The four quarterbacks in the game all look like good prospects with each one showing D-1 arm strength (a rarity in most all-star games). The QB play was actually above-average when compared with other all-star games I’ve witnessed. The East quarterbacks benefited from superior receivers and better pass protection, so statistically they outperformed the West QBs, but both of the quarterbacks for the West showed good talent.

Andrew DePaola (East #5, 6-2 190), from Hereford High School, is a mobile quarterback with a strong arm. He was selected as captain for the East and is headed to Rutgers (I believe as a walk-on). DePaola scored on a nice 12 yard bootleg, showing some nice speed in outrunning a couple of defenders, and threw a 66 yard bomb to Eric Westbrooks who got behind the defense. He makes good decisions and shows excellent poise in the pocket. DePaola should have a chance to compete for the quarterback job at Rutgers once he adjusts to a college system.

Cory Yates (East #3, 6-2 200), from McDonough High School, is another athletic quarterback with a good arm. He signed with Hofstra and split time with DePaola in this game. Yates threw one TD pass to Eric Westbrooks for 68 yards and showed good leadership in directing a couple of scoring drives. The East quarterbacks were basically interchangeable with similar skills. Yates should be a quality 1-AA quarterback at Hofstra.

Keith Ricca (West #12, 6-4 200), from St. John’s – Prospect Hall High School, is a pocket quarterback with a strong arm. He plans on attending Catholic University and possesses very good skills for the D-II level. He is not overly mobile, but can move within the pocket. He throws a nice deep ball and shows some touch as displayed on his 46 yard pass to Salim Koroma. Like Whitaker, he needs to maintain his technique under pressure as he had two interceptions on underthrown balls. Ricca certainly looks like a 1-AA talent and should have an excellent career at Catholic.

Both teams used single-back sets with three wide receivers and the focus was more on the passing game. When given a chance, the backs showed some talent though most of their work was done blocking. The East squad did establish some running game in the second half and the West had some success on the ground on occasion.

Matt Castor (West #49, listed as #45, 5-10 200), from Linganore High School, is a tough, hard-nosed back who is plain and simply a football player. He signed with Towson and scored 2 rushing touchdowns in this game (2 and 5 yards). Castor is physical and runs well between the tackles. On a 64 yard burst late in the second quarter he showed surprising speed. He is not overly quick but he displayed some acceleration eluding a couple of defensive backs. He runs low and can break some tackles making him a good short-yardage rusher. Castor had to help blocking Alaeze for much of the game and generally did a decent job. He should be a solid 1-AA player and might be moved to fullback if he gains some size.

Other running backs that saw limited action:

Charlie Rivers (East #33, 5-8 170), from Largo High School, is a quick, elusive back who has signed with Bowie State.

James Lee (East #16, 6-1 180), from Milford Mill Academy, is an outside runner who will play for Morgan State.

The East squad clearly had more talent at wide receiver with a number of players going both ways, including Korey Coles, Terrell Ingram, Evan McCollough, Jamari McCollough, Larrone Moore, and Vallice Ford. I will discuss each player at the position they are most likely to play in college. The West receivers lacked speed overall and generally had trouble separating from the East defenders, plus the depth of the East squad steadily wore down the West.

Eric Westbrooks (East #9, 6-1 185), from Potomac High School, was clearly the star of the game scoring two long touchdowns (66 and 68 yards) and another long completion (41 yards) as well as another touchdown that was called back. The Clark-Atlanta signee showed excellent speed and exceptional hands. He does a great job judging the ball and making the catch in traffic. He does need to cut down on the “hot dogging” however. Westbrooks certainly looked like a 1-AA player at the least and will excel at Clark-Atlanta if he doesn’t transfer to a higher level of competition later.

Korey Coles (East #7, 5-9 170), from Potomac High School, started both ways at WR and CB. Westbrooks’ teammate in high school signed with Delaware State where he could see action on either side of the ball. Coles is quick and aggressive showing great confidence in his play. On defense, he played tight press coverage and generally blanketed his man, but he was burned deep on one play. Coles should be an excellent player at the 1-AA level.

Salim Koroma (West #20, listed as #30, 5-6 150), from Northwest High School, is an exceptionally quick and elusive receiver. Ike Whitaker’s teammate signed with Villanova and should be a dangerous 1-AA receiver and return specialist. He was able to get deep a couple of times and made one nice 46 yard catch. Koroma is tough to catch in the open field and should be a big-play threat for Villanova.

Scot Riddell (West #2, listed as #23, 6-3 200), from Quince Orchard High School, is a possession receiver with excellent size. The Richmond signee showed excellent hands and runs precise patterns. However, he lacks deep speed and had trouble separating from the defenders at times. Riddell looks to be a solid 1-AA possession receiver.

Darren Brownlee (West #7, 6-2 185), from Northwest High School, is another possession receiver with good toughness. He signed with West Virginia as a wide receiver, but I feel his future might be better as a safety. He lacks deep speed and the ability to separate from defenders, but he shows a willingness to block and plays a physical game. His patterns were not that precise and he failed to connect with his high school QB Whitaker on a number of short patterns. He made one outstanding catch on a high pass over the middle, but failed to hang on to several others that were potentially catchable. In this game, Brownlee looked like a 1-AA player to me.

James McDonald (West #80, 6-2 180), from Dunbar (DC) High School, is an outstanding athlete with good size. The Penn State signee has tremendous potential but is very raw. He has good speed and shows elusiveness with the ball. He made a great leaping catch in between three defenders for a 30 yard gain and had another 19 yard catch-and-run on a flanker screen. McDonald needs a lot of work on running routes and could use some work in the weight room, but his potential is undeniable.

Anthony Herbin (East #23, 5-6 160), from Gwynn Park High School, is a speedy wide out with excellent quickness. He signed with American International and looked to be a dangerous deep threat.

Vallice Ford (East #17, 6-3 195), from McNamara High school, is a good-sized athlete that also played strong safety. He signed with Prairie View A&M and looks to be a solid player at that level.

Travis Wertz (West #88, listed as #82, 5-10 155), from Damascus High School, is a quick receiver who will play for Hampden-Sydney. He dropped a couple of passes and seemed to be hurrying his play.

Chris Sheahin (West #8, 6-0 180), from Sherwood High School, is a possession receiver who signed with the Naval Academy. He ran good routes, but he lacked deep speed and didn’t separate from defenders.

Brandon Abney (East #26, 6-4 175), from Broadneck High School, is a tall, rangy receiver who will attend Anne Arundel CC. He saw limited action in the game.

Generally both teams used three and four-wide receiver sets, so the tight ends were not used a great deal, but both squads had some talent at the position.

Louis Woodland (West #9, 6-3 230), from Springbrook High School, played extensively at tight end and defensive end. The Fordham signee is aggressive and physical showing decent athletic ability. He got open deep a couple of times but the passes were underthrown. Woodland also got some pressure on the quarterback making a nice break up of a pass on the sideline one time. He also forced a couple of holding calls on his outside rush. He likely will play defense in college (outside linebacker or defensive end) but he also could be a solid tight end.

Richard Lee (#84, 6-4 230), from Old Mill High School, has good size and looked to be a solid blocker. Lee signed with Towson State and has the frame to put on considerable weight. He moves well and seemed athletic. He saw limited action due to the extensive use of four receivers sets by the East. Lee looks to have outstanding potential at the 1-AA level.

Chris Lyle (#86, 6-4 270), from Westlake High School, has excellent size and was used primarily as a blocking tight end. Lyle will attend Butler CC.

The offensive line play was generally not that strong with no dominant lineman playing in the game. Both teams had some tough, scrappy players that would battle, but the talent level was not up to par with the defensive lines. The West squad, in particular, struggled with their line play and could not keep the pressure off of their quarterback. The East squad had some size and did a better job of pass protection. A number of players went both ways and I will discuss each player at the position they will most likely play in college.

Anthony Perkins (East #54, listed as #55, 6-5 280), from DeMatha Catholic High School, played left tackle on offense and also saw some action at defensive tackle. Perkins, who signed with Syracuse, has good size and athletic ability plus an aggressive attitude. He looked to be the most talented offensive lineman in the game and should develop into a solid D-1 player. He moves well for his size and will likely be a guard in college. He has good footwork and balance showing good technique in pass blocking. However, he occasionally showed lapses in concentration and, I believe, had two holding penalties called on him. On defense he had one sack displaying good speed in running down the quarterback.

Brandon Jackson (East #55, listed as #54, 6-7 340), from Potomac High School, is a huge right tackle who will play for Eastern Arizona in college. He lacks some mobility but uses his hands well and is difficult to get around. He was less effective in the running game, but he showed some aggression. His lack of agility probably makes him a 1-AA level talent, but he certainly has the desired size at tackle.

Jeremy Hairston (East #50, 6-1 285), from Lackey High School, played right guard and defensive tackle, splitting time at both positions. The Shepherd signee is aggressive and tough showing good run-blocking ability on offense and the ability to penetrate on defense. Hairston had one sack in the game along with another nice tackle for a loss on Ike Whitaker on a QB draw. He could play on either side of the ball in college and should be a fine lineman at the D-II level.

Steve Steinbacher (East #79, 6-4 280), from Hereford High School, played left guard and showed solid technique in run and pass blocking. He signed with Delaware State and displayed the size and strength to be a solid college player at that level. He lacks some mobility but he has a solid overall game. Steinbacher did a good job blocking Kevin Crawford for most of the game.

Dion Matthews (West #63, 6-1 280), from Dunbar High School, played left guard and looked to be the best drive blocker in the game. He is undecided on college but he looks to have the talent to play at least at the D-II level if not 1-AA. He is very aggressive and stays low on his blocks getting some movement on running plays. On one particular play he drove Anthony Perkins about 10 yards off of the line-of-scrimmage. He traps well and has some mobility. He needs to work on his pass blocking techniques but he would battle the defensive tackles. Matthews was the best offensive lineman for the West squad and held his own against Augustus Parrish. He actually might be more suited for playing defensive tackle.

Brandon Johnson (East #77, 6-3 300), from Curley High School, started at defensive tackle and backed up both guard positions in the game. He is fairly agile and plays with aggression. On defense he was primarily a run stuffer, but he showed some ability to penetrate on his pass rush. Offensively, he showed solid ability at both run and pass blocking. Johnson signed with Delaware State and will probably see his first action on offense at guard. He should be a fine 1-AA player.

C.J. Herbert (West #52, 6-3 255), from Northwest High School, played left tackle and had the unenviable task of blocking Melvin Alaeze for most of the game. He signed with William & Mary and will likely not have as tough a blocking assignment in his career for the Tribe. Herbert battled and scrapped but he was clearly overmatched physically. He needs to move his feet better but he does a decent job of hand fighting. Herbert is more suited to playing guard or center and he should have a good career inside once he gains some weight. He showed a great deal of toughness and he never let down for the entire game. I should also note that he did not resort to cut blocks or other techniques that are commonly used when a player is clearly overmatched. He also saw some time at defensive tackle and he could possibly play defensive line in college as well. He was rewarded for his efforts in the fourth quarter when he scored a touchdown on a bad snap that sailed over the punter’s head and Herbert recovered the ball in the end zone.

Andrew Martinez (West #73, 5-10 255), from Damascus High School, played center showing good aggressiveness, but lacked the size to handle the big defensive tackles for the East. He is scrappy and gives a great effort, but he lacks the size needed to get much movement. Martinez signed with Frostburg State and he should do fine at that level.

Javier Garza (West #54, listed as #55, 6-0 215), from Sherwood High School, played right tackle and was generally overmatched in this game. He lacks the size needed to play offensive line, but he was aggressive and moves fairly well. Alaeze moved to left end for a short time in the second half and Garza had no chance at handling him. He was listed as a linebacker in the program and I would guess that he moved to the offensive line out of necessity. He also showed good hustle on special teams recovering a fumbled punt in the second half. Garza gave a great effort and he should do better at Columbia on defense.

Other offensive linemen that saw limited action:

Marcus Parker (West #78, 6-4 280), from Calvin Coolidge High School, played tackle but lacked the mobility and technique to handle the speed rush. He signed with Mansfield College.

Lamont Walker (West #55), from Theodore Roosevelt High School, played guard and defensive tackle.

Brett Cheplowitz (East #59, 6-1 230), from Broadneck High School, played center. He signed with Towson State.

Daniel Malcolm (East #75, 6-3 275), from Northwestern High School, played tackle. He signed with Bowie State.

The East defensive line dominated the line of scrimmage making it difficult for the West to consistently move the ball. The West, on the other hand, was undersized at a couple of spots and could not provide the consistent pressure that the East did. The East also benefited from having the best prospect on the field at right defensive end in Melvin Alaeze who demanded constant attention.

Augustus Parrish (East #56, 6-4 290), from Potomac High School, is a powerful, aggressive defensive tackle who can control the interior line of scrimmage. He signed with Kent State and has the size and strength to play early at the D-1 level. Parrish is stronger at run defense now but has the athletic ability to become a good pass rusher. He is extremely aggressive but he needs to play more under control. He was involved in an incident at the end of the game in which he lost his temper and had to be removed from the game. Parrish has the physical skills to become a very good player for Kent State provided he keeps his head on straight.

Reginald Berry (East #57, 6-2 255), from Potomac High School, started at defensive end and center, showing good skills on both sides of the line. The James Madison signee is an aggressive defensive player who could probably play inside as well. While not exceptionally fast, Berry still provided a good pass rush and sacked Ike Whitaker once in the second half. He also played well at center and could be effective in college at that position as well. However, he will likely play defense for the Dukes.

Brandon Gilbeaux (West #45, listed as #35, 6-4 250), from Dunbar (DC) High School, played defensive tackle though he is more suited to playing defensive end or even linebacker. He signed with Syracuse and shows good athletic ability and toughness. Gilbeaux was undersized to play DT, but he showed some decent moves on his pass rush and held his ground against the run. He made an excellent play on one sweep in which he shed his block and ran down Rivers for a big loss. Since he was obviously playing out of position in this game it is tough to judge Gilbeaux’s potential, but he looked like he could be a quality defensive end or pass-rushing outside linebacker at the D-1 level.

Terrence Peete (West #4), from Northwest High School, played defensive end showing a great deal of hustle and toughness. He was not listed in the program, but he was undersized for a DE, probably around 6-2 220, and likely more suited to linebacker. He was able to penetrate on occasion, but he had trouble holding his ground against the run. Like Gilbeaux, Peete was playing out of position and it is hard to evaluate his potential, but he looked like he was a 1-AA talent based on his athletic ability and aggression.

Andre Graham (West #3, 6-0 195), from Gaithersburg High School, played defensive end and possibly some linebacker showing the ability to make plays despite being undersized. The Temple signee has good speed off the edge and had one sack that resulted in a fumble that set up a West score. He struggled against the run due to his size, but he is tough and played hard. He also saw some action at fullback when the West went to a two-back set. Graham looks to be an outside linebacker in college, but he still will need to gain more size.

Bakarie Bayou (East #74, 6-4 260), from C.H. Flowers High School, played defensive tackle showing a good push up the middle. He signed with Prairie View A&M and has the size and mobility to develop into a good 1-AA defensive lineman. He needs to develop more moves and use better technique, but Bayou has some talent.

Other defensive linemen that saw limited action:

Jerrell Edelin (East #58, 6-4 305), from Westlake High School, played defensive tackle and will be attending Marshall this fall.

The linebacker play for both teams was generally solid, providing good run support and pass coverage. Neither squad had great size at the position, but all of the linebackers showed good speed and aggression. As with most other positions, the East squad had more depth than the West.

Joe Taylor (West #1, listed as #11, 6-2 220), from Gonzaga High School, played middle linebacker showing good instincts and play-making ability. He is undecided on a college and could prep. Taylor has good athletic ability and an aggressive attitude making a couple of tackles for loss in the game. He shows good range and can play both the pass and run well. Taylor was well respected by his teammates as evidenced by selecting him as a captain. His toughness and instincts at linebacker should make him a 1-AA prospect and potentially a player at the D-1 level.

Victor McCray (East #34, 5-10 205), from Millford Mill Academy, played outside linebacker displaying good range and aggressiveness. The Delaware State signee was strong supporting the run and showed good speed in pass coverage. McCray intercepted an underthrown pass from Keith Ricca and made a nice return of about 30 yards. He should perform well at outside linebacker at the 1-AA level.

Anthony Nelson (West #28, 5-10 210), from Northwest High School, played outside linebacker and some as a slot receiver showing some toughness and versatility. He signed with Massachusetts after Clemson reneged on an early offer. Nelson is a stocky player who will aggressively play the run as shown in making a very nice tackle for a loss on a reverse by Evan McCollough. He is not exceptionally fast but he showed some quickness and good instincts. He could play either running back or outside linebacker for UMass.

Dusty Dean (West #5, listed as #13, 6-1 215), from Harrisonburg High School, played outside linebacker and he showed good ability against both the pass and run. The Richmond signee was aggressive in run support and showed good range in pass coverage. He looks to be a solid linebacker for the Spiders.

James Gamble (East #45), from Woodlawn High School, played outside linebacker with an aggressive attitude. He was not listed in the program, but looked to be about 6-2 210. He has good range and looked particularly good in run support. He was flagged in the first half for illegally blitzing the quarterback though the call was unclear (three penalties on the play) and afterwards was involved in an altercation with Ike Whitaker. He appeared to be a 1-AA player in talent.

Chris Diggs (East #44, 6-1 220), from Laurel High School, played middle linebacker showing a tough, hard-nosed attitude. He is undecided on college but looks to have the talent to play at the 1-AA level. Diggs is most effective attacking the line of scrimmage but also showed some range in pass coverage.

Bryant Parker (East #8, 6-3 210), from Randallstown High School, played outside linebacker with great range and ability to cover the pass. The Temple signee has good size and speed with the frame to put on a lot more weight. Parker made one of the best plays of the game breaking up a deep pass that looked to be going for a long gain. Once he gains more size, he should be a fine linebacker for the Owls.

Alex Butt (East #22, 6-1 190), from Hereford High School, played outside linebacker showing decent speed and aggression. He will try to walk-on at Alabama and his exceptional play on special teams should help. Butt tackles well and shows some range in pass coverage, but lacks some size and strength at the point of attack. He might be more suited to strong safety given his size, but he might be a step slow for D-1 football at that position. Butt is a tough player that seemed to give a maximum effort on each play.

Efren Edwards (East #52, 5-11 225), from Randallstown High School, played middle linebacker providing strong run support up the middle. He is undecided on college and may be a little slow for 1-AA football, but he is tough and aggressive and would be effective at the D-II level.

Kevin Glascock (East #43, 5-11 210), from Lackey High School, played outside linebacker but saw most of his action on special teams. The Frostburg State signee was tough and hustled, but appeared to be a little slower than the other outside linebackers for the East. He displayed a good attitude and should be a fine player at the D-II level.

The secondary for the East was clearly superior to the West and the ability of the East to blanket the West receivers made passing difficult for Ike Whitaker and Keith Ricca. The East was particularly deep in the secondary and played two complete squads throughout the game. The West had more depth in the secondary than any other position and could also play two complete squads. The defensive secondary was probably the strongest position on the field overall in terms of talent.

Evan McCollough (East #11, 6-1 175), from C.H. Flowers High School, played cornerback and wide receiver showing exceptional speed and quickness. He signed with James Madison and should play early for the Dukes. He is excellent in coverage with good recovery speed as well as being a very good receiver. McCollough scored a touchdown on a 10 yard reverse and displayed good elusiveness with the ball. He was also the kick returner for the East. McCollough should be a quality player for James Madison.

Terrell Ingram (East #18, 6-1 180), from Old Mill High School, started at free safety and wide receiver displaying good instincts and play-making ability. He will attend Wesley College this fall and looked to be able to play at a higher level of football in college. He has decent speed and was solid in pass coverage showing a good understanding of the game. Ingram was a solid player that has a good all-around game.

Aaron Hicks (East #2, 6-1 175), from Gwynn Park High School, played cornerback and made two interceptions in the game. The Delaware signee has excellent ball skills showing good instincts in picking off the two passes. He has good speed with nice size for a corner. Hicks was also aggressive in supporting the run. He should be a solid cornerback at the 1-AA level.

Andrew Azodeh (East #4, 6-2 190), from Potomac High School, played free safety and he was aggressive and physical in run and pass support. He has good size and speed and he is an active player getting involved in many big plays. He combined with Jamari McCollough on a big hit that forced a fumble that he recovered. He signed with Grambling State and should be a fine player at the 1-AA level.

Wilbert Brinson (East #42, 6-1 195), from Gwynn Park High School, played strong safety showing an aggressive attitude in press coverage and supporting the run. He will prep next year at Fork Union Military Academy and has the size and talent to be looked at by D-1 schools, though he is more likely a 1-AA player. Brinson made life difficult for some of the smaller West receivers by pressing them at the line of scrimmage and he appeared to have decent recovery speed. He was tough in run support and could grow into an outside linebacker if he gains some more size.

Asley Williams (West #21, listed as #5, 5-9 170), from Carroll High School, played free safety and showed excellent leadership as a captain for the West squad. He has good instincts and plays aggressively breaking up a couple of passes and providing run support. Williams is undecided on college and would likely have to play at the D-II level since he lacks the size for safety and the speed for cornerback. However, he appeared to have an excellent attitude and very good understanding of the game.

Larrone Moore (East #28, 6-1 175), from Northwestern High School, played cornerback and wide receiver showing good athletic ability. He signed with Delaware State and has solid coverage skills with good size and speed. Moore could be more physical in run support but he looked solid in coverage and should be a solid cornerback at the 1-AA level.

Justin Hamilton (West #30), from Theodore Roosevelt High School, played cornerback showing excellent speed and quickness in coverage. He made a nice play on an interception at the end of the game and showed good running skills in eluding several tacklers and almost breaking the run for a score. Hamilton was not listed in the program but he is small (around 5-9 170) and would likely be a D-II player because of his size.

Jemayne Nowlin (West #10, 5-11 165), from Quince Orchard High School, played cornerback showing good coverage skills. He is undecided on college and would also be a D-II candidate because of his size. Nowlin sticks with receivers well but he needs to be more physical and aggressive.

Duane Ealy (West #6), from Gonzaga High School, played cornerback and also returned kicks showing good speed and quickness. He was not listed in the program but looked to have good size (estimated 6-0 180) and the talent to play at the D-II or possibly 1-AA level. Ealy was aggressive in coverage which cost him on one play in which he gave up a touchdown to Westbrooks on a pump-and-go pattern in which he bit on the fake. Otherwise, he played a solid game at corner making a couple of tackles and breaking up a pass or two.

Alphonzo Griffin (West #17), from Northwest High School, played cornerback with an aggressive attitude against both the pass and run. He was not listed in the program but appeared to have decent size (estimated 5-11 180) and quickness. He may lack the speed for 1-AA football but looked to be a solid D-II talent. Griffin plays aggressively and was involved in several big plays in the game including an interception return of about 60 yards that was called back because of a roughing the passer penalty.

Barry Scott (West #14, 6-1 195), from H.D. Woodson High School, played free safety and possesses excellent physical skills. The Temple signee has very good size with decent speed, but needs to work on his technique. Scott appears to play too high and needs to stay lower on his back pedal in coverage. He appeared to play physically and was willing to attack the line of scrimmage in run support. Scott has talent and could develop into a decent defensive back for the Owls.

Robert Dunn (West #15, 6-0 195), from Ballou High School, played strong safety looking good in run support. He was aggressive at the line of scrimmage and would stick the ball carrier. Dunn lacks some speed and needs to work on his technique in pass coverage. He is undecided on college, but his aggressive attitude would make him a good prospect at the D-II level.