Ok so as promised I'm going to first release a bunch to Top 5's via position. Again these are who I feel are the Top 5 recruits via each position. Please understand that these are not necessarily the Top 5 players per position. If you have any questions or need to understand better the differences feel free to post or email me anytime edgytim@edgytim.com I will run these out into a free story in a week or so, but in the meantime DO NOT release or republish on any social media whatsoever. Violating this request will automatically terminate your access to this board. Also note I'm basing position off of the Rivals.com database profiles...and if I feel someone could/should draw looks/offers at another spot I will make mention of it in the ranking.
Thanks
Top 5 Recruits Class of 2017: Tight Ends
Overall Position Grade: C+ Some great high level names right near the top, but then....not so much and just the overall number of recruitable tight ends is just low overall. Damn basketball...imagine if a third of all the 6-foot-4/6-foot-5 kids with athletic abilities decided to give football a try....we can dream can't we? So bottom line is the plus side for the high level of quality at the top...but the minus is the overall depth and lack of tight ends.
1. Cole Kmet St. Viator (6-foot-6, 240 pounds)- Again I make the same comparison at the tight end position as I did with the wide receivers....you can go either Marwede/Kmet or Kmet/Marwede and end up just fine. Kmet has been an even equally impressive story as Marwede. Kmet had a huge growth spur between his sophomore and junior season and just blossomed. Kmet on film plays in an offense that lets him show his ability to block while also showing his open field ability and potential. Kmet is a lock down blocker who will be a huge addition to any offense.ground game. You can't help but be impressed with Kmet's overall physicality and that also goes for his highlight tape on defense. Kmet has terrific hands and ball skills and can just go get the football. Only real negative I can tell is it's hard based off the film just how fast.downfield speed Kmet has but that also didn't stop several Power 5 schools from offering him. I guess that shouldn't bother me either.
My Guess on Cole Kmet College of Choice: Notre Dame verbal commitment
2. Jake Marwede Loyola Academy (6-foot-5, 238 pounds)- No difference from the Rivals position rankings yet as I've said many times... Josh and I can and will disagree on kids but just not here. I like Jake Marwede for several reasons, mainly that I've seen him alot live and I've had the chance to evaluate him often. Marwede is a terrific athlete with a combination of height, length, wing span and also what I feel is a pretty high level of ball skills. Marwede is again more of a West Coast off the line of scrimmage type of tight end, yet also has the ability to become a blocker and be a positive in the run game as well. Marwede was a quarterback up until last season for Loyola and just his overall knowledge level of the game is a real positive and that also shows in his play. Marwede is also a terrific kid on and off the field and is also a high level caliber student. Marwede I feel still has quite a bit of upside and growth left to do. I can see Marwede adding another 15-20 plus pounds while still being able to maintain his speed.
My Guess on Jake Marwede College of Choice: Duke verbal commitment
3. Griffin Hammer St. Charles North (6-foot-5, 220 pounds)- Hammer, who also happens to be a very solid Hoops player for the North Stars was one of the best tight ends I saw live in 2015. Hammer has great overall size and length and is also a very strong kid with a ton of growth and potential still ahead of him. Hammer brings his basketball ball skills to the football side. Hammer has terrific body control, runs well and also uses his hands well. Honestly I didn't see much that I didn't like in his overall game. High D1 level coaches have questions about Hammer overall speed/40 time and I honestly didn't see any glaring issues either live or on tape. I also feel that at least on the field Hammer has as much game as the other top listed above here. Hammer as mentioned is a basketball player and I feel that once he trains and lifts for football year round he will add another 20 plus pounds of good weight and strength. While Hammer might not be at the same level as far as physical development right now...he just might have the most upside to develop down the road.
My Guess on Griffin Hammer College of Choice: Illinois/Indiana/MAC level
4. Logan Christopherson Lemont (6-foot-6, 220 pounds)- Christopherson also had a very strong summer and fall in 2015 and caught my attention last winter at various showcases and 7on7's. Logan is a huge kid on the hoof...a legit 6-foot-6 plus with a huge frame and length. Christopherson shows to be more than willing to be a factor blocking in the run game and is also a very solid receiver. The only real know on Logan is just how fast is he/40 time? Yet take a look at this kids size/wingspan and potential? Again I wouldn't be shocked to see Christopherson develop either as a tight end or say an offensive tackle down the road? It's more than possible but in the end I feel that he will be a tight end. Lots to like here and this spring will be huge for Christopherson's overall recruiting stock.
My Guess on Logan Christopherson College of Choice: Illinois/Missouri/Syracuse
5. Chris Sampleton Nazareth Academy (6-foot-3, 230 pounds)- No question Sampleton is a tweener in my mind...meaning that he can and will draw recruiting looks at both tight end and say defensive line. Yet after seeing him live multiple times Sampleton to me is a definite tight end at the next level. Sampleton has great ball skills and has very good hands and speed. Sampleton's only real knock could be his overall height for the bigger D1 level schools. I get that. Yet I also see a kid who plays with a real passion and someone who will go toe to toe against all comers. I've seen him take on linebackers and defensive backs equally well and Sampleton is also extremely physical in the run game. Again I always try to take in the whole "just a football player" into account, and that's exactly why I like Sampleton maybe more than others.
My Guess on Chris Sampleton College of Choice: Nevada/Wyoming/MAC level school
One Who Just Missed:
Glenn Albanese Batavia (6-foot-5, 225 pounds) Albanese was also very impressive when I saw him live this summer and fall. Albanese has all of the tools of the higher ranked kids and would make an ideal West Coast type of tight end. The only "problem"? Albanese is verbally committed to Louisville for baseball and throws a fastball in the low 90's. Wish we all had those "problems".
Top 5 Recruits Class of 2017: Running Backs Ranked #6 thru #10? Coming soon.
Thanks
Top 5 Recruits Class of 2017: Tight Ends
Overall Position Grade: C+ Some great high level names right near the top, but then....not so much and just the overall number of recruitable tight ends is just low overall. Damn basketball...imagine if a third of all the 6-foot-4/6-foot-5 kids with athletic abilities decided to give football a try....we can dream can't we? So bottom line is the plus side for the high level of quality at the top...but the minus is the overall depth and lack of tight ends.
1. Cole Kmet St. Viator (6-foot-6, 240 pounds)- Again I make the same comparison at the tight end position as I did with the wide receivers....you can go either Marwede/Kmet or Kmet/Marwede and end up just fine. Kmet has been an even equally impressive story as Marwede. Kmet had a huge growth spur between his sophomore and junior season and just blossomed. Kmet on film plays in an offense that lets him show his ability to block while also showing his open field ability and potential. Kmet is a lock down blocker who will be a huge addition to any offense.ground game. You can't help but be impressed with Kmet's overall physicality and that also goes for his highlight tape on defense. Kmet has terrific hands and ball skills and can just go get the football. Only real negative I can tell is it's hard based off the film just how fast.downfield speed Kmet has but that also didn't stop several Power 5 schools from offering him. I guess that shouldn't bother me either.
My Guess on Cole Kmet College of Choice: Notre Dame verbal commitment
2. Jake Marwede Loyola Academy (6-foot-5, 238 pounds)- No difference from the Rivals position rankings yet as I've said many times... Josh and I can and will disagree on kids but just not here. I like Jake Marwede for several reasons, mainly that I've seen him alot live and I've had the chance to evaluate him often. Marwede is a terrific athlete with a combination of height, length, wing span and also what I feel is a pretty high level of ball skills. Marwede is again more of a West Coast off the line of scrimmage type of tight end, yet also has the ability to become a blocker and be a positive in the run game as well. Marwede was a quarterback up until last season for Loyola and just his overall knowledge level of the game is a real positive and that also shows in his play. Marwede is also a terrific kid on and off the field and is also a high level caliber student. Marwede I feel still has quite a bit of upside and growth left to do. I can see Marwede adding another 15-20 plus pounds while still being able to maintain his speed.
My Guess on Jake Marwede College of Choice: Duke verbal commitment
3. Griffin Hammer St. Charles North (6-foot-5, 220 pounds)- Hammer, who also happens to be a very solid Hoops player for the North Stars was one of the best tight ends I saw live in 2015. Hammer has great overall size and length and is also a very strong kid with a ton of growth and potential still ahead of him. Hammer brings his basketball ball skills to the football side. Hammer has terrific body control, runs well and also uses his hands well. Honestly I didn't see much that I didn't like in his overall game. High D1 level coaches have questions about Hammer overall speed/40 time and I honestly didn't see any glaring issues either live or on tape. I also feel that at least on the field Hammer has as much game as the other top listed above here. Hammer as mentioned is a basketball player and I feel that once he trains and lifts for football year round he will add another 20 plus pounds of good weight and strength. While Hammer might not be at the same level as far as physical development right now...he just might have the most upside to develop down the road.
My Guess on Griffin Hammer College of Choice: Illinois/Indiana/MAC level
4. Logan Christopherson Lemont (6-foot-6, 220 pounds)- Christopherson also had a very strong summer and fall in 2015 and caught my attention last winter at various showcases and 7on7's. Logan is a huge kid on the hoof...a legit 6-foot-6 plus with a huge frame and length. Christopherson shows to be more than willing to be a factor blocking in the run game and is also a very solid receiver. The only real know on Logan is just how fast is he/40 time? Yet take a look at this kids size/wingspan and potential? Again I wouldn't be shocked to see Christopherson develop either as a tight end or say an offensive tackle down the road? It's more than possible but in the end I feel that he will be a tight end. Lots to like here and this spring will be huge for Christopherson's overall recruiting stock.
My Guess on Logan Christopherson College of Choice: Illinois/Missouri/Syracuse
5. Chris Sampleton Nazareth Academy (6-foot-3, 230 pounds)- No question Sampleton is a tweener in my mind...meaning that he can and will draw recruiting looks at both tight end and say defensive line. Yet after seeing him live multiple times Sampleton to me is a definite tight end at the next level. Sampleton has great ball skills and has very good hands and speed. Sampleton's only real knock could be his overall height for the bigger D1 level schools. I get that. Yet I also see a kid who plays with a real passion and someone who will go toe to toe against all comers. I've seen him take on linebackers and defensive backs equally well and Sampleton is also extremely physical in the run game. Again I always try to take in the whole "just a football player" into account, and that's exactly why I like Sampleton maybe more than others.
My Guess on Chris Sampleton College of Choice: Nevada/Wyoming/MAC level school
One Who Just Missed:
Glenn Albanese Batavia (6-foot-5, 225 pounds) Albanese was also very impressive when I saw him live this summer and fall. Albanese has all of the tools of the higher ranked kids and would make an ideal West Coast type of tight end. The only "problem"? Albanese is verbally committed to Louisville for baseball and throws a fastball in the low 90's. Wish we all had those "problems".
Top 5 Recruits Class of 2017: Running Backs Ranked #6 thru #10? Coming soon.
