SMAC football preview: Huntingtown High School Standouts

<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Overview:</strong></span> Huntingtown has seen a ton of success as of late! These are a few athletes I believe will carry the torch this season! [caption id="attachment_114326" align="alignright" width="251"]<img class="wp-image-114326" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/02/Chad-Connolly-169x300.jpeg" alt="" width="251" height="446" /> [player_tooltip player_id="90562" first="Chad" last="Connolly"][/caption]<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>OLB: [player_tooltip player_id="90562" first="Chad" last="Connolly"], 6’2", 215, 2022</strong></span> Chad is a physical linebacker that loves to fly around and deliver huge hits on the opposing ball carrier. In the run game, he does an excellent job of quickly recognizing the play and setting the edge when the play comes to him. Chad is a consistent tackler who often demonstrates the key fundamentals of wrapping up, keeping his head up, and driving through the tackle. When the ball is headed to the other side of the defense, he demonstrates the ability to find the right angle for his pursuit of the ball carrier, setting him up to make the tackle when his team forces the runner back i<span style="font-size: 1rem;">nside or to be the exclamation point on a gang tackle. As a pass defender, he does a good job of keeping his man in front of him so he can quickly react, often creating pass breakups and quick tackles that deny any yards after the catch. Chad is also a willing participant on special teams where he can be seen flying around and laying the kind hits on the ball carrier that will set the entire team’s tone. I believe Chad’s reliable tackling ability and high energy make him a great addition to any college team and will allow him to have an excellent year in the SMACs return this spring.</span> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>DB: [player_tooltip player_id="90374" first="Cameron" last="Dalrymple"], 6’1", 180, 2021</strong></span> Cameron is a defensive back who displays tremendous footwork and athleticism. His initial back-peddle and following hip movements are all very smooth, allowing him to stay close to the receiver, effectively covering their route. If the quarterback still decides to challenge his coverage, he’s displayed the ability to find the ball in the air and create pass breakups or turnovers with an interception. Cameron also displays great game-sense in zone coverage by demonstrating his ability to recognize the quarterback’s target and quickly redirect, putting himself in between the ball and the intended receiver unexpectedly, creating more turnovers and pass-breakups. After creating a turnover, he displays his speed and athleticism, navigating the field and generating yards with his legs. He also leverages these skills on the ball’s offensive side, where he plays receiver. As a tackler, Cameron has proven himself to be reliable in the open field, where he does a great job of corralling the ball-carriers legs to get them on the ground. The Merrimack Commit proves on film why he has what it takes to be successful at the division-1 one level and is poised for an excellent senior campaign. <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>P: Bryce LaFollette, 6’3", 200, 2022</strong></span> As the nation’s number three ranked punter Bryce displays both tremendous talent and technical skill. As a sophomore he showed off his impressive leg power by boasting a 40.2-yard punt average, consistently flipping the field, and helping his team win the field position battle. His punting process is extremely fast and snappy, allowing him to get the ball out fast, limiting the chances of being blocked. He also does a great job of giving his punts excellent hang-time giving the rest of his unit plenty of time to get down the field, effectively limiting any possible return yards. Bryce has also displayed the ability to angle his punts at will, giving his coaches the ability to manipulate the opposing returner’s options as well as their offense’s field position, or even avoid a specific returner altogether. An excellent punter has the ability to tremendously impact the game because of the importance of field position. Because of this, I believe Bryce is a high-level college prospect who will continue to grow and display his talent as an upperclassman.