PRZ Iowa | 2024 Rankings Update | Top Pass Catchers
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There are plenty of top notch pass catchers for Quarterbacks to find across football fields in Iowa’s class of 2024: shifty slots, vertical outside threats, and everything in between are already making an impact at the Varsity level across the…
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Continue ReadingThere are plenty of top notch pass catchers for Quarterbacks to find across football fields in Iowa’s class of 2024: shifty slots, vertical outside threats, and everything in between are already making an impact at the Varsity level across the state. Learn about some of the top receiving threats that are sure to be torching secondaries for the next two years.
TE1 Brady McDonald Brady McDonald 6'3" | 210 lbs | TE Independence | 2024 State IA , 6’3″ / 210, Independence, hudl, Twitter
McDonald, who impressed as a Freshman and is the number 1 ranked Tight End, showed off plenty of development as a Sophomore. He caught 31 passes for 467 yards and 7 touchdowns. What has always stood out is his elite body control and mobility. What became more evident in year two was his physical strength throughout routes. McDonald uses his size and power to overwhelm defenders, especially smaller Corners and Safeties. On one such play, on a slightly underthrown ball, McDonald went into and over the body of his opponent, caught the ball with arms fully outstretched, and tapped both feet down in the back of the end zone.
TE2 Abram Edwards Abram Edwards 6'5" | 215 lbs | TE Winfield-Mt Union | 2024 State IA , 6’4″ / 185, Winfield-Mt Union, hudl, Twitter
Abrams is an excellent illustration of how low post basketball players make excellent Tight Ends. The way he gets to the rim and finishes is a clear parallel to how he goes up and makes tough, gritty receptions. Edwards caught 28 passes for 586 yards and 9 touchdowns in his Sophomore campaign. He comes in at number 2 in the Tight End rankings. What stands out, just like on the court, is how he uses his size to outleverage opponents, keeps them away from the ball, and leaps to make plays at heights others just can’t get to. Edwards is also a very nimble route runner and can line up across formations to create mismatches.
WR3 Brody Cullin Brody Cullin 5'8" | 145 lbs | WR Shenandoah | 2024 State IA , 5’8″ / 145, Shenandoah, hudl, Twitter
Cullin, the number 3 Receiver in the class of 2024, is coming off a breakout season in which he showed off plenty of chemistry with his fellow Sophomore Quarterback. Cullin caught 27 passes for 549 yards and 5 touchdowns; the pair should be lighting up the scoreboard and filling up the stat sheet in the coming years. What already stands out as a major strength is how polished of a route runner Cullin is. He knows exactly when to time his breaks to create a ton of separation and get open. Any route that gets him in between underneath and deep zones is dangerous. Cullin blasts out of his stance and slams on the brakes to change directions.
TE3 Keaton Roskop, 6’3″ / 215, Linn-Mar, hudl, Twitter
Roskop, an outstanding two-way player for the Lions, has shown off elite levels of athletic ability and figures to assume a big role in the Linn-Mar offense moving forward as their top receivers from this year graduated. Roskop is the number 3 Tight End in the class. What is obvious right away is the physicality he blocks and runs routes with. It is rare to have a Tight End that can match up with and actually move Defensive Linemen. As a receiver he is a big threat over the middle of the field and will certainly frustrate defenses there over the next two seasons. He fearlessly hauls passes in with defenders looming and delivering contact.
WR4 Kaiden Griffith Kaiden Griffith 6'0" | 155 lbs | WR Marion | 2024 State IA , 6’0″ / 155, Marion, hudl, Twitter
Griffith caught 26 passes for 361 yards and 3 touchdowns as a Sophomore; the number 4 Wide Receiver is an integral piece of a young corps of offensive weapons that could help the Wolves rebound next year. Griffith is a threat on the outside at his height and with his speed. He takes the top off of coverage and uses that skill to get coverage backed off and run routes that have him breaking back to the ball. Whatever the route is, Griffith is an expert along the sideline. There are several plays in his highlights where he taps his feet down before going out of bounds or plants his foot in the ground right before he goes out to get back into space.
TE4 Carson Bruhn Carson Bruhn 6'5" | 210 lbs | TE Sioux Center | 2024 State IA , 6’5″ / 210, Sioux Center, hudl, Twitter
Bruhn comes in as the number 4 Tight End in the class of 2024 and is a name to keep an eye on. With his frame and skill set Bruhn has the potential to become one of Iowa’s next in line of some very impressive Tight Ends to enter the college ranks. He moves very well and, at his size, is virtually always open; he has plenty of snaps on his highlights where he makes catches in traffic with defenders hanging on him. He is also an excellent blocker and, if he continues to grow, it would be easy to see him kick inside to Tackle at the next level. Bruhn is quite skilled in the trenches. For now, though, his excellent hands make him a big time weapon.
WR5 Keilor Rodman Keilor Rodman 5'10" | 155 lbs | WR Norwalk | 2024 State IA , 5’10” / 155, Norwalk, hudl, Twitter
Norwalk, when healthy, is capable of offensive fireworks; they boast one of the state’s top receiving trios and Rodman’s skill set is a terrific compliment to what his team likes to do through the air. The number 5 Wide Receiver in his class caught 23 passes for 350 yards and a touchdown last season. Rodman has such quick feet and makes it very difficult for opponents to run and stick with him in coverage. His highlights feature a big variety of routes and he runs each of them at a high level. Rodman impresses most, though, when changing direction. He has a knack for baiting opponents, cutting, and leaving their heads spinning.
TE5 Chase Schutty Chase Schutty 6'5" | 210 lbs | TE Ankeny Centennial | 2024 State IA , 6’5” / 195, Ankeny Centennial, hudl, Twitter
The Jaguars have some impressive young players coming back next season and Schutty is among them. He comes in at number 5 in the position rankings after a season where he caught 5 passes for 139 yards and showed off a ton of upside that could blossom into big time play over the next couple seasons. What stands out most right now, and how young guys often earn playing time, is the effort and skill he puts into blocking. He is relentless outside, in the box, and downfield; those efforts will certainly be rewarded with a high volume of targets moving forward. As a receiver he has strong hands and those long strides get him open in a hurry.
WR6 Josh Raviln Josh Raviln 5'9" | 140 lbs | WR Underwood | 2024 State IA , 5’9″ / 140, Underwood, hudl, Twitter
Ravlin was one of six Eagles receivers to finish the year with double digit catches and at least 200 yards receiving; the way they spread the ball around is very impressive. He comes in at number 6 in the Receiver rankings after showing how much value he has in the quick game. He is skilled after the catch and great at manufacturing yards. Hitting Ravlin on something like a slant, whip, or arrow could result in a big gain because he can make so many moves in the open field. Ravlin has also shown he can make tough catches. He came down with a pass his Quarterback threw up for grabs while under pressure over a much larger defender.
WR7 Reed Pfaltzgraff Reed Pfaltzgraff 6'3" | 165 lbs | WR Bondurant-Farrar | 2024 IA , 6’3” / 155, Bondurant-Farrar, hudl, Twitter
There are going to be plenty of targets up for grabs in the Bluejays passing game next year and Pfaltzgraff looks primed to grab a heavy share of them. He caught 10 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown as a Sophomore, landing him in the Wide Receiver rankings at number 7, and showed off the kind of ability that makes him a candidate to keep eyes on for a breakout season in the fall. Pfaltzgraff’s speed makes him dangerous and it is that ability to threaten vertically and get behind coverage that really stands out now. He caught a 42 yard touchdown pass on a skinny post against Winterset; he split two deep defenders in the process.