LAKE BUENA VISTA -- It might not have been the most exciting football on display Sunday afternoon at the ESPN Wide World of Sports on the Disney campus in Central Florida. For the second year in a row, Team Southeast (led by a strong contingent of prospects from the state of Florida), cruised to an easy 36-0 victory over Team Southwest to claim the title. The champs were so dominant, they gave up only six points in the final three games as they ran over, through, and around everything in their path. Led by the strong defensive effort, it became clear early on in the day as to who would be hoisting the trophy in the end.
The Southeast was led by strong secondary play on defense, as safeties Ha'sean Clinton-Dix (6-2, 200, Orlando, Fla./Dr. Phillips -- Committed to ALABAMA) and Karlos Williams (6-1, 215, Davenport, Fla./Ridge -- Committed to FLORIDA STATE) along with cornerbacks Marcus Roberson (6-1, 175, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) and Nick Waisome (5-10, 170, Groveland, Fla./South Lake) all had a huge hand in leading the team to the championship. Williams returned three interceptions for touchdowns, as he showed why he is one of the top prospects in the state of Florida. I thought Clinton-Dix was the best free safety prospect in the country going into today, and he did nothing to disappoint. The break these two showed on the ball in racking up interception after interception was simply incredible.
Roberson is a incredibly physical cornerback, and he showed yet again why he has made such a meteoric rise in the eyes of practically everyone since he burst onto the scene this spring. Waisome made several plays, and his technically-sound coverage abilities were on display once again after what he termed a "disappointing" performance (for him, at least) at Friday Night Lights a night before.
Williams captured Defensive MVP honors for his day, which included three interception returns for touchdowns. Clinton-Dix and Waisome also returned interceptions for touchdowns as well. Both Clinton-Dix and Roberson would be named to the All-Tournament team for their efforts.
Like Waisome, tight end Nick O'Leary (6-4, 230, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer) wasn't exactly on top of his game at Friday Night Lights in Gainesville, but he blew everyone away with what he did on the field today. Much like former teammate (and current Florida Gators freshman tight end) Gerald Christian last year, O'Leary simply dominated the competition today. He was a favorite target of Southeast QB Tony McNeal (6-1, 185, Chester, S.C./Chester -- Committed to Clemson) all day, and I didn't see him drop a single pass that was thrown anywhere near him. O'Leary showed once again why he is one of the top five prospects in the entire state of Florida for the Class of 2011.
Here are some other tidbits from today's festivities:
-- LB Curtis Grant (6-3, 230, Richmond, Va./Hermitage) refused to name a leader or top group of schools. "I am currently focusing on the season, not recruiting," was his response to the query. Grant, who is being recruited to play the MIKE position by Florida, said that he was very impressed by new Florida linebackers coach D.J. Durkin because "he's very energetic, which is good, because I have a lot of energy too." There is no timetable currently set for when Grant plans to make a decision.
-- I spoke to WR Ja'Juan Story (6-3, 195, Brooksville, Fla./Nature Coast), who made a commitment to the Gators in June. Story said that he decided on Florida simply because "it was the best school to get me to where I want to be as a football player." Story was a late-minute addition to Team Southwest, and although he didn't get a whole lot of opportunities to make plays on Sunday (I only saw him make two receptions on the day), he did enjoy the experience overall. "I can only get better going against the best players from around the country," he said.
-- I am starting to hear some mixed reports on the "commitment" of Rahim Cassell (6-1, 210, Lakewood, Fla./Lakewood). I'm not sure why there is such a misunderstanding among all parties involved in this recruitment, but clearly not everyone is on the same page. After watching Cassell today, it would be hard for me to believe that his pledge would be taking when there are plenty of great prospects (Curtis Grant, Stephone Anthony, Lamar Dawson, Tony Steward and Kent Turene among them) uncommitted and still on the market.
-- WR Damiere Byrd (5-9, 160, Sicklerville, N.J./Timber Creek) had a pretty solid day playing wide receiver. Currently, Florida is recruiting Byrd as a cornerback, and it doesn't appear that Byrd has the option to commit at this point. While things could certainly change, it looks like South Carolina could be the team to beat for Byrd, barring a change in circumstances.
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