The RN Top 10 will appear throughout the camp and combine season and rank prospects based strictly on their on-field performance at that particular event. It does not reflect what their overall prospect ranking will be when the 2014 rankings are unveiled this spring.
MIAMI -- While the group in attendance at the Miami NFTC was smaller than that of Orlando the day before, there was no shortage of talent present at Berry University Sunday. Recruiting Nation had to make some tough decisions in picking out the top performances of the day, but these 10 prospects made the strongest case to make the list. Five of the seven prospects invited to The Opening following the camp made the list.
K.C. McDermott
Wellington (Fla.) Palm Beach Central | OL | 6-6, 275
The offensive line group, led by McDermott, Trevor Darling and Isaiah Wynn, was physically imposing and dominated the majority of the 1-on-1 battles on Sunday.
McDermott showed raw, brute, physical strength. If he gets locked onto you, you are going to have a hard time dealing with him. He might not be as flexible as some of the other guys, so he has to be very conscious of his pad level coming out of his stance so he doesn't become a waist-bender. He has to sit back, but he carries his weight very well.
McDermott is approaching 20 offers and looks to be one of the most sought-after offensive linemen in the Southeast.
Lamar Parker
Miami Booker T. Washington | WR | 5-9, 155
While not one of the bigger wideouts in attendance, Parker was definitely one of the most explosive athletes on the field, having run a 4.44 40-yard dash at the Miami SPARQ Combine earlier this year.
Parker can absolutely stretch the field. He has great feet, is quick in and out of his breaks, and is better suited in the slot than outside. While being diminutive in stature will limit his effectiveness in the red zone, Parker is the ultimate spread-offense weapon because he can play in the wildcat, slot, jet sweeps, bubble screens and all the underneath stuff. He's a very versatile athlete.
Isaiah Wynn
St. Petersburg (Fla.) Lakewood | OG | 6-2, 275
Similar to McDermott in ability, Wynn maybe not as strong but he showed he might be a little bit more flexible. It remains to be seen if he has the lower-body strength to anchor as well as McDermott if someone gets into his body, but he displayed impressive agility off the ball Sunday to be able to redirect and recover if he gets caught off guard. On one rep toward the end, Wynn was able to mirror ESPN Watch List DE Chad Thomas (Miami/Booker T. Washington) off the edge and prevent him from getting near the quarterback.
A prospect with double-digit offers, his performance at the Miami NFTC resulted in Wynn earning an invite to The Opening.
Corey Holmes
Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas | WR | 6-1, 175
It was tough to stand out among a loaded wide receivers group, but Holmes more than showed he belonged near the top of the group.
He lulls defenders because he is faster than he appears. Holmes is a tall, rangy prospect that has great coordination with terrific body control. He has upsize as a redzone target because of his acrobatic elevating ability.
Like Parker, Holmes times well, having run a 4.48 40-yard dash in the past. He took home the SPARQ award Sunday with a 4.53 40-yard dash and 38-inch vertical at the Orlando SPARQ Combine. Holmes stated after the camp he plans to visit Notre Dame April 6 and may go to the Oklahoma spring game.
Travis Rudolph
West Palm Beach (Fla.) Cardinal Newman | WR | 6-0, 180
Rudolph runs exactly the way that his verified forty-yard-dash would tell you he would run, and he may be the most precise route runner of the group. He is very conscious of spacing, feet, steps, how to eat up cushion, creating separation and he caught everything thrown to him.
After the camp, Rudolph acknowledged that he decommitted from Miami Friday and was opening up the process among the fifteen offers. Hinting he is intrigued by a few SEC schools that have extended recent scholarships, Florida might have the edge at the moment for the Watch List receiver.
Trevor Darling
Miami Central | OL | 6-4, 305
Among McDermott, Wynn and Darling, the Miami commitment was the most physically impressive of the three on the list.
Darling's height was such an advantage but it also presents a challenge to keep his pad level low and avoid having to lunge out. In this type of camp setting, the shorter pass rushers almost force taller offensive linemen like Darling to be a waist-bender and then sometimes that get them off-balance. But Darling handled himself well on Sunday.
From a sheer upside standpoint, Darling might have the most in the offensive line group at the Miami NFTC because of his sheer measurable. But all three on this list have great feet, which is the most important thing.
Dalvin Cook
Miami Central | RB | 5-11, 190
Cook is similar to Florida State ESPN 150 signee Ryan Green in that he shows the ability to line up as a full-time tailback, in the slot, out wide, at cornerback or at safety. And he could feel at home at all those spots.
His best position is probably tailback, and his performance on Sunday stood out as one of the best overall of the camp, earning an invite to The Opening. With Cook, it is all of the things he can do that makes him so valuable. He appeared much bigger in person than he looks on tape.
A longtime Clemson commit, Cook walked onto the field Sunday sporting a Miami hoodie, which is more intriguing due to the recent flip of teammate and fellow ESPN Watch List running back Joseph Yearby from Florida State to Miami. Along with Clemson, Cook said programs like Florida, FSU, Miami and USC are recruiting him hard. He hopes to check out the Gators and Trojans at some point this year. Expect Clemson to get him back on campus several times and try to ward off other programs.
Richard Yeargin III
Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) University School | DE/LB | 6-4, 225
Easily standing out among the linebackers, Yeargin III looks like 2010 Florida State signee Christian Jones from a size standpoint. He is tall and is only going to get bigger once he gets to college.
Jones could end up as a jack linebacker who can rush the passer standing up, while also being athletic enough to play in space, but he could still grow into a down defensive lineman, depending on the defensive scheme.
Yeargin III was named the linebacker MVP following the camp and was also given an invite to The Opening. With more than 20 offers, he said he plans to take everything slow and hopes to make visit plans later this year.
Johnnie Dixon
Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) Dwyer | WR | 5-11, 190
Dixon might be the most physically gifted athlete in the receiver group when it comes to straight-line speed, quickness and size. He could legitimately project to safety and might be the true scheme versatile prospect among the wideouts, as well. He stood out among a deep group of highly talented receivers and walked away with the wide receiver MVP award and an invitation to The Opening.
With 18 offers to date, Dixon is open to all schools, but he mentioned Auburn and Ole Miss as recent offers that stood out to him. He would like to get an offer from Texas A&M or Texas Tech because of their offenses, and plans to check out Alabama, West Virginia and N.C. State this summer.
Joseph Yearby
Miami Central | RB | 5-9, 191
Yearby came into the Miami NFTC as one of the most touted prospects in the country, and he performed as advertised.
Explosive, quick, sudden and able to get zero-to-60 rapidly, Yearby is probably stronger from a lower-your-shoulder, push-the-pile standpoint than he gets credit for because he does not have the natural height or bulk of his teammate Dalvin Cook.
He was named running back MVP and was invited to The Opening, as well. When James Coley left FSU for Miami, Yearby switched his commitment from the Seminoles to the Hurricanes.