Dynamic Indiana 2023 Recruits

We’ve been going through the different classes in Indiana and the depth of talent is getting deeper each year. Today, we’re looking at the 2023 class and some recruits who have a great chance to blow up this upcoming fall. Elijah Mack - North Central - WR - 6’1" 180 lbs Mack is a very lengthy receiver who was built to play on the outside. He has very long strides and is able to cover a ton of ground in a hurry. He’s someone who gets better as the game goes on because he’s able to get in a groove. His route running and ability to create separation aren’t the best, but he still has time to work on those. However, it isn’t a huge worry right now because his best ability is catching contested balls. He’s able to go up, highpoint the ball, fight through most defenders, and come down with the ball. When the ball is in the air, he’s as physical as they come and isn’t going to go down without a fight. He’s decent after the catch and is able to make some guys miss and pick up extra yardage. He’s able to hit the gas and get North and South immediately. He doesn’t waste time going East or West. He’s going to cover and brace for contact and doesn’t let the ball go anywhere. He’s more than willing to go downfield and block in the run game as well. If he’s able to continue developing his route tree and become a more complete route runner, Mack is going to draw a decent amount of interest. The size and physicality is there alone for schools to be interested enough to take a shot. He’s an exciting player and hopefully, he gets to the best program for his abilities. Kyle Haessly - Hanover Central - RB/OLB - 5’11" 185 lbs Haessly plays both offense and defense for Hanover Central and really never seems to get tired. At RB, he’s decent and has good vision. He’s physical and will lower his pads to fight for every yard. He’s got decent enough speed to break some big runs and doesn’t panic if his initial read isn’t there. He keeps his shoulders square and his feet churning no matter what. When he’s going into a pile or is going to take a hit, he covers the ball with both hands. He’s very sound and doesn’t make very many mistakes. However, on defense is where he might be at his best. He likes to fly around and layout big hits. He trusts his eyes and will shoot a gap immediately if he’s anticipating a run. He’s able to wrap up and bring down his guy almost immediately. He’s explosive through the hole and gets home just about every time. He’s decent in pass coverage but could use some cleaning up. He tends to cross his feet when dropping back and that has cost him a few times. He’s able to run with pretty much every RB and TE and will be able to cover them at the next level too. He’s tough, he’s gritty, and he’s fun to watch. I would like him to hit the weight room and bulk up some over this upcoming summer. If he’s able to develop and continue working on the things he needs to, he’ll likely have offers for both sides of the ball and he’ll be able to pick which direction he goes. [player_tooltip player_id="107289" first="Carmell" last="Perry"] - Speedway - TE/MLB - 6’2" 225 lbs Perry is also a 2-way player and does a ton of things for this team. At TE, they use him in a multitude of different ways. They use him like a true TE which is nice to see. He’ll be on the ball and block. He’ll be off the ball and block. He’ll be the crack block at times, the lead block other times, or better yet, slip out for a route when they least expect it. They bore you to death with Perry and then right when you’re assuming he’s blocking again, he fakes the block and will run a route. More often than not, he pops wide open. He’s a spectacular athlete so when he gets the ball in his hands he’s a problem for the defense. At LB, he trusts what he sees and knows where the gaps are typically going to form. His history of offense is probably what helps him see the field the way he does. He doesn’t miss very many tackles and is able to bring down his guy. He’s got a nice frame and just starting to grow into it. Perry is explosive enough and plays hard enough that some schools have already taken some interest in him. My guess is by the time he graduates, he’ll have offers on both sides of the ball and he’ll be able to pick which side he wants moving forward. [player_tooltip player_id="107279" first="Deejay" last="Mcferson"] - Speedway - RB/OLB - 5’11" 170 lbs We’ve looked at a handful of explosive recruits today, but Mcferson may very well be the most explosive one yet. At RB, he’s pretty good. He runs very physical and is able to take a hit. Some defenders bounce right off of him. Mcferson always keeps his feet churning and sometimes is able to burst through the hole. He has great speed and once he hits the open field, he’s gone. He’s got decent vision and is able to create yards when there isn’t a hole. He’s quick with his feet and is able to jump-cut deep in the trenches and come out on the other side. There are times they will line him up out in the slot and run routes. They aren’t afraid to throw to him either. If he gets open, the ball is coming his way and he’ll make the catch. On defense, he’s explosive while shooting through gaps, and will make the play. He’s able to bullrush some linemen and blow them back and then hit the QB. Once he’s in the backfield, the QB isn’t going to outrun him and Mcferson is getting the sack. There is a lot to like with Mcferson and what he can bring to a team at the next level once he gets up to speed. By the time he graduates, he’ll probably have a plethora of offers from both sides of the ball and he’ll pick the best fit for him.