New Names & Faces from AITxDC5 WR/DB Camp
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This piece will highlight some of the new faces and names I was able to discover at the AITxDC5 camp this past weekend in Pittsburgh. Travelling is always made worthwhile if you can uncover hidden talent in any particular area. That’s exactly what happened. Here are some under-the-radar prospects who can expect their names to be mentioned more on the site in the future.
Jayden Lindsey | 5’6, 125 | WR/DB | Bishop Canevin | 2025
We begin with a kid, literally, named Jayden Lindsey, an incoming freshman at Bishop Canevin who stood out for a multitude of reasons. I’ve seen the occasional 8th-grader attend camps to take reps with high schoolers and to learn what to expect from coaches at the next level. I do not, however, see said 8th-graders show the discipline in technique that Lindsey displayed. He wasn’t just taking mental reps or watching cheerleaders, he was there to show what he’s about. Yes, he’s undersized. Yes, he has a way to go physically to make an impact on the field immediately. Yet, his quick feet, balance, and coachability were all on display during the positional drills. I came away impressed with the little things. He’ll be added to our ’25 Watchlist.
Keyshawn McCaskill | 6’3, 191 | DB/LB | Bishop Canevin | 2023
The fact that McCaskill is on this list is large in part due to an oversight on my end. I fully expect Keyshawn to be added to our ’23 rankings database as soon as the time comes. This prospect brings awesome physical traits to the table right out the gate. This was a WRvsDB camp, so McCaskill’s skillset was displayed through a cornerback lense. I could still see his value at safety or outside linebacker just by his size alone and that’s exactly what his Hudl showed. Versatility. He’s a lively player on film. His game is physical, which is a trait that’s difficult to display at camps like these. I’m happy to see his downhill style of defense, as well as his ability to tackle from pretty much any defensive alignment (CB/S/LB). McCaskill will skip the Watchlist, expecting more from this kid in the future.
Aidan Hayes | WR/OLB | Seneca Valley | 2022
Much like McCaskill, Aidan Hayes’ game isn’t best suited from the 1v1, 7v7 arena. Nonetheless, I loved his effort rep in and rep out. Straight away, Hayes screams linebacker. It’s a tough ask to cover some of the speed that was on display and yes, at times Hayes was outmatched. What mattered to me is the fact he was out there putting in work against real speed, as well as his ability to be coached and take in information. We all know this game isn’t played in a t-shirt and shorts. We will have our eye out for Hayes, as film is still limited.
Lesae Lacks | 5’8 140 | WR/DB | Bishop Canevin | 2023
Out of this group, Lesae Lacks was known by myself, yet couldn’t find his way on our rankings this time around. From what I saw, the acceleration and athleticism were verified in person. Sometimes the athleticism seen on film doesn’t always match what is seen in person, and vice versa. Lacks was twitchy out of his stance and showed he can run past defenders when he opens up his stride. He will almost certainly end up on our rankings sooner rather than later. I can see the potential in this prospect. He already produces at high volume. He had some mental lapses and drops at the camp but also showed how much damage he can cause in the open field. If he puts it all together, Lacks could land himself on our rankings as a top 300 player in his class.
Sam Penna Sam Penna 5'8" | 160 lbs | ATH Richland | 2023 State PA | ATH | Richland | 2023
Last but not least is a player that is known by the rest of Prep Redzone but not so much by myself. I hadn’t the chance to take note of Penna’s strengths and weaknesses beforehand, so I was completely blind to Penna’s skillset. I liked what I saw during positionals despite occasional drops. It was a quiet camp as a whole for Penna who still did what he could to show his best traits. Camps aren’t everything but I would have loved to see more of the Richland ATH. I’m personally looking forward to seeing his development this coming season. I like the athlete I see on film, which matters more than performances at camps.
Dereon Greer | 5’11 | ATH | OLSH | 2024
Expect Dereon Greer to make an appearance in today’s 2024 prospect rankings update. Greer didn’t necessarily ooze athleticism or flash great play-making ability. He did however show he can move pretty well for his size. The book on Dereon Greer needs a deeper dive. His performance solidified his placement on our early 2024 rankings which will be releasing shortly.