Young Football Prospects Shine at DexPreps Elite Camp in Alabama
The first DexPreps college football prospect camp of the year was held over the weekend at Lincoln (Ala.) High School. It featured nearly 200 high school players across multiple states in the region.
Prospects from Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi came out to compete, and the intensity was elevated as it was the first camp setting most of the participants have experienced since the 2020 season came to an end.
While up-and-coming talents showcased plenty, as noted by the Top Five by position awards via camp staff (below), the highly-regarded participants reflected their reputation along the way.
SI All-American connected with the event's organizer, Dexter Tolbert, for more on some of the standouts.
Class of 2022
Demarcus Lacey, Pleasant Grove (Ala.) High School's tailback, had a strong day in a setting in which the position is easy to overlook.
"Lacey has a long and muscular physique, is strong and has good ball skills," he said. "Lacey could possibly play receiver at the next level. He has speed (4.45-second hand timed 40-yard dash) to go along with his ball skills making some think he could transition to the receiver position with ease."
Liberty, Troy, UAB, and Western Kentucky have offered Lacey to date.
Tolbert said another rising-senior was perhaps the biggest surprises of the camp in offensive guard Francisque Richazaire. The Phenix City (Ala.) Central prospect checked in at 6'1", 303 pounds.
"Richazaire more than held his own against some of the top defensive linemen at the camp," he said.
Eastern Kentucky is the sole scholarship offer the junior reports, something onlookers expect to soon change.
Class of 2023
The first prospect SIAA inquired about this week was one of the top performers from last year's DexPrep event, Kelby Collins. The elite Gardendale (Ala.) edge prospect is building a who's who offer list to date, including Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU among others. He is now up to 6'5", 250 pounds.
"He showed good bend and a quick first step off the ball," Tolbert said. "Collins showed a level of aggression that will benefit him at the college level."
The national recruit is a combination of power and finesse, but the former more properly defines the first impression of fellow trenchman and G.W. Long (Ala.) prospect Jaeden Jackson.
"One word describes Jackson...powerful," he said. "He won rep after rep against some of the top offensive linemen at the camp."
Liberty, Mercer, Michigan, and South Carolina have extended offers to Jackson, he reports.
A camp emerger who has already experienced a positive return is Jay Avery, of Hoover (Ala.) High. The defensive back had a strong showing and received his first offer from local UAB just hours after the camp.
Class of 2024
The freshman class was well-represented on Sunday and an early candidate for national recruit status was seemingly validated. Few created buzz like Leeds (Ala.) defensive end Kavion Henderson did.
"He will be one of the top prospects in the 2024 class," Tolbert said.
"He is quick off the ball he showed an array of moves to defeat the offensive lineman that he was competing against on a given rep."
Georgia, Michigan, Michigan State, and Tennessee have already made a move on Henderson's growing scholarship offer list.
The event director noted another group of participants who validated strong 2020 tape on Sunday.
"QB Jack Poarch of Lincoln (Ala.),RB LT Sanders of Gardendale (Ala.), WR Josh Ruff of Leeds (Ala.), WR Tadarius Parker of Munford (Ala.), OL Kolby Keenum of Mars Hill (Ala.), DT Ronde Henderson of Autauga Academy (Ala.), ATH Javais McGhee of Alexandria (Ala.), OT Logan Littleton of Isabella (Ala.), OG Ryqueze McElderry of Anniston (Ala.) and CB Jayden Lewis of Anniston (Ala.)."
Top Five by Position
(selected by the DexPreps coaching staff)
Quarterback
Bryton Ursey - Lincoln
Jack Poarch - Lincoln
Trace Thompson - Etowah
Noah White - Plainview
Jack Hayes - Piedmont
Running Back
Demarcus Lacey - Pleasant Grove
Trent McPherson (2025) - Bremen (Ga.)
LT Sanders - Gardendale
Jalen Turner - Lincoln
Rametrius Yelverton - Leeds
Receiver
Austin Estes - Piedmont
TD Parker - Munford
Javais McGhee - Alexandria
Rhys Dorsey - Marbury
Josh Ruff - Leeds
Offensive Line
Kolby Keenum - Mars Hill
Ryqueze McElderry - Anniston
Francisque Richazaire - Central Phenix City
Aaron Wood - Gadsden City
Damon Parr - Alexandria
Defensive Line
Kelby Collins - Gardendale
Kavion Henderson - Leeds
Jaeden Jackson - G.W. Long
Ronde Henderson - Autauga Academy
Julius Nichols - Carver-Birmingham
Linebacker
Brandon Kidd - Fairfield
Kevin Staffey - Chilton County
Rodricus Jones - Huffman
Zach Wrenn - Lincoln
Tyler Dobbs - Etowah
Defensive Back
Jayden Lewis - Anniston
Christian Douglass - Leeds
Jacarsy Braxton - Fairfield
Tae Wright - Etowah
Deangelo Davenport - Bob Jones
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