Four Middle School Athletes Earn First D1 Offer's

Yesterday may have only been December 2<sup>nd</sup>, but Christmas came early for four middle school athletes—as they all received their first scholarship offers. Exposure and opportunity is coming earlier and earlier each year, these athletes are proof of that phenomenon. Let’s take a look. [caption id="attachment_243996" align="alignleft" width="150"]<img class="wp-image-243996 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/12/JyranEvans-150x150.jpeg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /> Photo: <a href="https://twitter.com/safire_studios" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SaFire Studios</a>[/caption] <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="212461" first="Jyran" last="Evans"] | Virginia | Wide Receiver</strong> <strong>Ole Miss</strong> came calling for the 6-foot-3, 170-pound receiver from the 757 Colts last night. The offer comes less than 24 hours after several alumni of that same youth program, who are now in high school, were also offered by the Rebels. The long receiver has already been invited to the Under Armour 8<sup>th</sup> Grade All-America game this January in Orlando and should continue to see offers in. He has the natural length and frame that helps easily win balls in the air. While still raw in the little idiosyncrasies of the receiver position, he has the talent, body control and body top that next-level coaches are clearly drooling over already. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/bkuygPXyVj0" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-243998 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/12/RyderLyons-150x150.jpeg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Ryder Lyons | California | Quarterback</strong> The future Folsom Bulldog in northern California received his first offer from <strong>BYU</strong> last night, after an eight-grade season that saw him account for 27 total touchdowns. Standing 6-foot-1 and a very well-put together 180 pounds, the big righty was as close to a sure thing as possible on the middle school level this year for the Jr. Bulldogs. If the last name Lyons and Folsom Bulldogs sound familiar, it’s because Ryder is the younger brother of 2023 four-star tight end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="144958" first="Walker" last="Lyons"]</strong>, who currently holds 30 offers. The younger Lyons looks like he’s on the same exact trajectory with a very strong and accurate arm. He is going to be a very special player to know going forward. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16389887/61a2c178da512903c0bec120" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-243999 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/12/SekouKamara-150x150.jpeg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Sekou Kamara | Kentucky | Athlete</strong> Only in the seventh grade, meaning he graduates high school in the year 2027, Kamara received his first offer from his home-state <strong>Kentucky Wildcats</strong>. Originally from Liberia, Kamara is a man amongst boys on the football field when it comes to his ability. At roughly 5-foot-9 and 145 pounds, he has elite ball skills for just being the seventh grade and his speed is something rarely possessed by athlete of any age. He does a little bit of everything for the Louisville Chargers, lining up as a wide receiver, running back, punt/kick returner and strong safety. He’s got a ways to go, but he’s certainly on his way. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/u_rSgrxmxG8" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-244002 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/12/JaHydeBrown-150x150.jpeg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Ja’Hyde Brown | Kentucky | Athlete</strong> The <strong>Kentucky Wildcats</strong> weren’t done on their early-offer spree, as they also offered another seventh grader, Ja’Hyde Brown. Brown is a member of the same Louisville Charger team that the aforementioned Kamara plays for. While he does not yet have the size of the other athletes in this article, Brown does already have the speed to be dangerous on the next level. The fact that he also works out with one of the top trainers in the region, Chris Vaughn of Apiration Fitness. Vaughn has worked with countless athletes in the area, most notable is current five-star offensive tackle <strong>Kiyaunta Goodwin</strong>, who started with him in the 6<sup>th</sup> grade. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/pb6Qx7sFlNM" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>