2017 Battle on the BorderSep 6, 2017 by Kolby Paxton
Owen Pappoe Headlines Ridiculously Loaded Linebacker Group At Grayson
Owen Pappoe Headlines Ridiculously Loaded Linebacker Group At Grayson
Fourth-ranked Grayson may have the best group of linebackers in the country.
On any given Friday night, there is a Georgia high school running back who stares across the line of scrimmage at Grayson's linebackers. In that moment, he presumably tries to remember why he likes playing the game.
There may be a group of linebackers somewhere in the country that compare to the Rams' unit -- IMG Academy (FL) comes to mind -- but there aren't many, if there are, in fact, any at all.
Grayson's linebackers are so aggressive, so fast, and so physical that it's truly a marvel to witness.
The headliner, obviously, is junior Owen Pappoe -- a kid folks have been watching with wide eyes since his eighth-grade season. The 16-year old would start for a heavy portion of FBS schools were he not, you know, a junior in high school. Instead, he will be a little busy wreaking havoc at the Battle on the Border against John Curtis Christian (LA) on Saturday (3 PM CT) at Shreveport Independence Stadium in Shreveport, LA.
Pappoe is the top-ranked linebacker in the country, inside or outside, regardless of class. He is a 6-foot, 207-pound heat-seeking missile who looks and measures eerily similar to former Michigan Wolverine and Swiss Army knife Jabrill Peppers -- the first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in April's draft.
To say that Pappoe is a prodigy is not an overstatement. At 15, he became the youngest player to receive an invite to Nike's elite, invitation-only combine, The Opening. Most recently, he clocked a 4.52 40-yard dash -- and not so recently, Pappoe was dubbed "The Freak."
Oh, and he's just one of the Rams' linebackers.
Pappoe is joined by senior captain Solomon Egbe, who is everything you want in a prep middle linebacker.
Egbe doesn't just bring the hat. He has a demonstrated knack for putting it on the ball. At 6-foot, 225 pounds, with a 500-plus pound squat max, Egbe has the size and strength to anchor the middle. He has also displayed the quickness needed to work horizontal, which is nearly the level of foot speed that he plays with downhill.
On the outside, another junior with freakish measurables, Kevin Harris, is a star of the 2019 prospect class in his own right.
At 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, Harris meshes his natural size with a 4.5 40-yard time and elite explosiveness off the ball. The four-star recruit is the eighth-ranked outside linebacker in the country, with a list of suitors that includes Oklahoma, Michigan, and Georgia. Harris has primarily lined up at defensive end in 2017 but can't be ignored as part of the conversation when discussing the embarrassment of riches the Rams enjoy at linebacker.
Senior Herbert Winborne is the unsung hero of the group.
Without a prospect profile the likes of Pappoe or Harris -- or even Egbe -- enjoy, it's easy to overlook Winborne on paper. Ask any Grayson opponent, though, and they'll tell you that No. 30 cannot be ignored on the field. Generously listed at 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, Winborne plays much bigger -- and he may actually be the biggest hitter on the team. A word of advice to opposing punt teams: Keep your head on a swivel.
Last but certainly not least, senior Jaylen Rivers -- a Grady (GA) High School transfer -- is a massive headache for opposing offenses.
Why? Because the Northwestern commit is listed as a safety, with the athleticism to also play wide receiver, but he often lives near the line of scrimmage in a sort of bandit role -- much the same way Oklahoma once deployed Brandon Shelby.
"Loaded" doesn't begin to describe this group. "Must-see" comes a little closer. The good news, of course, is you won't have to road trip to Loganville, GA, to make it happen. Pappoe, Rivers, and the Rams will play live on FloFootball.com as part of the Battle on the Border on Saturday.
Don't miss it.
Friday & Saturday, September 8-9 | 6 PM (CDT)
Shreveport Independence Stadium, Shreveport, LA
Streaming: Only on FloFootball with a PRO subscription. A yearly PRO subscription provides access to ALL FloSports sites. JOIN NOW
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There may be a group of linebackers somewhere in the country that compare to the Rams' unit -- IMG Academy (FL) comes to mind -- but there aren't many, if there are, in fact, any at all.
Grayson's linebackers are so aggressive, so fast, and so physical that it's truly a marvel to witness.
The headliner, obviously, is junior Owen Pappoe -- a kid folks have been watching with wide eyes since his eighth-grade season. The 16-year old would start for a heavy portion of FBS schools were he not, you know, a junior in high school. Instead, he will be a little busy wreaking havoc at the Battle on the Border against John Curtis Christian (LA) on Saturday (3 PM CT) at Shreveport Independence Stadium in Shreveport, LA.
Pappoe is the top-ranked linebacker in the country, inside or outside, regardless of class. He is a 6-foot, 207-pound heat-seeking missile who looks and measures eerily similar to former Michigan Wolverine and Swiss Army knife Jabrill Peppers -- the first-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in April's draft.
To say that Pappoe is a prodigy is not an overstatement. At 15, he became the youngest player to receive an invite to Nike's elite, invitation-only combine, The Opening. Most recently, he clocked a 4.52 40-yard dash -- and not so recently, Pappoe was dubbed "The Freak."
Oh, and he's just one of the Rams' linebackers.
Pappoe is joined by senior captain Solomon Egbe, who is everything you want in a prep middle linebacker.
Egbe doesn't just bring the hat. He has a demonstrated knack for putting it on the ball. At 6-foot, 225 pounds, with a 500-plus pound squat max, Egbe has the size and strength to anchor the middle. He has also displayed the quickness needed to work horizontal, which is nearly the level of foot speed that he plays with downhill.
On the outside, another junior with freakish measurables, Kevin Harris, is a star of the 2019 prospect class in his own right.
At 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, Harris meshes his natural size with a 4.5 40-yard time and elite explosiveness off the ball. The four-star recruit is the eighth-ranked outside linebacker in the country, with a list of suitors that includes Oklahoma, Michigan, and Georgia. Harris has primarily lined up at defensive end in 2017 but can't be ignored as part of the conversation when discussing the embarrassment of riches the Rams enjoy at linebacker.
Senior Herbert Winborne is the unsung hero of the group.
Without a prospect profile the likes of Pappoe or Harris -- or even Egbe -- enjoy, it's easy to overlook Winborne on paper. Ask any Grayson opponent, though, and they'll tell you that No. 30 cannot be ignored on the field. Generously listed at 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, Winborne plays much bigger -- and he may actually be the biggest hitter on the team. A word of advice to opposing punt teams: Keep your head on a swivel.
Last but certainly not least, senior Jaylen Rivers -- a Grady (GA) High School transfer -- is a massive headache for opposing offenses.
Why? Because the Northwestern commit is listed as a safety, with the athleticism to also play wide receiver, but he often lives near the line of scrimmage in a sort of bandit role -- much the same way Oklahoma once deployed Brandon Shelby.
"Loaded" doesn't begin to describe this group. "Must-see" comes a little closer. The good news, of course, is you won't have to road trip to Loganville, GA, to make it happen. Pappoe, Rivers, and the Rams will play live on FloFootball.com as part of the Battle on the Border on Saturday.
Don't miss it.
Battle on the Border VII
Friday & Saturday, September 8-9 | 6 PM (CDT)
Shreveport Independence Stadium, Shreveport, LA
How to Watch
On TV: Available on Roku and Apple TV 4 -- download the FloSports app now.Streaming: Only on FloFootball with a PRO subscription. A yearly PRO subscription provides access to ALL FloSports sites. JOIN NOW
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