Out The Mud Monday: Uncommitted Players Spotlight

I wanted to start this feature to highlight players that have proven to have tremendous talent, but for some reason, coaches and offers just haven’t been coming their way. This includes players with no offers, few offers, players from small schools, players stuck on loaded teams, players from teams with little exposure, etc. This feature aims to provide coaches with a look at some of the most underrated players in the state. Not only providing player evaluation and tape, but also a more personal look at the player underneath the pads. This includes honest answers from the players regarding what football means to them, what drives them, and how they handle adversity. You will also see a personal picture of the players through a non-football lens, hopefully, so that coaches can get a small sense of what the player is like when the helmet comes off. I choose to use “Out the Mud” because all players face different forms of adversity when trying to make it to the next level. For some, those obstacles are farther and fewer in between, while for others, they can find themselves jumping hurdles at every turn. Lack of interest from schools can leave players feeling stagnant and stuck in the process. However, from the mud rises some of the most hardened players. These players are ready to face that adversity head-on. These are the players that are willing to fight tooth and nail for their spot on a roster. Whereas other men have buckled, these players have shown the grit and determination to overcome any obstacle. There’s no other way to say it, but… they got it out the mud! <hr /> <img class=" wp-image-241065 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/mX7IkXpi-1-e1638239890963.jpg" alt="" width="445" height="608" />   <p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="147852" first="Chance" last="Symons"] (DE/EDGE) | Scottsbluff | 6’3" 235 lbs</strong></em></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11847826/Chance-Symons" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hudl</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/chancesymons56" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a></strong></em></p> <em><strong>Offers:</strong></em> <i>PWO - </i>Wyoming, Northwest Missouri State, Central Missouri, Chadron State, Missouri Western, Valparaiso University, University of Mary, Southwest Minnesota State, Nebraska Wesleyan <em><strong>Interested schools:</strong> </em>Cincinnati, Purdue, Kansas State, Nebraska, Air Force, Wyoming, Montana State <em><strong>About #56:</strong></em> During Chance’s prep career, he has developed into one of the premier pass-rushers in the entire state. His game speed and get-off coming off the snap are intense to watch. Symons plays with violent hands and uses his strength to swipe away at linemen. He is a player that has a non-stop motor and is relentless when in attack mode. Chance can disrupt gameplans entirely and is athletic and smart enough to adjust his counters for tackles getting a little too comfortable. He can not just keep QB’s under duress, but he can also corral running backs running his way. Although the stat book may show a dip in production, the film shows a player eating up double teams and opening up opportunities for his buddies. He is selfless on the field and is the one to add fuel to the fire when the Bearcats need a play from their defense. Overall, Chance is a player that has proven he is not just built for the next level but built to play on the FBS/P5 stage at the next level and could be the missing link for anyone looking to add a mean edge rusher to their defense. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11847826/6133e155a022f80a681e8558" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <img class=" wp-image-241070 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/lYct7dZj-e1638239967567.jpg" alt="" width="463" height="688" />   <em><strong>About [player_tooltip player_id="147852" first="Chance" last="Symons"]:</strong></em> <div><strong>What drives you to be the best version of yourself off the field? On the field? </strong></div> <div></div> <div> My faith in our savior, Jesus Christ, is the most important thing in my life. It’s what drives me to be the best man I can be. His sacrifice on earth inspires me to want to lay down my life for him. I will sacrifice what is needed and do whatever I can to be the best football player I can be; to be able to use one of the biggest stages in the world to let people know the truth and help them find something that lasts forever. </div> <div><strong style="font-size: 1rem;">How do you handle adversity? </strong></div> <div dir="auto"> I handle adversity by never quitting, controlling my mindset and not being too hard on myself, and being the hardest worker in the room. Hard things are going to come but what matters is how you respond to it. </div> <div dir="auto"> <strong>To your future coach, what kind of person/player are they getting from you?</strong> <span style="font-size: 1rem;">To my future coach: I want to thank you for giving someone who many schools overlooked, a chance. You will not find a harder worker than me, and you will not find someone that wants to be great as much as I do. I will be the best one day, and I’m grateful you will help me get there.</span> </div> <div dir="auto"> <strong>What does football mean to you? </strong> <div dir="auto"> Football helped me become the man I am today. It taught me when you work hard, good things happen, and when you put your mind to something, no one but yourself can stop you. It has taught me how to be a good teammate/friend, how to be teachable/coachable, and how to work towards my goals and dreams. </div> </div> <div dir="auto"></div> <div dir="auto"></div> <div dir="auto"></div> <img class=" wp-image-241085 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/SL-uMy02_400x400-e1638240881492.jpg" alt="" width="458" height="580" />   <p style="text-align: center;"><strong style="font-size: 1rem;">[player_tooltip player_id="162400" first="Gavin" last="Wilbur"] (DT/C) | Lincoln Northeast | 5’10" 250 lbs</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12680868/Gavin-Wilbur" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hudl</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/GavinWilbur2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a></strong></em></p> <em><strong>Offers:</strong> </em>South Dakota School of Mines, Mount Union, Doane, Sterling College, Ottawa University. <em><strong>Interest schools:</strong></em> Michigan, Navy, Morningside, Washburn, Midland. <em><strong>About #71:</strong></em> If you’re looking for an athletic, aggressive defensive lineman with lots of fight in him, then Gavin is your guy. Gavin is a super fun player to watch on tape, and he plays every play like it’s going to be his last. He is quick coming off the snap and has an explosive burst when attacking his gap. For a big guy, he is very shifty on his feet and can work his way around or through linemen. With quick feet and violent hands, it’s no wonder he was able to rack up solid numbers (132 tackles, 23 TFLs, and 9 sacks) coming primarily from the interior of the defensive line as a 3-year starter. He is vicious at the point of contact and loves to make his presence felt with every tackle. His athleticism also translated well to the offensive side of the ball, where he did an excellent job holding down the center position. Wilbur utilizes leverage and his tremendous strength to move players against their will. This is a player that should be receiving more looks, but a 2-7 season has left the talented defensive tackle a little overlooked. Overall, Gavin is an all-around football player that is willing to get the job done by any means. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/12680868/5fa8588315f72508d4691f55" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <img class=" wp-image-241088 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/FDRXvLbXsAQjSy_-e1638241138884.jpg" alt="" width="397" height="752" />   <em><strong>About [player_tooltip player_id="162400" first="Gavin" last="Wilbur"]:</strong></em> <em><strong>What drives you to be the best version of yourself off the field? On the field?</strong></em> What drives me to be the best off the field is the constant support and high expectations of my parents and other people in my life. On the field, I am inspired by wanting to outwork everyone else and by proving people wrong. <em><strong>How do you handle adversity?</strong></em> I handle adversity by putting my head down and grinding out the hard work that must be done. But sometimes, it takes a strategic approach to handle adversity, and that’s when I like to think my way around things. <em><strong>To your future coach, what kind of person/player are they getting from you?</strong></em> To my future coach, if I get the opportunity to be a part of your program, I promise I will put in more work than my peers but also up their level of dedication. <em><strong>What does football mean to you?</strong></em> What football means to me, it is much much more than a game, football has all the important aspects of life, wins, losses, friends, enemies, it has given me the chance to give my all to something bigger than myself, and I will never regret any time I spent pursuing my football dreams.     <img class=" wp-image-241113 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/unnamed-1-e1638242527697.jpg" alt="" width="429" height="502" /> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="191113" first="Donovan" last="Moody"] (ATH/RB/DB) | Omaha Burke | 5’10" 170 lbs</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/5512999/Donovan-Moody" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hudl</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/DonovanMoody8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a></strong></em></p> <em><strong>Offer: </strong></em>Doane <em><strong>Interested Schools: </strong></em>Minnesota State-Moorhead <em><strong>About #11:</strong></em> Unfortunately for Donovan and the crew, COVID protocols forced them to watch the 2020 season unfold without them. Despite this, Moody and the Burke Bulldogs made sure that they would use 2021 to make up for the lost season. Moody did precisely that with a stellar showing during his senior campaign. It’s hard to sum Moody into one position because he can do it all. He handled the lion’s share of the backfield carries, played defensive back, and was a threat to kick to. Simply put, Donovan has established himself as a playmaker who can produce something with the ball in his hands. As the primary back, he racked up 863 rushing yards on a 5.3 yards per clip and ran in 11 touchdowns. Moody has some of the quickest feet in this class and is very twitchy in the open field. When he finds his opening, he shows no hesitation throwing it into overdrive and taking it to the house. He also showed that he can be a factor in the passing game (18 rec., 124 yards, and a receiving touchdown) and as a returner. That’s not even mentioning that he is a stingy corner that loves to capitalize on mistakes. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/5512999/617f41cb34531601789fbde8" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <em><strong><img class=" wp-image-241172 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/12Omurzx.jpg" alt="" width="446" height="663" />About [player_tooltip player_id="191113" first="Donovan" last="Moody"]:</strong></em> <em><strong>What drives you to be the best version of yourself off the field? On the field?</strong></em> My parents always taught me to do the right thing. They told me to be the best version of myself on and off the field, even when no one is watching. And I agree with them totally. <em><strong>How do you handle adversity?</strong></em> When adversity hits me, I like to push through it until the end. My coach always told me to look at my brothers (teammates), my coaches, and my family and to do it for them. And I’ve always kept that in mind when an obstacle steps in my way. <em><strong>To your future coach, what kind of person/player are they getting from you?</strong></em> I’m a hard-working, determined, and unselfish person and athlete. Anything that I can do to help others succeed or help the team succeed, I’ll do it. One of my previous coaches had told me one time that if he was in a huge battle, and he had one person to choose to help him, it would be me. And I take pride in that because I give it my all in everything I do. <em><strong>What does football mean to you?</strong></em> Football means an awful lot to me. I’ve been playing ever since I was little, and I’ve had dreams of playing in college, and even in the NFL all my life. The passion I have for this game grows more and more. It gives me opportunities to compete with some of my closest friends. It also forms bonds with people I never imagined. I can’t wait to see what the future brings.   <em><strong><img class="alignright wp-image-241152 " src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/IMG_5433-e1638245725290.jpg" alt="" width="350" height="530" /></strong></em> <p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>Derrick Buggi Jr. (DB/S) | Papillion-La Vista | 6’0" 185 lbs</strong></em></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/14993192/Derrick-Buggi-Jr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hudl</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/derrick_buggi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a></strong></em></p> <em><strong>Offers:</strong></em> none <em><strong>Interested schools:</strong></em> Northwest Missouri State, Iowa Central, Midland, Wayne State, Concordia, Doane, Cornell college <em><strong>About #4:</strong></em> One of the more under-the-radar prospects in the 2022 class is Papillion-La Vista’s S Derrick Buggi Jr. Despite only having a year of football experience under his belt, he has shown that he belongs on the gridiron. With 38 tackles and an interception on the year, Buggi Jr. gave everyone a great look at a promising, raw talent that could sprout into a superstar. He is an all-around solid safety that can help load the box or drop back into coverage. Derrick loves to hit people and always makes sure to leave his stamp on the game. He plays and looks a lot bigger than his listed 185-lbs, hitting more like a linebacker. He has excellent closing speed and has shown that he doesn’t mind roughing it up with receivers when trying to make a play on the ball. Derrick has demonstrated that he has a good grasp of the game and how to play the safety position, once he irons out the small details he is going to be an enforcer for any secondary. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14993192/6175b936041e55018c3e30c0" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <em><strong><img class=" wp-image-241158 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/aM-d6UZJ-e1638246209717.jpg" alt="" width="491" height="750" /></strong></em>   <em><strong>About Derrick Buggi Jr.:</strong></em> <em><strong>What drives you to be the best version of yourself off the field? On the field?</strong></em> What drives me to be the best version of myself off the field is my reputation. I want to be remembered as a good, caring, and kind person no matter who I’m talking to or where I’m at. My mom always told me to take pride in how I’m viewed by others because being a good person in the world we live in today goes a long way, and I live by that. On the field, I’m driven by competition, and the fact that I’ve only been playing for a year makes me want to go out and prove that I can play this game at a high level and just learn a lot and catch up with everyone else around me. <em><strong>How do you handle adversity?</strong></em> I handle adversity by understanding the problem or what the cause of this adversity is and taking it in a positive way and trying to grow stronger in it, and ultimately never backing down from a challenge I’m facing because it’s happening for a reason. <em><strong>To your future coach, what kind of person/player are they getting from you?</strong></em> To my future coach, you’re going to get a kid who has only played a year of football and is still gonna find a way to be the hardest worker on the field and in the weight room. I’m always going to be working on my game and trying to improve in any way I can. I’m always willing to receive criticism because I know it’ll make me a better player. Your going to get a kid who loves his team first and wants to ultimately win football games. <em><strong>What does football mean to you? </strong></em> <span style="font-size: 1rem;">Football means everything to me. Whenever I’m feeling down or upset, I go to football, and it gives me a breath of fresh air. Football gives me an outlet in life that I know I can always count on and appreciate.</span> <div class="css-1dbjc4n r-obd0qt r-18u37iz"> <div class="css-1dbjc4n r-1d2f490 r-u8s1d"></div> </div> <em><strong><img class=" wp-image-241161 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/wp_gWXmt-e1638246761321.jpg" alt="" width="430" height="611" />[player_tooltip player_id="163780" first="Brodey" last="Johnson"] (QB/P) | North Bend Central | 6’2" 200 lbs</strong></em> <em><strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/11430000/Brodey-Johnson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hudl</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/Brodey_Johnson_" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Twitter</a></strong></em> <em><strong>Offers:</strong></em> Morningside, Benedictine, Dakota Wesleyan, Ottawa, Midland, Kansas Cyclones <em><strong>About #2:</strong></em> Talk about a gamer, [player_tooltip player_id="163780" first="Brodey" last="Johnson"]; the North Bend Central QB just loves to ball. The Tigers QB has continued to grind and develop his game into being one of the top QB’s in the state. Brodey continued to show his progression into his senior year, where he threw for 1,877 yards on a 61% completion rate. His touchdown total jumped from 13 to 22 while only throwing one more interception than last year (2021: 8; 2020: 7). One of my favorite parts of his game is his accuracy and ability to deliver the ball on target. He has a big arm and can make just about any throw look effortless. Although NBC’s jump from C2 to C1 in 2020 has been rough, Brodey’s talents have helped weather the storm and kept the Tigers fighting. Johnson even showed that he was willing to tuck the ball and run if that meant winning; he tacked on 253 rushing yards on the year. He is not only an elite QB but has proven to be a weapon as a punter. He gets a good amount of air under his kicks and is able to completely flip the field to help out his defense. Overall, Brodey has proven that he has the size, arm, IQ, and accuracy to play QB at the next level. He also shows that he has intangible traits like a strong work ethic that drives him to get better every day. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11430000/619f1ded4797961688bdb0ac" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <em><strong><img class=" wp-image-241174 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/LviM0MgV-e1638248299315.jpg" alt="" width="488" height="463" />About [player_tooltip player_id="163780" first="Brodey" last="Johnson"]:</strong></em> <em><strong>What drives you to be the best version of yourself off the field? On the field? </strong></em> I strive to be the best person on and off the field because, at the end of the day, it matters most how you treat people. I strive to be the best on the field because I am a competitor, and I don’t want to let the people who believe in me down. <em><strong>How do you handle adversity?</strong></em> I handle adversity very well, I feel like. Adversity is inevitable, and I feel like I respond to it very well. When it strikes. I see what went wrong and fix it right away. <em><strong>To your future coach, what kind of person/player are they getting from you?</strong></em> They are getting a kid who loves the game of football. A kid who knows when to have fun and when to be serious. A great natural leader with the best interest for everyone. And a kid who is fun to be around and makes the right decisions. <em><strong>What does football mean to you?</strong></em> <span style="font-size: 1rem;">Football means a lot to me. I love football so much because I am a competitor. I love competing, and I love the sport. And I love making the people who believe in me proud. Football means a lot to me mostly because it is a way for me to block out everything and do something I love</span> <div class="css-1dbjc4n r-obd0qt r-18u37iz"> <div class="css-1dbjc4n r-1kz6sp"></div> <div class="css-1dbjc4n r-1d2f490 r-u8s1d"> <div class="css-1dbjc4n"> <div class="css-1dbjc4n r-sdzlij r-1adg3ll r-1udh08x"></div> </div> </div> </div>