2024 Indiana Offensive Players To Watch
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The 2024 class in Indiana is shaping up to be a great one. We’re taking a look at some offensive players who could be getting much more attention in the near future and what that future may hold for them.…
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Continue ReadingThe 2024 class in Indiana is shaping up to be a great one. We’re taking a look at some offensive players who could be getting much more attention in the near future and what that future may hold for them.
Patrick Clacks III – Andrean – WR – 6’2″ 175 lbs
Clacks might be the best WR in the class when it comes to ball skills. His ability to highpoint the ball, control his body, and come down with it might be the best in the state as well. When the ball is in the air, he locks in and always adjusts right in time. Clacks is able to line up at all the different WR spots on the field. It’s probably best to keep him on the outside and have him as your true X and have him face single coverage most of the night unless they roll the coverage to his side. As good as he is with the ball in the air, he might be even better after the catch. He’s always breaking tackles, making guys miss, and picking up huge chunks after the catch. He’s just a great athlete who knows how to use it and make the defenders look silly. He isn’t the most polished route runner and he could spend a summer working on his footwork and breaks on routes. He also runs some of his routes top-heavy and leans over a little bit too much. Again, just minor things for an overall great prospect. Clacks can be as good as he wants to it all just depends on how hard he works at it. He has every physical attribute to be a great WR in the college ranks and hopefully, he achieves his full potential.
Cainen Northington – Evansville North – RB – 5’8″ 145 lbs
Over his first two years, Northington didn’t play a ton on offense because of the experience in front of him, but everyone knows his potential. Evansville North wanted him on the field so bad as a freshman and sophomore they had him returning kicks. That is where Northington started to make a name for himself and start getting eyes on him. Northington is lightning in a bottle and is a threat to score at any moment. As he enters his upperclassmen years, you can expect him to become a focal point of the offense. Whenever he gets a carry the defensive coaches hold their breath until he is on the ground. He’s really fast, agile, and he’s smaller than defenders anticipate which always seems to throw them for a loop. He’s able to get small and squeeze through the smallest of openings the offensive line creates. He also has very soft hands and is able to be a receiver out of the backfield. While I don’t think he will be picking up too many blitzes, he can. He’s very tough and is able to take a big hit and get right back up. He’s obviously a smaller back right now, but over the next 2 years if he’s able to bulk up and fill out his frame I think he can be a 3-down back. When you have a player as explosive as Northington can be, you just put him in and let him go.
Langdon Holbrook Langdon Holbrook 5'8" | 180 lbs | ATH Scottsburg | 2024 State IN – Scottsburg – WR – 5’8″ 165 lbs
Holbrook is a very shifty player who will more than likely operate out of the slot in college. He plays very intelligent and is always thinking ahead. He’s able to read coverages and diagnose what’s going on around him. Scottsburg loves to draw up screen plays just to get the ball in his hands. He’s so nimble on his feet that I think defenders don’t quite understand how fast he is until he blows right by them. Holbrook isn’t going to win very many contested jump balls or be a guy you throw 50/50 balls to but it’s not to say he can’t win those battles. He also does struggle in the blocking game and sometimes struggles if a Corner or Safety comes down on him to block. Scottsburg has done a great job understanding what his skill set is and putting him in the best place to be successful. By the time he comes out of high school, I imagine he is going to be one of the most sought-after slot WRs in the state and will have his game much more refined.
Porter Rode Porter Rode 5'9" | 195 lbs | RB Evansville Reitz Memorial | 2024 State IN – Evansville Central – RB – 5’9″ 190 lbs
Rode is the perfect blend of RB. He’s someone who only gets better as the game goes on. RB is a rhythm position and once you get into a rhythm and start to get hot you can really catch fire. You start to play faster, react quicker, and make some incredible plays. Rode is no different and it really only takes just a few plays for him to get into the zone. He has impeccable vision and is almost always able to find the hole if there is one. If there isn’t a hole, Rode has the speed to bounce the ball outside and attack the edges of the defense. He’s able to get small in the hole, hit the defender with just enough of a shimmy to make him go ice skating past while Rode doesn’t lose any speed. Catching the ball isn’t an issue either because he has great hands and is able to make just about any catch. EC will put him at the slot WR spot every now and then just to get the ball in his hands a different way. Right now, his biggest weaknesses are pass protection and blitz pickup. Every RB struggles with it as they are learning the position. It takes time and reps to figure everything out. In high school, most of the time players like him aren’t asked to block because you want the ball in his hands. He still has 2 years remaining and if he’s able to keep refining his mechanics and spend some time working on pass protection I think he’ll be one of the best overall prospects in the entire state at any position.