23' Rankings: New Additions Pt. 1

We've updated our 23' Rankings totaling 400+ student athletes being ranked as well as another 100+ on our watch list. All of the ranked prospects currently have the skill set to play at the next level ranging from FBS caliber down to D3 caliber. We are constantly looking to add to our rankings as it's a component of our database that is used by college coaches at the next level. If you're currently not ranked and feel like you should be, fill out our FREE Player Index to get on our radar and more importantly be in our NCAA Approved Database. This is important because college coaches can contact you straight off your free account as it's another tool to help you in your recruiting. All of that being said, here are a few new additions from this rankings update that deserve more attention than what they're currently getting. <hr /> [player_tooltip player_id="205687" first="Nick" last="True"] <a href="https://twitter.com/NickTrue16">Twitter</a> <img class=" wp-image-243863 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/12/159-Nick-True.jpg" alt="" width="346" height="230" /> Mr. True was a name I was keeping an eye on heading into this season as he came onto my radar after our last rankings update. I actually got the chance to scout one of his regular season games and upon analyzing his full season highlights he finds himself added to our rankings. He's projected as a receiving tight end at the next level that can get lined up as an X receiver in certain packages, especially in redzone situations as he's a big redzone target. This young man is quick off the line of scrimmage which he uses to gain a step on the defender before stacking and breaking him off at the top of the route creating separation on the play. Upon doing so, he goes up for 50/50 balls by attacking the ball at the highest point securing the contested catch and will lay out for catches as well. His long catch radius comes in handy in those situations as he can extend to make tough catches. This is specifically seen when he makes sideline grabs as his quarterback can throw the ball out of bounds so only this young man can secure the catch and that's exactly what he does as he uses his toe tap to get his feet in while he fully extends. In the run game, he can wash the defensive lineman down and get to 2nd level blocks cutting off linebacker flow after latches on getting inside hand placement. I believe he has room to develop his run blocking skill set further and has room to add to his frame without losing a step. In my eyes, he has the potential to become a P5 FBS caliber prospect and is currently sitting as a G5 FBS/FCS prospect. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11387553/614792f1dfd8b40460eb029b">Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="168918" first="Aidan" last="Gray"] <a href="https://twitter.com/AidanGray05">Twitter</a> Mr. Gray was a name I was keeping an eye on heading into this fall season and one that came onto my radar after our last rankings update. I got the chance to scout this young man in person during the fall season and upon analyzing his full season highlights he earned a spot in our rankings. He's projected more as a pro style quarterback that can, if need be, pull the ball down to scramble if nothing is open downfield. What I liked most out of this young man when I scouted him in person was the way that he commanded his offense throughout the game and his good decision making with the ball. He wouldn't force throws in tight coverage, rather he would survey the field going through progressions and as a last resort would pull the ball down to scramble. When working in platform, he can get the ball off under pressure adding a touch on the deep ball. When working out of platform, he can escape pocket pressure as he keeps his eyes downfield to deliver a strike downfield with his upper/lower half working in unison while throwing on the run. This young man can add easy velocity across all level throws (level 1, level 2, and level 3) and can get the ball out quickly when running RPOs. I believe he still has untapped potential yet to come to light and has room to add to his frame as well. In my eyes, he has the potential to become a P5 FBS caliber prospect and is currently sitting as a G5 FBS/FCS prospect. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/2983084/618027043453160178a0582d">Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="265988" first="Brycen" last="Hendrix"] <a href="https://twitter.com/BrycenHendrix">Twitter</a> Mr. Hendrix was a new name to me this season and I'm glad I was able to come across this young man as he is more than deserving of being in our rankings. Upon analyzing his full season highlights he earned himself a spot in the Top 100. He's projected as a balanced corner that can get it done both in pass defense as well as in run support. I could also see him being utilized as a nickel corner covering the slot receiver. In zone coverage, he can jump routes in the flat to come away with interceptions and upon doing so showcased his ability to change gears quickly as he returns it for a touchdown. He can undercut routes in his deep half responsibility to come away with interceptions and once he diagnoses the play he can peel off his coverage to deliver heavy hits in the flat forcing pass breakups. This all happens with his smooth and fluid transitions which he uses to limit the chances of the receiver getting to his toes as well as keep him in a position to make a play on the ball. In run support, this young man triggers downhill covering ground quickly where he can clean up plays by securing open field tackles on the perimeter. He's also used in the return game where he can weave in and out of defenders resulting in him getting in the endzone for a touchdown. He's a "smaller" defensive back but I wouldn't let that deter you away from this young man as he has the talent to play at a high level and has showcased that he can contest catches against taller receivers downfield. In my eyes, he has the potential to become an FBS caliber prospect and is currently sitting as an FCS prospect. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12881108/61acec1bc11a1b05bc47671e">Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="267726" first="Kanye" last="Tyler"] <a href="https://twitter.com/KanyeTyler1">Twitter</a> Mr. Tyler was a new name to me heading into this season and a young man that didn't come onto my radar until I was analyzing film for our All State teams. Upon doing so, it's clear that this young man deserves to be on our rankings. He's projected to be a balanced three down back that can beat you with his speed as well as bring physicality. I believe he can be utilized in the air attack as well either coming out of the backfield or even lining him up in the slot, both of which would create a mismatch against the linebacker. He has the vision to find running lanes quickly between the tackle as he burst through the line of scrimmage and uses his lateral quickness to turn the corner. Once he does, he gets vertical quickly showcasing his next level gear as he outruns pursuit angles and blows by 2nd level defenders. What's most impressive about this young man is the way he finishes. He keeps his feet driving fighting for extra yards as he plays through the whistle and isn't afraid to lower his shoulder to run through the defender. His ability to beat his opponents with his speed and physicality poses a big threat to the opposing defense. I believe he has room to add to his frame without losing a step which is only going to elevate his game. In my eyes, he's an FBS caliber prospect that is currently sitting as an FCS/FCS PWO prospect. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14097433/618997689a9c4d09487b5ec9">Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="266153" first="Kaleb" last="Randolph"] <a href="https://twitter.com/randolph_kaleb">Twitter</a> Mr. Randolph was a new name to me heading into this fall season and one that I was keeping an eye on as the season was progressing. Upon analyzing his full season highlights he not only was on our All State team, he also earned himself a spot in our rankings. He's projected as a balanced 7 tech at the next level that can get it done in both run support and with his pass rush. This young man has the ability to blow up plays in the backfield during run support. This happens with him firing off the ball using his hands at the point of attack while he slips blocks and shoots gaps getting past the offensive lineman putting him in a position to make a play. He can work gap to gap where he disengages blocks to make the tackle at/near the line of scrimmage for no/little gain on the play. This young man will also take backside pursuit to make the chasedown tackle as well as be in a good position to secure the tackle if the ball carrier tries to hit the cutback lane. On passing downs, this young man uses his quick first step to close space between him and the offensive tackle before batting hands down and turning the corner generating pressure on the quarterback. If you try to double team him, he can use his swim move to beat the double team and at times can come away with the quarterback sack as well. This young man can line up across the defensive line playing as a 7 tech, 1 tech, and 3 tech. This versatility gives defensive coordinators different options to utilize this young man in their game plans as they look to find the best matchups. In my eyes, he has the potential to become an FBS PWO caliber prospect that is currently sitting as an FCS caliber prospect. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12815969/616d9969b01886071889cb75">Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="248305" first="Joey" last="Ayala"] <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeyAyala16">Twitter</a> Mr. Ayala was a name I was keeping an eye on during this fall season and once I was curious to see how he would produce. I got the chance to scout this young man in person during the regular season and upon analyzing his full season highlights he earned himself a spot in our rankings. He's projected as an edge 7 tech at the next level that has strength more towards his pass rush yet can get it done in run support as well. This young man has good foundational skills and has room to add to his frame without losing a step. In his pass rush, he fires off the ball utilizing his quick first step to close space between him and the offensive tackle quickly before batting hands down to turn the corner generating pressure on the quarterback. At times, he can come away with the quarterback sack while utilizing his speed rush and swim move to beat the offensive tackle. Upon doing so, he can deliver a heavy hit on the quarterback forcing a fumble on the play. In run support, he works gap to gap where he can disengage blocks to make the tackle at/near the line of scrimmage for no/little gain on the play. He can hold his gap responsibility, at times holding quarterback contain, before triggering to the ball carrier to secure the tackle. If the offense is running outside the tackles, this young man uses his lateral quickness to limit the ball carrier's chance of turning the corner thus extending the play horizontally. I believe this young man still has untapped potential yet to come to light and has room to fine tune his run support skill set, once he does he's going to be a name that you'll want on your radar. In my eyes, he has the potential to become an FBS PWO caliber prospect that is currently sitting as an FCS PWO/D2 caliber prospect. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/1864806/61989c4632dcbf0a6ca088d9">Highlights</a> [player_tooltip player_id="266165" first="Mateo" last="Casillas"] <a href="https://twitter.com/MateoCasillas4">Twitter</a> Mr. Casillas was a new name to me heading into this fall season and one I didn't come across until the end of the season. Upon analyzing his full season highlights he earned himself a spot in our rankings. He's projected as a 7 tech on the next level, I can also see him being utilized as a 4-3 outside linebacker walked up on the line of scrimmage and used as an edge pass rusher on passing downs as well. His foundational skill set translates best to him being lined up on the line of scrimmage with a hand in the ground. In run support, he can shoot gaps and slip blocks to disrupt plays in the backfield off the penetration he generates. He works gap to gap and can disengage blocks to make the tackle at/near the line of scrimmage for no/little gain on the play. On passing downs, he fires off the ball utilizing his quick first step to close space between him and the offensive tackle before batting hands down to turn the corner generating pressure on the quarterback. This happens by him using his hands at the point of attack during his speed rush and can generate pressure on the quarterback when he shoots the B gap splitting the offensive guard/offensive tackle. I believe he has a high upside with the potential that he has and the room he has to grow with his skill set. In my eyes, he has the potential to become an FCS caliber prospect and is currently sitting as a D2/NAIA caliber prospect. <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12658358/6195342bab9c5b0ac46503cb">Highlights</a> <hr /> Be sure to follow <a href="https://twitter.com/PRZJordan">@PRZJordan</a> regarding news & information for Illinois High School Football as well as <a href="https://twitter.com/prepredzoneIL">@PrepRedzoneIL</a>. Want to be ranked? Fill out our FREE <a href="https://prepredzone.com/prospect-index/">Prospect Player Index</a>, another tool to help you in your recruiting journey.