Are you sure you’re ready for yet another all-star game preview? I’m not even sure if I am, but The Battle of Florida has been getting the most attention on the Internet this week, despite being in its first year and not getting a ton of media coverage.
There have been hundreds of scouts at every practice, so make sure you are watching Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. EST on Fox College Sports.
Most Impressive: Ryan Davis, DE, Bethune Cookman
I saw Ryan Davis live in Atlanta at the HBCU Bowl, and he was nothing short of dominant. He has reportedly continued that dominance down in Boca Raton this week. He has faced some stiffer competition this week, but has continued to shine through.
A big game could help solidify a draftable grade.
Most Intriguing: Buddy Jackson, CB, Pittsburgh
Anytime you have a bigger CB listed on a roster, you immediately have people’s attention. So when Jackson came in at 6’1″, 185 lbs., many people were intrigued and wanted to see if it could carry over to the field. Well, per the reports, he certain it certainly has.
Jackson has showed off some very good speed and ability, which is making many wonder why he struggled to get playing time at Pitt.
Most Unknown: Chris Hart, QB, Webber International
The star of the show this week has been Chris Hart. The unknown QB out of the NAIA level has showed off an incredible arm to go along with his great size (6’3″, 224 lbs.) and some impressive athleticism.
Hart came into this game with absolutely nobody knowing his name. Heck, I’d barely seen him and I specialize in watching small school football. He has wowed time and time again this week, though, and was especially impressive when he threw an 80-yard bomb to Deonte Thompson all in the air.
Most to Lose: Deonte Thompson, WR, Florida
I know what you’re thinking, that I have to be kidding, right? I’m not.
Look at this way: Thompson’s stock is a disaster right now. He played two years with QBs who couldn’t hit him consistently, and right now, he’s on the outside looking in. On the positive side, a big game to capitalize on a good week probably moves him into draftable territory. However, a poor game almost ensures he won’t get drafted. That’s never good for a player who has been stuck in a bad situation.
Most to Gain: Elliot Henigan, DT, UAB
Here’s another name not a lot of people know but are interested in after he crushed the weigh-in. Coming in at 6’5″, 311 lbs., Henigan showed off some size we that weren’t all that sure he had. He has shown enough this week to make people wonder about his versatility.
Right now, I know of two people who see him in totally separate positions on the football field and yet a third who wonders about his ability to play yet another. For me, Henigan needs to establish himself in this game before we get too far ahead of ourselves. But as you can tell from the chatter, his stock is trending up.
