Session two of the NW Stars Camp was a two-parter, as lineman and specialists both took the field to showcase their talent. The linemen portion featured both upper and underclassmen, and ended with a spirited one on one portion.
I won’t act like I am a special teams guru, so Barton Football Special Teams coach Matt Wigley will have a breakdown on the specialists in the coming days.
Some of these athletes listed were named by college coaches as some of the top athletes in attendance, others are listed by Barton Football Academy coaches, and some by other media members in attendance.
Not everyone will be listed, just those who had outstanding days.
There probably wasn’t much of an argument as to the top offensive lineman in attendance, as everyone was raving about Josh Watson (’16) of Cascade HS in Everett, WA. Watson is listed at 6’5″ 265, and he honestly looks a tad skinny. That isn’t a bad thing, it speaks to his outstanding frame and ability to add future weight. He has great technique, and just the right amount of nasty to get anyone interested.
Defensively, it is a bit of a different story, as two 2015 class studs were really head and shoulders above the rest. Robert Savusa (Federal Way) and Trevor Jensen (Auburn Mountainview) showed tremendous ability throughout the session. Savusa was the league defensive player of the year for the SPSL NW, but has flown under the radar largely due to his height. Jensen was an unknown coming into camp, and wowed everyone with his athleticism and strength.
Not far behind those two was Jake Murphy (Kelso ’15). He was featured in the first session article, and is being mentioned here as well, because he was that good on the day. His ability to get after the QB, as well as the athleticism he showed in space and coverage, make Murphy an intriguing athlete.
Also having a great day offensively was Anouson Keobounnam (’16) from Centennial HS in Gresham, OR. Centennial is known for their running game, and Keobounnam is an excellent run blocker, but has shown lately he is equally talented in pass protection. He probably fits best inside, but definitely has the look of a D1 lineman.
Two graduating seniors making good names for themselves were Dakota Smith (Franklin Pierce) and Chris Mengis (Oregon City). Smith was a first team All-State offensive lineman, and is really an outstanding player on either side of the ball. With his size (6’3″ 270) and ability, he should have no problem finding a home next season. Mengis is in the same boat, while he did his best work on the OL, he is capable of going both ways at a high level.
The 2016 class on the offensive line was very deep, with Korbin Sorensen (Kamiakin) and Scott McIvor-Garman (Sehome). Sorensen’s film is outstanding, so it was good to see him make the three hour drive to work against some top level competition. He has good size (6’6″ 275) and is really just a sound all-around lineman. McIvor-Garman is really starting to come into his own. He has a nice frame and with continued work could be a name to keep an eye on.
Adding to the 2016 class are Jakob Pruitt (Valley Catholic -Beaverton, OR) and Erik Lukner (Sedro-Woolley). Pruitt comes from a small school just outside Portland, but had a tremendous day and has a ton of upside. Lukner won a state title this year with the Cubs, and is a very talented two-way lineman. He really reminds me of UNLV signee Alex Neale (Eastside Catholic ’15).
A couple rather large bodies round out the offensive side of the 2016 group, as Nicholas Blair (Everett) and Elijah Lugo (Graham-Kapowsin) are both players to watch. Blair is a listed at 6’7″ and 320 pounds, and is an absolute force on either side of the ball. He is really starting to come into his own, and is really starting to get that mean streak. Lugo has been very well coached and really looks the part, as his 6’4″ frame has plenty of room to add.
On the defensive interior, Benicio Madrigal-Ries (Arlington ’16) and Ronald Jones Jr. (Woodinville ’15) showed capable of playing at the next level. Madrigal-Ries is a tireless worker and the first to step up to begin drills. He has good speed and tremendous power, to go along with some mean and nasty. Jones is the definition of Nose Guard. He is hard to move and has great strength to take on required double teams.
Capital (Olympia, WA) teammates Duncan Mattson (’15) and Dallen Pritchett (’16) both showed well on the day. Mattson is a tough defensive lineman that drew the eye of multiple college coaches in attendance. Pritchett is a two-way lineman, with a frame to add weight. He has a good motor and plays with an edge.
Three lineman doing their best work defensively were Michael Savusa Jr (Federal Way ’17), Reece Johnson (Peninsula ’16) and Brendan Gilbert (Coupeville ’16). Savusa Jr. is the younger brother of Robert (mentioned earlier) and showed some real nastiness from the inside. Johnson has good size and an athletic frame that allows his to move well. He could project to either side of the ball, but I really like his motor and tenacity on defense. Gilbert comes from a small school and isn’t getting many looks, but the Barton coaching really likes what they seen him, with his hard working mentality and all-around toughness.
Lastly I am going to leave you with four 2017 class names to keep an eye on this coming season. James Dodd (Sultan), Amir Matheny (Olympia), Logan Fanai (Eastside Catholic) and Billy Main (Lakewood).
