2024 Indiana Recruits With Tremendous Upside
We’re looking at another handful of recruits in the 2024 class who have great upside at the next level. We’re looking at where these recruits are now and what their futures could look like down the road. Eli Arthur –…
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Continue ReadingWe’re looking at another handful of recruits in the 2024 class who have great upside at the next level. We’re looking at where these recruits are now and what their futures could look like down the road.
Eli Arthur – Pendleton – OLB – 6’1″ 175 lbs
Arthur checks just about every box you want in a recruit. He’s a decent athlete who has a high motor and is willing to work like a dog. A lot of the time, Pendleton is having him line up on the ball on the outside. Typically around the 9-tech spot and he comes off the edge. There are times he drops back into coverage and does a decent job, but he’s still not quite comfortable with it enough to drop back regularly. He’s best when he’s coming off the edge and always gets upfield. There are times he over purses and misses his target but he’s usually able to keep everything inside the pocket and not allow the QB to take off. There are also times he becomes too top-heavy and can lose his balance as well. He could learn how to come to balance better and learn where to attack the defender’s outside hip as well. When he grabs onto an offensive player they aren’t getting away and he’s going to make the tackle. Over the next few years, I would love to see him continue to bulk up and just keep working on his mechanics. If he’s able to do those things, Arthur promises to be a steady contributor at the college ranks.
Luke Murphy – Zionsville – QB – 5’11″ 165 lbs
I think Murphy has all of the tools to be a really good QB at the next level. I do hope he grows a few more inches over the next 2 years but it’s not really a need. He’s very athletic for a QB and is able to run if he doesn’t like what he sees. He isn’t really going to make guys miss at the next level, but he’s going to move the chains and make sure defenses pay attention to his athleticism. Murphy is at his best with a clean pocket and is able to go through his progressions and step into his throw. There are times his footwork gets messy and he either crosses feet or heel clicks. It hasn’t ever caused an issue and can easily be cleaned up with time. He throws a pretty ball and likes to put some arch on it. He isn’t going to launch the ball 60-yards downfield but within about 40-yards he’s fairly accurate and throws a very catchable ball. There are times he breaks down and runs before he needs to as well. When he’s on the move, he’s going to direct traffic downfield and try making the throw. With Murphy, he makes it very clear when he’s running and when he’s keeping his eyes downfield to throw. By the time he graduates, Murphy will likely have a plethora of offers. He’s got all the tools and some of the natural instincts you want in a quarterback at the next level.
Alex Holmes-Gaines – Lawrence Central – OLB – 6’1″ 190 lbs
Right now, Holmes-Gaines is more athlete than a football player. I know that sounds like a bad thing, but it isn’t. He’s so explosive that Lawrence Central just lines him up on the edge and lets him go. He feels like one of those toys that you wind up and let go wild until it runs out of energy. He’s going to come off the edge again and again until you stop him. Then he’s going to move to the other side and frustrate your other tackle. He’s almost always able to get by his guy but he doesn’t have the best bull rush. He also struggles to keep contain sometimes because of how fast he gets upfield. Sometimes he shoots upfield and the quarterback just goes into the area he just vacated and delivers the ball. I didn’t see him drop into coverage very often but when he does, it’s not his strongest category. He’s got the athletic ability to cover TEs and RBs at the next level but will need to be coached up. I can see colleges moving him to DE and making it a permanent thing but I anticipate that he stays at LB and develops in all areas. His upside at LB is too exciting to pass up and hopefully, he gets into the right college program that allows him to reach his ceiling.
Jackson Buis Jackson Buis 6'3" | 290 lbs | OL Greencastle | 2024 State IN – Greencastle – G – 6’3″ 290 lbs
Right now, Buis is still fairly raw but you can see the potential. He gets off the ball fairly quickly and his initial punch is very strong. He has heavy hands and likes to hit his guy. He’s best when he’s pulling and is able to get a full head of steam. Those moments are when he blows his guy back 5-yards and makes a huge impact block. When he comes off the line at the snap and doesn’t pull, he’s decent. His footwork is inconsistent at times. There are moments when it is very clean and then other moments, more so later in games when he gets tired, that his footwork can get choppy. Like most young linemen, Buis is much better in the run game than the passing game. When he deals with a powerful interior defensive lineman, Buis can find himself in the fight of his life. If Buis is able to get in the weight room and bulk up, I think it will help him begin to dominate in the passing game. In the college ranks, Buis is staying inside and is very likely going to develop into a consistent starter. He has the physical tools, he plays like a gritty lineman, he just needs to be coached up and refined. His ceiling is really exciting to think about because he’s someone who has the potential to develop into a dominate college Guard.