Freshman Spotlight, C/O 2025 Standouts
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Taking a look ahead to some of the potential future stars of PA is always exciting! When scouting freshmen on Prep Redzone, we want to give a quick outline of what each prospect could bring to the table. A lot…
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Continue ReadingTaking a look ahead to some of the potential future stars of PA is always exciting! When scouting freshmen on Prep Redzone, we want to give a quick outline of what each prospect could bring to the table. A lot of things can change from here on out regarding a player’s development. All evaluations and possible rankings are preliminary.
Below are some freshmen who have caught my eye thus far. I have 100+ freshmen on my radar, so don’t be alarmed if you aren’t on this quick list.
Jabree Coleman | 6’1, 200 | RB | Imhotep Charter
Awesome size for a RB prospect his age. Said size makes Coleman an intriguing prospect when thinking about where he could possibly contribute in the future. As for now, Coleman is a stud freshman running back in the great Imhotep stable. Utilized a ton in Shotgun/Offset formations and often aligns behind the QB at RB. Awesome upfield burst after handoff and after hitting his hole. He’s new to HS football but is already so physical and tough to bring down, that’s a trend in Imhotep’s backfield. Natural open-field runner. Shows off impressive pace once at the linebacker/secondary level. Waits for things to develop, isn’t running into tackles or too excited. It’s like he’s been there before, but he hasn’t. Good production against some good competition too.
Xxavier Thomas Xxavier Thomas 5'10" | 160 lbs | DB Pittsburgh Central Catholic | 2025 State PA | 5’9, 145 | CB/WR | Pitt Central Catholic
Here’s a highly involved and highly productive freshman out of PCC. Parents and coaches have been clamoring to get this kid involved on the site, he deserves it! I can assure you this name will be a frequent one on this site for years to come. Thomas is a super athletic defensive back that can beat you in so many ways. He wants to contest every ball thrown at him. He will jump with you, he will undercut throws, he wants to hit. He shows he wants to be great, love his physicality, and lack of hesitation when stopping the run, despite his lack of experience and size. He’s got corner technique down, it’s that of an upperclassmen’s. He’s got the read and react ability at corner to play his flat zone well. His eyes are frequently in the backfield, which works out for him more times than not. He possesses quick, choppy feet that make his intentions tough to read when attempting to be blocked by the offense. He’s a great special teams contributor. As the season progresses, Thomas has been targeted often downfield. He continues to pass test after test. INT’s and PBU’s will become a recurring stat sooner rather than later. Excited for this kid’s future.
KyMir Williams | 5’10, 180 | OLB/QB | Harrisburg
Here’s an intriguing OLB prospect whose best trait is his instincts. That’s saying something as a freshman. Williams breaks down so well in space, allowing him to be a trustworthy open-field tackler time and time again. Active initial hands make it difficult for blockers to get anchored in, allowing him to shed frequently. Shows off some hands, he’s already got a pick-six to his name. Love to see Harrisburg trust Williams the way they do, it says a lot. He is assigned to cover his curl/flat zone, blitz on occasion, as well as run-stop and set edges. This all takes discipline, Harrisburg trusts Williams to do so. This kid is going to be a menace on the field when he fully fills out his pads. He’s going to test well at linebacker. The weight room will do wonders. Great overall awareness. He’s a pleasure to watch on tape, watching his ability to diagnose quickly was impressive. He can flip the switch when diagnosing run, becoming a physical presence to the ball-carrier or incoming blocker. If he reads pass, he can switch to an athletic presence and play his zone. Love it.
Braheem Battles | 6’3, 300 | DT | Allentown Central Catholic
Watching behemoths like Braheem Battles is always fun. Battles is a giant player whose size immediately jumps off the screen. His overall power/strength at his age is great enough to land him a spot on our initial rankings. He possesses overwhelming lower body strength. He’s pushing kids back into the backfield that are bigger than he is! Which is saying something considering Battles is 6’3, 300+. Would love to see what Battles could bring to an offensive line. This kid must be a monster in the weight room, he’s often seen on film pushing grown men out of his way with his powerful punch at the line of scrimmage. He’s raw still, so much room to grow. Wait until his feet become a tad bit quicker and his leverage-use becomes more refined. Love Battles’ game.
Anthony Sacca | 6’4, 190 | ATH/DB | St. Joe’s Prep
Maybe the best player on this list. His size and athletic ability combination should already have coaches across the east coast drooling. He’s a multiple-alignment player that can provide inside slot-CB reps, as well as OLB reps. He’s going to beat you primarily at his safety position where he may be best suited. Excellent ball-awareness. Long strider who can keep up with quicker players so long as he has some field to play with. His overall limb length must be respected when attempting to target his matchup. Arms this long, PBU’s and INT’s are coming. Love how he doesn’t panic when being stretched vertically. He can diagnose route concepts well, which often leaves him in position for interceptions. When close to the line of scrimmage, he suddenly looks like a possible edge rusher. I’m sure he’s talented enough to provide reps at DE if need be. The overall awareness and football IQ is not that of a freshman, at least when plugging in the tape. Awesome discipline too. Doesn’t often over-rotate on throws or over-pursue against the run. All of his production has come against elite competition. Freshman positions don’t often stick, this one might.
Charlie Nigut | ATH | Elizabeth Forward
This kid may be a lesser-known name to some, nonetheless, his game stood out to me. Yes, he is lacking in size, just turn on the tape and see what he is capable of at such a raw point in his HS football career. Great ball-tracking skills at DB, somehow, he’s playing the ball on numerous occasions, often against opponents that are double his size. He’s got a pesky/crafty game, his quick feet and catchup speed allows him to stay in phase downfield. He is adept at getting his hands in and around a wideout’s catch radius, adept at getting his hands through the triangle to deflect balls. He doesn’t let his size deter his production. Love that. I like his open-field straight-line speed, which is often on display when returning kicks for EF. His athleticism allows him to contribute on jet-sweeps and swings when on offense.
Bryce Williams Bryce Williams 5'10" | 155 lbs | DB TBD | 2025 PA | 5’10, 158 | DB | Archbishop Wood
Bryce Williams Bryce Williams 5'10" | 155 lbs | DB TBD | 2025 PA doesn’t have too much official Hudl tape to break down, but he does have some impressive reps on his Twitter page that should garner some looks. I heard his name way back in the spring in 7v7 circles. Now, he’s at Archbishop Wood getting some valuable reps against top PCL competition. He isn’t starting yet, that secondary is loaded, but it’s only a matter of time with Williams. Natural hands and ball skills. Natural ball tracking ability. He’s a natural when playing the vertical game. He looks seasoned, which has to impress ABW coaches. He plays bigger than his measurables suggest which is great to see. He’s still learning, but the early reps are exciting to see.
Lonnie Greene | 6’3, 215 | ATH | Jeannette
Lonnie Greene’s name has also been floating around when speaking to people in the know. Super limited film against lackluster competition as well. Still the kid looks the part at EDGE/OLB. The frame is more than ideal. The athletic package is more than ideal. The kid fits the premier pass-rush mold. It’s just a matter of more production on tape. He’s a kid that will be on my watchlist for the time being. You can see his get-off and upfield speed. He displays good pursuit off the ball as well. Lonnie Greene is more of an athletic projection as of right now. I think highly of him.