We're back with another edition of the #AskLoogs Twitter mailbag. If you missed last week's discussion, check it out here.
As always, make sure to use the hashtag #AskLoogs to get in on our discussion. I'll answer fan questions on player rankings and scouting each Wednesday, 2-3 p.m. ET on Twitter, with the five best making it to this weekly mailbag, but you can send questions in any time and I'll get to as many as I can.
This week, we'll tackle questions about The Opening, the Elite 11, who could be a surprise team in the class rankings and much more. No more delaying, let's get right to your questions.
@TomLuginbill @TheOpening_2013 who do u expect to improve and prove his ranking at the opening? #AskLoogs
— KCD (@powerkcd) June 26, 2013
I think there is a chance that ATH Parris Campbell Jr. could improve his rank, especially if he lines up at cornerback, which is where Ohio State is going to play him. Campbell is young for his class and has been playing running back almost exclusively, but he does not have the physical build or stature to be an every-down back at the next level. He has terrific times so we know he runs very well. He is also a very smooth athlete through the hips, which is why he is a good fit at corner. We really like his ceiling for development, but the reason his grade isn't higher at this stage is because he is difficult to project.
As for a player who we feel will prove his ranking, it has to be Leonard Fournette, who is No. 1 in the ESPN 300. This is a forum for backs to prove they are more than just runners. Like Alvin Kamara and Ryan Green proved last year, a back's versatility is constantly on display at The Opening. To be honest, Fournette could line up at safety or outside linebacker and still be the best player in attendance.
@TomLuginbill #AskLoogs What do you expect to see out of Kain Daub @ The Opening?
— Jeremiah Zanders (@Nole_Blooded) June 26, 2013
As with all linebackers, this is an opportunity to see how they perform in space. Given his size and stature, this is a deficiency area for Kain Daub. We'll be watching his zone drops, angles, pursuit, the ability to break down in space and tag off. Daub is in the mold of a Dont'a Hightower and best utilized as an up-the-field, vertical player and pass-rusher with the ability to put his hand on the ground as a defensive end, which could be where he ends up in time.
@TomLuginbill do you think there will be a surprise team that will put up a top 10 class like Ole Miss last season? If so, who will it be?
— Gavin Busby (@gavinbusby) June 26, 2013
That is a real tough one this early in the game, especially with verbal commitments coming at a slower pace. I'm not saying it will finish with a top-10 class, but I do think that Kentucky will finish strong. The Wildcats, however, need to be somewhat competitive on the field and show signs of improvement to help keep their current momentum going. Mark Stoops has incorporated his Midwest roots into UK's recruiting blueprint and already has eight verbal commitments from Ohio, which helps supplement the efforts in other Southeastern states such as Georgia, Florida and Alabama.
@TomLuginbill what kind of potential do you see out of Wilton Speight? #AskLoogs
— Kristian Campbell (@MrKrisCampbell) June 26, 2013
Well for starters, Wilton Speight chose the right scheme to enhance his strengths. He is a big, good-looking player on the hoof who is an ideal fit for Michigan's offensive philosophy. The Wolverines are getting back to a more traditional, pro-style, West Coast approach with a heavy dose of play-action, which gives Speight a chance to do what he does best in the vertical and intermediate passing game, particularly on throws to the sideline. We expect him to redshirt during Devin Gardner's sixth year and then compete with Shane Morris for the starting job in 2015.
@TomLuginbill #AskLoogs if a qb scores well at the elite 11 how much can he improve his stock?
— Marty Matthews (@MartyM10) June 26, 2013
Well, the one thing to keep in mind is that this is usually the third, fourth or even fifth time we have seen these prospects in person throughout the process so there is a pretty good body of work to go on. More importantly, we also have a ton of film to cross-reference, too. The difference between our evaluation efforts and a setting like the Elite 11 is that Trent Dilfer and his staff have a different set of criteria for evaluation that is based on how a player performs at their events. For example, an initial tape study has been done by the Elite 11 staff so that they have an idea of what they will see in person at the regional qualifying camps, but once they get the QBs in the E-11 setting and going through the paces, Dilfer & Co. are going to make determinations based on camp performance on a particular day. That's why in some cases some lower-ranked prospects qualify for the finals.
I give you some of this background so that you can understand that in a different set of circumstances, the evaluation criteria can change. We have more time invested in game tape and game performance, but the Elite 11 is based more on how the prospect performs at the event itself. Therefore we use the Elite 11 as a supplement and resource to add to our evaluation efforts. Many of our criteria are the same or similar to theirs, but some are different because they only have them in a shirts, shorts and classroom setting, which can limit certain things that can be evaluated.
As we have seen every year, I would expect to see some movement within our QB rankings based on seeing these guys perform not only at the Elite 11, but also The Opening 7-on-7 portion of the event. It is a great resource for us and we value it.