Out The Mud Monday: Underrated Players Spotlight
In this article:
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…
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Continue ReadingI 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!
Caden Leach Caden Leach 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB Omaha Central | 2022 State NE (WR/DB) | Omaha Central | 5’10″ 170 lbs
Offers: None
Interested schools: Buena Vista University
About #1:
The shutdown of the OPS school system for the 2020 fall season has had lasting effects on its athletes. This includes Eagles wide receiver/defensive back Caden Leach Caden Leach 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB Omaha Central | 2022 State NE looking to build momentum on the recruiting trail. Caden is a naturally gifted athlete and showed that in his return to action this season. Leach has very raw abilities but still showed a diverse route tree as a receiver. Caden does an excellent job creating separation in short and intermediate routes. He has quick feet and is shifty in the open field. When Caden gets the ball, he can turn upfield and gain additional yardage. Caden is also a fighter when it comes to picking up extra yards. He doesn’t go down on first contact. He is very versatile and can do damage outside the hash marks and in the slot. Leach’s playmaking ability adds to his value by being able to plug him into plays where his athleticism can takeover (Jet Sweeps, he can pass, screens, etc.). He also showed glimpses of his abilities at CB. He showed good fluidity and was aggressive in attacking the football. Overall, Leach is a team-first player that will do what is needed to win. When the ball is coming to him, he does a great job securing the ball; even when fighting for extra yardage, he does a good job covering the ball. When he isn’t getting the target, he is looking for someone to get his hands on. Caden is a very willing blocker and has no problem clearing the road for one of his teammates to make a play. Leach would be an asset to any team looking for a talented player with TONS of potential waiting to be tapped. Keep an eye out for Caden!
About Caden Leach Caden Leach 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB Omaha Central | 2022 State NE :
What drives you to be the best version of yourself off the field? On the field?
My parents. My parents push me to be the absolute best version of myself on the field and in school. Without them, I wouldn’t be here today. I really do owe them one!
How do you handle adversity?
I just keep on playing; no matter what happens, I go out there and give it my all. It’s not always about making plays. You still need effort and hustle.
To your future coach, what kind of person/player are they getting from you?
I’m a coachable player, and I’ll do whatever it takes to improve myself and the team. When I step on the field, I’ll give you 100% until I drop and then some more.
What does football mean to you?
Football means a lot. Growing up, I was always around it, my whole family played football. My dad played linebacker for the Omaha Beef. He’s raised me to be an athlete and take on any challenge that life throws at me.
Noah Walters Noah Walters 6'1" | 190 lbs | QB Lincoln East | 2022 State NE (QB) | Lincoln East | 6’1″ 195
Offers: Augustana, Bemidji State, Wayne State, Walk-on Offers to Iowa State, Nebraska
About #13:
The fact that Noah’s offers list doesn’t run off the screen has been one of the great mysteries of the 2021 season. Many expected Noah to have a great follow-up to a huge 2020 season, but few predicted the total onslaught that was about to unfold. He would go on to throw for 3,402 yards, an eye-popping 44 touchdowns, and he posted a 140.2 QB rating, all while completing 66% of his passes and only 5 interceptions. Noah showed that he could make every throw on the field, short, long, under pressure, or a clean pocket he was DEALING. Walters had 9 games of 250+ yards passing, 4 400+ yard games, and had 7 games in which he threw for 5 touchdowns or more…. insane. When you watch Walters play, you can tell you’re watching something special. His calmness, poise, leadership, and determination have been incredible to follow over this past season. Despite the losing effort, Noah’s performance against Gretna’s stingy defense might have been his most impressive showing. In that game, Walters threw for 431 yards, 5 touchdowns, completed 66% of his passes, and helped keep the Spartans on pace with the Dragons. What made that game stand out was the fact that Noah was a significant contributor on the ground. He added 72 rushing yards and a touchdown and converted on crucial downs. This showed the true depths Walters will go to in order to win in the biggest moments. He makes great reads, can throw with touch or zip, has a high football IQ, and is very polished when it comes to his mechanics. In the offseason, he can be found tearing it up in 7v7 and creating quick chemistry with receivers from around the state. This is a QB with a massive chip in his shoulder and a burning desire to play collegiate ball. After his stellar senior year, there is zero question about Walters’ talents, now who’s going to be the school to cash in on this superstar in the making?
About Noah Walters Noah Walters 6'1" | 190 lbs | QB Lincoln East | 2022 State NE :
What drives you to be the best version of yourself off the field? On the field?
My competitiveness, I want to be the best person in every room I am in. On the field, I want to turn heads and be the guy people can rely on.
How do you handle adversity?
I love dealing with adversity. It gives me a chance to learn and grow in the game of football. I will never back down from adversity.
To your future coach, what kind of person/player are they getting from you?
You are getting an extremely competitive kid that goes to sleep at night thinking how they can get better the next day. You are getting a kid who refuses to lose. You will get a kid that loves being the underdog and proving people wrong. You will get a leader on and off the field who leads by both actions and words. You will get a kid that works his tail off day in and day out.
What does football mean to you?
Mitchell Anderson (DB/WR) | Bennington | 5’10″ 170 lbs
Offers: I have offers from Dakota Wesleyan, Mount Marty, and Morningside.
Interested schools: Augustana, Wayne State, SMSU, Brown, Sioux falls, Moorhead
About #4:
Before I start this, start the senior clip and go to the 26-second mark; even when he stumbles, he doesn’t MISS!
The play I’m referring to is a defensive play, in which he stumbles while dropping back deep, recovers, closes in, and intercepts the ball. Mitch has been one of my favorite players to watch all season (really the whole Bennington squad). The Badger DB posted an impressive 51 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and recorded 4 interceptions. He is a heat-seeking missile when it comes to playing coverage. He does not let anything get past him and DEFINITELY doesn’t let anything out of his clenches. When he locks into his target, he delivers bone-jarring tackles that have knocked broken up several passes in the process. Anderson is highly athletic and moves very fluidly. He can flip his hips in a snap and change direction just as quickly. Don’t overlook him as a receiver either because he just might take it 99 yards to the house. This is exactly what he did in Bennington’s playoff matchup against Waverly when he took Trey Bird Trey Bird 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB Bennington | 2023 State NE ’s pass all the way to the state playoff record books for the longest touchdown. On a team full of studs, Mitch is still able to stand out with his exceptional coverage skills. This has been crucial considering the gauntlet that Bennington went through on their way to a state championship appearance. Anderson does not back down to any receivers and will match them step for step and fight for the ball on every snap. Mitch is a tough player that would improve any secondary with his tough tackling and excellent balls skills.
About Mitch Anderson:
What drives you to be the best version of yourself off the field? On the field?
The thing that drives me to be the best me off the field is probably just the determination and motivation to get better day in and day out. Winning each day is the thing that sets great people apart from good people and I strive to do that every day. On the field, I would say the thing that drives me is to be the best player I can be for my brothers on the field. I don’t want to let them down so that forces me to win every rep.
How do you handle adversity?
Coach Lenhart has instilled a mindset in my teammates and I that adversity is just another challenge to overcome through the course of a practice, game, or even life. It’s not about the adversity that hits it’s about how you respond to the adversity and how you pick up the people around you.
To your future coach, what kind of person/player are they getting from you?
To my future coach, you are getting a person and player that works hard and will buy into the culture they are trying to instill or have instilled in the program. I will strive to be the best player I can be on the field while being the best leader and teammate I can be in the locker room.
What does football mean to you?
Football means the world to me. The passion it takes to make it through 2-A-days or hell week is unmatched in any other sport. The lifelong brothers I have made on my high school football team and the ones I will make on my college football team are things I will always be thankful for from the sport of football. Football also shows me that people who may not be the best at something at the start can work to be the best of the best. This shows me in life that it’s not where you start but where you finish.
Preston Ames Preston Ames 6'0" | 185 lbs | DB Bellevue West | 2022 State NE (DB) | Bellevue West | 6’ 185
Offers: None
Interested schools: Morningside, Nebraska Wesleyan
About #20:
Preston would be near the top of that list if I had Most Improved Player awards to give out. He had a great junior year in which he posted a solid stat line of 28 tackles, 3 TFLs, 3 pass deflections, and 2 interceptions. Ames came back in 2021 and went berserk in the Thunderbird secondary. He recorded 40 tackles, 5 pass deflections, 4 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries, and a tackle for loss against stiff Class A competition. Ames is a do-everything Safety that plays with no fear and a team-first mentality. Preston will come up in run support and lay the wood on runningbacks without hesitation. He also provides a deep safety net for his corners and is aggressive when forcing takeaways. He has excellent closing speed and does a superb job of wrapping up when he gets to his target. Ames is not just accurate with his hits, but he makes sure to strike with authority. Preston is a naturally gifted athlete (catch him on the basketball court or golf course) and is very fluid in his movements; he can flip his hips and take off with ease. What also stands out about Preston is his football knowledge. Many of his plays were from recognizing the offense, knowing where the ball was going to be, and attacking the ball carrier. After a very impressive senior campaign, it’s surprising that more schools haven’t offered the stud DB.
About Preston Ames Preston Ames 6'0" | 185 lbs | DB Bellevue West | 2022 State NE :
What drives you to be the best version of yourself off the field? On the field?
Off the field: My friends, family, and future push me to be the best. I want to succeed in life and football and family have taught me so much about leadership and the things needed to excel in the future.
On the field: My brothers all around me push me to be the best possible version of myself. Football is the toughest team game, and in order to succeed, we all have to do our job to the best of our abilities. I strive to be the best for the guys around me and my amazing coaches.
How do you handle adversity?
I handle adversity by taking myself back to my training. As my head coach always says, “the hay is in the barn,” meaning the prep work is done now go execute. I also say my self mantra to myself, this helps me get back into focus and locked in.
To your future coach, what kind of person/player are they getting from you?
A man who is very driven and has a very high work ethic. A leader. A man who is willing to do anything to win.
What does football mean to you?
Football is my outlet for life. I meet my best friends playing this sport that I love. I don’t know what I would do.
Curtis Tchibozo Curtis Tchibozo 6'2" | 210 lbs | TE Omaha Northwest | 2022 State NE (DE/TE) | Omaha Northwest | 6’2″ 210
Offers: N/A
Interested schools: Drake, Midland, Doane, Augustana
About #9:
Talk about a complete athlete! Curtis was a monster for the Huskies with his ability to rush the passer and his presence on the edge. Curtis is an OPS student coming back from a lost season but has been grinding hard all off-season to get back to dominating. Tchibozo’s get-off speed and his athleticism leave less athletic offensive tackles tremendously outmatched. He is freakishly explosive and lengthy, which helps create separation making him difficult to defend off the edge, and then when you add momentum, he is downright impossible. Curtis also has some crazy strength allowing him to counter with power moves. He is a player that is in GO mode from snap to whistle for 60 minutes. Tchibozo found himself constantly living in the backfield, chasing around quarterbacks and running backs alike. Tchibozo’s athleticism also stretches to the offensive side of the ball as a tight end. Although he didn’t have many targets, he still showed signs of being a reliable option with strong hands and a powerful blocker that had himself a few pancakes this season. With tons of potential, college coaches will have fun plugging him into various positions and letting him attack. Overall, Curtis has the perseverance, talent, and hunger to play at the collegiate level and is just looking for the opportunity to do so.
About Curtis Tchibozo Curtis Tchibozo 6'2" | 210 lbs | TE Omaha Northwest | 2022 State NE :
What drives you to be the best version of yourself off the field? On the field?
What drives me to be the best version of myself is my parents. They’ve made so many sacrifices in their lives just so that I could play the sport I love, and so my siblings and I could be happy.
How do you handle adversity?
I handle adversity by using it as motivation and fuel to work harder. For example, when OPS shut down the season last fall, I knew that I was going to have to work twice as hard as the kids with a season.
To your future coach, what kind of person/player are they getting from you?
The type of player my future coach is a competitor. My competitive nature is what pushes me to outwork my peers and opponents. In games against the toughest opponents is when I do my best.
What does football mean to you?
Football means a lot to me. Football is like my escape from the real world, where I can just be myself with my teammates and have fun. A group of guys pushing themselves to their limit for one common goal and for the team is something special.
Orlando Hernandez Orlando Hernandez 6'2" | 250 lbs | DL Omaha North | 2022 State NE (DL) | Omaha North | 6’2″
260
Offers: None
Interested schools: I am still undecided. There are several options, and I hope to have it figured out soon.
About #34:
If this article is titled “Out the Mud,” then Orlando and the North Vikings 2021 season could probably add quicksand at the end. Hernandez had to put in extra time in order to catch up to the players and teams that played during the 2020 season. An opening schedule featuring 4 playoff teams in the first 5 games did them no favors, and despite some gritty performances, they found themselves 0-5 going into October. Hernandez and Co. decided that was enough and turned it to 10. Orlando finished the season with 85 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 2 passes defended, and a fumble recovery. This stellar play helped catapult the Vikings to 4 straight wins and the 16th seed and continued that momentum through to the State semi-final round. Hernandez showed all the traits of a dominant defensive end. His twitchiness and strength are a dangerous combination. Orlando is really impressive in his ability to shut down run games; his 25 tackles for loss resulted from him having a quicker get-off than most linemen and being a sure tackler when he gets in the backfield. Although he looks like he’s attacking at 100 mph, he is very patient and times his attacks perfectly to ensure he isn’t found out of position. Once he gets a full head of steam, Hernandez can deliver some punishing hits, which can leave opponents wondering if they got hit by a bus. Despite still being a little green, Orlando has a bright future in football and would have more recruiting hype if he had been given the chance to play his junior year.
About Orlando Hernandez Orlando Hernandez 6'2" | 250 lbs | DL Omaha North | 2022 State NE :
What drives you to be the best version of yourself off the field? On the field?
My motivation and determination drive me to be the best version of myself. I am always striving to get better both on the field and off the field. My family and my friends help encourage me along the way.
How do you handle adversity?
I think I handle it pretty well. As you know, we did not have a season last year, and it pushed me to get better and overcome all the little mistakes that I didn’t have a chance to work on last year. Not playing last year also took away from the team as a whole. We lost out on bonding time and had to work harder at the beginning of the season to grow together as a team.
To your future coach, what kind of person/player are they getting from you?
They are getting a hard worker, leader, and responsible young man. I am someone who wants to succeed individually and as a team. So I am always striving to be the best teammate and leader I can be.
What does football mean to you?
Football started off as a way to burn energy at a young age but grew into an avenue that helped build me into the person I am today. The relationships and skills that I have built and developed mean everything to me. Football has taught me so much, and I am forever grateful.