PRZ Iowa | 2023 Rankings | Winter Update | Pass Catchers

There is a lot of high-end talent to be found among the crop of Wide Receivers and Tight Ends in Iowa’s class of 2023. These pass catchers were torching secondaries and terrorizing coverage this fall. Take a look at some of the new names that joined the rankings and some familiar names that moved up within them following a successful season. Newcomers WR3 [player_tooltip player_id="232229" first="Will" last="Orness"], Humboldt, 6’1 170, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13430290/619457ed2351f20e90aaea85">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/OrnessWill">Twitter</a> Nobody in 3A football caught more passes last year than [player_tooltip player_id="232229" first="Will" last="Orness"] and it wasn’t close; he hauled in 73 balls for 1,205 yards and 15 touchdowns. He capitalized on all of those targets and displayed some incredible playmaking ability in the process. Orness joins the Wide Receiver rankings at number 3. Something that is immediately clear is how well he attacks Defensive Backs and gets behind coverage. Even when teams game planned and anticipated Orness’ vertical skills and backed off in alignment to try and stay over the top, he would still burn them. He is so fast off the line of scrimmage and was on opponents before they could even fully get in their back pedal. Another trait that makes Orness a special receiver is how he can go up and get the ball on contested passes. Throw it up, he’ll come down with it. WR5 [player_tooltip player_id="247556" first="Drew" last="Kingery"], Indianola, 6’4 185, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/13328380/Drew-Kingery">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/_drewkingery_">Twitter</a> Kingery, also a star on the basketball court, showed off many of the skills that make him such a talented hooper this fall on the football field and they couldn’t have translated better to playing Wide Receiver. He quickly became one of the top outside threats in the state and wrapped up his Junior year with 55 catches for 952 yards and 14 touchdowns. Kingery joins the rankings as the number 5 Wide Receiver in the class of 2023. Something Kingery does an excellent job of is using his big frame to keep defenders away from the ball. He is great at adjusting speed within routes and repositioning himself once the ball is thrown so only he can make a play on it. Top outside targets need to know how to operate on the sideline vertically and underneath; Kingery excels at both. He is just as dangerous on a curl as he is a fade. WR6 [player_tooltip player_id="224282" first="Cooper" last="Nicholson"], Dowling Catholic, 5’10 180, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12898661/61889ed223477f031c5bacba">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Coop_Nicholson2">Twitter</a> Nicholson absolutely went off once Dowling got healthy and their Quarterback returned to the lineup. Do not sleep on him heading into next season; all signs point to him having a monster year. More than half of his production, 43 receptions, 726 yards, and 9 touchdowns, came in Dowling’s last four games. Anticipate Nicholson to pick up right where he left off; he joins the rankings at number 6. Nicholson is a skilled route runner. The way he gets in and out of breaks, incorporates subtle moves and fakes to confuse coverage, and attacks soft spots in zones is evidence of someone who has a firm grasp on the position. Something else that jumps out on film is how tough he is. He will battle off the line and through routes, make catches through contact, and earn yards the hard way after the catch. WR12 [player_tooltip player_id="247560" first="Braeden" last="Carlson"], Norwalk, 6’4 180, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GQgE4">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/braedencarlson4">Twitter</a> Carlson, part of one of the best Wide Receiver trios in the state, really stood out this fall as an outside threat. He, his counterparts, and his Quarterback will all return next year and all signs are pointing to a huge upcoming season. He had 42 receptions for 640 yards and 7 touchdowns in just 8 games and finds himself in the position rankings at number 12. The way his teammates draw coverage away from him and the way his Quarterback can get him the ball, on top of his impressive skill set, is hard to stop. Carlson is excellent within his first few steps of the snap as he releases into routes against pressed or backed off coverage. He gets plenty of separation and has very strong hands. Carlson made one of the best catches of the year going up over two defenders on the sideline and getting both feet down in bounds. TE5 [player_tooltip player_id="247610" first="Jacob" last="Birch"], Harlan, 6’2 200, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14956276/619c45e3da50fb017c7bd251">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/JacobBirch8124">Twitter</a> State champion Harlan was virtually impossible to defend in the 2020-21 season; then they added [player_tooltip player_id="247610" first="Jacob" last="Birch"] to the mix, on top of returning their star cast, and became literally impossible to defend this season on their way to capturing the 3A title. He caught 52 passes for 723 yards and 7 touchdowns, gave the Cyclones even more versatility on offense, and made huge contributions when it mattered most at the dome. Birch now finds himself as the 5th ranked Tight End. He is so strong at the point of making a catch and makes a lot of plays that others can’t or aren’t willing to make. Because of this, he doesn’t need a ton of separation, just a step or a little bit of space. Defenders just can’t match his physicality in routes and keep him from the ball. Birch earns his targets by being one of the best open field blockers around. Stock Risers WR1 [player_tooltip player_id="104750" first="Kai" last="Black"], Urbandale, 6’4 205, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GJEGa">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Kai_Black23">Twitter</a> Black takes over as the number 1 ranked Wide Receiver in Iowa’s class of 2023. His combination of size and skill is unparalleled, he can run routes as well as anyone between the twenties and is a red zone matchup nightmare, and it could not be more clear than it is in his body control and movement patterns that he is going to excel at the division 1 level. Black finished the year with 54 catches, 888 yards, and 10 touchdowns. His target share should only increase as a Senior and it is exciting to think about what he’ll be able to showcase with another offseason of development under his belt. Black looks like he reaches top speed within just a few steps and his strides are so smooth; matching his route and sticking with him would require elite athleticism. Black makes every pass look like it was right on the money. TE2 [player_tooltip player_id="104754" first="Max" last="Weaton"], Fairfield, 6’6 205, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GCQhF">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/MaxwellWeaton">Twitter</a> Weaton is starting to look like the blueprint of a modern Tight End: he has size that can’t be defended, athleticism to run routes like a receiver, and the physicality to block and make catches in high traffic areas of the field. The way Weaton is developing, paired with his measurables and natural ability, moves him up to number 2 in the Tight End rankings. Something that you really love to see in a young Tight End is how they use their size to their advantage in the first five yards of their routes. Weaton throws his weight around and it’s just too much for opponents to handle while trying to maintain coverage responsibilities. You also love to see how coordinated he is when he splits out to give smaller Defensive Backs fits on the outside. The way he can line up and lock onto a block is just as impressive. TE3 [player_tooltip player_id="104763" first="Carson" last="Rhodes"], Nevada, 6’7 240, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13256161/617a1ee7bee0f606c477fd48">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/carsonrhodes21">Twitter</a> Tight End [player_tooltip player_id="104763" first="Carson" last="Rhodes"], an all-state selection and tower of a human being, is starting to see his recruitment take off to no surprise. His potential, much like his frame and wingspan, is enormous. Rhodes caught just 11 passes for 121 yards and 3 touchdowns this season, but Nevada is a run heavy team and the evidence he put on film suggests he is capable of a very high workload and a ton of production. Something Rhodes does exceptionally well is adjust to the ball while on the move. The way he uses his reach and big hands to stretch out and snatch balls thrown over his head or away from defenders is a big asset and not many young players that are his size have the athleticism to react as quickly as he does. Rhodes has a physical style of play and checks all the boxes; he’ll go on to play at a very high level. TE4 [player_tooltip player_id="152765" first="Vince" last="Benetti"], ADM, 6’4 220, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12422062/Vince-Benetti/highlights">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/vincebenetti">Twitter</a> Benetti, an outstanding two-way player at Defensive End and Tight End, could realistically play either position at the next level. He moves up to number 4 in the Tight End rankings and what he has put on film suggests he has a very bright future at the position if that is the path he chooses. Benetti is a mauler of a blocker, in space and at the line of scrimmage, and has a ton of finesse and high-end receiving ability in the passing game. On one of Benetti’s 4 touchdowns this season he lined up as a single receiver in the boundary. He ran a fade to the corner of the end zone and, with a Defensive Back hanging on him, made a one handed catch while throttling down to get both feet in bounds. Benetti has also shown he can be dangerous after the catch, scoring on a Tight End middle screen. He is a gifted athlete and well-rounded player. WR9 [player_tooltip player_id="104720" first="Lucci" last="Fidone"], Lewis Central, 5’6 150, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13748152/61bda7527bd33303e0aa1b3d">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/FidoneLucci">Twitter</a> Fidone, a state champion and one of Iowa’s more overlooked weapons, plays like a giant and is not someone who can be discredited because of his size. He has an abundance of talent and ability that makes measurables irrelevant. Fidone bumps up to number 9 in the rankings after a 51 catch, 740 yard, 11 touchdown season that was good for the third best all-time in Lewis Central history. Fidone is twitchy and electric. The way he gets in and out of breaks is so hard to pick up in coverage and extremely difficult to tackle in the open field. His elusive movements and ways he changes direction jumps out right away on film. Fidone can also stretch a field with his speed. The way he bolts into deep zones and by defenders and then drifts to the sideline or takes angles into the middle of the field creates so much separation.