Louisiana kids with LSU offers are in the same category. It’s always a possibility, but not probable. So, in reviewing highlights from all of our “offerees” I’ve put together a list of kids who I think are underappreciated by the recruiting services and/or college recruiters. Of course, unlike those recruiters, I haven’t weighed them, timed them, measured them, or interviewed them. And I’m not aware of any academic or legal circumstances that would disqualify them from consideration. They simply look pretty good to me. Whether any of them are seriously considering the Wave or high on Coach Fritz’s list is also a mystery. Anyway, to my list:
Will Wallace is a DE/TE from Natchez, MS. He’s received one P5 offer from Kansas and a number of G5 offers. He’s generally listed as 6’5” and about 245#. If you look at his highlights (http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2980595/highlights/321308398), he’s a terror at defensive end and a ferocious blocker on offense. At a recent Rivals camp, he showed what he can do as a receiver also (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwkGBqfVcj4). It starts at about the 1 minute point. In a recent tweet he commented, “loved my visit to Tulane.” I’d love to get him, though the “squeamish” might be turned off since he’s rated only a 2 star by Rivals and Scout, and receives the standard 3 stars from 247. My guess is that he’ll receive many more offers; I hope we get him.
Gregory White is a lanky 6’3, 180# WR from Riverdale, GA. He purportedly runs a 4.5 40. I’d guess it’s closer to 4.6. From his highlights (http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2828592/highlights/331271433), he uses his size and body well against smaller defenders and blocks well downfield. He’s received one P5 offer from North Carolina and several G5 offers, but looks like the kind of player Coach Fritz would like. He’s rated a 3 star by 247 (nothing new there) but a 2 star by Scout and Rivals.
Andre Landry, is a good sized DT at 6’5” 260#, who also plays TE on offense for a good Acadiana team. He is either ignored or has no rating from any of the recruiting services but placed at #48 in James Smith’s most recent “Nifty 50” of Louisiana recruits. I haven’t seen a 40 time on him but he looks pretty quick on his highlights playing both DT and DE (http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3905835/highlights/307380386). He also plays TE but I’ve seen no film at that position. He has offers from Texas Tech and Kansas State and several G5 schools. We need at least one more DT and I’d be happy with him.
Da’Vontavean Martin is from Houma (Ellender HS) and is another lanky WR at 6’4,” 170#. He uses his height to advantage on “jump balls” and when covered one on one near the goal line, the matchup is laughingly unfair. In his highlights (http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3305159/highlights/308966423), he also takes a direct snap out of the shotgun and in another receives a backwards “pass” that he then completes for a long gain downfield. He appears a little “raw” but his height and speed make him a good prospect in my view. He’s currently unrated by Scout, ESPN, and 247 and receives 2 stars from Rivals and has no P5 offers. I think he’s being overlooked.
Shahid Reece, is a linebacker from Brother Martin who is listed at 6’0” and 220#. He’s received the standard 3 stars from 247 and 2 stars from Rivals while not being rated by Scout or ESPN. He’s also received little recruiting interest other than Tulane and a couple of other G5 schools. But, on his highlights (http://www.hudl.com/athlete/4409838/highlights/297886467), he avoids blockers and runs to the ball well. He also makes several nice interceptions off of “tipped balls.” He reminds me a lot of Eric Thomas, which isn’t all bad. He’s probably not quite 6’0” but I think he would make a good signee.
Kayce Medlock, is a smallish RB at 5’9” and 186# from Arp, TX. He ran a 4.40 40 at a combine and in his highlights is clearly the fastest man on the field; he runs away from everyone. He is primarily used as wing back (slot back?) in a double wing T formation though he sometimes takes a direct snap from a shotgun formation. He’s rated a high 3 star by Rivals and a 2 star by Scout while receiving the standard 3 stars from 247 and no notice from ESPN. The best I can tell, he’s receive one P5 offer from Colorado and several G5 offers, including, obviously, Tulane. He looks good to me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7nWr31_RXA
Avery Showell is a really good-sized DB at 6’2” and 195# from Alpharetta, GA. He purportedly runs a 4.50 40 and his highlights support something in that range. He’s rated a 3 star by Scout but is unrated, though listed, by the other three services. He also has a number of P5 offers from the likes of Minnesota, West Virginia, Wake Forest, and Rutgers-- schools we must start defeating in the recruiting game. Most of his highlights show him at safety though he occasionally moves into a “cover” corner position. He appears to be a solid tackler and makes some nice plays on throws in his zone. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3986901/highlights/286771379
Chris Ross is from Enterprise, AL. At 6’1” and 195#, he plays strong safety and outside linebacker in his highlights (http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3851096/highlights/315632382). In those he shows explosive speed (claims a 4.43 40) and terrific reactions and coverage skills as well as solid tackling. He’s rated a 2 star by Scout and I haven’t found him in the data provided by the other three services, so he’s relatively unknown, though he has offers from the likes of Southern Miss and others in the G5 schools.
I really haven’t found any “diamonds in the rough” at QB or Offensive Line though, from what I’ve seen, both Ledford at QB and Charlie Clark at OL, two of our commitments, would qualify. We certainly have offered some highly thought of QB’s and OL’s, so those key positions still have many possibilities.
Anyway, Roll Wave!!
Will Wallace is a DE/TE from Natchez, MS. He’s received one P5 offer from Kansas and a number of G5 offers. He’s generally listed as 6’5” and about 245#. If you look at his highlights (http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2980595/highlights/321308398), he’s a terror at defensive end and a ferocious blocker on offense. At a recent Rivals camp, he showed what he can do as a receiver also (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwkGBqfVcj4). It starts at about the 1 minute point. In a recent tweet he commented, “loved my visit to Tulane.” I’d love to get him, though the “squeamish” might be turned off since he’s rated only a 2 star by Rivals and Scout, and receives the standard 3 stars from 247. My guess is that he’ll receive many more offers; I hope we get him.
Gregory White is a lanky 6’3, 180# WR from Riverdale, GA. He purportedly runs a 4.5 40. I’d guess it’s closer to 4.6. From his highlights (http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2828592/highlights/331271433), he uses his size and body well against smaller defenders and blocks well downfield. He’s received one P5 offer from North Carolina and several G5 offers, but looks like the kind of player Coach Fritz would like. He’s rated a 3 star by 247 (nothing new there) but a 2 star by Scout and Rivals.
Andre Landry, is a good sized DT at 6’5” 260#, who also plays TE on offense for a good Acadiana team. He is either ignored or has no rating from any of the recruiting services but placed at #48 in James Smith’s most recent “Nifty 50” of Louisiana recruits. I haven’t seen a 40 time on him but he looks pretty quick on his highlights playing both DT and DE (http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3905835/highlights/307380386). He also plays TE but I’ve seen no film at that position. He has offers from Texas Tech and Kansas State and several G5 schools. We need at least one more DT and I’d be happy with him.
Da’Vontavean Martin is from Houma (Ellender HS) and is another lanky WR at 6’4,” 170#. He uses his height to advantage on “jump balls” and when covered one on one near the goal line, the matchup is laughingly unfair. In his highlights (http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3305159/highlights/308966423), he also takes a direct snap out of the shotgun and in another receives a backwards “pass” that he then completes for a long gain downfield. He appears a little “raw” but his height and speed make him a good prospect in my view. He’s currently unrated by Scout, ESPN, and 247 and receives 2 stars from Rivals and has no P5 offers. I think he’s being overlooked.
Shahid Reece, is a linebacker from Brother Martin who is listed at 6’0” and 220#. He’s received the standard 3 stars from 247 and 2 stars from Rivals while not being rated by Scout or ESPN. He’s also received little recruiting interest other than Tulane and a couple of other G5 schools. But, on his highlights (http://www.hudl.com/athlete/4409838/highlights/297886467), he avoids blockers and runs to the ball well. He also makes several nice interceptions off of “tipped balls.” He reminds me a lot of Eric Thomas, which isn’t all bad. He’s probably not quite 6’0” but I think he would make a good signee.
Kayce Medlock, is a smallish RB at 5’9” and 186# from Arp, TX. He ran a 4.40 40 at a combine and in his highlights is clearly the fastest man on the field; he runs away from everyone. He is primarily used as wing back (slot back?) in a double wing T formation though he sometimes takes a direct snap from a shotgun formation. He’s rated a high 3 star by Rivals and a 2 star by Scout while receiving the standard 3 stars from 247 and no notice from ESPN. The best I can tell, he’s receive one P5 offer from Colorado and several G5 offers, including, obviously, Tulane. He looks good to me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7nWr31_RXA
Avery Showell is a really good-sized DB at 6’2” and 195# from Alpharetta, GA. He purportedly runs a 4.50 40 and his highlights support something in that range. He’s rated a 3 star by Scout but is unrated, though listed, by the other three services. He also has a number of P5 offers from the likes of Minnesota, West Virginia, Wake Forest, and Rutgers-- schools we must start defeating in the recruiting game. Most of his highlights show him at safety though he occasionally moves into a “cover” corner position. He appears to be a solid tackler and makes some nice plays on throws in his zone. http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3986901/highlights/286771379
Chris Ross is from Enterprise, AL. At 6’1” and 195#, he plays strong safety and outside linebacker in his highlights (http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3851096/highlights/315632382). In those he shows explosive speed (claims a 4.43 40) and terrific reactions and coverage skills as well as solid tackling. He’s rated a 2 star by Scout and I haven’t found him in the data provided by the other three services, so he’s relatively unknown, though he has offers from the likes of Southern Miss and others in the G5 schools.
I really haven’t found any “diamonds in the rough” at QB or Offensive Line though, from what I’ve seen, both Ledford at QB and Charlie Clark at OL, two of our commitments, would qualify. We certainly have offered some highly thought of QB’s and OL’s, so those key positions still have many possibilities.
Anyway, Roll Wave!!