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Young Football Prospects Shine at DexPreps Elite Camp in Alabama

Prospects from the recruiting class of 2022, 2023 and even 2024 made impressions in Alabama over the weekend

John Garcia, Jr.

The first DexPreps college football prospect camp of the year was held over the weekend at Lincoln (Ala.) High School. It featured nearly 200 high school players across multiple states in the region. 

Prospects from Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi came out to compete, and the intensity was elevated as it was the first camp setting most of the participants have experienced since the 2020 season came to an end. 

While up-and-coming talents showcased plenty, as noted by the Top Five by position awards via camp staff (below), the highly-regarded participants reflected their reputation along the way.

SI All-American connected with the event's organizer, Dexter Tolbert, for more on some of the standouts.

Class of 2022

Demarcus Lacey, Pleasant Grove (Ala.) High School's tailback, had a strong day in a setting in which the position is easy to overlook.

"Lacey has a long and muscular physique, is strong and has good ball skills," he said. "Lacey could possibly play receiver at the next level. He has speed (4.45-second hand timed 40-yard dash) to go along with his ball skills making some think he could transition to the receiver position with ease." 

Liberty, Troy, UAB, and Western Kentucky have offered Lacey to date.

Tolbert said another rising-senior was perhaps the biggest surprises of the camp in offensive guard Francisque Richazaire. The Phenix City (Ala.) Central prospect checked in at 6'1", 303 pounds. 

"Richazaire more than held his own against some of the top defensive linemen at the camp," he said. 

Eastern Kentucky is the sole scholarship offer the junior reports, something onlookers expect to soon change. 

Class of 2023

The first prospect SIAA inquired about this week was one of the top performers from last year's DexPrep event, Kelby Collins. The elite Gardendale (Ala.) edge prospect is building a who's who offer list to date, including Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU among others. He is now up to 6'5", 250 pounds.

"He showed good bend and a quick first step off the ball," Tolbert said. "Collins showed a level of aggression that will benefit him at the college level."

The national recruit is a combination of power and finesse, but the former more properly defines the first impression of fellow trenchman and G.W. Long (Ala.) prospect Jaeden Jackson. 

"One word describes Jackson...powerful," he said. "He won rep after rep against some of the top offensive linemen at the camp."

Liberty, Mercer, Michigan, and South Carolina have extended offers to Jackson, he reports.

A camp emerger who has already experienced a positive return is Jay Avery, of Hoover (Ala.) High. The defensive back had a strong showing and received his first offer from local UAB just hours after the camp.

Class of 2024

The freshman class was well-represented on Sunday and an early candidate for national recruit status was seemingly validated. Few created buzz like Leeds (Ala.) defensive end Kavion Henderson did. 

"He will be one of the top prospects in the 2024 class," Tolbert said. 
"He is quick off the ball he showed an array of moves to defeat the offensive lineman that he was competing against on a given rep."

Georgia, Michigan, Michigan State, and Tennessee have already made a move on Henderson's growing scholarship offer list.

The event director noted another group of participants who validated strong 2020 tape on Sunday.

"QB Jack Poarch of Lincoln (Ala.),RB LT Sanders of Gardendale (Ala.), WR Josh Ruff of Leeds (Ala.), WR Tadarius Parker of Munford (Ala.), OL Kolby Keenum of Mars Hill (Ala.), DT Ronde Henderson of Autauga Academy (Ala.), ATH Javais McGhee of Alexandria (Ala.), OT Logan Littleton of Isabella (Ala.), OG Ryqueze McElderry of Anniston (Ala.) and CB Jayden Lewis of Anniston (Ala.)."

Top Five by Position 

(selected by the DexPreps coaching staff)

Quarterback 

Bryton Ursey - Lincoln 

Jack Poarch - Lincoln 

Trace Thompson - Etowah 

Noah White - Plainview 

Jack Hayes - Piedmont 

Running Back 

Demarcus Lacey - Pleasant Grove 

Trent McPherson (2025) - Bremen (Ga.) 

LT Sanders - Gardendale 

Jalen Turner - Lincoln 

Rametrius Yelverton - Leeds 

Receiver 

Austin Estes - Piedmont 

TD Parker - Munford 

Javais McGhee - Alexandria 

Rhys Dorsey - Marbury 

Josh Ruff - Leeds 

Offensive Line 

Kolby Keenum - Mars Hill 

Ryqueze McElderry - Anniston 

Francisque Richazaire - Central Phenix City 

Aaron Wood - Gadsden City 

Damon Parr - Alexandria 

Defensive Line 

Kelby Collins - Gardendale 

Kavion Henderson - Leeds 

Jaeden Jackson - G.W. Long 

Ronde Henderson - Autauga Academy 

Julius Nichols - Carver-Birmingham 

Linebacker 

Brandon Kidd - Fairfield 

Kevin Staffey - Chilton County 

Rodricus Jones - Huffman 

Zach Wrenn - Lincoln 

Tyler Dobbs - Etowah 

Defensive Back 

Jayden Lewis - Anniston 

Christian Douglass - Leeds 

Jacarsy Braxton - Fairfield 

Tae Wright - Etowah

Deangelo Davenport - Bob Jones

More from SI All-American

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NSD Winners and Losers

Final SI99 Prospect Rankings

GOAT Recruiting Class Conversation Begins with 2017 Alabama

2021 All-Decommit Team: Offense | Defense

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John Garcia, Jr.
JOHN GARCIA, JR.

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