The East team will feature Valley View High School's Nyeem Wartman, a 6-3 225-pound Penn State commitment along with McKeesport (PA)'s Tyrone Neal, a 6-1 225-pounder yet to commit, and South Carolina commitment Kaiwan Lewis, a 6-2 225-pounder from Saint Joseph (NJ). Wartman, Neal, and Lewis are all rated as the 34th-best, No. 42, and #44 outside linebackers by Rivals.com but will play inside.
"All three of them are violent hitters who make plays in traffic and can run, " said Offense-Defense Director of Player Personnel Josh Buchanan, "We are really excited about all of these guys because of their speed and athleticism and believe they will be very good at the next level."
Rounding out the East squad will be three BCS commitments slated to play outside linebacker. Thomasville (AL)'s Tyler Hayes, a 6-2 215-pound Alabama commit, Terry Burrell, a 6-0 201-pound Clemson commit, and Florida commitment Jeremi Powell, a 6-2 205-pounder all have accepted invitations to the O-D Bowl as well.
Hayes will anchor the unit as the No. 11 outside linebacker and 148th-best player overall by Rivals.com while they rated Burrell as a three-star, and Powell as No. 17 outside linebacker and #214 overall in the nation by the service.
"This group can run and they make plays, " said Buchanan, "All three programs they are headed to have churned out good linebackers and I have no doubt they will mold these guys into playmakers at the next level."
The West squad inside linebackers will be anchored by Woodlawn (AL)'s Cassanova McKinzy, a 6-3 235-pound Auburn pledge with Missouri commitment Donavin Newsom, a 6-2 225-pounder from Parkway North (MO), and 6-1 225-pound Tennessee verbal Otha Peters from Covington (LA).
Rivals.com rates McKinzy as the No. 19 outside linebacker and 245th-best player in the country with Newsom as the #23 inside linebacker and Peters rated the 28th-best outside linebacker.
"These three players really excite me because they can all run and are headed to programs who have developed some very good NFL linebackers, " said Buchanan, "They all had outstanding senior seasons and I expect them to really stand out in Dallas."
The West outside linebackers vary in size but are all headed to big time programs led by Ohio State commitment Joshua Perry, a 6-4 231-pounder from Olentangy (OH). Breaux Bridge (LA)'s Lamar Louis, a 6-0 210-pound LSU commit and DeSoto (TX)'s Michael Richardson, a 6-2 215-pound Texas A&M commitment will round out the unit.
Rivals.com rates Perry as the 10th-best outside linebacker and No. 142 overall by Rivals.com while Louis is rated as the No. 18 athlete, and Richardson the 29th-best defensive end.
"These three players really excite me because they can all run and are headed to programs who have developed some very good NFL linebackers, " said Buchanan, "They all had outstanding senior seasons and should really stand out in Dallas."
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