Blue-Grey Regional Combine: Southwest Scouting Report (2015)

From left to right, Anthonie Thomas, Israel Allen, Adrian Harris and Nate Thompson were among the many prospects who did well at the recent Blue-Grey Regional Combine in Texas.

Similar to past workouts, seemingly everywhere you looked at this past weekend’s Blue-Grey Regional Combine in Texas, there was a well-known NFL veteran who was more than willing to share his knowledge about the game.

Mark McMillian, George Teague, Arlen Harris, Tony Banks, Jerrod Black and Larry Ryans were a few of the many one-time professionals in attendance at the workout. Each individual, of course, was there to instruct. Essentially give back.

When all was said and done, over the course of the two-day event at University of Texas at Arlington, multiple prospects left a lasting impression on the powers that be. So, without further delay, here’s an inside look at the best of the best.

Paten Snell, QB, Scurry-Rosser (TX): Fresh off a visit to SMU the day before, the 6-foot-3 and 180-pound junior did not miss a beat. He proved to be one of the top players at his position.

Deshun Qualls, QB, Jersey Village (TX): The 5-11 and 160-pound junior was about as athletic as they come. Whether it was skills testing, or one-on-ones, he impressed. Worth mentioning, schools from Conference USA are interested.

Jaylon Gipson, QB, Mexia (TX): An underclassman, the 6-2 and 195-pound sophomore possesses upside and wasn’t overshadowed by his experienced counterparts. Given time, he could develop into the best of the whole bunch.

Kishawn Kelley, QB, Corsicana (TX): The 6-3 and 200-pound sophomore is another up-and-comer to keep a close eye on. A year, or two, from now, we would not be the least bit surprised to see several colleges jump on the bandwagon.

Caleb Dabney, QB, South Garland (TX): Eager and often fearless, the 5-9 and 160-pound freshman opened up plenty of eyes. Fellow ninth-grader, Cole Reeves from Shelton (TX) did a good job of putting his name on the proverbial map.

Jarod Blissett, QB, Carthage (TX): The 6-1 and 225-pound junior was expected to do well in this kind of setting and he delivered. The same thing can be said about Stone Johnson from John Tyler (TX) and Cade Pearson from Texas (TX).

Jared Wyatt, WR, Wylie East (TX): With a buzz surrounding him on the recruiting scene, expectations were high for the 6-2 and 185-pound junior. He didn’t disappoint. A handful of teams from the Big 12 Conference have contacted him.

Beau Corrales, WR, Georgetown (TX): The 6-3 and 195-pound sophomore did not allow a lingering injury to trouble him. Closer and closer to a full recovery, he played through the pain and impressed. Once healthy, sky’s the limit.

Blake George, WR, Humble (TX): Fighting for reps throughout, the 5-10 and 185-pound junior made the most of his opportunities. Justin Bailey from Wylie East (TX) and Justice Bean from Frankston (TX) fell into the same category.

Taylor O’Neal-Givens, RB, Shelton (TX): The 5-foot-10 and 182-pound junior turned out to be the top player at his spot in the field. Not surprisingly, he has been in contact with programs from the Big 12 Conference, most notably from TCU.

Brett Bloodworth, TE, Mansfield Legacy (TX): A big target, particularly down around the red zone, the 6-2 and 190-pound junior developed into a favorite of the signal-callers. In the air, naturally, he had a distinct advantage over his opponents.

Jack Lechman, LB, Mansfield Lake Ridge (TX): The 6-1 and 225-pound junior had a motor that did not stop. He went full-speed from start to finish, and afterward, the coaching staff had nothing but good things to say about his effort.

Keith Bazzle, LB, Cedar Ridge (TX): Never one to back down from any challenge, the 6-foot and 200-pound junior went toe-to-toe with everyone lined up across from him. More times than not, he ended up as the winner of the exchange.

Jacobi Watkins, LB, Sam Houston (TX): The 6-foot and 185-pound junior is a hybrid and can also play safety. Kolby Hall from Perryton (TX), Dalton Bartel from Muenster (TX) and Matthew Montgomery from La Vernia (TX) also did well.

Eric Brewington, DB, Manor (TX): Plenty of hype surrounded the 5-11 and 170-pound junior before things got started. He delivered on the advanced billing. Teams from the American Athletic Conference, among others, have reached out to him.

Broderick Jones, DB, Summer Creek (TX): The 5-9 and 178-pound junior caught the attention of many with a sub 4.4 second time in the 40-yard dash. All eyes, naturally, remained on him during the one-on-ones as he took on all customers.

Corey Hightower, DB, Huntsville (TX): A relative unknown on the whole recruiting landscape, the perception of the 6-foot and 170-pound junior will likely soon change once words starts to spread about his success in this type of environment.

Shamad Lomax, DB, Copperas Cove (TX): The 5-10 and 180-pound junior with interest from Kansas State proved capable of locking down receivers in bump-and-run coverage. He was equally effective when he played off wideouts, too.

Anthonie Thomas, OL, Madison (TX): A man among boys in most situations, the 6-8 and 330-pound junior excelled during the individual drills. Baylor, Nebraska, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma State remain in constant contact. Rightfully so.

Nate Thompson, OL, Sachse (TX): The 6-6 and 315-pound junior was a nightmare that most defensive lineman on hand won’t soon forget about. Auburn, Oklahoma, Notre Dame, Texas A&M and Wisconsin continue to keep a close eye on him.

Israel Allen, OL, Goose Creek Memorial (TX): Big, quick and strong, the 6-4 and 315-pound junior nearly stole the show despite the presence of his high-profile peers. It’s only a mere matter of time before the national exposure increases.

Adrian Harris, OL, John Tyler (TX): The 6-2 and 290-pound junior did not get lost in shuffle, although others might have done so with collection of talent surrounding him on the field. Instead, he went out and handled his business.

Troy Elliott, OL, Flower Mound (TX): No slouch and intense as they come, the 6-5 and 298-pound junior competed from the first whistle until the final one. Similarly, Nate Hanna from Sabinan (TX) made quite a name for himself.

Ryan Becker, DL, Marble Falls (TX): The 6-5 and 225-pound junior was without peer on the defensive side. Cant forget to mention he landed his first offer the day before, from UTSA. Colorado, Kansas and Arkansas are potential suitors, as well.

Pierre Leonard, DL, John Tyler (TX): Somewhat undersized by many people’s unfair standards, the 5-11 and 245-pound junior didn’t let a perceived lack of height stop him from making an impact. He gave opponents a run for their money.