Midwest Skilled Athletes 2022

In every recruiting class, a college football program will zero in on skilled athletes that can be productive in a multiplicity of ways. These athletes possess the speed, quickness, agility, ball skills, and instincts to not only be a position player but also a difference maker on special teams. Here are seven of the most versatile skilled athletes in the class of 2022 from the Midwest. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="35540" first="Dasan" last="McCullough"]    6’4” 215     Overland Park, Kansas     Blue Valley North</strong> McCullough is an intimidating force in the defensive secondary. He has the range to play anywhere in the secondary but is best suited to be a strong safety or outside linebacker. He loves contact and is a ferocious tackler that brings his entire body on contact. Dasan takes sharp angles to the football coming up on run support. He uses his height to his advantage by going up to highpoint the football to make the interception. He also displays deceptive speed which is shown on his ability to cover kicks. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="38668" first="Gentry" last="Williams"]     6’0” 170     Tulsa, Oklahoma     Booker T. Washington</strong> Without a doubt, Gentry is one of the most versatile and talented athletes in the 2022 class. Besides football, Gentry is an outstanding track standout whose speed really shows on the gridiron. He is a dual threat quarterback on offense and a corner on defense who could also play slot receiver or be a wildcat quarterback at the next level. I think Gentry is destined to be a lockdown corner where his speed, quickness, and ability to flip his hips allowing him to man up on opposing wide receivers. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="37523" first="Kevin" last="Coleman"]     5’11” 170     St. Louis, Missouri     St. Mary’s </strong> Kevin is an elusive wide receiver that can play either wideout or slot receiver. He is a good route runner who has the speed and moves to separate from defensive backs. Coleman finds the seams and voids in the secondary to get open and give his quarterback a window to deliver the football. Kevin has real burst once he gets his hands on the football to turn a short reception into a big play. He could be a very good collegiate corner but look for him to be a receiver and return man at the collegiate level. <strong>Aley Afari     6’2” 195     West Chester, Ohio     Lakota West</strong> Afari displays loose hips and foot agility for a tall corner. He uses his hands well when playing press corner and demonstrates good change of direction with his plant and drive technique when playing off corner. He could end up a strong safety or outside linebacker when he gets to a collegiate program. Aley also shows talent as a wide receiver where he runs precise routes on the outside, especially the fade. He has good hands and makes acrobatic receptions look natural. Afari is an excellent stalk blocker in space showing physicality as a receiver. Aley is a reliable punt returner who consistently makes the first man in coverage miss in the openfield. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="20868" first="Kaleb" last="Brown"]     5’11” 183     Chicago, Illinois     St. Rita</strong> If you want a big play from your offense, give the football to [player_tooltip player_id="20868" first="Kaleb" last="Brown"]. He darts through small holes in the interior running by and through defenders or gets the ball to the perimeter lightening fast as a running back. He is dependable catching the ball out of the backfield on swing, screens, or seam routes. As a slot receiver he uses his speed and athleticism on the jet sweep to turn the corner then accelerating by defensive backs in the openfield. Brown’s versatility is shown as a kickoff return specialist where he demonstrates the ability to take it to the endzone every time he touches the ball. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="30133" first="Dillon" last="Tatum"]     5’11” 185     West Bloomfield, Michigan</strong> There isn’t a skilled position on offense or defense [player_tooltip player_id="30133" first="Dillon" last="Tatum"] can’t play. He is an explosive running back who can make jump cuts on a dime then pulls away from defenders as he weaves his way downfield. Dillon has soft hands as a receiver and can go up to catch the ball in a crowd. As impressive as he is on the offensive side of the ball, his defensive skills are superb. I can see him being a slot corner in college, a position where he displays the ability to run man-to-man with receivers or play zone. He is quick in transition from coverage to run support with instant closing speed on the ball carrier. Dillon is a sure tackler where is a valuable weapon in kickoff coverage.