****2014 Crown Jewel Countdown: #16 - LB, Shaun Dion Hamilton****

WMack4Bama

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Scouting Report
Standing at just 5'11", he's considered undersized by many. However, he's stout, he's a sure tackler, and he's superb against the run. He is very good at shedding blocks and locating the ball carrier. And He's also good in space vs. the pass and does a good job of diagnosing lays as they develop.











BigEasyTider's Take
Love Hamilton for the intangibles he brings to the table, notably his leadership ability and his overall intelligence (very smart kid who was valedictorian of his HS class). Also brings a strong work ethic and was a productive player on the prep level.

The concern? He is actually a fairly limited player physically. He's got a very short frame and isn't exactly big enough to be an interior clogger at linebacker. Lateral movement is good, but he's not going to be blow anyone away with athleticism either. Physically, in a lot of ways he reminds me of Petey Smith from a few years back, though he's a bit lighter and moves a bit better.

Hamilton should play early on special teams and at ILB (the latter being just because we are something thin at Mike and Will), but I'm not sure exactly what the ceiling is here. I do think he'll contribute, and he'll be an asset in a lot of ways, but I don't necessarily see the physical skill set here to truly become a star.




runtheoption22's Take
On NSD, this is where I felt he would fit in our class rankings. The size is a negative. But, when you are as smart as he is, sometimes size takes a backseat to being the right spot every single time. You know CNS loves cerebral kids, especially from an ILB position. SDH may make noise sooner, rather than later.




WMack4Bama's Take
Named after Alabama legend Shaun Alexander and pointing to CJ Mosley as his idol and role model, Hamilton has put himself in good company. Possessing the same high character as Alexander and the film room addiction as Mosley, Hamilton will be a welcomed addition the locker room.

He has good range, sideline to sideline. His relatively low center of gravity gives him very good body balance, and he uses his hands very well to shed blocks and find the ball carrier. His lateral quickness is stellar. His size and skill set remind me a lot of former NFL great Zach Thomas of the Miami Dolphins. Thomas was also listed at 5'11" (and that was generous), but he played like a giant. Hamilton has that written all over him.

Hamilton probably won't start this season (although he was running with the 1s alongside Reggie Rangland as recently as today (8/6/14)), but he'll play a lot based on a number of factors. (1) He enrolled early [he's good friends with Dee Milliner, and he witnessed how Milliner's early enrollment contributed to him having an immediate impact], (2) he'll at the very least, play special teams, and (3) the lack of depth at the ILB that Coach Smart mentioned over the weekend. Behind DePriest, Ragland, and Foster, Hamilton is pretty much it, although others have shuffled in and out of there. Hamilton is a more natural fit.

I think he'll be a leader on this defense no later than his junior season (possibly sooner) and he'll have a highly productive career.
 
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dWarriors88

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Jan 4, 2009
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Since he's so lean, and doesn't "fill" the holes quite like our other ILB, how come he doesn't shift to OLB? There was a time where this guy would be THE get of the class.
 

WMack4Bama

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This guy will finish his career higher than​ where he's ranked now.
Thing is, we're rating these guys based on tiers. Him being this "low" just says that we have a class chocked full of big time players. See below. So the majority of this class is just concentrated near the top. Needless to say, that's not a bad thing

(5) Five star - Very high quality players with All-SEC/AA potential , i.e. Smith, Caldwell.

(4.5) Four and one half star - High quality multi-year starters, i.e. Mike Johnson.
__________________________________________________

(4) Four star - Quality multi-year starter. i.e. Drew Davis.

(3.5) Three and one half star - Rotation regulars and eventual starter. i.e. Lorenzo Washington.
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(3) Three star - Will contribute and earn rotation at their position, i.e. Luther Davis.

(2.5) Two and one half star - Special teams contributor with spot rotation, i.e. Tyrone King.
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(2) Two star- Special Teams players - K's , P's , return specialist, i.e. Corey Smith, Brandon Brooks.

(1) One star - Sleepers/Projects - It's really not intended in any way as an insult. While it can be for players who you feel sucks, i.e. Nick Fanuzzi or a signee who is thought to be nothing more than project, i.e. Bart Raulston. It's mainly for players whose potential is undetermined because of questions such as playing offense or defense, i.e. Travis McCall, position, i.e. Brad Smelley, size, i.e, Paul Hogan, Ralph Staten, or recovering from a serious injury, i.e. Earnest Nance, etc. Maybe even just an average player who you believe will get a chance to contribute because they're a relative of a former player, coach, administrator, etc.
 

TiderJack

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Jul 9, 2010
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Thing is, we're rating these guys based on tiers. Him being this "low" just says that we have a class chocked full of big time players. See below. So the majority of this class is just concentrated near the top. Needless to say, that's not a bad thing
I appreciate all ya'lls projections on these guys WMack and who knows what the future holds. When you have the #1 class in the nation where some projected it as the best of all time nationally there is very little difference in 16 and 3 (and 25 to 1). I think SDH will be a star before he leaves and there will probably be another 10-15 in this class that becomes stars also.
 

TouchThatThang

All-SEC
Feb 8, 2014
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Thing is, we're rating these guys based on tiers. Him being this "low" just says that we have a class chocked full of big time players. See below. So the majority of this class is just concentrated near the top. Needless to say, that's not a bad thing
I agree with where he's ranked based on measurables. I just think he has CJ Moseley written all over him. When it comes to what he's got between the ears, he may be number one in this class.
 

TrampLineman

Hall of Fame
Jul 21, 2010
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I agree with where he's ranked based on measurables. I just think he has CJ Moseley written all over him. When it comes to what he's got between the ears, he may be number one in this class.
As odd as this sounds I think he will have Rolando type impact in calling our defense and play like Mosley. I think he can have that type of impact.
 

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