Two who will be stars
Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2002 5:31 pmThere are two guys out there that any of you who are into recruiting already know about. They are viewed as strong prospects by most high school coaching staffs, but they would be bona fide stars at SMU, where Coach Bennett's systems would allow them to thrive.
1. The first, and the one player who I think should be the #1 priority on the SMU recruiting list, is offensive lineman Jorrie Adams (6-6, 285, 4.
of Jasper, Texas. His height and weight jump off the page at you, but the number that makes coaches drool is that 4.8 in the 40. For a player of his size, that's exceptionally quick. There are lots of tight ends and linebackers, and even a few running backs (OK, slow ones) who can't move like that. I've seen Adams play in person, and he's incredibly light on his feet. When he pulls on a sweep, he runs about as fast as the running back he's leading, and defenses have very little chance of getting to the running back until he's picked up considerable yardage. Adams is the type of player that defensive coordinators gameplan for, when it's usually the other way around.
2. Quarterback James Battle (6-0, 180, 4.6) of Denton (Ryan) is tailor-made for the Kansas State-turned-SMU offense that Coach Bennett brings down from Manhattan to Dallas. As a passer, he has a deceptively strong arm, whether it's on a deep ball or when delivering mid-range passes that require the ball to be delivered with velocity (he can throw most crossing patterns and even the "deep out" route). He sets his feet very quickly, whether he's in a three-step, five-step or seven-step drops. Really deep passes are still something of a heave (read: "erratic") for Battle, but he throws all the short and mid-range passes with zip and accuracy. But Battle also is a serious threat as a runner - enough so that some view him as a WR, DB or RB prospect. He plays faster than his 4.6 and he can stop on a dime and change direction instantly. What makes his speed dangerous is that his acceleration is unmatched - he hits top speed in about two or three steps. Remember watching Michael Bishop at K-State? Same kind of player, although Battle doesn't (yet) have Bishop's canon arm. But he can freeze oncoming pass rushers with a series of head- and hip-fakes and be gone downfield before the second wave of defenders realizes what's happened. Battle is a special talent and has a very bright future.
1. The first, and the one player who I think should be the #1 priority on the SMU recruiting list, is offensive lineman Jorrie Adams (6-6, 285, 4.
of Jasper, Texas. His height and weight jump off the page at you, but the number that makes coaches drool is that 4.8 in the 40. For a player of his size, that's exceptionally quick. There are lots of tight ends and linebackers, and even a few running backs (OK, slow ones) who can't move like that. I've seen Adams play in person, and he's incredibly light on his feet. When he pulls on a sweep, he runs about as fast as the running back he's leading, and defenses have very little chance of getting to the running back until he's picked up considerable yardage. Adams is the type of player that defensive coordinators gameplan for, when it's usually the other way around.
2. Quarterback James Battle (6-0, 180, 4.6) of Denton (Ryan) is tailor-made for the Kansas State-turned-SMU offense that Coach Bennett brings down from Manhattan to Dallas. As a passer, he has a deceptively strong arm, whether it's on a deep ball or when delivering mid-range passes that require the ball to be delivered with velocity (he can throw most crossing patterns and even the "deep out" route). He sets his feet very quickly, whether he's in a three-step, five-step or seven-step drops. Really deep passes are still something of a heave (read: "erratic") for Battle, but he throws all the short and mid-range passes with zip and accuracy. But Battle also is a serious threat as a runner - enough so that some view him as a WR, DB or RB prospect. He plays faster than his 4.6 and he can stop on a dime and change direction instantly. What makes his speed dangerous is that his acceleration is unmatched - he hits top speed in about two or three steps. Remember watching Michael Bishop at K-State? Same kind of player, although Battle doesn't (yet) have Bishop's canon arm. But he can freeze oncoming pass rushers with a series of head- and hip-fakes and be gone downfield before the second wave of defenders realizes what's happened. Battle is a special talent and has a very bright future.