Wisconsin's Scariest Athletes

Happy Halloween! I wanted to take today's holiday and use it as a theme for today’s article! We are going to go through and identify the "scariest" athlete in several different scenarios. Scenarios such as The Scariest Receiver to Cover Man to Man, the Scariest Receiver Out of the Backfield, and the Scariest LB Between the Tackles. Basically, the athletes that I list in each category is the last person I would want to come across on the field in those situations because I believe they are the best at the respective scenario. We have 12 scenarios and 12 different athletes to identify, so let’s get started! Scariest QB Outside the Pocket [player_tooltip player_id="104565" first="Nate" last="White"], ’23 ATH- Milwaukee King This might be cheating, but as long as Nate spends the majority of his time lining up at the QB position you won't find a scarier athlete to face when he gets involved in the ground game. The 6' 170 lbs athlete has had my eye for several months now, but getting to see him live last week really showed me just how electric he is with the ball in his hands outside the pocket. He has the 4.5 long speed to consistently be a threat to pick up huge chunks of yards. His short area agility and ability to make the seemingly impossible play in very tight space are at an elite level. Every touch, whether he is initially contained or not, can result in six points. That's scary to face every single snap of a 60 minute football game. Check out the stud's highlights from this season! <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12907661/613d11cbb019460b74c630dd">Nate's 2021 Regular Season</a> Scariest QB Inside the Pocket [player_tooltip player_id="31205" first="Myles" last="Burkett"], ’22- Franklin Safe to say the best QB in the state is easily the scariest one to face from inside the pocket. The 6'2" 205 lbs signal caller checks off all the boxes you could want from a high school QB, and it's why he has earned himself the opportunity to commit to the Wisconsin Badgers. From the pocket, Myles is a scary QB to try and slow down. His mechanics and footwork are clean and consistent snap to snap. His control over the football is exceptional. Myles is able to put the perfect touch and velocity on his passes while also being able to attack nearly every inch of the football field. With that control comes spot on accuracy. Burkett can hit a receiver in stride, and he understands the leverage a DB is playing with and can put the ball in a spot to exploit the leverage. Add in a proven clutch gene, just look at his week one Hail Mary for proof, and you get the scariest QB to face from the pocket. Scariest Receiver Out of the Backfield [player_tooltip player_id="31392" first="Najeh" last="Mitchell"], ’23- West De Pere You can look anywhere you want, and it will lead you right back to this fact. You won't find a scarier receiver out of the backfield than the 5'9" 170 lbs junior RB. You can look at the stat line of 37 receptions, 570 yards, and 9 TDs to see that it's not just film showing that Najeh has potential as a receiver out of the backfield. He actually has an elite level of production to go along with the film. The #1 way that Najeh creates his separation, and gains a majority of his yards after the catch, is his elite speed. The laser verified 4.38 40 yard dash time translates to the field making Najeh a matchup nightmare for any LB, safety, or CB. Athletes at this level simply cannot run with the West De Pere product making him an easy target for his QB. His instincts as a ball carrier carry over to his work as a receiver. After the catch, Najeh has the vision and patience to find and setup blocks as well as see cutback lanes to open grass. Lastly, Najeh is able to be a threat as a check down option, in the screen game, and as a downfield target. Mitchell is one of the most versatile weapons in the state, and by far the scariest receiver out of the backfield in Wisconsin. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14182148/613d504d5ef7770348b50b4f">Najeh's 2021 Junior Season</a> Scariest RB Between the Tackles [player_tooltip player_id="118378" first="Colton" last="Geurink"], ’22- Wausau West You have a business decision to make when you meet the 5'11" 215 lbs senior RB between the tackles. The brick wall of an RB is the last player I would want to have to tackle between the tackles when he has a full head of steam. Geurink thrives between the tackles because he gets to rely on the best parts of his game. His power and his contact balance. Arm tackles are useless against the big man and when he runs his feet through contact there is no chance that one defender can drag him down. Despite being nearly 6 feet tall, Geurink's center of gravity is very low to the ground allowing him to bounce right off shoulder tackles and absorb big shots as he continues downhill. Check out his senior stats! <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/8888791/6134ac9bd468b506c87bb283">Colton's Senior Highlights</a> Scariest RB Out On the Edge [player_tooltip player_id="31215" first="Max" last="Grand"], ’22- Ellsworth Good luck containing the 5'9" 190 lbs senior RB once he gets out on the edge. The #1 RB in the state of Wisconsin, and Gophers commit, has elite, 4.5 40 long speed allowing him to turn any sliver of green grass into a big play. It's not just the speed that kills defenses. Max's short area quickness, lateral agility, and ability to make defenders miss in the open field continue to stack the odds in his favor out on the edge. His ball carrier vision allows him to put those physical traits to maximum use as he exploits downfield blocks, cutback lanes, and uses defenders' momentum against them. You better have a strong edge presence when you face Ellsworth because if Grand gets out on the edge good luck stopping him. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/10185694/61624b1404284d0294bf9eb7">Max's Regular Season Highlights</a> Scariest WR to Cover Man to Man [player_tooltip player_id="118469" first="Carson" last="Sippel"], ’22- Kaukauna The scariest WR to matchup against in the state is the 6' 180 lbs senior out of Kaukauna High School. He has such a well rounded game, and he has all the physical attributes needed to dominate at the position. Carson has a great frame for the position that comes with 4.40 speed, 10'8" broad jump explosiveness, 39" vertical, and a 4.21 5-10-5. Those numbers all translate to the field making Sippel the scariest WR to cover. Carson uses that speed to create a ton of yards after the catch, and to take the top off the defense. His elite explosive and change of direction abilities allow him to create huge separation from DBs out of his breaks in his routes, and when it looks like the defense has him corralled he is able to use that short area agility to make defenders miss for more yards after the catch. Another part of Carson's game that makes him so dangerous is he can win with any route. From screens to go routes, Sippel is a threat to score on every catch. He is the last WR I would want to face. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13023548/616ec4966e8b800068a733a5">Carson's Regular Season Highlights</a> Scariest TE to Cover Man to Man [player_tooltip player_id="31219" first="Addison" last="Ostrenga"], ’22- Sun Prairie The last TE I want to face at the high school level is the 6'5" 225 lbs Iowa commit from Sun Prairie High School. Addison is so big and strong. That strength doesn't just show up as a downfield blocker either. He jumps off the screen as he plays through contact at the catch point to haul in difficult catches in traffic. His strong, reliable hands give him a huge advantage in those physical situations. Addison also has freakish body control and the ability to adjust to the ball as it's in the air. His ability to twist and contort his body midair shouldn't be possible for a high school athlete his size. After the catch, Addison shows off speed that will be able to play at the D1 level. I'm not sure it is possible to cover an athlete like this at the high school level making Ostrenga the scariest TE in the state. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11150161/616ee20df31deb0a14ac4533">Addison's Regular Season Highlights</a> Scariest OL to Face in the Trenches [player_tooltip player_id="31198" first="Billy" last="Schrauth"], ’22- St. Mary’s Springs The 6'5" 280 lbs senior OL isn't just the scariest offensive lineman to face. He is the scariest player, period. The #1 player in the state of Wisconsin checks off all the boxes for a high school OG. His reactive athleticism is at an elite level allowing him to match/mirror any interior defensive lineman or blitzing LB. Billy's foot agility and natural movement skills allow him to dominate in those mirror situations, and also as a pulling lineman. When Schrauth pulls he is able to deliver devastating blocks that leave gaping holes for his RBs. Schrauth also has elite strength on the field. He is able to quickly sink his hips and negate his opponent's attempts to use strength to beat him, and he can easily drive his DL off the ball resetting the line of scrimmage multiple yards downfield. There is no doubting Billy's toughness either as he finishes his blocks to the ground, and dominates as a two-way athlete. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11900107/Billy-Schrauth/highlights">Schrauth's Highlight Page</a> Scariest Edge Rusher to Block One on One [player_tooltip player_id="31201" first="Isaac" last="Hamm"], ’22- Sun Prairie 6'6" 270 lbs high school seniors shouldn't be able to play on the edge the way that the OLB out of Sun Prairie does. The #1 defensive player in the state is able to generate pressure and production on the QB with an elite combination of burst, power, and hand use. Hamm has a complete game on the edge too. He has the strength to and stoutness to set a very strong edge against the run as he stuffs the OT and forces the ball back inside or sheds the block and makes the tackle himself. Isaac does a very good job anticipating and diagnosing plays allowing him to be a step ahead. If I'm an OT, this is the last OLB that I want to see lining up against me on a Friday night. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11150167/Isaac-Hamm/highlights">Hamm's Highlight Page</a> Scariest DL to Face in the Trenches [player_tooltip player_id="181988" first="Wesley" last="King"], ’22- Appleton North Wesley is far and away the scariest DL in the state of Wisconsin. The 6'5" 270 lbs senior is a force against the run and the pass. As a pass rusher, Wes generates pressure with initial quickness off the snap, and power/leverage. King uses that initial burst to close the gap on the OL, get inside hand placement, and then drive them back into the QB or RB creating a ton of production and disruption. King is able to consistently collapse the pocket from both the DE and DT positions. Wes also has demonstrated very successful pass rush moves including a devastating swim move. Against the run, King is able to be both a stout defender who can control the line of scrimmage, or he can play one gap, quickly shed his block, get penetration, and stop the play in the backfield. King is the cream of the crop at the DL position who can win with power or speed, and is a factor against the pass and the rush. You won't find a scarier presence in the trenches on defense. Scariest DB Island to be Stranded On [player_tooltip player_id="31331" first="Dilan" last="Williamson"], ’22- Kenosha Bradford The scariest corner to face is the 6'1" 190 lbs DB out of Kenosha Bradford High School. Dilan's reactive athleticism and football intelligence jump off the screen. His quick feet and loose hips allow him to mirror his receiver's movements, and he does a very good job of quickly processing information and reacting to what he sees. Watching through his senior highlights, I was very impressed with his ball skills. Not just to create turnovers, but to also create a ton of disruption at the catch point. Those active hands at the catch point are able to been shown thanks to the senior's ability to close on the receiver quickly when the ball is in the air. Williamson has the speed to be able to run and recover with any receiver he has faced at the high school level. Lastly, Dilan has a very important mental trait for the cornerback position. Confidence. You can feel the confidence he plays with out on his island as he locks down receivers. Check out the highlights! He needs to be on more radars because there isn't a scarier man to man corner! <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11305097/616c93018cd3b709d0bdf0ca">Dilan's Senior Highlights</a> Scariest LB Between the Tackles [player_tooltip player_id="31225" first="Luna" last="Larson"], ’22- Baraboo The 6'2" 215 lbs ILB is the best off ball LB in the state, and the scariest LB to come across between the tackles. Larson is perfectly built for the position as he pairs that elite frame with 4.5 speed and next level strength. On the field, the instincts jump off the tape. Luna has an innate ability for the position. He can quickly anticipate and diagnose plays before they happen allowing him to always be a step ahead. Luna always seems to maintain correct leverage and takes the right angles to make the stop. Luna sets himself apart from the rest of the LBs with his 3 down and level ability. He can play at the line of scrimmage against the run as he shoots through gaps, engages with the OL, and sheds blocks. He can play at the second level where he uses his foot quickness to play through trash and sideline to sideline, and he can drop into coverage while playing both man and zone. Luna is the QB of the defense, and is able to create a ton of problems for offenses. he is the last LB I would want to face. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/7699092/Luna-Larson/highlights">Luna's Highlight Page</a>