Unit Preview: St.Joseph’s Prep Offense

St. Joseph’s Preparatory high school has a total of eight ranked offensive players, which may not be the most compared to other Pennsylvania teams. However, four of the eight players mentioned in this article have committed to big-time D1 programs. This 2020 offense looks scary as the eight continue to develop together and grow in St. Joe’s passing game. Without further delay, here is an in-depth preview of St.Joes 2020 offensive unit. <strong>Quarterback</strong> <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="27192" first="Kyle" last="McCord"] - 6’2", 207lbs, c/o 2021</li> </ul> The soon to be four-year starter and Ohio State commit is our number one ranked QB in all of Pennsylvania. There’s plenty of hype and buzz surrounding this prospect and it’s much deserved. McCord passes the eye test, his mechanics and footwork are well polished, displaying a smooth and compact release that remains consistent. He’s got the St.Joes offense down to a T, keeping his eyes downfield at all times, displays the eye discipline to not tip off his reads, and understands where his check down is at all times. He’s a cerebral player who you can tell has put in the work to be the best quarterback he can be. He does a  great job connecting his eyes with his feet, always staying square with his shoulders and ready to set and throw, making him excel when attempting timing routes. His poise in the pocket is top-notch. No matter the chaos around him, he hangs in there, feels the pressure, and delivers a good ball. He has the arm strength necessary to hit his speedy weapons downfield or in tight windows near the sideline. Displays good accuracy all around the field, particularly when targeting the sidelines and fade routes into the endzone.  He isn’t the most mobile player in any sense but can avoid pressure and still throw dimes on the go. Growing an inch or two could really throttle his stock through the roof. <strong>Running Back</strong> <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="27639" first="Josh" last="Barlow"] - 5’5", 180lbs, c/o 2022</li> </ul> Barlow is a shorter running back who has crazy burst. St. Joes primarily uses him out of the gun, off-center to the quarterback. He shows good vision and excels when running downhill between the tackles. There's a little left to be desired when it comes to open field speed but he isn't strictly a between the tackles runner. He has enough foot quickness to bounce outside. Has pass-catching abilities and is tough to bring down! His low center of gravity and strength make him difficult to tackle the first time. <strong>Wide Receivers </strong> <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="27189" first="Marvin" last="Harrison Jr"]. - 6’2", 185lbs, c/o 2021</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="27277" first="Malik" last="Cooper"] - 5’9", 165lbs, c/o 2021</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="27292" first="Sahmir" last="Hagans"] - 5’9", 175lbs, c/o 2021</li> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="27590" first="Reese" last="Clark"] - 6’4", 200lbs, c/o 2022</li> </ul> There isn’t an offense that can’t excel with this senior trio on the field at the same time. Commitments to Ohio State, Temple, and Duke respectively show the talent these prospects have. Harrison, our number one overall wide receiver in Pennsylvania and son of Hall of Fame NFL wideout Marvin Harrison, is everything you could want in a premier pass-catcher. His size and frame hit you when watching the film. That isn’t all he brings to the table, he displays an impeccable catch radius and can pluck the ball away from his frame on the go as well. He can beat you with his elite route running. He s efficient in his routes, not losing a step when cutting. He has next-level acceleration off the line of scrimmage and is strong as a runner with the ball in his hands. Cooper, an all-around versatile player, contributes as a kick returner, punt returner, and as a slot wide receiver who has great open-field vision. Has absolute burners to go with the vision. He is an athlete who is ready to contribute where ever need be. Hagans, the Duke commit, shines when working over the middle of the field and catching the ball in traffic. He has home-run hitting speed and incredible elusiveness. He takes slants and screens to the house often. Clark, the junior of this group, has a great deal to live up to but his size and good tracking ability give him the potential to do so. He gets ample work in the redzone where he can put his 6'4" frame to work. <strong>Tight End</strong> <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="27407" first="Cade" last="Rooney"] - 6’2", 225lbs, c/o 2021</li> </ul> Lost in the top prospect hype is [player_tooltip player_id="27407" first="Cade" last="Rooney"], who absolutely deserves recognition as a powerful in-line tight end who displays good lower body strength and hand placement. He is a big kid who moves well for size. He shows a great understanding of the offense, playing multiple positions along the offensive line to help block. Rooney’s a highly coachable player whose stock could rise so long as he continues to develop a pass-catching game. <strong>Offensive Line</strong> <ul> <li>[player_tooltip player_id="27568" first="Brad" last="Harris"] - 6’4" 250lbs, c/o 2022</li> </ul> Harris comes in as the second-best offensive lineman in the 2022 class. Harris is a dancing bear right tackle who moves well in space. A mammoth of a man who displays elite hand placement and strength. Once he locks in and has a hold of you, there's a small chance you're shedding his block. He excels when on the move and in the run game where he can flatten defenders with a full head of steam. He is also an effective pass blocker, displaying a good kick and anchor. &nbsp; &nbsp;