Program Prospect Preview: Pittsburg Pirates

<em><strong>Pittsburg High School is one of the most respected and well-run programs in the entire state and is always a top team.  Always loaded with FBS caliber talent, the class of 2022-2024 is no different and will be dominant for years to come. Below, we will break down some of the top players returning on the Pirates roster and take a dive into their film from this past Spring season that is coming off a perfect 5-0 record. </strong></em> &nbsp; <em><strong>QB [player_tooltip player_id="25431" first="Jaden" last="Rashada"]</strong></em> <em>Ranked as the top quarterback in the 2023 class in the entire country, Rashada has an ideal frame and rare arm talent for the Power Five level. A very athletic prospect, he moves well in the pocket with strong awareness and delivers a nice deep ball with good touch and velocity while also able accurately throw into tight windows while on the run and throwing across his body. He will continue to develop into a top National Recruit and should have the school of his choice available to him by the time he graduates.</em> &nbsp; <em><strong>ATH [player_tooltip player_id="25446" first="Will" last="Stallings"]</strong></em> <em>Stallings is a physical presence with good strength and speed that will translate to the linebacker position at the next level. Already holding Power Five offers, he is poised for a huge Junior season. On tape this Spring, he showed that he can play in space while showing fluid hips and lateral movement/breaking abilities while able to cover slot receivers and trigger in a hurry. In the box, he explodes through contact and flashes quick play diagnosis and ideal closing speed while able to tackle in space and plays with good toughness and physicality. </em> &nbsp; <em><strong>DL CJ Falevai</strong></em> <em>Falevi is one of the most dominant defensive lineman in the Bay Area and has FCS+ level abilities at the next level. Very technically sound, he is explosive at the point of attack and plays with good pad level, extension through his strike and a strong base when playing against the run. Able to get off blocks in a hurry without giving up ground, he also has an active use of hands and is an effective pass rusher due to effort, explosion through his hips and playing tough and physical at the point of attack. </em> &nbsp; <em><strong>WR Israel Polk</strong></em> <em>Israel is a long bodied receiver with good top end speed and high point ability. Able to stretch the field vertically, he can go up and get 50/50 balls while showing the ability to sink his hips and turn and run on intermediate/short throws. Effective against man coverage, he wins with first step explosion and body position at the point of attack. He will continue to develop into one of the top receivers the Bay Area has to offer. </em> &nbsp; <em><strong>LB Jakobe Harmon </strong></em> <em>A all league selection coming off this Spring season, Harmon is a downhill linebacker that reads plays quickly and is physical in the box while doing a good job at using his hands to get off blocks and brings a good pop upon contact in tight windows. Displaying nice closing speed and taking good angles to ball carriers near the LOS, he is able to play both inside and outside linebacker but projects as an inside linebacker at the next level and will be able to make an impact in college.</em> &nbsp; <em><strong>OL/DL Lisala Takafua </strong></em> <em>The 2022 prospect is a big bodied mauler that projects as a guard at the next level. He has a strong build and a good sized lower body while playing with an explosive first step and initial punch upon contact while showing good leg drive and base through out his blocks. More of a phone booth blocker, he will fit nicely in a run first team at the next level and has some nice upside due to his athletic ability. </em> &nbsp; <em><strong>WR [player_tooltip player_id="25460" first="Rashid" last="Williams"] </strong></em> <em>Williams is rated as a 4-Star prospect and is one of the top wide receivers in the entire state regardless of class. Although injuring his collar bone early in the year this season, he will come back this Fall as the top target for Rashada and one of the most explosive offensive weapons in the golden state.</em> &nbsp; <em><strong>WR Keynan Higgins</strong></em> <em>Higgins has plus length for the position and a huge catch radius while able to get vertical in a hurry and has an explosive first step and good long speed in the open field. Currently holding FBS offers from the likes of Pittsburg among others, he is another one of the top receivers across the region regardless of class and has nice upside potential at the next level due to his ability to get separation at the third level and track the ball successfully in traffic. </em> &nbsp; &nbsp; <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><em><strong>Other Key Players...</strong></em></span> <em><strong>OL/DL Aidan Bandes</strong></em> <em><strong>WR/DB Khai Taylor </strong></em> <em><strong>RB Khamani Blakney </strong></em> <em><strong>OL/DL Estaban Ambriz </strong></em> <em><strong>RB/LB Dylan Matthew</strong></em> <em><strong>DL Nicolas Quintero</strong></em>