5 OAA Blue Athletes ready to breakout in 2021

The OAA Blue is stacking up to be an incredibly competitive division with plenty of rising talent that demands recognition. With the departure of boundless 2020 talent, many athletes getting their first real go at varsity, while there are seniors who’ve been working in silence and are ready to explode in 2021. Let’s take a look at the top 5 athletes set for a breakout season. [player_tooltip player_id="93689" first="Jake" last="Herzog"] (2022) 6’2 QB/FS Auburn Hills Avondale <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11126982/Jake-Herzog">Hudl</a> Herzog is a sleeping giant ready for his breakout senior season. On the defensive side, he’s shown tremendous coverage, tackling, and reading ability. Herzog is an absolute nightmare for opposing offenses, earning all-league honors in 2020. On the Offensive side, Herzog’s been turning heads at camps demonstrating great accuracy, and ability to read a defense, enough to receive attention from multiple DII &amp; DIII schools. Eric Christoff (2024) 5’7 WR Auburn Hills Avondale <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13770175/Eric-Christoff">Hudl</a> Fast-twitch slot receiver with a very high ceiling, Christoff showed flashes of greatness in his freshman campaign. During winter camps, he impressed with his premium acceleration, excellent release, and surprising strength. With the obvious talent, along with the amount of work he’s put in during the offseason, Christoff is set for an incredible sophomore run. [player_tooltip player_id="30347" first="Darius" last="Whiteside"] II (2023) 6’2 WR Troy <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12842167/Darius-Whiteside-II">Hudl</a> Whiteside is coming off an outstanding sophomore campaign earning all-conference honors. He has uncanny strength and knack for the ball, able to consistently box out defenders and win 50/50 plays. In addition, Whiteside is a superior route runner and can be slippery in the open field with excellent field vision supported by a great jump-cut. I would be shocked if he doesn’t end up as a Power-5 prospect. [player_tooltip player_id="165783" first="David" last="Rolands"] (2023) 6’3 OT Berkley <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13225887/David-Rolands">Hudl </a> An absolute force on the trenches, Rolands takes advantage of his size and strength to manhandle his opponents. Demonstrates great agility for his size and gets to the next level with ease. Rolands plays through the whistle, never quitting on a play even when the play is nowhere near him. I expect Rolands to get even stronger and more agile, being a no-brainer for a second all-league selection. [player_tooltip player_id="30243" first="Jacob" last="Sanders"] (2022) 5’8 RB Farmington <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/8190813/Jacob-Sanders">Hudl</a> Already proven in the OAA White, Sanders is looking to dominate the Blue in his Senior year. Sanders shows excellent vision, weaving his way through holes and slipping out of tackles. A patient runner with a quick juke move, Sanders embodies a pure elusive back with big-play ability. I fully expect Sanders to show significant improvement, being a strong candidate for all-region. &nbsp; &nbsp;