Mill Creek Football’s Top Returners For The 2021 Season
One of the most underrated teams in the entire state of Georgia is most certainly Mill Creek’s football program. Not only do they have the talent to compete with some of the best teams in the state, but they have…
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Continue ReadingOne of the most underrated teams in the entire state of Georgia is most certainly Mill Creek’s football program. Not only do they have the talent to compete with some of the best teams in the state, but they have the strong base of young players on the roster that could easily develop into a special group. While the Hawks did not have the strongest season last year, as they finished up 5-6, we feel that they have better days ahead of them in the upcoming 2021 season. Below, we have listed and evaluated some of our favorite players that will be returning for the Hawks this upcoming year, and who we feel will be a few of the key pieces in their upcoming success.
Caleb Downs Caleb Downs 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB Mill Creek | 2023 State GA – SS
Downs not only started Varsity as a freshman, but has become one of the most sought after DB’s in the entire country. He is not only listed as a 4 star, but has some of the most notable Power 5 offers in the country. This includes that of Alabama, Florida, and UNC. Downs has certainly earned this, and his on the field ability speaks for itself. When evaluating tape on Downs, one of the things that jumps off of the screen is his height, length, and frame. Not only does he have the body type that you look for in a DB, but he also has the burst, ball skills, and ability to track the ball that college coaches dream of. With this, his overall speed is also very impressive, and paired with his footwork and ability to change direction on a dime, this makes him a lethal weapon on both sides of the ball. Downs is also natural in coverage, as he shows to be able to cover ground quickly, and to get out of his breaks and flip his hips cleanly, putting him in positions to make plays on the ball, and key stops. With this, he is also not afraid of contact, as he is good at coming up to make tackles, while also delivering a pop when he makes contact. This upcoming season, look for him to continue to ball out, and to be a huge player for the Hawks.
Khai Greene- OLB
While there is not a ton of film on Greene, many may wonder why we still thought of Greene highly enough to add him to this list. Well, it’s because we project him to be a stud for the Hawks this upcoming season. He not only has the body of a solid backer, but he also has the flexibility, and explosive ability to make key stops, and plays that will be largely beneficial for his team. While playing, Greene has good fluidity in his movement skills, and also takes great drop steps. This positions him well to play the run, and to come up and make tackles. While we would like to see him be more aggressive on some of these plays, it is undeniable that he has the ability to stop the run very well when playing in more of a full time role. With this, Greene also shuffles his feet very well, and has good footwork. Next season, we project him to take a leap in his ability as a backer, and we think he will slowly start to make a name for himself.
Hayden Clark- QB
Hawks fans should be excited for Clark to be returning as their starting QB this upcoming season. Not only is he slowly gaining more attention as a starter, but he has also displayed plenty of strong traits when playing the position as well. To start, not only does he have a strong arm, but he has good ball placement and vision of the field. While he is a bit raw in his ability to maneuver the pocket, he is mobile enough to get the job done. Along with this, he also shows to be able to get the ball out fast. While it may not always been as accurate or clean of a pass, it helps keep the offense rolling. One thing we would like to see Clark work on is his throwing mechanics. At times, he has a bunch of wasted movement, and can throw off balance, causing him to lose some velocity on the ball. Regardless, he leads his team well for his age, and has the raw ability to develop into a key leader for his team in the future.
Makhail Wood- WR
As you break down the tape on Wood, it is evident that he has a great ceiling as a WR. Not only will he be a key player for his team this upcoming season, but has also proves to be good enough to play at the next level. As a route runner, he is solid at stacking DB’s, tracking the ball, and running crisp routes. While he can run a bit high at times, his twitch allows him to shake defenders, and gain a ton of yards. With this, we like his ability to make plays after the catch due to his burst, change of direction, and speed that helps him him to separate well. Additionally, Wood’s frame also has a ton of growth potential, which is only going to benefit him a ton in the future as he looks to add weight. Going into next season, look for Wood to take a leap in his play making ability, scoring, and big plays. He will continue to be a key part of his teams success.