Five 2023 Multi-Role Players to Watch this Fall
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High school football is full of players who are able to fill multiple roles for their teams, some of whom rarely come off of the field. Many athletes are able to move around to different positions as offensive or defensive…
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Continue ReadingHigh school football is full of players who are able to fill multiple roles for their teams, some of whom rarely come off of the field.
Many athletes are able to move around to different positions as offensive or defensive players, while others are able to play on offense and defense. Below are five players who fill multiple roles on both sides of the ball, all of whom are worthy of more time underneath the spotlight.
KJ Smedley KJ Smedley 6'2" | 180 lbs | DB Palmer Ridge | 2023 State CO | Palmer Ridge | 6’2”, 185lbs | FS/DB/WR
Smedley is a player who is on the verge of blowing up as a recruit. He is the type of athlete who dominates as a receiver and as a defensive back. His understanding of leverage and spacing are mixed perfectly with his knowledge of route concepts. He has smooth backpedals, fluid transitions, and explosive breaks that help him lock down receivers and disrupt passes.
As a receiver, Smedley is just as physical as he is on defense. He pushes up the field with powerful strides and catches passes away from his body. Smedley, the number one-ranked athlete per Prep Redzone Colorado, has garnered a lot of attention from some notable programs and is expected to be a top recruit in the state.
CaiReis Curby CaiReis Curby ATH Aurora Central | 2023 State CO | Aurora Central | 6’1”, 175lbs | RB/WR/DB
Curby is a phenomenal athlete who is an outstanding playmaker, especially when on offense. He finished his junior season with a total of 1,632 rushing yards (8th in the state) and ranked sixth in PRZ CO’s 2023 running backs list. He can line up as a receiver from any position and use his explosive speed and route running abilities to expose secondaries while attacking the ball in the air and coming down with contested catches. Defensively, Curby adds a lot of speed and physicality to the secondary. He is still a bit under the radar, but expect that to change during his upcoming senior season.
Mason Lowe | Chatfield | 5’10”, 170lbs | RB/WR/FS
Lowe is an athlete who possesses next-level speed and breathtaking elusiveness as a ball carrier. He is a running back with excellent vision who can maneuver between the tackles and use breakaway speed when he gets to the second level. His versatile set of skills makes him a dangerous option as a receiver in the passing game.
When on defense, Lowe uses his physical abilities and his high level of football intelligence to be a ball-hawking safety. PRZ CO’s third-ranked 2023 athlete is coming off of a 4A state title win and will be heading into his senior season under the spotlight.
Isacc Gomez Isacc Gomez WR Thornton | 2023 State CO | Thornton | 6’0”, 150lbs | WR/DB/KR
Gomez is a dangerous athlete who can beat secondaries as a receiver, torch coverage teams as a returner, and cover the field as a defensive back. He has elite speed that makes him a serious challenge for defenders to try and run with, which also helps him as a corner and safety. His releases are slippery and he is able to come out of his breaks on a dime. Gomez is an athlete who possesses the ability to make plays from any position on the field, making him a must-watch player heading into the fall.
Isaiah Eliot Isaiah Eliot 5'10" | 175 lbs | QB The Academy | 2023 State CO | The Academy | RB/QB/WR/DB
Eliot is a well-rounded athlete with great speed and excellent vision as a ball carrier. He can exploit creases within the defense and outrun defenders once at the second level. In addition to being a dangerous runner, Eliot also fills the role of quarterback for his team. He shows great awareness as a QB, especially when flushed out of the pocket.
He keeps his eyes downfield while extending plays before connecting with an open receiver or picking up the yards with his legs. Eliot is arguably the biggest sleeper on this list, making him a must-watch this fall.