This is the third installment of the RDAF College Showcase Preview. Follow these links to read Part 1 or Part 2 , which were posted over the last few days.
The event is now just two days away and will take place at Interlake High School in Bellevue, WA. To register for the event, follow this link – http://www.rdafshowcase.com/register/
Rough Diamonds runs a different format that most other showcase events, and with their four sessions, athletes are presented with an opportunity to receive plenty of reps to showcase their talents.
The list below is of athletes I have seen work live. It could be in a game, 7on7, football camp or workout, but I have seen them in person and evaluated them for an extended period. There is no order to this list, but these athletes are confirmed for the event, and have pre-registered online.
Harley Kirsch (Eastside Catholic, ’16 QB) – Kirsch is one of the top QB’s in WA, and returns to lead the defending state champion Crusaders. He has good size at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, and is sneaky athletic, with the ability to run. Kirsch is incredibly efficient and doesn’t make many mistakes. He has great leadership and the coaching staff at EC talk about his relentless work in the film room.
Tobe Okafor (Central Catholic (OR), ’16 OL) – Okafor is an absolute monster, and already sports a multiple Pac-12 offers. He is listed at 6-foot-4, 270 pounds, and looks like he still have plenty of room left to grow. Okafor has a great punch, nice feet and shows great athleticism for a guy his size. He will be an absolute joy to watch.
Erik Glueck (Bellarmine Prep, ’16 LB) – If you follow NEI, you have seen a lot of Glueck’s name recently, and rightfully so. He is one of the top LB’s in WA for 2016, and is the true definition of a MIKE Backer. Glueck does a tremendous job diagnosing the play, and always seems to be a step ahead of the offense. Has the ability to get sideline-to-sideline, and is tough inside vs the run, while always going downhill.
Davis Alexander (Gig Harbor, ’16 QB) – Alexander is undersized, but is the definition of the term “Gamer”. He has good arm strength, great athleticism, and some of the best leadership I have ever seen. Alexander is the true definition of dual-threat QB, as he can, and will, hurt you with his legs. He doesn’t do anything flashy, but at the end of the day, he wins a lot of games.
Jason Rucker (Westview (OR), ’17 DB) – I’ve seen Rucker a handful of times now, and really think his ability as a free safety is top notch. He flies around to the ball and does a great job in the air. Rucker has good speed and a great understanding of the position, which makes him a ball hawk in the defensive secondary. Seems like every time I see him, he is returning more than his share of INT’s.
Darreon Moore (Kamiakin, ’17 DB) – Moore is a pure cover corner, and has lockdown abilities. He shows good speed, nice hips and a knack for coming up with big plays. Moore is still young, but has a plethora of varsity experience under his belt.
Jakob Pruitt (Valley Catholic (OR), ’16 OL) – Pruitt is one of the better offensive linemen in Oregon, and plays with a mean streak. He one of the more athletic lineman I have seen this offseason, and shows it by playing MLB on defense. At 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds, he still has plenty of room to grow, and bring even more punch than he already does.
Kyle Olson-Urbon (Gig Harbor, ’16 WR) – Olson-Urbon is one of the top receivers in Washington, and has been for the past couple seasons. He has good speed, hands and is one of the better route runners. Olson-Urbon has seen a lot of interest from the FCS schools, and this event is one that could lead to a breakthrough.
Benicio Madrigal-Ries (Arlington, ’16 DL) – Benicio is a bit undersized, but you can’t measure the drive and heart he plays with. Madrigal-Ries has a great get off and some of the best hands of any DL I have seen in the last few years. He is a tireless worker off the field, both on the field and in the classroom.
Amir Matheny (Olympia, ’17 DL) – I’ve seen Matheny at various offseason events the last two years, and am more impressed every time. Standing 6-foot-2, 290 pounds, he is tough to move, but has the ability to play the finesse game, as well. Amir plays with a quiet aggression, but make no mistake, he is a bad man in the middle when the lights turn on.
Ryan Crnkovich (Bellevue, ’16 TE) – Crnkovich is really starting to grow on me. He has a great frame (6’5″ 225) and I believe he will be able to put on weight to be a all-around TE. He has nice athleticism, and when paired with his size can become a very tough matchup on the outside.
Erik Lukner (Sedro-Woolley, ’16 OL) – Lukner looks the part of a mean interior offensive lineman. He probably projects highest as a Center, but has the ability to play guard. Lukner excels in the run game, Sedro is a run heavy offense, but he does surprisingly well in pass pro. Don’t let the small school status fool you about Lukner, the kid can flat out play.
John Lesser (Liberty Christian, ’16 ATH) – Reading this, I am sure you said, “Liberty Christian?” LC plays 8-man football in the Tri Cities, but are one of the state’s top programs, and Lesser is their top player. He is registered as a RB, but he could project at a variety of positions. Lesser has good speed and a desire to be the best every day.
Dillon Fargo (Monroe, ’16 LB) – Fargo is one of those kids that just finds a way to get to the ball on every play. He is the leader of a tough defense, and plays with a tough mentality, but also has the athleticism to get to the sidelines and make plays. Fargo flies under the radar being on the outskirts of the Wesco conference, but is one of the best defense players that league has to offer.
Bailey Elder (Stadium, ’19 OL) – When you look over your roster and see a soon to be freshman with a beard, it is not a misprint. Elder is a big kid, and has a ton of potential, but will need to find the mean streak (not many 8th graders have it). He will probably get beat a few times, but will jump right back in there and go after it again.
