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You know who they are, now learn a little about what they'll be bringing to campus.
First up, the respective final rankings of everyone in the class, in handy table form. The names are clickable and will take you to our -- okay, mostly my -- scouting reports, if you're immediately curious.
Otherwise, just keep scrolling down, because we've included excerpts for each player just below. For a better -- but by no means full -- picture, hit "the scouting report says" links. I hope that this post will come in handy for familiarizing yourselves with the class, if nothing else. Tomorrow morning, I'll have some other thoughts on the class, a final, personal grade, as well as some superlatives (sleepers, immediate impact players and such).
For now, though, go new Bears!
|
Rivals |
ESPN |
Scout |
247sports |
|
| Hamilton Anoa'i |
3* |
3* [79] |
3* |
3* [82] |
| Sam Atoe |
2* |
3* [73] |
3* |
3* [82] |
|
Kam Bennett |
2* |
3* [74] |
3* |
3* [80] |
|
4* |
4* [83] |
4* |
4* [90] |
|
|
2* |
3* [75] |
2* |
2* [70] |
|
|
3* |
4* [82] |
3* |
4* [94] |
|
|
3* |
3* [78] |
3* |
3* [85] |
|
|
3* |
3* [78] |
3* |
3* [85] |
|
|
2* |
3* [78] |
2* |
3* [84] |
|
|
2* |
3* [70] |
2* |
NR |
|
|
2* |
3* [77] |
3* |
3* [85] |
|
|
3* |
3* [77] |
3* |
3* [87] |
|
|
4* |
3* [74] |
4* |
3* [87] |
|
|
2* |
3* [73] |
2* |
2* [76] |
|
|
3* |
3* [72] |
3* |
3* [84] |
|
|
3* |
3* [77] |
3* |
3* [87] |
|
|
3* |
3* [72] |
3* |
3* [86] |
|
|
3* |
3* [74] |
3* |
2* [77] |
|
|
4* |
3* [74] |
3* |
3* [86] |
|
|
2* |
3* [77] |
3* |
3* [84] |
|
|
3* |
3* [78] |
3* |
3* [87] |
Must Reads
Meeting the Bears
Hamilton Anoa'i (ATH) - Junipero Serra, San Mateo (Ca.)
That athlete designation courtesy of the fine gentlemen at Cal Rivals.
Anoa'i, who played both TE and LB at Serra, will be brought in as an athlete.
— Cal Rivals (@CalRivals) February 5, 2014
As a last minute commitment, I obviously wasn't prepared with a writeup on Anoa'í, but I made sure to check some tapes out late yesterday in order to complete this post. He played a whole bunch of positions for Serra, so I'll once again split it up into what I see on offense, and what I see on defense.
Offensively, Anoa'i is extremely, extremely reminiscent of Richard Rodgers. Yes, he has a smaller frame in terms of weight and height, but his striding is the first thing that reminds me of our former tight end/inside receiver. And that's not where the similarities end, either -- he also uses his size to box out defenders, has sneaky moves in the open field, goes over the middle, and beasts hard for yards after the catch, all things that Rodgers did regularly himself. Hell, he even wears number 11!
Beyond the Richard Rodgers lovefest, I also really like Anoa'i's versatility -- Serra used him in some zone read/Wildcat packages and even handed the ball off to him going wide -- and his route running is pretty solid. Tightly run whips, corners and seam routes seem to be his specialty.
As a linebacker/strong safety/do it all hybrid, there's not really as much tape on him, but one of the things you can see is that Anoa'i plays with discipline, especially on the edges. When the ballcarrier approaches, he waits for the space to close before making a move, although it would be a mistake to assume that this means he is not aggressive. He can hit -- you just won't see him flying ridiculously out of control to put the smack down on someone. Very, very strong at the point of attack, as well.
Other things of note: his self reported 40 time is 4.49, but his listed 40 time at ESPN and 247sports is 4.6. If you split the difference and assume he runs in the 4.5 range, we still have a pretty decent athlete.
Most of, if not all the scouting services project him to play outside linebacker in college. If that's where he ends up, I would think that keeps one of Porchivina or Downs on offense, with the other staying at linebacker, and Noah Westerfield at defensive end.
If he ends up at wide receiver, well, that's perfectly fine too. Personally, I prefer his wide receiver tape.
Also, he's related to Roman Reigns, The Rock, Rikishi, and company, so if you're looking for a favorite freshman...he wouldn't be a bad choice.
Sam Atoe (S/LB) - College of San Mateo, San Mateo (Ca.)
We'll start with the fact that Atoe is listed as a full 30 pounds heavier at 6'0, 205. By the time next season rolls around, he could be a bit bigger than that, something that will help immensely if Atoe sees the field in 2014; that weight will make him more effective at fending off blockers and in the run game at safety, something that Cam Walker repeatedly -- but understandably -- struggled with last year...
Atoe's also decently athletic -- I don't see much that pops out at spectacular, but it's never a bad sign that a guy returned kicks at the JUCO level, plus he has a pretty good closing burst on opposing ballcarriers. Could definitely play special teams right away. Solid player.
Kamryn Bennett (OL) - Peoria Centennial, Peoria (Az.)
Apologies for not getting a formal writeup in on Bennett earlier.
In any case, we know by now that the Bear Raid system favor the lighter, athletic type of linemen -- capable of bruising defenses, of course, but in good enough shape to run the no huddle. Bennett looks to like he's capable of both of those things, and he's got a noticeably quick first step that lets him block defenders in either direction, regularly beating them off the ball. He's an effective setter on the edge, too, as evidenced by the number of times you see the running back benefiting from running in his direction.
Bennett also has one of the always desirable traits in a offensive linemen, which is finishing the play -- and I mean really, really finishes it, driving guys back several yards beyond the whistle, or blocking multiple defenders when he can.
It's worth noting that linemen are extremely difficult to project, and you'll kind of see similar comments about size and athleticism for a lot of them, as a result. Offensive line play is complicated and nuanced!
Erik Brown (WR) - Summit High School, Fontana (Ca.)
Brown is a smooth mover with excellence balance. While he has above-average speed, he's really more quick than fast. He runs clean routes and has a great understanding of how to use pace and rhythm to break down a defensive back's cushion to set up whatever route he intends to run.
In many ways, he's reminiscent of Bryce Treggs.
David Davis (DT) - Long Beach City College, Long Beach (Ca.)
Davis shows some pretty decent mobility for a guy of his dimensions -- at 6'2, 295 pounds, he looks like he's got some good explosion and quickness off the line, and then combines it with some power, as well.
He also uses his hands well in another way beyond generating push, being very quick to bend down and fight off cut blocks -- he treats the guys who dive at him as minor inconveniences on his way to the ball carrier, more than anything.
Devante Downs (ATH) - Mountlake Terrace High School, Lynnwood (Wa.)
Devante Downs is a freak athlete. No one that's 230 pounds should be running away from the defensive secondary, but that's exactly what happens on the first play of his highlight reel. But it's not just speed that's present in his game - he runs with all the power that you'd expect from a kid that size, too.
Though there aren't nearly as many clips of him as a linebacker, those same two traits are equally visible - speed, which helps him burst off the line and get to the quarterback, and power, which allows him to utterly destroy anyone in front of him. In this clip, Downs takes on a double team, sheds both blockers, and then makes the tackle. For a loss. Imagine what he might do with actual linemen keeping the opposition off him. With how athletic he is from sideline to sideline and in chasing down quarterbacks, it's pretty easy to see him at the Will/Sam, exploding into offensive players in general.
Kennedy Emesibe (DE) - Oak Hills, Hesperia (Ca.)
Emesibe doesn't scream athletic mismatch necessarily, but he is more than capable of holding his own, and against the run, as well. Decent first step, too. What impresses me more about Emesibe isn't physical, though -- he looks very heady and aware [0:25], doing the small things to help the team win just as much as the big ones.
With his experience playing inside and his strength, there's also some flexibility here with him. I could see him sliding back to defensive tackle in some pass rush packages in the future.
Vic Enwere (RB) - Fort Bend Austin, Missouri City (Tx.)
In watching the film, it really looks like Enwere is able to run in 4.5/4 40 range. He hardly ever gets caught from behind, which is impressive for a guy his size...displays some serious strength and tackle breaking ability...fearless hitting the hole...Overall, I am impressed with the tape.
As an actual player, the first thing that pops out about Enwere is probably his balance. [That second link is just a great individual effort to not quit on the play. I suggest you click that one.] He keeps his feet well while moving, runs with good force, rarely being tripped up. Many an arm tackle is shed during the 8 minute highlight film - perhaps to be expected from a guy who squats 515 and benches 300.
Chase Forrest (QB) - Mater Dei, Santa Ana (Ca.)
It is a bit telling that both of Tony Franklin's first quarterbacks -- Forrest and Rubenzer -- are more in that [mobile] mold, very capable of picking up chunks of yardage on the read option. Or more, if defenses are not careful. Plenty of this video is of Forrest doing exactly that. His arm is fairly strong -- the first clip in the video is of him tossing 50+ yards, although with full windup and little pressure -- but not necessarily anything to write home about...
I don't know if he'll ever play or if he'll be in the mix to one day, but Forrest looks like a solid pickup to me, possessing a decent arm and some skills that would play well in Tony Franklin's "System".
Dominic Granado (OL) - Golden West C.C., Huntington Beach (Ca.)
Playing right tackle, left tackle, and even guard here, Granado's athleticism is probably what pops out the most. At a reported 285 pounds, he moves quite well, regularly sprinting out ahead of ballcarriers and into the second level, with 1:06 being a great example of this. He's likely heading to play tackle for us, and therefore won't likely be asked to pull or attack linebackers often, but it's nice to know that's in his arsenal, especially for an offense that occasionally uses its linemen to spring blocks in space.
Jonathan Johnson (DE) - Pierce College, Woodland Hills (Ca.)
The good news is that explosiveness may be less of an issue for Johnson than either of [Dan] Camporeale or [Kyle] Kragen...His game revolves pretty much on speed off the edge, something potentially handy against read-option looks, as it makes Johnson more capable of cornering a quarterback who has chosen to run ball.
Another plus with Jon Johnson is that he consistently uses those hands to disrupt passing lanes, something we didn't get enough of until too late in the year. This is good -- he knows how to use his 6'3 frame, and although we don't have a measurement, I would think his wingspan is a bit longer than someone normally of that size.
Trevor Kelly (DT) - College of San Mateo, San Mateo (Ca.)
Annnnnnd the first play is him throwing a right guard to the ground. With one hand. That kind of sets the tone for the rest of the video, which a four minute montage of him tossing people around, pulling guys down by the jersey single-handedly, so on and so forth.
I think we'll definitely see Kelly out on defense this year, whether
next to Moala as a starter[editor's note: lol NOPE], or in rotation with Jacobi Hunter and possibly David Davis. Damon will make him stronger, Damon will make him faster...he should be an impact player right away.
Chandler Leniu (LB) - St. John Bosco, Bellflower (Ca.)
Probably his strongest asset from the video available is his intelligence and ability to diagnose. :55 is a fantastic example of Leniu quickly sorting through the mess in front of him to make the play -- the back is trying to run a counter back toward the right side while the line pushes left, but Leniu reads it completely, stepping down into the area that becomes vacated. No gain.
There isn't a whole lot of flash in his game -- both Tongilava and Porchivina are noticeably bigger hitters -- but there's a whole lot to love about Leniu.
John Porchivina (ATH) - Casa Grande High School, Petaluma (Ca.)
On offense, Porchivina played running back for Casa Grande, and let's just say he was very very good there. The first play on the highlight reel already shows off some very workable skills -- vision, when he sees that the grass to the outside is blocked off; decisiveness, when he plants his foot and goes north; speed, when he outruns the rest of the defense at a 4.7 clip, including the secondary.
His speed might not last long term on offense, but it would be more than adequate to play on this side of the ball instead. He looks like he'd make a good player out at OLB -- the defensive clips all show off great burst and acceleration, plus a sheer violence in the tackling department. More than one sorry ballcarrier meets doom in the face of #42.
Overall, I love the Porchivina signing, and although I hate to use the word underrated around incoming guys --because everybody thinks their recruits are underrated -- I'd like to throw it to him.
Luke Rubenzer (QB) - Saguaro High School, Scottsdale (Az.)
The scouting reports say...
The first thing that pops out on the film is how dynamic this kid is. Like really freakin' dynamic. Nice top end speed, great elusiveness, and he's fearless of contact, something you don't see in many quarterbacks... All in all, I'm extremely, extremely impressed. This is one of the better high school tapes I've seen, and Luke has the stats to back it up.
Rubenzer is a very, very good runner in the open field, and displays a knack for keeping the play alive. You're not often going to find a quarterback who is faster than defensive backs, but...he's one. [He] showcases some nice touch and accuracy on the move, too, but it's his arm strength and mobility that are his calling card.
Quentin Tartabull (LB/S) - Bishop Alemany, Mission Hills (Ca.)
Even though Tartabull will play safety at the college level, his position for Bishop Alemany is linebacker, which does limit the usefulness of his tape a little bit. That being said, there are skills that can translate between the two positions - skills that he does demonstrate on film already.
Take, for example, the ability to read and diagnose plays - that's important for a linebacker, but even more so when the last line of defense. Check. He sees the screen developing in front of him and stuffs it. Here, you can see him cover his man on assignment, then when he recognizes the quarterback is taking off, crashes in to force a fumble. Smart, aware player.
Aisea Tongilava (LB) - Orange Lutheran, Orange (Ca.)
Although Tongilava is noticeably -- and as previously discussed, measurably -- quick, you can clearly tell that he has a first and second gear. When he's decisive and has a clear path to where he's heading, like at :44 or 2:41, then he thunderbolts, and the play will end pretty much right after that.
Tongilava seems a bit more talented than his offer list would indicate. Like Porchivina, there's a chance we could have picked up an under-the-radar type guy here. Good nose for the ball in the passing game, good leverage, and fast when decisive. For what it's worth, Avi thinks that part of his under-recruitment might be due to his frame and weight, which is 10-15 pounds too light right now.
Michael Trani (OL) - La Mirada High School, La Mirada (Ca.)
Even in the opening clips of this highlight reel, you can already see Trani's versatility - he lines up on either of the side of the line when asked, and does one thing as a guard: dominate his man. Rather than link you to a whole bunch of plays where that occurs, just take my word for it. He maintains low pad level when engaging, making sure to stay under and inside the guys he's trying to block, eliminating and overpowering whatever unfortunate soul happens to be lined up across from him.
Tre Watson (RB) - Centennial High School, Corona (Ca.)
On tape, Tre Watson is plenty fast, but appears to lack that turbo gear that say, Khalfani Muhammad or Jahvid Best have. Still, what he may not have in top end speed, he does have make up for in lateral movement and vision - on many of these highlights, Watson is tasked with choosing which hole to run through, and does so, quickly and decisively. In situations when the defenders manage to get to him in time, he more often than not, finds a way to wriggle out of it with well-timed cuts.
Noah Westerfield (DE/OLB) - Wakeland, Frisco (Tx.)
Westerfield shows signs of developing speed and strength as a junior, and you can see several plays here where he blows through multiple blockers or just gets into the backfield a split-second after the snap. But there's also a trend of him not being quite fast enough to finish some of those plays -- a few result in pressures, instead of sacks or forced fumbles -- which is why not having a senior tape kind of complicates things. We don't have a good look at where he is as an athlete now -- we have what he looked like as an athlete two years ago.
Scout lists him exclusive at outside, but without more tape of that, it's hard to tell what we're getting here. Call him a wild card, if you will.
Darius White (CB) - Itawamba Community College, Grenada (Ms.)
A consensus 3-star prospect, he certainly looks ready to play to me, and definitely no worse than anyone who's already set foot on the field for us last year. He's not an elite guy in terms of foot speed, but you can compensate for that with good movement, intelligence, and scheme.
He's got a nice physicality to him on tape, often making contact with receivers just to send a message -- and when I make this comment, I mean he's hitting wide receivers on plays in which the ball is on the other side of the field.