Class 8A: Wide Receivers to Watch

The 2020 season is right around the corner, and we wanted to preview some of the up and coming 8A WRs. Each player looks primed for a big 2020 season for their respective schools. <strong>Darien Jackson (Elgin HS)-</strong> Solid height and weight with a slender overall frame. Good foot quickness and burst off LOS. Very good straight line speed, and can maintain speed into stem, which allows for separation once to the top of route. Possesses home run speed and shows good catch to run transition, to allow for a lot of YAC. Solid hands, tends to let the ball get into chest and cradles at the catch point. He will need to add more routes to his arsenal, to reach overall potential, but has the capability to do so. <strong>David Loch (Taft HS)-</strong> Good height with solid weight and a slender frame. He was used both in-line as a TE and split out at the numbers as a WR. Body size and leg drive allow him to get off Press. Solid COD allows him to create separation vs. Off. Hands catcher, soft hands and is fluent at the catch point. His greatest ability is as a redzone target, high points very well and has a willingness to go get the football.  He lacks ability to seperate at top of routes vs. tight man to man coverage. He is a tweaner, and his potential at the next level will most likely be adding weight and transitioning to TE. <strong>Garrett Stare (Neuqua Valley HS)-</strong> Solid height and weight with average frame. Good burst off LOS, uses a combination of quickness and acceleration to eat up Off coverage. Shows solid mental processing to settle routes in honey holes and allow QB a lane to fit the ball in. Good ability to stretch the field, and can work shallow, intermediate, or deep. Solid YAC ability, will engage contact in order to pick up extra yardage. Overall, a solid slot WR who has the ability to continue developing in 2020, and see production take off this season. <strong>Aiden Brownlee (Loyola Academy)-</strong> Adequate height, solid weight with a solid frame. He’s a multidimensional athlete who is at his best when lining up in the slot and working the shallow to intermediate areas of the field. Good quickness and speed allows him to get a clean release vs. Press, along with the ability to eat up cushion vs.Off coverage. Uses very good COD to create separation out of break, and shows good acceleration/burst to pull away from defenders. Natural hands, catches the ball out in front and has a fluent catch to run transition. He possesses home run ability each time he touches the football, and also displays big play ability in the return game. He lacks height, but is a natural football player who will be able to come in and contribute right away in a variety of ways at the next level. &nbsp;