6 Players to Watch: Mill Valley @ Lawrence Free State

For those that enjoy a good old fashioned slugfest of a football game, the October 1^st matchup between undefeated 4^th ranked Mill Valley and 3-1 19^th ranked Lawrence Free State is the game to watch this week. Here are 6 players to watch when these two physical, well coached sides collide this Friday under the lights at Free State Stadium in Lawrence. <strong>MILL VALLEY</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="35548" first="Kendrick" last="Jones"] – 6’5 190 WR (Prep Redzone Sr WR8)</strong> While having the skill set to thrive in any offensive scheme, Jones is an important cog for what the Jaguars want to do on offense. Bigger than most high school linebackers, he is unsurprisingly a dominant blocker for his position, with engulfing length and a very good understanding of blocking angles. What he brings to the passing game is what makes him so crucial to Mill Valley’s continued success this season, as he is a threat on all levels of the field, and helps his team extend drives. He uses his size as well as any receiver in the state, and if he gets on the toes of a DB, he becomes all but unguardable. In addition to this, he shows an innate feel for zone coverages and DB body position, allowing him to do considerable damage in the slot as well at the X. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="159204" first="Aidan" last="Shaffer"] – 6’1 270 DT (Prep Redzone Sr DL17)</strong> At the heart of the Jaguars’ defensive line, Shaffer epitomizes control of the line of scrimmage. With a cinder-block physique and a well=developed lower body, he can anchor with terrifying power and is almost impossible to move once he digs his heels in. In addition to raw power, Shaffer plays with very good balance and quick feet, allowing him to stack blockers, and come off blocks cleanly to maintain control of his gap. The senior nose tackles also flashes quick, and accurate hands, which coupled with a sneaky-quick lateral hop, makes him a threat as a pass rusher. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="89233" first="Jared" last="Napoli"] – 6’1 210 TE (Prep Redzone Sr TE2)</strong> If you asked 49ers head coach Kyle Shannahan about Kyle Juszczyk’s importance to his offense, there’s a good chance the word irreplaceable might be uttered, and [player_tooltip player_id="89233" first="Jared" last="Napoli"] is no less important to what the Jaguars do on offense. The senior do-it-all tight end has already proven he must be accounted for when flexed out wide or in the slot, making big plays with the ball in his hands thanks to excellent contact balance and sneaky gather-up speed. In addition, Napoli has become savvier and more patient in his routes, using disguise to create sudden separation. He is also a menace in the run game, with the ability to overwhelm opposing defenders with explosive initial contact, and a flexible lower body that allows him to swivel his hips upon contact. <strong>LAWRENCE FREE STATE</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="209151" first="Quez" last="Lee"] – 6’3 190 LB (Unranked Sr)</strong> When you flip on the tape of a lanky receiver turned linebacker, there are certain things you do not expect to see, and when it looks so natural it is eye opening to say the least. The senior linebacker shows the ability to sink his hips in a blink and stonewall ball carriers in their tracks as if he was 5’11 rather than 6’3. There are aspects of Lee’s game associated with wide receivers that translate directly to what Division 1 programs look for in their linebackers similar to another receiver turned linebacker, Isaiah Simmons. Namely, silky smooth, angle demolishing acceleration, as well as the ability to read QBs and anticipate routes. With a steady diet of weights that will add some “country strength” to his game and as frame fills out, the sky is the limit for Lee at the next level. <strong>Tay Ware – 5’8 183 RB (Unranked Jr)</strong> Despite a limited number of carries due to sharing the backfield with dual threat QB [player_tooltip player_id="35595" first="Jet" last="Dineen"], the junior running back has flashed as a legitimate prospect at the next level and should be an important part of the Firebird’s attack as the season progresses. What jumps right off the screen when flipping on the film are tree trunks for legs, which would be an eye opener if you were watching a senior college running back. With a low center of gravity and very good contact balance, he is a nightmare to tackle when he gets a head of steam. His strong lower body is also evident in the way he explodes out of his cuts with devastating lateral quickness. In addition, Ware is a savvy runner, with very good vision and patience, allowing him find openings away from where the run is designed to go. His quickness and explosiveness out of cuts also offer up considerable route running potential as a slot receiver. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="35588" first="Tyler" last="Gourley"] – 6’2 290 Center (Unranked Sr)</strong> Centers don’t always get the credit they deserve for their athleticism, but some of the things Gourley can do at 290 lbs are highly impressive. First and foremost, he is a natural knee bender, and can get up and under his assignment and anchor. The speed at which he can get into his shuffle after the snap and get behind his pads, with a naturally low center of gravity, allows him to stonewall opposing rushers with ease, and coupled with excellent lower body flexibility, seal his gap on double teams with bone-jarring authority. Moreover, he plays under control in pass pro, trusting his technique and ability to get in position to make the block. He is an offensive line coach’s dream in that regard, as he doesn’t lunge or get grabby with his hands. [caption id="attachment_209665" align="alignnone" width="300"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/09/11163122_901606c8fc3f43bfb60d2dc356a555a0-crop-672x441-1633018078.jpg"><img class="wp-image-209665 size-medium" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/09/11163122_901606c8fc3f43bfb60d2dc356a555a0-crop-672x441-1633018078-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="89233" first="Jared" last="Napoli"] (Mill Valley) Photo: Hudl[/caption]