Impact 5A LBs
Michael Gaughan Michael Gaughan 6'0" | 200 lbs | LB St. Rita | 2021 IL (St. Rita HS)- Adequate height and good weight, buff, trim, proportioned with definition. Very good eyes and processing off the snap, to quickly read run/pass,…
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Continue ReadingMichael Gaughan Michael Gaughan 6'0" | 200 lbs | LB St. Rita | 2021 IL (St. Rita HS)- Adequate height and good weight, buff, trim, proportioned with definition. Very good eyes and processing off the snap, to quickly read run/pass, and react with little wasted movements. Vs. Pass, very good hip fluidity to get into pass drop, maintains awareness of underneath routes while dropping. At the top, good lateral agility in order to slide to spots, and anticipate the throwing lane. Shows good acceleration/burst to plaster when Zone turns to Man or break on the football in the air. In Man, he primarily plays Off. Good feet at the top of WR route, shows good burst out of break and can stick on the back hip. Good ball skills, and closing speed to anticipate ball thrown, track it in the air, and use his foot quickness to get his hands on the football. Vs. Run, effective against both Zone and Man blocking schemes. Maintains good snap anticipation and eye discipline. Uses his acceleration to shoot gaps both front and backside in order to run the play down. He plays with very good range, displays sideline to sideline ability. Good tackler both in the hole and in the open field, he’s a knock back tackler who wraps and generates good hip power to finish. Good blitzing ability, with a combination of anticipation, foot quickness, and acceleration in order to disguise pre-snap, and use his speed to get in and out of hole quickly, and into the backfield. Overall an undersized LB who has very good traits and skills. He will be a very good contributor at the next level.
Will Bowlby (Carbondale HS)- Good height and solid weight, tall, slender, proportioned with some definition. His best ability comes when he is moving north and south, playing in the box, and coming downhill. Vs. Run, solid eyes off the snap, and displays good processing to read and get to a spot. He can be effective vs. both Zone and Man schemes, and possesses solid range, being a numbers to numbers player. Good tackling ability, good contact at the POA, and will bring legs to finish. Solid open field tackler, shows the ability to wrap and roll, with a good striking point. The biggest concern is that he has limitations when it comes to playing high. He tends to stand straight up off the snap, which also impacts his ability to have quick COD movements in order to be effective enough at the next level in pass coverage. His skills that he possesses now translate to the next level, but his best option at the next level, may likely be adding weight and putting his hand in the dirt as a 43 DE.
Damion Rhoden (St. Laurence HS)- Good height and weight, buff, athletic, proportioned with definition. Good eyes and processing off the snap, anticipates and works to get to spot/gap. Vs. Pass, shows the ability to play both Zone and Man. In Zone, good hip fluidity in order to open and drop with little wasted movement. Once at the top, good eyes and agility in order to move and transition. Good foot quickness and acceleration to come out of zone and plaster. In Man, he primarily played Off, but showed the ability to play over the TE or split out and cover the slot. Good agility and COD at the top of routes, and maintains good acceleration/burst in order to stick on the back hip. Displays good ball skills in each, can play through the WR, and see the ball in the air. Aggressive at the catch point, and will attack WR hands in order to work the ball free. Vs. Run, can be successful against both Man and Zone. He is a numbers to numbers player, who uses eyes and burst off the snap to allow him to beat blocks. He also displays good sudden movements in order to elude at the POA near the LOS, and get into the backfield. Good tackler both in the hole and in the open field, wraps on contact and will finish. Solid blitzing ability, can be disruptive in the backfield and shows good disguising ability pre-snap in order to use burst to get through LOS clean. Overall, a good prospect who can do a lot of different things and be a weapon for a defense at the next level.