My Scouting Report on four star Micah Clark and three star Jamaal Beaty .... What does the film tell me ?
Rutgers Head Football Coach Chris Ash and his staff did an excellent job securing the commitments of 2017 two way lineman Micah Clark and Jamaal Beaty, both of St. John Vianney Regional High School in Holmdel, New Jersey. Not only did they both choose to continue their education at the State University of New Jersey, the have decided to accelerate their football careers by enrolling in January of 2017. As a former coach and scout, I decided to study their game tape a little closer to give our “On the Banks” loyal readers and Scarlet Knight faithful a look into the future of both these young men, who happen to be brothers.
Micah Clark - 6-5 265 4.85(40 yard time) OL/DL
Scout .com: #1 NJ - # 44 Nation
247sports: #2 NJ - #129 Nation
Rivals: #3 NJ - #170 Nation
ESPN: #6 NJ - #292 Nation
Consensus 4 star recruit
Clark has the frame, wing span, feet and athleticism of a 5 star blue chip national recruit and future professional football player. This is why he was offered scholarships to play at Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State just to name a few. His quickness, agility, flexibility and overall speed make him a candidate to play several positions at the collegiate level. Clark displays unusual explosiveness and change of direction ability for a football player with his size. His years of competing on the wrestling mat and volleyball court have aided in the development of this overall incredible athleticism.
National recruiting websites have him playing tackle at Rutgers and perhaps there will be a pressing need for that, but one local scout much more familiar with NJ high school football prospects sees more potential on the other side of the scrimmage line. On the offensive side of the ball he has an explosive first step will the ability to keep his pad level low. He can drive block a high school defender from the line of scrimmage well into the defensive backfield.
Micah’s ability to bend and dip like a graceful contortionist on defense allows him to defeat blockers and penetrate into the backfield. This is where he displays NFL potential. He has unusual acceleration and sudden bursts for such a large frame.
Clark is more Darius Hamilton than Keith Lumpkin. In a perfect world or the 1970’s Nebraska Huskers Football World, he would be a late enrollee in January of 2018 and redshirt that fall season. He would be on campus for for five and a half years, play as a back up his redshirt freshman and sophomore years, then be a fully matured 23 - 24 year old All American in his junior and senior seasons as well as an NFL first round draft pick.
The bottom line is that the sky's the limit for Micah Clark. The athleticism is off the chart. When his fully matured upper body and round the clock collegiate football coaching catch up to his lower half, he will be a very productive Big Ten football player. Question is at what position. He could be an offensive guard initially then be slid out to play offensive tackle if there is an immediate need. I see him as a guard more than a tackle because of his lighting quick feet.
My final evaluation sees Micah Clark as an edge pass rusher, 5 technique weak side defensive end position, playing with his hand on the ground. Clark has the frame and athleticism to play in the league that pays its players, if he develops a strong upper body in strength coach Kenny Parker's weight room and a violent mean streak when he steps onto the gridiron.
Congrats to Micah Clark and Jamaal Beaty on signing their NCAA letters to Rutgers! @SJVSA @SJVLancerNation @MicahClark17 @RFootball pic.twitter.com/wfyjl3xKmk
— SJV (@SJVHS) January 4, 2017
Jamaal Beaty 6 - 4 270 4.95(40 yard)
Scout .com: # 38 NJ - unranked Nationally
247sports: # 30 NJ - #70 National OG
Rivals: # 33 NJ - unranked Nationally
ESPN: # 25 NJ - unranked Nationally
Consensus 3 star recruit
The much less heralded brother of Micah Clark, by the national recruiting websites, Jamaal Beaty may not necessarily have to take a back seat to his step brother when all is said and done. He is a legit collegiate two way lineman prospect. His first scholarship offer came from Rutgers and that’s the only offer he was looking for, he didn’t want to be any other place than “On the Banks”.
Beaty is a very athletic, young offensive guard who displays the mobility and agility of a much smaller athlete. Jamaal has long arms for his height and has a high cut frame that allows him to play much bigger than his size. He is a natural knee-bender and chips and slips well to the second level. To quote one local NJ scout, “he fires out of the shoot to hit defenders on the second level like a bat out of hell !” He is light on his feet as he mirrors and slides well in pass protection. Beaty has a high ceiling and his huge upside compares favorably to former Scarlet Knight lineman and current Baltimore Raven center Jeremy Zuttah.
Jamaal Beaty does have the potential to play on both sides of the line of scrimmage. He displays a great takeoff and penetrates well from an interior defensive tackle position. Jamaal possesses a strong, low center of gravity and reports are that he was squatting over 500 pounds last summer. He has the talent and body type to develop into a legitimate nose guard.
My evaluation sees Jamaal Beaty as a talented and productive offensive guard in his collegiate football career. Scarlet Knight offensive line coach, A.J. Blazek is getting the credit for recruiting Beaty to the Banks of the Old Raritan. This would indicate that the Rutgers coaching staff’s early evaluation of Jamaal sees him more productive on new offensive coordinator Jerry Kill’s side of the ball. If he redshirts this fall he will have the opportunity to bulk up in the weight room and have two full spring practices to prepare him to challenge for playing time as a redshirt freshman in 2018.
St. John Vianney High School and its Football Coach Derek Sininsky have developed two outstanding football prospects for New Jersey’s State University’s pigskin program. Defensive line coach Shane Burnham and offensive line coach A.J. Blazek may be lobbying Head Coach Chris Ash for the services of both the step brothers to play alongside each other in their position group. Defensive coordinator Jay Niemann may be bending the second year Scarlet Knight football mentor’s ear as well. We will wait and see where both talented players end up in the future.