SCOOPHD: Cooking Up INTs

HOUSTON - With two of the nation's top 21 players in the class of 2018, it's safe to say that Lamar high school is once again going to be a must-stop for college coaches. After a 49-0 drubbing of Houston Chavez the Texans are doing plenty to back up their lofty status.

Without question the stars of the show are No. 14 overall junior Anthony Cook and No. 21 overall Al'Vonte Woodard and the two wasted no time showing why they are among the more highly regarded prospects in Space City.

After getting a change of possession on Lamar's first defensive series, the Texans drove down the field and hit a three-yard touchdown. On the ensuing drive Chavez tried to challenge Cook vertically before the nation's No. 3 cornerback made a leaping interception.

And from there, the rout was on.

During the game Woodard was a bit of a hit and miss presence, not in effort nor interest, but just the reality that he seemed to be fighting off some sort of nagging injury. But all that being said he is a receiver with nice size who is smooth in and out of his transitions, and unlike many receivers he is a willing blocker and does all of the little things to help Lamar's offensive success.

Cook was in for nearly every snap while the game was still in doubt but was rarely tested, aside from the interception, and went absolutely unchallenged. Without that challenge it was hard to have a clear picture of Cook's ability to turn and run vertically with elite talent - though he undoubtedly tested each day in practice by Woodard.

Cook has great length and natural ball skills, and with his size, if the questions about his long speed were to persist he could quite naturally become a highly skilled center field playing safety.

*Though Woodard and Cook are the headliners they are far from the only stars. Cook is joined in the secondary by 2018 classmate D'Shawn Jamison. Though a bit undersized Jamison is an explosive player who attacks ball-carriers, and the ball in flight. He has the demeanor that coaches love and is a player that some coaches are going to fall in love with on tape over the next few months.

*Another diminutive but highly productive Texan was 2018 running back Ta'Zhawn Henry who put up 116-yards rushing on just nine carries, including a 49-yard touchdown. Henry may have the look of a scat back but he is tough between the tackles and does not shy away from contact. Honestly he is somewhat reminiscent of another former undersized Texas high school star, Jacquizz Rodgers.