Five Underrated Prospects

Anthony Garcia December 21, 2020 @ 12:38 PM

This is the first post from new Prep Redzone scout Austin Pfenninger Recruiting is an inexact science and players slip through the cracks every year. This year in particular with the cancelations of Spring track, Summer camps and Fall seasons in many cases, we expect an abundance of players to be “underrecruited” and outplay their perceived skill level once they hit college. Below are 5 seniors that we believe can be impact players in college and were deserving of more recruiting attention. [player_tooltip player_id="38941" first="Colton" last="Parker"]- WR- Carmel- Parker has every natural tool you could ask for in a receiver prospect and is only scratching the surface of his potential. A Miami Ohio signee, Parker had Big10 potential in our eyes and should be a formidable player in the MAC. A state finalist in the 300m hurdles as a sophomore, he has excellent athleticism and got hurt by not being able to post track times in the elite echelon as was expected before the Pandemic. A former quarterback, Parker’s first full season at receiver wasn’t until his junior season, and he still had to fill in at QB in some games as a senior in a run-heavy offense. At 6’1” with long arms, track speed and a penchant for acrobatic catches over some of the state’s top defensive backs, Parker is a player with a high ceiling whose high school stats don’t tell the full story. [player_tooltip player_id="38958" first="Scott" last="Hudson"]- DL- Carmel- Hudson is a player that lived in the opposing teams’ backfields as a senior for class 6A Carmel, going up against some of the top linemen in the state every week. With a rare ability to pass rush as a nose, Hudson also lined up as an end in Carmel’s 3-4 system. Low pad-level, excellent quickness, long arms and can tackle in space, Hudson has a lot to offer to a team on the next level. Currently, he has no reported offers but has the size and athleticism that should at least warrant offers from the FCS level. [player_tooltip player_id="38922" first="Carson" last="Steele"]- RB- Center Grove- How often is a Mr. Football award winner considered underrated? At 6’2” 225, a 4-year starter in the MIC, with nearly 6,000 career yards and 82 touchdowns, Steele is in rare company. Despite these lofty achievements, an ankle injury that took most of his junior season has likely had some effect on his recruitment. Steele currently holds offers from Ball State, Indiana State and Southern Illinois, as well as preferred walk-on spots from Indiana and Purdue. [player_tooltip player_id="38942" first="Wenkers" last="Wright"]- RB- Floyd Central- Hailing from Floyd Central High School in southern Indiana, Wright is not a name most in the state are familiar with but should get to know his game. At 6’2” 190 and an already violent runner, Wright has the frame to be a menace on the next level once he gets in a college weight room. A one-cut back and a long strider with a second gear, Wright is a homerun threat every time he touches the ball. Another player that could have benefited from a strong junior track season, he posted an impressive 15.72 110m hurdles and 21’6’ long jump as a sophomore. Despite an FBS offer from Bowling Green, Wright is committed to Illinois State and hopes to follow in the footsteps of recent Redbird running backs that made it to the NFL, Marshaun Coprich and James Robinson. Jake Vance- WR- Rushville- A do-it-all weapon for class 3A Rushville, Vance capped his career with over 3,000 yards of total offense and 29 touchdowns. Vance is a perfect example of a small school player who could have torn up the 7on7 and camp circuit in a normal year. Projecting best as a slot, he still can win the one-on-one battle outside as a Z and is expected to be a threat in the return game as well. Despite FCS offers from Dayton and Valpo, Vance has signed with NAIA Olivet Nazarene and should be a dominant player at that level.