2008 SPOTLIGHT: Jamal Womble
By Larry Blustein
Recruiting Columnist
July 28, 2006
During the spring and summer, and into the season,
MSLSports.net has brought you our
SPOTLIGHT segments with top rising sophomore, junior and senior football players throughout the country.
These are similar to the evaluations we pass on to the many colleges and universities who subscribe to our impressive information.
Here is another top football player to keep an eye on this season – and beyond.
PLAYER: Jamal Womble
POSITION: RB
SCHOOL: Buena – Sierra Vista (Arizona)
HEIGHT: 5-11
WEIGHT: 215
40 SPEED: 4.47 (reported)
Once again, I am impressed by an underclassman. While it shouldn't be a surprise anymore, there is something about sophomore game footage that really blows me away.
In my quest to uncover some of the nation's top football talent – at all levels and in every grade, I once again came across another player who is simply a star on the horizon.
When you have someone with this size, speed and football ability, it's hard not to let everyone in on it. In the state of Arizona, they are already talking about him being one of the best this coming season and a lock as one of the elite prospects in the Class of 2008. I totally agree!
After running for over 700 yards as a sophomore, this major prospect had a productive off season where he got stronger and became a total football player.
He also has skills on the basketball court, although football is where he will end up.
STRENGTHS:It didn't take me long to see a football talent who has speed, a great burst and is not afraid to mix up his runs – tackle-to-tackle and also getting outside quickly.
Very seldom do you see someone this young know how to use blockers and run the ball the way he does. He has tremendous field vision, has a great burst and has the power to break tackles and the overall speed to take the ball the distance.
If I didn't know I was watching a high school sophomore at the time, I could swear that a college sent me a tape to look at one of its rising stars. This young man is that polished and that convincing.
Perhaps the surprising thing about his overall game is the way he catches the ball and blocks up field. No young back, especially with this kind of ability, throws his body around in such a positive way. He is truly the total package with a long way to go before he gets to the next level.
WHAT HE NEEDS TO WORK ON: As I watched some five clips of him running, the first thing I noticed was that he is sometimes unsure of what hand to switch the ball to. That is something that is done on instinct and if he has a problem holding on to the ball, there will need to be adjustments.
Because he has power and speed, there will come a time when he isn't hurling his body into big linemen and aggressive, strong linebackers. That will come with maturity. Bouncing more runs outside to save your body is something that is learned, and I have a feeling that he will do more of that this coming season.
OVERALL: Make no mistakes, just like a number of underclassmen I have had the opportunity to watch this summer, here is a football player with a bright future. A year from now, he will be among the top 100 players in the nation, and then colleges across the country will begin the fight to land one of the most complete backs in the Class of 2008
