If the 2022 high school football season is not already in full swing in your neck of the woods, it will be once this weekend concludes. We at 247Sports have already seen countless performances from previously unrated prospects that deserved widespread attention, and you will find a few of those prospects in Friday's edition of the weekly rankings notes.
Players listed below span the 2023 and 2024 classes and include some rising Power Five targets and several impressive Group of Five commitments (hey there, Memphis, we see you). States represented in this week's rankings notes include Georgia, the Carolinas, Louisiana, and Texas. Without further adieu, the 247Sports national team presents the Sept. 1 weekly rankings notes, leading off with an excellent pickup for the Memphis Tigers, an emerging 2024 receiver from "The Boot," and high-ceiling South Carolina defensive lineman with plenty of options.
"Memphis has had six players selected in the past three NFL Drafts. So, it’s safe to say that the Tigers can identify some legitimate talent on the recruiting trail. Enter Javious Bond. The two-way playmaker out of the Peach State might be under 6 feet (he’s listed at 5-foot-9, 170 pounds), but he’s got verified track speed (went 10.79, 10.91, and 10.95 in the 100-meter dash this spring) and can make plays on both sides of the ball.
"As a junior, Bond totaled just under 1,500 yards of offense and 20 touchdowns at Jones County while averaging roughly 10.2 yards per touch. Those numbers are impressive, but so are his defensive statistics: 67 tackles and three pass breakups while working at various spots in the secondary. Bond, who debuts with a high three-star grade of an 89 on 247Sports, is expected to start his college career at running back, but the folks in the Bluff City believe that he could also make a career as a slot corner at the next level, if needed. Bond picked Memphis over Kansas State and others two weeks ago." -- Andrew Ivins, 247Sports national analyst (Southeast)
New Orleans St. Augustine's Joshua Jackson is a receiver monitor closely this fall. The 2024 prospect has already garnered offers from a few Power Five programs, including Michigan, Nebraska, and Ole Miss. In the 6-foot-2, 185-pound neighborhood, Jackson owns a lean but large frame and has shown impressive suddenness and leveraging ability in his route-running and breaks. He does a good job catching the ball away from his body and consistently showing his ball skills / dexterity. Jackson, who can also present a threat via direct snaps and the return game, debuts as a high three-star 88 on 247Sports. Jackson also plays basketball for St. Augustine and shows open-floor finishing ability.
The long-term potential for Camden (S.C.) defensive lineman Shymeik Jones is definitely high. In the 6-foot-5, 255-pound range, Jones possesses the requisite physical tools and two-sport athletic profile (basketball) that should foster increasingly good functional athleticism. He also owns extensive snaps at a few different positions, including multiple hand-on-the-ground spots, standing on the edge, and even at off-ball linebacker. Jones, who debuts as a high three-star 87 on 247Sports, has reported about 20 offers, including Duke, Florida State, and NC State, which has gotten the first 247Sports Crystal Ball forecast. Here's an excerpt from 247Sports' scouting report on Jones:
"Two-sport profile that includes basketball. Moves well with encouraging functional athleticism on the hardwood. ... Shows a hitch in redirecting ability, but helps compensate with explosive first step coming out of that re-route. Displays above average linear pursuit speed that sometimes results in surprising closing ability. ... High-ceiling developmental prospect who could fit a variety of roles in myriad schemes."
Charlotte (N.C.) Christian 2023 running back Kyron Jones assembled a strong junior year in Fall 2021, then followed it with a great track season, which concluded with a pair of North Carolina Division I sprint state championships in the 100 and 200 meters. Jones, who posted a 10.60 100 and a 21.60 200, should possess plenty of developmental potential given his 6-foot, 195-pound build and that certified track data. Jones, who debuts as a high three-star 87, has reported more than a dozen offers. NC State leads the 247Sports Crystal Ball. Here's an excerpt from the 247Sports scouting report on Jones:
"Initial downhill acceleration reflective of that (verified track) speed. First 10-20 yards are explosive. Displays adequate short-area agility at lower gears. Gains yardage after contact despite upright gait. Good production as a junior with 900-plus rushing yards on encouraging per-carry rate (8.7). Also showed pass-catching ability in limited opportunities, played significant defensive snaps, and contributed in return game."
"Sticking with Memphis, the Tigers look to have found another plus athlete in defensive back Johnsley Barbas, who also happens to call Georgia home. The Roswell Centennial standout was named to 247Sports’ 2023 Freaks List last week because of his rigorous offseason workout routine, which includes advanced calisthenics and windmill dunks.
"On the gridiron, Barbas is viewed as a twitched-up box safety who can cover a ton of ground. He makes his debut in the 247Sports rankings with a high three-star grade of an 87 after a junior campaign in which he racked up 84 tackles. Barbas also doubles as his team’s punter and did catch three touchdowns passes last fall when asked to play some offense. Memphis beat out Power Five programs like Duke, Louisville, Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest for Barbas’ pledge in June after getting him on campus for an official visit." -- Andrew Ivins, 247Sports national analyst (Southeast)
"Pat Narduzzi and his Pittsburgh staff flipped BJ Williams, a one-time Memphis commit, from the Tigers back in late June after an official visit. He’s an athletic big man with a mean streak and isn’t afraid to play through the whistle and put a would-be tackler in the dirt. After starting last fall at left tackle for Lawrenceville (Ga.) Archer, he has transferred into Fairburn (Ga.) Creekside where he continues to work out on the corner for a program that’s playing in the Peach State’s 5A classification.
"What also stands out about the 6-foot-3, 280-pound Williams is the fact that he turned 17 back in March. That means he won’t be 18 years old until his second or third month on campus if he enrolls early. Williams debuts with an 87 grade as an interior lineman and should be viewed as a swing lineman for the defending ACC champions. Syracuse, Kansas, and nearly a dozen Group of Five programs had also offered Williams at various points during the recruiting process." -- Andrew Ivins, 247Sports national analyst (Southeast)
The first FBS arrived this week for 2024 safety Myles Davis out of Converse (Texas) Judson, and it came as absolutely no surprise to me after seeing Davis' season opener. Davis played a major role in Judson's thrilling 46-43 overtime win against San Antonio Johnson at the Alamodome this past Saturday. He picked off two passes, broke up at least one other, and provided a couple of the game's biggest hits. Northern Arizona offered Davis the next day, then UTSA offered the local prospect Thursday morning.
Davis caught my attention during pregame. He's a legitimate 6-foot-1, if not taller, and believed to be in the 185-pound range. He owns the physical tools to play multiple roles and could potentially grow into a hybrid spacebacker type of defender. Davis, who debuts as a high three-star 87 on 247Sports, also runs track, posting encouraging sophomore times of 11.31 in the 100 and 22.81 in the 200. He also ran the first leg of Judson's Class 6A fifth place-finishing 4x200 relay.
"South Atlanta defensive lineman Cevan Edwards is yet another member of Memphis’ 2023 class who we want to highlight. While there isn’t a ton of information available on Edwards, his tape pops as he’s a big-framed pass rusher who can get after the quarterback (he was credited with 31.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks as a junior).
"The Tigers are well aware that it likely won’t be easy to hold onto Edwards (he’s believed to be hovering right around 6-foot-3.5, 280 pounds), but if he does indeed ink with Memphis, then he could be an absolute steal. Edwards now holds a respectable grade of an 86 on 247Sports, which is much higher than where the rest of the recruiting industry pegs him. Georgia Tech and Mississippi State are among some of the other programs that have offered Edwards, who has also been deployed as an offensive tackle in certain situations on Friday nights." -- Andrew Ivins, 247Sports national analyst (Southeast)
"Not many people noticed last week when Western Kentucky edged Kansas State for wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr., but Singleton should absolutely be viewed as a monster win for the pass-happy Hilltoppers after digging into his profile. A Georgia Class 6A state qualifier in the 100-meter dash, 400-meter dash, and long jump this past spring, Singleton is a slot receiver who can not only fly, but also create separation.
"In the first game of his senior season, Singleton caught nine passes for 153 yards and four touchdowns as Douglasville Alexander blanked Atlanta Riverwood, 48-0. He checks into the 247Sports rankings with an initial 86 grade and will be someone that we continue to monitor over the next few months. Georgia Southern and Georgia State had also expressed interest in Singleton, who is listed at 5-foot-10, 165 pounds." -- Andrew Ivins, 247Sports national analyst (Southeast)
Galena Park (Texas) North Shore features numerous prospects on an annual basis, and this year's squad once again showcases one of the Lone Star State's more intriguing back-seven hybrid prospects: Jayven Anderson. The 6-foot, 200-plus-pounder has been recruited at safety, but also in other off-ball spots, such as rover or spacebacker or insert your preferred back-seven hybrid label of choice.
Anderson -- a new strong three-star 86 on 247Sports -- produced excellent numbers in Fall 2021 for a North Shore team that won another Class 6A Division I state championship. He posted 78 tackles and five interceptions, showing impressive short-area suddenness in his ability to break on the ball and accelerate in that 10- to 15-yard split, plus encouraging ball skills. Anderson owns limited track and field experience with reps in the 200 meters, long jump, and triple jump as a sophomore. Anderson saw a run of offers in the spring semester, including Arkansas, Purdue, Houston, SMU, Indiana, Ole Miss, Texas, Colorado, and Grambling State, in chronological order.
"Power Five programs like Auburn, Mississippi State, and Georgia Tech are starting to get involved with Tyler Scott and it’s pretty easy to see why as he has done nothing but impress through the first two games of his senior season at Mableton (Ga.) Pebblebrook, which could make some noise in Georgia’s 7A classification given the talent in that locker room. Scott, who is now an 86 in the 247Sports rankings, had a pick-6in Week 2 and looks -- on film -- like a rangy defensive back who can hold his own in 1-on-1 coverage.
"Scott committed to Arkansas State back in June citing his relationship with the Red Wolves at the time of his pledge, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he starts to entertain some of his other options now that he’s got better tape. Scott says that he’s 6-foot-2, 185 pounds on social media, although those measurements aren’t verified at the moment." -- Andrew Ivins, 247Sports national analyst (Southeast)
Destrehan (La.) is consistently a talent-rich program and the Wildcats should field quite a team this fall. One of their standouts should be Jai Eugene Jr., a veteran two-way player who starts at quarterback and in the secondary. Around 6 feet, 190 pounds, Eugene is well-built for a DB projection, which could wind up safety, which is where he's designated on 247Sports, or cornerback, where he's shown competency across multiple Louisiana Class 5A state semifinal runs. Eugene, whose father played 51 games at LSU and helped the Tigers win the 2007 BCS national title, possesses an excellent football pedigree and corresponding instincts. A three-sport athlete who plays basketball and throws javelin, Eugene debuts on 247Sports with a three-star 85 rating.
St. Martinville (La.) 2024 receiver Cullen Charles is another name in Louisiana to watch closely as the fall progresses. There's not a ton of information out there on Charles, but he impressed last season in a breakout sophomore campaign, then caught the eye of 247Sports staffers at multiple select 7-on-7 events during the spring. Without track or testing data, the context to Charles' athleticism from a verified perspective is limited. Nevertheless, he passes the eyeball test on tape and in 7-on-7 action. He shows the requisite field speed with innate receiver awareness to float to open spaces when available. Charles, who debuts as a three-star 85 on 247Sports, picked up early offers from UCF, Tulane, and Southern Miss before reporting spring offers from Houston, Memphis, and Grambling.
-- 247Sports' Andrew Ivins, Brian Dohn, Cooper Petagna, Chris Singletary, and Steve Wiltfong contributed to this report.
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