I was in Dallas to cover the Dallas 7v7 Pylon event this weekend. Here are some thoughts from the event.
*** The more I watch four-star 2022 Chicago (Ill.) St. Rita athlete Kaleb Brown, the more I love him. This dude is a better version of AJ Henning and the type of player that is taking over college football. Brown is built like a running back and excels at the position for St. Rita. But he's an elite route runner, never drops a pass and is absolutely deadly out of the slot. Brown was dominant against Power Five prospects from down South, looking faster and quicker than most. I see a lot of Golden Tate in Brown (yes, I know he's Irish :eye roll: but he's a former Lion!) and believe he's in an instant impact player at the next level, especially in an offense like Michigan's.
*** Fellow four-star 2022 wide receiver Tyler Morris was the best player at the tournament on Day 1 (Brown was the best on Day 2). The La Grange Park (Ill.) Nazareth Academy product is more of a pure receiver but definitely a guy that can bounce from the outside into the slot. Like Brown, Morris is an elite route runner, has soft hands and is extremely athletic. His ability to high point the ball is off the charts. While he still needs to add weight, his body control and vertical allow him to play bigger than he is. Morris also has great speed and knows how to find soft spots in the defense. Also like Brown, Morris dominated against P5 defensive backs down South.
*** Morris and Brown were the only two recruits with offers at the event. However, four-star 2022 Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy wide receiver Sam Mbake is firmly on the radar. Like I reported yesterday, Mbake had a video chat with Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, offensive coordinator Josh Gattis and quarterback commit JJ McCarthy, who is teaming up with him at IMG this fall. I'm surprised Michigan hasn't offered, to be completely honest. McCarthy texted me and asked me how he was doing the tournament, and it's clear he wants to recruit Mbake to Michigan. At 6-foot-3, 193 pounds, Mbake is your prototypical big receiver on the outside. He's physical, a big red zone target and has adequate speed.
Very quickly...
*** Michigan has sent out a lot of offers at national powerhouse Duncanville (Texas) High, so the Wolverines should jump on 2023 quarterback Chris Parson. He led his team to a championship win and will be the starter at Duncanville next season. He's a little on the shorter side, but he checks all the boxes. He holds early offers from Iowa, Kansas and Virginia Tech.
*** One of the more intriguing prospects at the event was 2023 St. Louis (Mo.) Ladue Horton Watkins athlete Samuel M'Pemba. At 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, M'Pemba is a massive prospect (he's probably bigger than listed) and could turn into a tight end or defensive end at the next level. I would offer him on potential alone. He has scholarships in hand from Texas and Texas A&M.
*** Another 2023 prospect to know is DeSoto (Texas) High athlete Jhontay Cook II. He is from the same school that produced Michigan defensive backs German and Gemon Green. He has good height at 6-feet and is a long athlete. He can play wide receiver or corner at the next level and already holds offers from Auburn, Nebraska, Texas A&M and others.
*** The more I watch four-star 2022 Chicago (Ill.) St. Rita athlete Kaleb Brown, the more I love him. This dude is a better version of AJ Henning and the type of player that is taking over college football. Brown is built like a running back and excels at the position for St. Rita. But he's an elite route runner, never drops a pass and is absolutely deadly out of the slot. Brown was dominant against Power Five prospects from down South, looking faster and quicker than most. I see a lot of Golden Tate in Brown (yes, I know he's Irish :eye roll: but he's a former Lion!) and believe he's in an instant impact player at the next level, especially in an offense like Michigan's.
*** Fellow four-star 2022 wide receiver Tyler Morris was the best player at the tournament on Day 1 (Brown was the best on Day 2). The La Grange Park (Ill.) Nazareth Academy product is more of a pure receiver but definitely a guy that can bounce from the outside into the slot. Like Brown, Morris is an elite route runner, has soft hands and is extremely athletic. His ability to high point the ball is off the charts. While he still needs to add weight, his body control and vertical allow him to play bigger than he is. Morris also has great speed and knows how to find soft spots in the defense. Also like Brown, Morris dominated against P5 defensive backs down South.
*** Morris and Brown were the only two recruits with offers at the event. However, four-star 2022 Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy wide receiver Sam Mbake is firmly on the radar. Like I reported yesterday, Mbake had a video chat with Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, offensive coordinator Josh Gattis and quarterback commit JJ McCarthy, who is teaming up with him at IMG this fall. I'm surprised Michigan hasn't offered, to be completely honest. McCarthy texted me and asked me how he was doing the tournament, and it's clear he wants to recruit Mbake to Michigan. At 6-foot-3, 193 pounds, Mbake is your prototypical big receiver on the outside. He's physical, a big red zone target and has adequate speed.
Very quickly...
*** Michigan has sent out a lot of offers at national powerhouse Duncanville (Texas) High, so the Wolverines should jump on 2023 quarterback Chris Parson. He led his team to a championship win and will be the starter at Duncanville next season. He's a little on the shorter side, but he checks all the boxes. He holds early offers from Iowa, Kansas and Virginia Tech.
*** One of the more intriguing prospects at the event was 2023 St. Louis (Mo.) Ladue Horton Watkins athlete Samuel M'Pemba. At 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, M'Pemba is a massive prospect (he's probably bigger than listed) and could turn into a tight end or defensive end at the next level. I would offer him on potential alone. He has scholarships in hand from Texas and Texas A&M.
*** Another 2023 prospect to know is DeSoto (Texas) High athlete Jhontay Cook II. He is from the same school that produced Michigan defensive backs German and Gemon Green. He has good height at 6-feet and is a long athlete. He can play wide receiver or corner at the next level and already holds offers from Auburn, Nebraska, Texas A&M and others.
