PRZ Iowa | C/O 2022 Rankings | December Update

Some newcomers emerged and some existing ranked players saw their stock rise through outstanding and substantial play this fall. Take a look below to see where they landed in the 2022 position rankings update and find out what makes them so good at their craft. These Wide Receivers had big Senior campaigns that should lead to plenty of opportunity at the next level. There is an abundance of talent and potential to be found on this list, which is arguably the deepest position group to be found in Iowa’s class of 2022. Newcomers WR6 [player_tooltip player_id="243187" first="Jakob" last="Nelson"], 6’3 200, North Scott, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11316665/61814af9bd74ae0cc0997550">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/JakobNelson7">Twitter</a> Nelson is one of the most complete Receivers in the state. From the way he erupts out of his stance and into routes, to the way he blocks, to the way he bodies up defenders and makes difficult catches; there aren’t many around who can do everything he does at the level he does it. Nelson finished with 56 catches for 826 yards and 15 touchdowns. His big play ability and red zone prowess land him at number 6 in the Wide Receiver rankings. What might be most impressive about his game is how trusted of a target he can be on contested throws. Nelson is going to come down with the ball. On one of Nelson’s scores this year the Corner who carried him deep thought he was going to have an easy play on the ball, but Nelson went up and managed to tip the ball to himself to take it in for six. WR24 [player_tooltip player_id="243194" first="Caleb" last="Kats"], 6’0 170, Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13867941/619ec9aa9680fb0ac0aa215e">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/kats_caleb">Twitter</a> Kats, who took snaps for the Nighthawks a year ago as a Junior, made the transition to Wide Receiver this year and did so seamlessly. The speedy outside threat appeared to apply his knowledge of coverage acquired from playing Quarterback to route running and made a habit of getting lost in zones and finding himself wide open. Add his precise footwork and elite body control to the equation and you have yourself a very dangerous player. Kats comes in at number 24 in the rankings and had 45 receptions for 754 yards and 10 touchdowns. What stands out most is how easy he makes it look to shift gears throughout his pattern to get open. Kats can play at a lot of different speeds and it is all very clearly purposeful. His ability to diagnose and attack his route accordingly is impressive. WR25 [player_tooltip player_id="243193" first="Tyler" last="Schenkelberg"], 5’11 165, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11420284/61a5353f6899490bb4f1102c">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/TylerSchenkelb1">Twitter</a> First team all-state Wide Receiver and Warriors’ single season record holder for receiving yards, [player_tooltip player_id="243193" first="Tyler" last="Schenkelberg"], brought an unparalleled level of athleticism to the position this season. He hauled in a very impressive 54 passes for 938 yards and 8 touchdowns. The way he did it impressed even more so. The amount of times Schenkelberg put it all on the line by laying out or getting fully extended, with coverage all around, to come down with the ball put him at 25 in the rankings. He made plays on passes that other players would give up on or would be too afraid to go for. Effort like what Schenkelberg puts forth can give a Quarterback a lot of confidence. He caught one with his fingertips, fully stretched out, about 30 yards down field on a vertical route against Harlan. It just became routine for him. WR28 [player_tooltip player_id="243184" first="Luke" last="Odefey"], 5’10 180, Dubuque Hempstead, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GBZYE">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/odefey_luke">Twitter</a> Odefey, one of Iowa’s top Slots, showed a high level of skill and a copious amount of toughness operating in high traffic areas of the field this year. His willingness to attack the middle of the field and underneath zones, and the amount of success he had doing it, put him at number 28 in the very deep Wide Receiver rankings. Odefey caught 44 passes for 686 yards and 6 touchdowns this fall. The way he could split coverage and find a pocket of space between defenders to give his Quarterback a throwing lane stands out on film. What also stands out is how often he made catches through or into contact. The focus and concentration required to make a lot of the catches that Odefey did isn’t a commonly possessed trait. Odefey has what it takes to be effective in the same role at the next level. WR30 [player_tooltip player_id="243192" first="Tre" last="Fisher"], 6’0 155, Southeast Valley, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GW3mW">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Fisher2Tre">Twitter</a> State champion and Upper Iowa commit, [player_tooltip player_id="243192" first="Tre" last="Fisher"], caught 43 passes for 984 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season. His ability to stretch the field and take the top off of a defense gave the Jaguars a dimension that made them especially dangerous. Fisher comes in at number 30 in the Wide Receiver rankings. The first thing that jumps out about Fisher’s game is his versatility. He is just as dynamic and as big of a threat taking a bubble from the slot as he is lining up outside and bursting into a vertical route. Fisher has the kind of skill set that makes it possible to line him up across formations to create matchup problems for opponents. He has plenty of game breaking speed, but also knows how to manipulate defenders and get them out of position as he flies by them so they can’t recover. Stockrisers WR1 [player_tooltip player_id="99142" first="Connor" last="Frame"], 6’2 190, Harlan, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Ge9aQ">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/connorframe11">Twitter</a> Frame, coming off a monster season that saw him catch 50 passes for 1,076 yards and 22 touchdowns, overtakes the number 1 spot in the Wide Receiver rankings. In Frame’s career as a Cyclones Wide Receiver he totaled 104 receptions, 2,241 yards, and 36 scores. His off the charts production helped Harlan achieve an undefeated season and capture the program’s 13th state championship. The way Frame battled defenders in man coverage and explosively attacked zones made him virtually always open. His Quarterback could trust that if he threw it to a spot Frame was going to get to the ball and come down with it. There is a physicality present in his route running that must be intimidating to Defensive Backs. From the start of a play to its end, Frame simply makes it clear he belongs atop the list. WR7 [player_tooltip player_id="23972" first="Caeden" last="Da Silva"], 6’3 190, Nevada, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/12950269/Caedan-DaSilva/highlights">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/caeden_da">Twitter</a> Da Silva climbs up to the number 7 spot in the Wide Receiver rankings after a highly impressive season where he caught 33 passes for 700 yards and 8 touchdowns in the run-heavy Nevada offense. Some statistics worth highlighting that make his year that much more impressive are: the Cubs ran the ball 76% of the time, Da Silva accounted for 46% of his team’s receptions, and one out of every nine Nevada completions went for a Da Silva touchdown. There might not be another Wide Receiver in Iowa who was able to maximize targets and opportunities the way Da Silva did. The physical ability that emerged once he got the ball in his hands is what stands out the most about his game. His yards after the catch were full of toughness, highly athletic moves, and a ton of breakaway speed. WR8 [player_tooltip player_id="148730" first="Jacob" last="Heier"], 6’3 170, Humboldt, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11581787/619ecb9bbee1200af8368007">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/jacobheier16">Twitter</a> A couple of things really jump out on Heier’s film that moved him up to the number 8 spot in the Wide Receiver rankings. The first is how, whether on a deep route or in the red zone, he can go up and get it with perfect timing and explosive leaping ability. On one of his touchdowns he outjumped his opponent, high pointed the ball, came down with it, pivoted around the defender, and tightroped the sideline into the end zone. The second is Heier became a master of improvising when plays broke down to get lost in coverage or make slight, subtle adjustments to his routes to get open. He took a few steps towards the sideline after breaking on a curl to make a defender whiff and run it in. Both developments in his game led to 42 receptions for 821 yards and 12 touchdowns. WR11 [player_tooltip player_id="148732" first="Cole" last="Filloon"], 6’2 200, Southeast Polk, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/10061871/619b19baa676c80e9c59bc63">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Cole_Filloon">Twitter</a> The emergence of Filloon in the Southeast Polk offense and his ability to stretch the field was a key ingredient and necessary piece in the Rams getting over the hump and winning the first ever 5A state championship. His Senior season success, 40 catches for 870 yards and 13 touchdowns, has led to a surge in recruitment and next level opportunities that includes a recent PWO from the Hawkeyes. Filloon didn’t just make big plays, he made them when it mattered most and showed the state that he has that clutch gene very few possess. One of those moments came against Dowling when he hauled in a touchdown pass between a cover 2 Safety and Corner and later took a vertical route 80 yards to the house. His efforts proved to be the difference in that contest. Filloon got the job done this year. WR26 [player_tooltip player_id="148742" first="Sal" last="Capaldo"], 5’11 160, North Polk, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GB4B5">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/CapaldoSal">Twitter</a> Capaldo is one of the twitchiest, most agile, and hardest to stick to Wide Receivers in the state. He managed to put together a 50 reception, 830 yard, and 8 touchdown season and is certainly one of Iowa’s more under recruited players on the scene. Capaldo jumps up to number 26 in the Wide Receiver rankings and is someone who could have an even higher ceiling than the film and statistics show. The way he moves and operates in shallow zones is top notch and suggests he probably could have handled a higher volume of targets. Capaldo could do some very real damage at the next level. Something about his game that really stands out is how he positions himself at the point of securing a catch to be able to extend plays after it. Capaldo consistently wins matchups against larger opponents, too.