Class of ’23 Watch List: Part III

Taking a look at more prospects that could be candidates for the upcoming Class of 2023 player rankings update. This installment features a few quarterbacks looking to make a name for themselves, a linebacker ready to have a breakout year, and a couple of athletes that should make plays on both sides of the ball. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="166976" first="Jalen" last="Rice"]</strong> – El Dorado, 6’0”, 180, ATH El Dorado favors a backfield by committee with their wishbone styled offense, but Rice should see more touches his junior year. Rice proved to be a reliable option in the run game for the Wildcats in 2020. He rushed for 233 yards on 38 carries, good for 6.1 yards an attempt, and scored one touchdown. The junior to be also filled in well at linebacker, racking up 31 total tackles with one sack and two interceptions. The Wildcats’ coaching staff should trust Rice with more carries this season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="166977" first="Jackson" last="House"]</strong> – St. James Academy, 6’0”, 170, QB The defending 4A State Champions will have a new face under center this fall, and House has his sights set on the starting job. He didn’t see much varsity action last fall due to [player_tooltip player_id="100162" first="Dakota" last="Burritt"]’s phenomenal year. But that should change this season. The lefty has looked sharp while competing in 7-on-7 tournaments so far this summer. House should have an exciting first year being the lead signal caller, as he and the Thunder will defend their state title. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="166978" first="Brady" last="Strausz"]</strong> – Andover, 6’2”, 185, QB Strausz will be a quarterback looking to take the next jump in his development during his junior campaign. He stepped up as a sophomore and helped guide the Trojans to a respectable 5-4 record. So far this summer Strausz has been taking steps towards improving his game by attending a camp at The University of Oklahoma, and he was also invited to the recent Sharp Top Prospect Combine. Going into year two as the starter, Brady will play with more confidence and have a better grasp of the offense. He could be a quarterback primed for a breakout year. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="119125" first="Jaxon" last="Vikander"]</strong> – Manhattan, 6’1”, 200, LB Vinkander played well in his first year manning the middle of the defense on varsity. During his sophomore year, he piled up 43 total tackles, six being for a loss and 2.5 sacks. The young backer possess good lateral quickness, and displays sound tackling fundamentals. As he gains experience this season, he’ll start to recognize tendencies and be able to quickly diagnose plays. Manhattan has some talented players on defense, and Vikander is looking like he’ll be yet another one. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="166979" first="Samuel" last="Becker"]</strong> – McPherson, 6’3”, 200, ATH Becker is a player that might get overlooked a bit because of the overall team success of the Bullpups. Their roaster is filled with quality talent, so he hasn’t fully had the opportunity to showcase his abilities. He did well in his limited role as a sophomore though. At tight end, Becker caught 10 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns, and at defensive end he accumulated 25 total tackles with two sacks. He’d be an exciting player to watch with an expanded role.