Duluth Football’s Top Returners For The 2021 Season
Last season, Duluth football fell just short of the playoffs. Perhaps, the biggest reason for this is due to the fact that they play within Region 7, of 7A football. This region is one of the toughest regions in the…
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Continue ReadingLast season, Duluth football fell just short of the playoffs. Perhaps, the biggest reason for this is due to the fact that they play within Region 7, of 7A football. This region is one of the toughest regions in the state, and it includes the likes of Archer, Norcross, Dunwoody, Meadowcreek, Berkmar, and Discovery High. By the end of the season, the Wildcats had seen their share of success, with a 6-4 record, but it was not quite enough, as 3 of these losses came to region opponents. As a result, the Wildcats finished their season in late November, and were forced to look onward to the 2021 season. Despite this early exit, Duluth High School will look to improve in 2021, and will use its young talent to do so. Below, take a look at some of the wildcats top returners for next season.
Lonnie Ratliff- QB
While Ratliff is a bit of a slimmer QB prospect, he still has a cannon for an arm. This is evident by the way he is able to squeeze passes in tight windows, and hit receivers in stride down the field. His pocket presence can be a bit shaky at times, but we like the way he is able to throw on the run, and get the ball out of his hands quickly. This helps him to be able to connect on passes at various levels of the field. Ratliff needs to work on being able to throw with better mechanics, and touch, but overall, we think he is a great prospect, especially due to the way he is able to escape and gain plenty of yards on the ground as a dual threat. Because of his mobility and athleticism, he is able to keep defenses off balance, and open up the offense even more for the Wildcats. In 2021, we expect him to be able to add on to his success from his Junior year, and to be able to go out with a bang.
Trey Farris- LB
Farris may not be the fastest prospect on the defensive side of the ball, but he shows decent short area burst and quickness, which allows him to be able to make plays in pursuit and behind the line of scrimmage. He plays with an aggressive nature, and fights and claws his way to tackles. At times, this can result in tackles for loss, or stalemates at the line of scrimmage. At the snap of the ball, Farris also has a decent drop step, and does a good job of reading the run, and reacting to it naturally. While we do think he is a bit undersized for his position, his hustle accounts for his lack of length, and bulk. As we slowly approach the 2021 season, look for Farris to continue to play full speed, but with a little bit more discipline. This will help him to improve even more.
Rishon Spencer- WR
Measuring in at 5’10, 175, Spencer is not the biggest receiver out there, but his speed and burst make up for his lack of size. With the ball in his hands, he has the ability to catch and gain as many yards as you could imagine. Often times, this results in big gains and touchdowns. Spencer also does a good job of using his twitch and burst out of his breaks, which helps him to shake defenders. Needless to say, Spencer has decent footwork as well, which makes it hard for defenders to keep up with him. Even though he is a bit of a raw route runner, we do believe that this is an area that he can slowly improve in due to his great body control. Next season, expect him to continue to be a great player on offense, and to become a game changer as well.
Antonio Cofield- CB
Even though Cofield is a bit unknown to most high school football fans throughout the state of Georgia, we feel that his stock could rise after this 2021 season. Not only does he bend well, but he matches up well with receivers in one on one coverage. He has decent footwork, and proves to be able to mirror movement well, and track the ball when it is in the air. Due to his short area quickness, he is able to react well, and even cause pass break ups from time to time. While we would like to see better technique in how he flips his hips and uses his hands, there is no denying that he shows flashes of being able to do this well. Along with all of these notes, one of the things that makes Cofield such a great player for the Wildcats is his ability to be an aggressive defensive player. He proves to not only be unafraid to get his hands dirty, but that he also is willing to come up and make tackles.