Scouting the Latest Commitments: LJ McCray, Armondo Blount, and More
By Steven Bailoni
We're back with more scouting reports from the newest commitments in the class of 2024 including a trio of Florida prospects staying home.
LJ McCray - DL (Committed to Florida)
Daytona Beach, FL (Mainland High School)
LJ McCray made waves on social media this week after choosing Florida over FSU, Auburn, and more.
Elite size with a very good wingspan, good speed, and good agility off the line. Keys the play pre-snap and knows what lanes to attack. Very good punch and hand placement off the snap, wins the leverage game almost immediately. Controls the OL and can fill lanes with the blocker when the blocker matches him in technique and strength. Good tackling form and routinely brings down runners while threatening to strip the ball without risking a broken tackle. Secures tackles even with a blocker under his pads. High motor player willing to chase down ball carriers from behind. Quick off the snap and overwhelms the tackle before they can get through their set points. Very good bull rush and can knock OL with good or worse anchor ability off-balance to get to the QB. Will get his hands up and bat down the ball when unable to reach the QB. Good mental processing to key QB scrambles and redirect his body to shorten his running lanes.
Needs to develop more pass rush tools to succeed against the next level. Not involved in many complex pass rush schemes, will need some time to get twists and stunts down before being an effective pass rusher. Like him best as a true 4-3 DE but can hold his own on the strong side in a 3-4 and even be used as a power Edge in some sub-packages. Capable of being an every down players in Power 5 football as early as his junior year.
Armondo Blount - DL (Committed to FSU)
Miami, FL (Miami Central High School)
Miami continues to get in their own way losing Blount to in-state rival FSU after he took a visit to Tallahassee this weekend (and recently reclassed from 2025 to 2024).
Good size with very good length, good functional strength, and solid speed. Reads the play pre-snap and adjusts his position on the line as needed to attack the ball. Very good initial punch to throw linemen off balance and give him time to dial in on the ball carrier before being fully engaged. Patient in 2-gap assignments and waits for the ball carrier to break before committing to blocking a lane. Breaks down before tackle and is rarely juked by those with good or worse short area quickness. Good play strength to deliver powerful blows while still wrapping up on the ball carrier. Very good bull rush to force linemen back, collapse the pocket, and put the QB under pressure even when unable to secure a sack. Good timing on delayed blitzes and understands the rhythm of the game. Able to hold his own in the flat against slower TEs/RBs in sub-packages.
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Marginal short area quickness and has stiff hips. Stands upright and loses his leverage when his initial punch doesn't overwhelm the lineman. Overshoots when rushing off the edge and needs to show better bend. Has a bit of work to do before he can be trusted to be an every down player and will benefit greatly from increased mobility resulting from a college training regimen. High upside if he can put it all together but will need some time to let his body and mind catch up to the college game. Role player as a run-stopper on first down and goal-line situations until he can develop.
Booker Pickett Jr. - Edge (Committed to Miami)
Tampa, FL (Wharton High School)
Miami gets a much-needed win for the program with 4* Pickett choosing Miami over FSU, Ohio State, and others.
Good size with very good speed plus good explosiveness and agility. Sets the edge well and shows good patience; holds the outside gap instead of biting on the inside runner against the option. Good tackling form and goes for the legs against runners with better strength than him. Utilizes his speed to chase down ball carriers on opposite sidelines and from behind if they get past the line. Good bend around the edge and closes on the QB even when engaged with the tackle.
Lacks a strong punch and will be neutralized by tackles who can get through their set points quickly and/or have superior technique. Needs to develop better balance as he loses his footing around the edge due to his speed when there's a small window to make a play. Much of his production comes from being unblocked on the edge and he can get frustrated when teams scheme to neutralize him from the game. Situational pass rusher for now that needs to improve his strength and balance before becoming an every-down rusher in Power 5 play.
Ondre Evans - CB (Committed to Georgia)
Nashville, TN (Christ Presbyterian Academy)
LSU's woes continue as Ondre Evans flipped to the Bulldogs on October 18.
Good size with solid length. Very good speed, short area quickness, vertical, and acceleration with good functional strength. Utilizes his functional strength and very good competitive toughness to press/jam at the line of scrimmage. Fluid hips to turn and run in stride with any receiver through the top of their route with the SAQ and acceleration to stay with them if they cut. Good range and can be trusted in 2 or 3-deep Zone coverage schemes. Has all the athletic tools necessary to thrive in Man coverage and can neutralize a team's top corner by himself. Good ball skills, will convert bad passes to turnovers with ease and utilizes his vertical and athleticism to knock balls away that are just out of reach. Willing tackler in the open field and is just as willing to participate in the run game as he is the pass game.
Marginal mental processing, does not show the football IQ to key the play pre-snap or read the QB and/or receiver's body language in coverage. Doesn't consistently wrap up and challenges bigger athletes with higher tackles instead of going for their legs. More of an athlete than a football player at this stage of his career, his competitive toughness should take him to the next level as he develops and learns from the staff. Could see this kid being an all-SEC corner if he really dedicates himself to his craft as the love for the game is there, just needs more quality reps to turn him into a smarter football player.
