Q&A with ESPN's Craig Haubert on what to watch in IMG Academy vs. Grayson

How talented are the rosters for No. 2 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) and No. 4 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)?

Well, more than 5% of the players ranked in the ESPN300 will be on the same field in the same game. That’s right, 17 players in the ESPN 300 are on the two rosters.

The game is part of the GEICO ESPN High School Kickoff and airs at 6 p.m. ET Saturday on ESPN2. Craig Haubert, a national recruiting analyst for ESPN, will be part of the broadcast team.

SCORE PREDICTOR: What happens when IMG faces Grayson?

Haubert spoke with USA TODAY High School Sports about what to expect and the top players on both teams.

Jeff Herron makes his Grayson debut as head coach (Photo: Marvin Gentry, USA TODAY Sports)

A: The fact that he is new has made it easier for all the players because he came in the door and everyone is on equal footing. There aren’t guy who have been there for a while and he’s been coaching them and then a group of guys who are new with a coach they aren’t familiar with. The players who were there are getting a new coach and the players who are new are in a new situation anyway.

I know they did some team-building exercises in the spring and summer. In being around them in the spring and the fall, nothing really stood out along those lines. Some of those guys who have come in have been able to rally the troops and get everyone on the same page.

This game is a blessing and a curse. You’re coming out of gate with a difficult game and can find out a lot about your team. Also, during the dog days of summer, it’s easier to keep the guys motivated when they know their first game is on national TV against an equal or more loaded team.

Q:  Speaking of continuity, Kevin Wright enters Year 2 at IMG. He had the offseason, the spring and the summer to work with players despite the number of transfers that come into the program. Do you get the sense he is better acclimated?

A: He hasn’t had to worry about making the transition from a traditional high school to IMG this year. There certainly seems to be a comfort level there with him in terms of the program. It is a very different beast than a tradition high school with the players living there and the regimented schedule. IMG is not for everyone but they really have kind of found their groove. It also helps that the guys who are back are big leaders on the team.

Kellen Mond (Photo: Brian Perroni, 247Sports)

Q: A lot of attention will be on IMG’s quarterback, Texas A&M commit Kellen Mond, who is replacing Shea Patterson. You have him as No. 2 among dual-threat quarterbacks in the ESPN 300. What are you expecting?

A: I’m really interested to see him. He is a good looking prospect, great frame and size. He’s really athletic and so was Shea, but he could even bring more of a dual-threat attack to that position. IMG is looking at a new quarterback, new receivers and a big game so what type of consistency can they can find? I think Kellen Mond is someone with his best football still ahead of him.

Q: Let’s flip over to IMG’s defense. They have playmakers at every level, but you start with the top two defensive ends in the ESPN 300 for 2017 in Robert Beal and Joshua Kaindoh.

A: A major factor in this game is going to be how the Grayson offensive tackles handle those two. Beal is a great athlete with a quick first step. He does the little things well,  in terms of using his hands and leverage and awareness. He can be an immediate impact guy and he’s difficult to handle. He’s been well coached and now he’s going into that situation where he can grow with the type of concentration and focus he can get at IMG. Kaindoh is a little more raw and he’s so tall. He’s getting better every time we see him.

Q: Dylan Moses is another obvious name in his first year at IMG. He’s been recruited forever, it seems. What’s your sense of how he’s settling in at linebacker?

A: I’m probably the most intrigued to see him. He’s been on the scene for a while. He’s a  phenomenal athlete who was a running back and made the transition to linebacker as a junior at his former school. He had to do a lot and was a little banged up. On film, he didn’t look like a player who was completely comfortable in that role. He’s now had the chance to go through the spring and summer and be more specific and more concentrated on defense. As talented as he is, and as well-known as he is, he’s a better player than we’ve seen in past. It will be interesting to see his growth at that position.

MORE: Class of 17 profile on Dylan Moses

Q: When you look at Grayson on defense, there are a lot of guys who stand out, starting in the secondary with DeAngelo Gibbs and Jaymest Williams. What challenge do they provide?

Gibbs is an athlete and most schools are recruiting him for the secondary. He’s got great size and he can cover a lot of ground. If Grayson is going to win this game, Gibbs will need to make plays on both of the ball.

Williams is more diminutive in his build and is an intense competitor. When I was out at practice and wanted to talk to him, I waited an extra 15 minutes because he’s out there when practice is over working with some of the corners, doing extra things and in no rush to get off the field. He’s a new guy but had quickly become a leader on that defense.

They both need to play like top 50 national players.

Chase Brice of Grayson (Ga.) (Photo: Marvin Gentry, USA TODAY Sports)

A: He’s been there and he has the ability to make all the throws. When I had the chance to see him, what stuck out to me is that he’s a really consistent performer. He’s a good player. Clemson has two quarterback commits in this class with Chase and Hnter Johnson and you can see why they would have interest in a player like him. Offensively, with what Grayson does and some of the wing-T elements, he needs to make good decisions throughout the game in terms of handing the ball off and in the passing game.

When you look at that IMG secondary, there are two rangy guys in (LSU commit) Grant Delpit and (Ohio State commit) Isaiah Pryor. Those guys can cover a lot of ground quickly. There aren’t going to be a lot of openings, but if there are openings, they won’t be there for long.

Q: ESPN has a lot of big games this weekend. If you couldn’t be at IMG-Grayson, which game would you want to see?

A: Cedar Hill-Gorman. There seems to be a lot of excitement down there in Texas. You have two very successful programs and Cedar Hill has had a lot of success playing teams. There should be a great contrast in styles.