(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

Here are my initial reactions to the performances of some of the nation’s top prospects in Thursday night’s Cincinnati-South Florida game.

The good and bad of South Florida CB Jerome Murphy

South Florida CB Jerome Murphy defends Cincinnati WR Armon Binns on Thursday night.

The Good:  A tall, explosive athlete who has the speed to turn and run with receivers down the field. Showcases a good initial burst out of his breaks and can close quickly when he keeps his feet under him. Finished the game with four pass breakups.

The Bad:  Isn’t real balanced or flexible in his drop and has a tendency to drift out of his breaks when trying to redirect. Struggles to consistently find the football when his back is to the play and isn’t the most instinctive corner. Displayed a lack of concentration last night, jumping a route and not finishing on a very catchable ball.

Overall:  I don’t think he has the footwork or balance to hold up on an island in man coverage at the next level. Looks more like a zone corner.

What a freak (and I mean that in a good way)

South Florida defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul has to be one of the toughest linemen in the nation to block. His combination of athleticism, power and length gives him the ability to routinely stack and shed in all areas of the game. Against Cincinnati, he was consistently able to set the edge in the run game, control blockers at the point of attack and make his way toward the ball. And in the pass game, he showcased an impressive first step for his size off the edge and loves to go to his rip move to keep blockers from getting their hands on him. He’s still very raw with his instincts, stance and overall hand technique, but the kid has an incredible-looking frame and features an amazing 81-inch wingspan. He finished with five tackles, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries and was consistently able to slip blocks and work his way toward the football. I could see him developing into something special as either a 4-3 or 3-4 defensive end.

Pierre-Paul’s counterpart

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