Prospect Fits: Cameron Sparks Offers Two-Way Upside
The Baylor School is less than two hours away from the University of Tennessee, giving the Vols close proximity to 2025 five-star athlete Cameron Sparks. They were the first Division-1 program to offer him back in June 2021. He's been on campus four times since his high school career began, a rarity for Sparks. He doesn't do much traveling or stay in the spotlight, except for when he's on the gridiron.
He could play either wide receiver or inside linebacker in college. Most programs recruiting him will offer Sparks the chance to decide in college, but he hasn't expressed a preference either way yet. He played both spots for the Baylor School this season and excelled. His 6-3 and 210-pound frame isn't even the draw, though it certainly doesn't hurt. Sparks' movement skills are exceptional, likely the best you can find at this level. There isn't any over-pursuit when he plays defense - one play on his tape sticks out in particular. The opponent throws a tunnel screen to the boundary when Sparks is lined up at safety, one of many positions he played. He reads the play in presnap and shades over but doesn't overcommit for fear of someone cutting over the top. He waits, waits, waits, and then attacks. The wide receiver does a good job of following his blocks and letting things set up before seeing Sparks flying in. He tries to cut inside and get Sparks at an angle, but Sparks somehow comes to an abrupt stop and makes the tackle.
These rare plays attract programs like Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, and other top schools. Volunteer Country projects Sparks to the STAR position in college, but he could very well become a high-caliber receiver. Those movement skills we discussed earlier allow him to incorporate subtle nuances into his route-running. His releases at the line of scrimmage leave defensive backs trailing, as he can win with leverage. Sparks can drop his hips and go from high to low at any second, or vice versa. The Baylor School liked using him to split zone coverage last year, sending him at deep safeties and making them think on the fly. When you are worried about whether a receiver will break off a route in another direction, it allows combinations on the back side to come open.
To put it frankly, Sparks must play in space when he reaches college. Whether he's in the overhang spot, manning the middle of the field, or playing slot receiver, his athleticism and size will be too much for the opposition to handle. College football players struggle to make quick decisions, and Sparks already has an advantage, as his natural instincts make all those decisions for him.
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