Talented Senior WR’s Without an FBS Offer

We continue our spotlight on prospects who are not currently fielding D1/FBS offers. With further development, all eight of these wideouts could jump onto FBS-level radars along the east coast. Often, talented players tend to go unnoticed due to a myriad of reasons. Lack of exposure at a small program, playing out of position, or injury-plagued seasons shouldn’t hurt a prospect’s chances at a high-level scholarship. It’s our job at Prep Redzone to dig and find talent and give them the spotlight that is deserved. Here are eight talented senior wide receivers without FBS offers.

- 5'10", 172lbs, Germantown Academy We start with JGB, a somewhat thin prospect who is a big play waiting to happen. Griffen-Batchler can play inside slot or outside the numbers for Germantown Academy but also contributes as a gunner and kick returner on special teams. When you have the speed and acceleration combo that JGB has, you’re more than likely to be used all around the field which is the case at Germantown. The route tree expands to all areas of the field, whether it be in the screen game behind the line of scrimmage, slant routes to work the middle of the field, or vertically, running frequent wheel and fly routes. The vertical game is where he likes to hurt you. His thin build doesn’t hurt his ability to fend off physical corner play downfield and he has great positional awareness and leverage usage downfield. He can make catches while being draped by defenders and is tough enough to break tackles after making a catch downfield, often high-stepping or stiff-arming said draped defenders to score. Used a ton in the red zone where he is trusted to field corner and fade routes. He does a good job high pointing the ball despite his average height. Loves to run double moves, which is understandable considering his quick footwork and quick-twitch ability at the top of his routes. Speed is his game but not necessarily with the ball in his hands. Would love to see him be more effective in the open field. Would also like to see him catch the ball away from his body on a consistent basis. Minor things that the senior can work on. Also contributes as a running back and defensive back for Germantown. - 6'5", 185lbs, Western Beaver Bradford has the size you want but is a little on the thinner side as far as his build goes. None the less his size sticks out on the field and really helps him excel as a perimeter threat. He’s more than just an outside the numbers guy, however. Bradford will absolutely eat up smaller corners and can jump with some of the best, but as the focal point of the offense, Bradford is often used behind the line of scrimmage to get easy first downs when the run game isn’t clicking. Really like how smooth he is in and out of routes. He glides throughout long-developing routes and sifts through traffic really well. Bradford is super athletic and is a willing blocker which you love to see out of your upper-classmen. Size is Bradford’s game but I’d love to see him be more physical with his hands and at the line of scrimmage and throughout his route. When high-pointing or skying for a ball, he does a great job using his body to box out defenders, but he can do just as much damage utilizing leverage throughout his routes to create separation. He fills his frame out and works on refining his game, he could blow up our rankings because his pass-catching ability can’t be doubted. - 6'1", 180lbs, Owen J. Roberts Denardo has good height/weight combination, coming in at 6’1" and 180lbs. A team captain last season, Denardo also contributes at corner and serves as the teams kick returner as well. He primarily plays outside the numbers but can really give you reps anywhere and displays a solid route tree to work with. His best trait is his overall acceleration, whether it be off the line of scrimmage or downfield or even when taking off after a screen. His speed and open-field vision are awesome for his frame. Watching the film on Denardo, it shows how great of an all-around prospect he really is. He can take you deep and has a knack for making contested catches downfield. He can take screens all the way to the house, displaying a natural ability to make guys miss. He’s slippery and elusive when returning kicks. He’s also really smart and aware with the ball in his hands or not. He sets up his blocking so well when in the open field and also knows where to break off his routes depending on leverage. Without a doubt, Denardo is a must-watch with the ball in his hands and a nightmare to try to contain. He can hurt you in so many ways and is such a highly productive player for OJR that an FBS team will have no choice but to have him on their radar, so long as he continues to produce this way. - 5'7", 155lbs, Imhotep Charter , Philadelphia Public League MVP, is just 5’7" and barely 160lbs but his size doesn’t slow down his productivity. Watching his film was a joy, there isn’t a coach in the country who couldn’t use this kid’s explosiveness and athleticism. There isn’t a scarier player on this list when in the open field. There may not be a scarier senior in all of Pennsylvania than Seals, who displays incredible change of direction ability and can do damage where ever he is on the field. It’s a must to get the ball in this kid’s hands as much as possible and Imhotep does a good job in doing so. Returning kickoffs, punts, running back, defensive back, hell even taking reps as a wildcat quarterback, there isn’t much Seals can’t do. Where he is most refined is at wideout. He has underrated hands! Much of his game is after the catch, making defenders miss with elite elusiveness but don’t forget about his hands! He’s often making contested or diving catches. He’s a tough kid who plays with an attitude. Locking him up hurts his pride so he does his best to not let it happen. He displays great short field burst and can change directions on a dime. He works the top of his routes so well, displaying elite body control and balance to shake defenders out of position. Like previously mentioned, it’s only a matter of size and time with this prospect as there isn’t a coach in the country who couldn’t use his deadly speed and outstanding awareness. - 6'2", 160lbs, Upper Moreland is a prospect that every scout and recruiter should have their eyes on. His production is somewhat low, and his Hudl profile isn’t littered with highlights, but there is a special player in Johnson that is waiting to burst onto the scene. Johnson, a 6’2" wideout, defensive back and basketball player for Upper Moreland High School weighs in at just 160 pounds, but it sure doesn’t look that way in the film. I expected his great jumping ability and ball skills, which I believe are the best of this group, but what I didn’t expect was his smooth stride and impressive route running ability. He displays above-average acceleration off the line of scrimmage against off-coverage. Has a great stride when attacking vertically but also has a bit of a quick-twitch in him to make guys miss in the open field. His vertical route is smooth, he times his lateral movements well and understands how and when to stack. Love how physical he is throughout the entirety of his route, this trait makes him an excellent red-zone threat. Upper Moreland gives Johnson opportunities to do damage in the open field as well. He can take screens or jet-sweeps behind the line of scrimmage and get you an easy ten by putting his head down or even making a one-cut juke to make someone miss. Johnson is also a willing blocker who is aggressive play in and play out. I would like to see his route tree expand, as it’s pretty limited to screens and vertical routes at the moment. A wide variety of routes under his belt could definitely boost his stock. Johnson is a little on the raw side, and his production may be on the lighter side, but I personally will keep my eye on him and how he develops, as should other scouts along the east coast. Rashim Lee Jr - 6'4", 183lbs, York Rashim is the rawest prospect on this list but has the frame and athleticism to really turn into a great football player and solidify himself as a top senior wideout in Pennsylvania. Right now, there’s a ton of projection as to where Lee could end up, but none of the talk matters unless Lee puts together a productive senior season at York. He has the natural ball-catching ability to do so. His tape shows just how easy it can be for him to catch the ball at its highest point but the same tape shows a stiff and unnatural release, stiff hips, and lack of body control throughout routes. Lee excels in the red zone, which at times is easy to do when you’re 6’4" but what I love is how unaffected he is by contact in the red zone. Good luck moving this kid off his target when going up for a fade route. His effectiveness in the red zone is a quality trait and something to build off of. If Lee continues to develop, there’s serious potential to become a big-time recruit. - 6'1", 195lbs, Malvern Prep Mathias is a smart player who’s best trait is his awareness as a pass-catcher. Mathias, who also gets reps at outside linebacker for Malvern Prep, is special when working the middle of the field. He doesn’t have blazing speed or elite hands but that doesn’t stop this kid from being one of the team’s top producers on offense. Mathias shows good foot quickness and good change of direction ability which really makes him a hard cover when manipulating zone defenses. He can find and sit in holes against a zone at an elite level and can be any quarterbacks best friend. He’s a clear team-first player who gives a ton of effort when blocking for his teammates. He is a coach’s dream, being able to play anywhere is asked of him, inside, outside, or in the slot. Would really like to see him improve his technique when releasing. He doesn’t display the best acceleration, so really refining his release could help create separation and boost his stock. - 6'0", 162lbs, Penn Wood , the last prospect of the group, is a vertical threat for Penn Wood, who’s got some serious speed! Absolutely love how he can catch the ball in stride and not lose a step. It’s a trait that many think is simple or easy to come by, but it isn’t, and Price excels at this. When you’re already a burner, being capable of staying at that speed throughout the entirety of a catch is awesome. Price is a refined vertical threat and it shows rep in and rep out. He does a great job pacing himself throughout a route to help create separation. He trusts his speed and understands when and where to turn his jets on or off and when to stack all the while using his good ball locating ability to make the catch. He brings some screen game to the table as well as being the best blocking wideout amongst this group. He breaks down really well and uses his strong upper body to get into the chest of defensive backs and drive them backward. He brings energy and effort when blocking which really shows how team-orientated Price is. He brings that same energy and effort when playing defensive back as well.