SIAA Superlatives: Class of 2021 Football Prospects with Highest Floor
The projection business, a major part of recruiting and prospect evaluation in any sport at any level, remains extremely suggestive and tough to track each and every year.
Sometimes, though, certain college football prospects make the job a bit easier on those in positions to take a closer look.
SI All-American celebrates the bunch who feel like some of the safest bets in the country, those whose floor appears as sturdy as can be through this point of the evaluation process.
TE Cane Berrong, Hartwell (Ga.) Hart County
6-foot-4, 230 pounds
Committed to Notre Dame
Berrong grades out solid in too many facets of his position to not achieve success at the next level. He can align as an attached Y, or as an H, set up as a wing, or be flexed to the slot and perimeter. The Notre Dame commit also can work as a fullback on lead concepts in the run game, as he is a good all-around blocker. Berong has solid play speed in route phases and can grow gaps when detached from linebackers at junctions in coverage to factor in the passing game with reliable hands. Arriving at a school that has a solid tradition of tight end play, Berrong is sure to be just fine in the offensive seams in South Bend.
OC James Brockermeyer, Fort Worth (Texas) All Saints Epsicopal
6-foot-3, 275 pounds
Committed to Alabama
Playing center is hard. Some will argue playing center in the SEC is harder. If indeed true, Brockermeyer has the toughness and competitiveness to do it. A tone-setter in the trenches, Brockermeyer is a solid technician who understands how to attack half-a-man with good angles and proper positioning at the point of attack. He will continue to add strength, which will only help a prospect with solid mental processing and reliable zone-blocking production. Plus, he has a high floor due to his ability to also play either left guard or right guard, aside from the pivot. Alabama has never been shy about running the football, and Brockermeyer has the grit and resilience to work himself into a solid starter at some point in Tuscaloosa.
WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Philadelphia (Pa.) St. Joseph’s Prep
6-foot-4, 185 pounds
Committed to Ohio State
Many high school wide receiver prospects get by from simply being a bigger, faster or a superior athlete than their competition, which hinders their development at the college level. Harrison, while possessing good length, is an advanced route runner who has a varied route tree. He can tempo, alter his stems and shows ability to sell coverage with subtle head fakes and bends during route phases. The Ohio State commit isn’t necessarily an elite deep threat, but we feel his ability to get open with advance route running and polish make him a good bet to be a productive pass-catcher in Columbus.
LB Jeremiah Trotter, Philadelphia (Pa.) St. Joseph’s Prep
6-foot-1, 210 pounds
Committed to Clemson
Instincts. Players either have them naturally or they simply do not. Trotter has them in spades. He has tremendous mental processing and shows a good understanding of how to match keys and fit appropriate gaps versus the run. The Clemson pledge also can green-dog to add himself to a rush or blitz with solid timing from the edges or A and B-gaps. He has solid speed and redirect ability to relate and zone off in coverage as well. Trotter’s all-around skill set should make him a favorite of Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables.
QB Brock Vandagriff, Bogart (Ga.) Prince Avenue Christian
6-foot-3, 200 pounds
Committed to Georgia
Vandagriff has shown, for several seasons, that the moment is never too big for him. From playing quarterback for his school’s varsity team as a freshman to standing out in front of our staff all week at the grand stage that is the Elite 11 Finals earlier this month, he’s been consistent. That consistency and his plus physical tools are why our staff feels so strongly about his college prospects at Georgia. Vandagriff has good mental processing from the pocket, enough mobility to play well off-schedule and a good stroke to generate plus velocity on his throws when needed. Bulldogs offensive coordinator Todd Monken is a sound coach and offensive mind, making the match with Vandagriff’s consistency and reliability prime for offensive success in Athens.
Five More With a Strong Floor
* Westlake Village (Calif.) Oaks Christian LB Ethan Calvert
* Woodstock (Ga.) DB David Daniel, Committed to Georgia
* Bellaire (Texas) Episcopal OL Donovan Jackson, Committed to Ohio State
* Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei QB Miller Moss, Committed to USC
* Houma (La.) Terrebonne DL Maason Smith
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