The Most Slept on Playmakers in the Centennial State

Welcome back for another edition of Prep Redzone Colorado football, your premier high school coverage! As each year passes, a senior class graduates and moves on to their next endeavor within the game of life. With every departing talent comes a new wave of intriguing prospects working on their craft and doing whatever they can to put themselves on the map. Each student athlete dreams of getting recruited, hoping that even just one university rolls the dice on them. Of course, there are select athletes who defy the norm and transform themselves into hot commodities around the nation, but for the most part, a prospect has to embrace the grind of getting noticed on a collegiate level. More often than not, there are a handful of playmakers who slip through the cracks and go unnoticed. However, whenever that diamond in the rough is found, a gold mine usually follows. All of the top ranked players are usually able to get appropriate coverage because of their added publicity, but the same cannot be said about the overlooked players who put up incredible statistics and contain that same raw talent. It is about time to give credit where it is due. Introducing the most slept on playmakers in the beautiful Centennial state! &nbsp; <strong>WR [player_tooltip player_id="22764" first="Brandon" last="Hills"] 5’9" 150 Jr. Vista Ridge </strong> <strong>2021 Stats: 69 REC, 1,069 Yards, 15.5 AVG, 13 TD’s </strong> At first glance, Mr. Hills’ receiving numbers tell the story of a highly touted wideout with multiple offers to boot. Shockingly, Hills has yet to receive an official offer from a school. This is something that is hard to believe, considering Hills managed to reel in a touchdown catch in every single game that he suited up for in 2021. Not to mention, these scores don’t even include his ability in the special teams department, returning a pair of TD’s on kick and punt returns. Despite being ranked the #3 overall WR within the class of 2023, Hills is a victim of thievery, and with a strong senior season in 2022, it is near impossible that he won’t find a way to catch the eye of talent evaluators. The 5’9" 150 pound wideout is as slippery as a snake, showcasing excellent footwork in his route tree that will translate to the next level. Do not be alarmed if Hills ups his game once again, and somehow finds a way to shatter his 1,069 yard mark with partner in crime QB [player_tooltip player_id="22744" first="Brayden" last="Dorman"] returning as the primary signal caller. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/8807499/6147ded30c5e660be46e7bc5" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe> &nbsp; <strong>QB [player_tooltip player_id="22746" first="Cole" last="Kerr"] 6’2" 180 Jr. Wiggins </strong> <strong>2021 Stats: Passing: 118/197, 2,120 Yards, 212.0 YPG, 27 TD’s, 12 INT’s </strong> <strong>  Rushing: 131 CAR, 1,129 Yards, 8.6 YPC, 112.9 YPG, 15 TD’s </strong> Who said that Class 1A football doesn’t deserve some recognition? Despite these smaller school populations within tinier towns, the amount of talent found in these areas can be quite plentiful. Enter [player_tooltip player_id="22746" first="Cole" last="Kerr"], a junior QB who was one of the better passers in Colorado. Despite playing for 1A Wiggins High School, Kerr made the most of his opportunities, constantly picking apart defenses at a feverish rate. Kerr excelled at displaying fundamentally sound footwork, which explains his spectacular  attribute to fit the pigskin into tight windows. Paired with a strong arm, even more impressive is his ability to get it done with his legs. Among other dual-threat field generals in Colorado, there is no question you can make the argument that Kerr belongs near the top of that list. https://twitter.com/ColeKerr9/status/1462454716772716546 &nbsp; <strong>RB [player_tooltip player_id="251267" first="Chevelle" last="Early"] 5’10" 180 Soph. Denver South </strong> <strong>2021 Stats: 149 CAR, 1,060 Yards, 7.1 AVG, 17 TD’s </strong> Bursting onto the scene in his first ever season of high school football, the Denver South product is a sleeper pick to be one of the best backs in all of Colorado. Showcasing tremendous speed and balance when the rock is tucked under his wing, Early has the vision to navigate holes within the offensive line and can bust it open into the secondary, often outrunning quick defensive backs on his way to the end zone. After an incredible rookie campaign that produced fantastic numbers, the Raven’s leader in rushing yards could breakout in 2022, something that might prove to be vital for a Denver South squad looking to make that next jump. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14745522/61d0c444066ba009d8e78db4" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe> &nbsp; <strong>WR [player_tooltip player_id="230322" first="Jordan" last="Rechel"] 5’10" 160 Fr. Fairview </strong> <strong>2021 Stats: 57 REC, 845 Yards, 14.8 YPC, 10 TD’s </strong> Rechel hands down might be the most gifted freshman pass catcher in the box state, but the Fairview wideout is willing to take it a step further. As the 2022 season draws closer day by day, Rechel is hungry to earn the title of best wide receiver in Colorado, and the Knights go-to man has all the intangibles to have that dream become a reality. Supplied with impeccable football IQ that helps him outsmart cover corners, Rechel then uses his freak athletic ability to run crisp routes and ensure that the opposition eats his dust. The cherry on top has to be the use of his strong hands to pinpoint the ball and complete the process of the catch, an attribute that is hard to come by in today’s day in age. Rechel is an all-around football player through and through, and the excitement around the state to watch him do this thing will be at an all-time high. https://twitter.com/RechelJordan/status/1455548675711651848 &nbsp; <strong>LB [player_tooltip player_id="232168" first="Carter" last="Daniels"] 5’10" 160 Fr. Mountain Vista </strong> <strong>2021 Stats: Defense: 106 Tackles, 8.8 TPG, 6.0 TFL </strong> <strong>Rushing: 65 CAR, 401 Yards, 6.2 AVG, 2 TD’s </strong> The do-it-all kid from Mountain Vista High is an absolute menace when he straps on the pads. Under the Friday night lights, Daniels was a jack of all trades in 2021, exhibiting his value to the squad by rushing, receiving, and swarming for tackles on the defensive side of the ball. Even more impressive, Daniels was playing in his first ever season as a freshman. There is a belief that his 2021 campaign is only scratching the surface of his flourishing potential. The feisty freshman led the Mountain Vista defense in total tackles and tackles per game, while also averaging 6.2 YPC on only 65 touches. Despite a down year for the Golden Eagles which resulted in a losing season, Daniels brings an exuberant amount of hope moving forward. <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16063054/61526def9a9b2f0344a3a7a6" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe> &nbsp; <strong>OL [player_tooltip player_id="143638" first="Wyatt" last="Bristow"] 6’2" 260 Soph. Legend </strong> <strong>2021 Stats: N/A</strong> One of the more intriguing hog mollies within the class of 2024, #74 in royal blue is a certified tank. With two years of eligibility remaining for the Parker product, Bristow has a chance to refine his game to the best of his abilities. Standing at 6’2" and weighing in at 260 pounds, Bristow is the definition of grit on the gridiron, with his large size and balanced base representing the perfect compliment in run and pass protection situations. Although the hefty lineman only stands at 6’2", his physical toughness as well as opposing defensive lineman might beg to differ on his official height. Heading into his Junior season, expect Bristow to be a powerful anchor on the line with the flexibility to play the guard and tackle positions. &nbsp; <strong>DB Gage Goodall 6’3" 185 Soph. Florence </strong> <strong>2021 Stats: 32 Tackles, 6 INT’s, 11 PD’s </strong> Another member of the 2024 graduating class is the lanky, instinctual defensive back from teeny Florence High School. With a population of 3,822 citizens residing in the cozy town, the Huskies football program was nothing but harsh to their opposition in 2021. Florence compiled a 9-2 record and went 2-1 in 1A Tri-Peaks league play by forcing turnovers, thus limiting scoring chances for offenses. Enter Mr. Goodall, who was a rather large contributing factor in that category. The skilled cover man recorded the most interceptions among his fellow huskies by reeling in a gargantuan six INT’s, demonstrating his knack to make a play on the ball. There are not many wideouts lined up across from Goodall who tower over him, making it easy for the sophomore to jam his man at the line of scrimmage and disrupt the timing of the route. Once the jamming has been complete, Goodall does an excellent job in keeping his hips square and his eyes on the lower half of the receiving player. Goodall has all of the proper techniques to be a bonafide playmaker in the secondary. Have I mentioned that he’s also not afraid to go up and get a jump ball on the receiving end of things? https://twitter.com/SeanRiceTV/status/1454291859929550849 &nbsp;