Film review: Class of 2022 part 1

I absolutely love when prospects are active on social media and want to be seen. Therefor, I was my pleasure to give all of those prospects some love. In the first of three film reviews of the 2022 class, here is my assessment of the tape they have sent me. Defensive back Noah Hartford, Pinecrest, NC (6’2” and 205-pounds) @noah_hartford3 Versatility jumps off the screen as Hartford lines up at multiple positions. He has a lot of room to grow, which leads me to think he could ultimately get too big to be a defensive back and there could be a transition to linebacker in his future. Either way I love the upside due to his speed and angles he takes to make plays. Hartford read and recognition skills are impress, he’s almost alway around the ball. He excels at special teams, a trait that shows he’s willing to do anything for his team. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-93627" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/01/7336B786-E6DC-46C1-843A-5356F676DFF8-139x300.jpeg" alt="" width="139" height="300" /> Defensive back / athlete Michael Torres, Evergreen Park, IL (5’10” and 173-pounds) @MikeyTorres04 I’m a big fan of defensive backs who aren’t afraid of contact and Torres fits that bill. In this age of football, you have to be able to tackle well and have good recognition skills as a DB and Torres does. He’s solid with his coverage skills and although he could play on the offensive side of the ball as well, defensive is where his future lies. Currently Torres has an offer from Valley State but is in contact with a few D1 programs. Unfortunately due to not having a football season in Illinois, Torres hasn’t seen his recruitment advance, but once he gets back on the field, programs will start to take notice. H-back / athlete Braydon Carlson, Horbart, IN (6’1” and 210-pounds) @goat_carlson There wasn’t much of Carlson on the defensive side on his tape, but what I saw on offense there was plenty to like. He is a perfect example of an H-back, very good blocking ability when lined up in the backfield, who shows good hands on his routes. Carlson has the ability to lineup as a tight end as well, versatility is impressive with him. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-93629" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/01/05AEC381-065D-4FCD-ABB3-A98355C860FA-271x300.jpeg" alt="" width="271" height="300" /> Defensive back [player_tooltip player_id="65845" first="Quintin" last="Hale"], Thornwood, IL (6’ and 185-pounds) @Qhale22 As you can see, Hale doesn’t look like he what his current weight is, which leads me to think that once he get’s into a collegiate weight room, he’s going to get huge. Adding another 5-pounds will only help his game because he loves to make contact. Hale has controlled violence to his game, tackling with great form, which shows he has been coached well. He reads plays well, and has solid hands to make plays on the ball. Hale is talking with some D1 programs like Miami (OH) and St. Thomas, so get on this young man quickly before he blows up. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-93633" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/01/7DEA1434-B60D-4B67-B47F-41DF7CB743F3-224x300.jpeg" alt="" width="224" height="300" /> Running back / defensive back Kendrick Washington, Shepard, IL (5’11” and 180-pounds) @kendr1ck_1 Elusiveness is an easy way to describe Washington, but that’s not all he has in his game. He has the speed to take it to the house once he hits the edge, something you love to see from a running back prospect. He puts his foot in the ground and boom, there he goes. An extremely dangerous kick returner, Washington can even move out wide and be a threat due to his very good hands. Also shows some solid ability as a defensive back, so if running back doesn’t work out, he can easily make his way over to the other side of the ball. Washington currently does not have any offers, but that needs to change. Right tackle [player_tooltip player_id="18548" first="Mateo" last="Noriega"], Burnsville, MN (6’5” and 270-pounds) @Mateo_Noriega72 Angry linemen are who you look for and that’s Noriega. Always looking for contact and keeping his feet moving, he plays with great leg drive. Noriega has the athletic ability to get to the second level and when he does, linebackers aren’t too happy. At the current moment he is a better run blocker than pass, Noriega also sometimes gets his hands a bit too far outside but he has to footwork and ability to get better. Middle linebacker / athlete Max Balow, Lake City, MN (6’1” and 215-pounds) @MaxBalow A big time blitzer, who picks his gaps well and then makes plays behind the line. Balow gets off his blocks well, showing good strength and hand work. Although severely undersized, Balow plays on the other side of the ball also at tackle. This shows me that he loves the game and will do anything for his team to succeed. Balow has good speed for a linebacker and has the ability to get better before he heads off to college. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-93645" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/01/5B84AEC9-99FF-4360-A191-658786DBF6A9-262x300.jpeg" alt="" width="262" height="300" /> Offensive guard / defensive tackle Ostyn Friday (6’2” and 260-pounds) @OstynFriday This guy loves to eat, specifically pancakes are on Friday’s order. He plays with a mean streak as he consistently drives his opponents off the line of scrimmage. Friday is one of the better pass blockers I have seen at his stage as well. In a pinch he can move further outside on the line to tackle, but he’s best as an interior lineman. Friday shows his athletic ability off when he moves over to the defensive side, but I’d rather see that mean streak plowing over defenders. Also a basketball player, which I love to see, currently does not have any offers, but they should be coming soon. Nose guard / defense end Dazele Pridgett, Russell County, AL (5’11” and 245-pounds) @DazeleP Although Pridgett is undersized, that doesn’t mean much for his motor as he still makes plays for his team. He lines up all over the defensive line, the reason he can do that is because he shows impressive strength. It’s not just his strength that helps him make plays, Pridgett shows some very good hand work, something that many great lineman have. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-93647" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/01/06A007FF-3935-46EF-9C25-74DC8EC3BE9F-246x300.jpeg" alt="" width="246" height="300" /> Defensive lineman / offensive lineman Tyler Wilms, Lemont, IL (6’ and 230-pounds) @tylerwilms Wilms can play on both sides of the line, but I really like him on the defensive side, as he has a very wide frame. He will need to add on weight, but when he does, Wilms will be an even better nose tackle because of it. There is a lot of athleticism to his game, as he is able to shed blockers very well. If the defensive side of the ball doesn’t work out, which I believe it should, Wilms could transition to an interior offensive lineman. I’ll get to see him live next month, he’s a player I’m looking forward to seeing. Currently Wilms is in contact with Princeton, Columbia, Penn, Nevada, Duke, Liberty and others but no offers yet. Once he hits the field again, those offers should be coming.