Indiana 2023 Gems to Watch

We’re looking at a handful of recruits in the 2023 class who could develop into really nice players at the next level and become gems for their future programs. Alec Lawson - Decatur Central - DE - 6’3" 200 lbs Lawson is a very intriguing prospect because he’s such a good athlete that he’s probably going to be able to play both DE and OLB at the next level. Decatur Central lines him up on both sides of the ball just to keep him moving so the offense can’t key in on him. There are times they have him drop back and coverage and he’s successful because of the athleticism he has. He’s athletic enough to cover just about any TE and most RBs at the HS level. My anticipation is that when he gets to college he’s going to become a true DE and never leave the edge again. I say that because that is where Lawson is at his best. He’s got a fantastic get-off when he has his hand in the dirt. When he’s on the line he only comes off the edge and has 2 moves he likes to move. Both are successful and he has a ton of success, but you can tell he’s still fairly raw rushing the passer. There are times he’s moving so fast he gets a little out of control which can cause him to miss a play here and there. Again, a very minor thing that I expect to be coached up over the next few years. He’s able to fight through most double teams and split the gap when they double up on him. He doesn’t have the strongest upper body right now but as he continues to bulk up you can expect that to change. Lawson is a very dynamic, yet still raw player whose upside is as high as he wants it to be. If he gets into the right program and works on his craft, Lawson could very well be a game-changer in college as well. [player_tooltip player_id="107080" first="Jaron" last="Tibbs"] - Cathedral - WR - 6’4" 190 lbs Tibbs has a frame alone that could get colleges excited. He’s heading into his senior year and it’s very clear that Tibbs spends a ton of time in the gym and you could argue his body is already ready for the college game. For his size, Tibbs runs very fluid routes and doesn’t waste a ton of movement regularly. I do think there are certain routes where Tibbs comes out of his breaks a little stiff but that really feels nitpicky. He’s someone where if you throw the ball up to him he’s going to come down with it. Tibbs after the catch is arguably just as good. He’s got fantastic speed and is able to break long runs as well. He’s able to break some tackles and make a safety miss if it’s a 1 on 1 down the field but it’s not his best trait. He runs a very pretty slant that gets him open just about every time he runs it as well. The slant for him is baked into the offense similarly to Michael Thomas down in New Orleans. Tibbs is able to win at the line, flip his hips, and put his hands out for the ball. Tibbs is also willing to go over the middle and take a shot. He always bounces right back up and is ready for the next down. Right now, Tibbs does a lot of things really well and is only going to get better. At the WR position, he’s as exciting as it gets in the 2023 class. He has a huge frame, is a great athlete, and his ball skills came naturally. I’m very excited to see where he ends up in college and how far he can go. Da’Shon Stewart - Evansville Central - DE - 6’2" 219 lbs Stewart is a really fun prospect because right now he’s like play-doh. He’s fairly raw but is athletic enough, and intelligent enough on the field, that he could play really any position on the line or even at LB. I think if a college is going to go the LB route he would develop for a few years before starting but he’d turn into a nice LB. My anticipation is that he will stay on the line and bounce around. Coming off the edge, he’s got a fairly quick release and is able to get downfield rather fast. He also is able to split some double-team blocks that come his way. If he doesn’t completely make it through a double-team, he’s able to fight through it enough to redirect the play. The stance he uses while on the line is a little unorthodox but it’s just something minor that a college position coach will clean up. I would also like to see a good summer of weight lifting in his summer plans because it would really help him begin to dominate. In college, I see Stewart developing into a solid player and making an impact but it may not always show up in the stat sheet. He’s raw but very exciting and over the next 2 years, his development in HS is going to be key for his college landing spot. If he’s able to continue developing and put everything together, Stewart will have a plethora of schools to choose from. [player_tooltip player_id="195405" first="Chris" last="Graham"] - Rock Creek Academy - RB - 5’10" 190 lbs Graham is labeled as the starting RB but the reality is he’s more than that. He’s a weapon they use all over the field. Yes, at RB he’s got fantastic vision and an extremely explosive first burst but he’s just as dangerous lining up in the slot. Graham knows how to be patient and let his blocks be set up and he knows when to just hit the gas and go. He also knows when to set up a defender into a block and then kick it back to the opposite side of the gap that the defender picked. Graham likes to get North and South immediately and doesn’t waste much time or effort going East and West. If he does have to go East and West, he usually has the speed to get to the edge and turn the corner. I do think Graham could bulk up a little bit more over the next 2 years. Right now, he’s a bit more slender than you would like at the collegiate level. However, for a guy his size, Graham has fantastic contact balance and very rarely loses his balance. His center of gravity is also very good and is able to stay upright sometimes after taking a big shot. I wouldn’t be surprised if some colleges want to move him to the slot permanently. Graham is a very smart player and typically is able to find the open zone and get open. He’s very shifty and agile which is what you love in a good slot WR. Graham is a very sound football player who is going to be a playmaker at the next level. It’s likely that he’s going to end up with offers at both RB and WR. He’ll probably be able to pick what direction he goes and how far he goes is up to how hard he works.