The Discovered Undiscovered & Risers: 23′ Breakdowns Pt. 5
Welcome to The Discovered, Undiscovered, and Risers article series. In this series, we’re going to be diving into player breakdowns varying across positions and with players that you should have on your radar heading into the fall season. These student…
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Continue ReadingWelcome to The Discovered, Undiscovered, and Risers article series. In this series, we’re going to be diving into player breakdowns varying across positions and with players that you should have on your radar heading into the fall season. These student athletes range across all of Illinois and across all levels (8A-1A). Without further ado, let’s dive into part five of our 23′ breakdowns.
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Keshawn Harrington-Mckinney Keshawn Harrington-Mckinney 6'3" | 285 lbs | DL Harlem | 2023 State IL Twitter
Mr. Harrington-Mckinney works out of a 3-4 defense as a nose tackle lining head up on the offensive center. In the first clip in his highlights, he works through the offensive center to get into the backfield generating pressure on the quarterback. This results in him flushing the quarterback out of the pocket before closing to secure the sack on the play. In the second clip in his highlights, he provides a glimpse of being able to take on the offensive lineman run block at the point of attack and making sure he doesn’t get too far upfield. This keeps him in a position to free himself up to secure the tackle at the line of scrimmage once the ball carrier goes to make a move. When the run is coming at him, he can shoot the gap using a swim move at the point of attack getting into the backfield to secure the tackle for loss. In another clip, he provides an insight into him being a two gap defender as he can clog up the middle closing running lanes on inside runs resulting in no gain on the play when doing so. Later on in his highlights, he provides further insight into his gap shooting ability as he can disengage and close on the ball carrier (inside the tackle box) at the line of scrimmage resulting in no gain on the play. Currently holds an offer from Howard University and Western Illinois University. Highlights
Hunter Hayes Hunter Hayes 5'10" | 200 lbs | DL Wilmington | 2023 State IL Twitter
Mr. Hayes works out of a 3-4 defense lining up as a 4i tech as well as a 7 tech, I could also see him being utilized as an OLB as well. The first clip in his highlights provides a glimpse of his ability to drive through the gap to pressure the quarterback. This flushes the quarterback out of the pocket and forces the quarterback to throw off balance as this young man was closing on him. Upon doing so, this resulted in an interception for this young man’s defense which gets returned for a touchdown. There’s a clip in his highlights where he isn’t going to get to the quarterback in time so he gets his hands up to deflect the ball at the line of scrimmage forcing an incomplete pass. There’s another clip in his highlights where he’s able to disengage the offensive tackle to free up and close quickly on the quarterback to secure the sack on the perimeter. When the run is going away from him, he can take backside pursuit flat down the line of scrimmage which puts him in a position to secure the tackle if the ball carrier tries to hit the cutback lane. This is exactly what happens as this young man meets the ball carrier at the line of scrimmage for no gain on the play. When the run is coming at him, he provides a glimpse of his ability to jolt the pulling offensive lineman at the point of attack and showcases his ability to free himself up to secure the tackle in the backfield. This young man also showcases his effort in his highlights in one clip in particular. In this clip, he’s able to avoid the cut block and work through traffic as he rallies to the ball to assist in securing the tackle. Currently holds no offers. Highlights
Ryan Hazelwood Ryan Hazelwood 5'9" | 170 lbs | RB Triad | 2023 State IL Twitter
Mr. Hazelwood is a wingback that provides insight into his foot quicks to get through the hole and showcases glimpses of being able to break long runs for touchdowns in his highlights. The first clip in his highlights provides an insight into his quickness of hitting the hole. In this clip, he goes in motion and secures the toss on power. Once he secures the ball he gets through the hole quickly and gets to his next level gear outrunning the second level defenders as he gets into the endzone for the touchdown. There’s another clip in his highlights where he’s patient allowing his blocks to get set up when running counter as he gets into the endzone for a touchdown as well. This provides an insight into his patience waiting for the hole to open up and is quick to hit it once it does as he utilizes his vision to find open space. There’s one clip in particular that stands out in this young man’s film. In this clip, he’s met in the backfield but is able to shrug off the defender before staying up after a second hit from another defender. He then regains his balance and lowers his shoulder on the third defender to fall forward as he plays through contact coming away with positive yards on the play. When he’s run blocking, he has a clip in his highlights where he gets inside hand placement and drive blocks the defender through the whistle. This young man is also used in the air attack when his offense decides to air it out. In the second clip in his highlights, he’s split out in the slot where he’s able to get behind the second level defenders in the back of the endzone and secures the catch for a touchdown. Currently holds no offers. Highlights
Matthew Allen Matthew Allen 6'7" | 220 lbs | TE Bradley Bourbonnais | 2023 State IL
Mr. Allen lined up as tight end this last season but with his good size and room to add to his frame, he could potentially get transitioned to the offensive line as he has high potential. This young man provides a glimpse of being able to turn his head around quickly to the quarterback once he’s out of stance to secure the catch in traffic during the quick game. He also showcases the foot quicks off the ball to chip the defensive end before getting to second level blocks. In the first clip in his highlights, he’s able to drive the defended down the line of scrimmage washing him down. This creates a hole for his running back which he hits and ends up breaking a long run. This young man can also block in open space. In this clip, he’s lined up as an H back and gets in open space where he seals the outside linebacker by getting inside hand placement and keeps his feet driving through the whistle driving the outside linebacker back 10+ yards downfield. In pass protection, this young man showcases glimpses of being able to get hands on the defensive end and seals the edge as the quarterback is rolling out to his side. This takes the rushing defensive end away from the play as he ties the defender up. There’s a clip in his highlights where he chips the defensive end before working up to the second level. Upon doing so, he’s able to stay over feet to maintain his block on the linebacker in the redzone which gives the ball carrier enough room to get in for the touchdown. Currently holds no offers. Highlights
Amari Head Amari Head RB St. Francis | 2023 State IL Twitter
Mr. Head is a speed back that’s a fast twitch type of player. He’s quick into and through the hole where he showcases his next level speed to take it the distance as he blows by the second level defenders. This young man also possesses the foot quicks to change direction in an instant and can make the first defender miss in open space. He gets vertical upon securing the handoff and uses his foot quicks to get through the line of scrimmage quickly. This young man waits for running lanes to open up in front of him before using quick cuts to hit the hole hard. There are clips in his highlights where he showcases just that before breaking long runs, if he doesn’t break a long run he can at least gain a step advantage on the second level defenders. In the second clip in his highlights, he’s stumbling on a broken play but is able to use his body control to regain his balance and turn the corner. Once he turns the corner, he uses a quick cut to get vertical and his foot quicks to hit his next level gear. Upon doing so, he blows by the second level defenders as he breaks a long run for the touchdown. There’s another clip in his highlights where it looks like he’ll get stopped for no gain along the perimeter as he tries to turn the corner. This young man keeps his feet driving and is able to break a weak arm tackle. He then breaks free gaining extra yards on the play and fights for extra yards before being brought down. This young man is also used in the air attack as well. There’s a clip in his highlights where he catches a swing route out of the backfield. Upon securing the catch, he gets vertical quickly along the sideline before weaving in/out of defenders by cutting across the middle of the field. This showcases his ability to take a short pass and turn it into a big gain on the play. Currently holds no offers. Highlights
Ricky Hearn Ricky Hearn 6'2" | 180 lbs | WR Peoria | 2023 State IL
Mr. Hearn is an outside receiver that has the foot quicks off the ball to close the cushion on the cornerback playing off coverage quickly. He uses his hand/eye coordination and body control to adjust to secure tough catches throughout his film. This young man also provided an insight into his foot quicks which he uses to get upfield after securing the catch and can run through weak arm tackles to gain yards after contact. In the second clip in his highlights, he runs a post and goes up for a 50/50 ball attacking the ball at the highest point to secure the contested catch. Once he secures the catch, he gets vertical gaining extra yards on the play. This is the same result in the third clip in his highlight as well. In the first play in his highlights, he uses his foot quicks to close the cushion on the cornerback playing in off coverage getting to his toes quickly before snapping his route off quickly. This creates separation between him and the cornerback before he secures the catch on the comeback route – this is seen throughout his film as he stays knees over toes. When he’s going up against the press, he showcases glimpses of using his quick feet to win the route in the endzone and react quickly upon during his head to secure the quick hitting pass for a touchdown. There’s also a clip in his highlights where he’s bunched next to the line of scrimmage and is able to seal the outside linebacker creating a running lane off his block. When he’s running a receiver screen, he can get flat down the line of scrimmage and once he secures the catch he showcases his elusiveness by making the first defender miss. He then keeps his feet driving fighting for extra yards through contact. This young man can make the catch in traffic between multiple defenders as well. This is seen in a clip in his highlights where he runs a slant route and is able to bounce off the hit from the defender upon securing the catch. Upon doing so, he then breaks a long run as a result. There’s another clip in the redzone where he delays his release when running a slant route to secure the grab in traffic for the touchdown. Currently holds no offers. Highlights
Matthew Warkins Matthew Warkins 6'5" | 280 lbs | OL Dixon | 2023 State IL Twitter
Mr. Warkins is an offensive lineman that provides glimpses of being able to jolt the defensive lineman upright and drive the defender back on straight ahead block when working in line. In a clip in his highlights, he showcases a strong initial punch and can sustain the block through the whistle by keeping his feet driving. Upon doing so, he ends up driving the defender 10+ yards downfield off a drive block. This young man also provides glimpses of being able to drive the defender down the line of scrimmage washing them down. His quickness out of his stance helps him set up to block and he provides glimpses of using a strong punch at the point of attack to control the rep. In the first clip in his highlight, he’s quick out of his stance when pulling and delivers a heavy blow as he traps the defensive tackle creating a running lane off his block. He can also kickout the defensive end when pulling and creates a running lane off this block as well. There’s a clip in his highlights where he gets through the line of scrimmage to the second level and does a good job of blocking the linebacker out of the play. He does so by tieing up the linebacker and driving the linebacker back 10+ yards before he ends up pancaking the defender in the endzone. Currently holds no offers. Highlights
Carson Hoffard Carson Hoffard 6'2" | 180 lbs | QB Sesser-Valier | 2023 State IL
Mr. Hoffard is a dual threat quarterback that is mobile and runs the option. There’s a clip in his highlights where he gets through the line of scrimmage and is able to gain a step advantage on the second level defenders breaking a long run along the sideline. He provides an insight into his arm strength when he’s making throws downfield without being able to set his feet and stride into the pass when he’s working on the move/out of platform. This is seen in his highlights where he ends up putting a touch on the ball as he makes level three throws downfield. When he’s running RPOs, he can get the ball out quickly at times. This is seen throughout his film where he’ll add zip on the ball when making level one throws. In the first clip in his highlights, he runs a play action pass and takes a heavy hit right as he gets the ball off. Here, he makes a level three throw to the receiver in the endzone which is secured for a touchdown providing a glimpse into his ability to stand strong to get the ball off under pressure as there’s a defender in his face. When he’s surveying the field and sees that nothing is open downfield, this young man can pull the ball down to scramble. There’s a clip in his highlights where he sees that the middle of the field is open with no defenders in sight and pulls the ball down to scramble breaking a long run in the process. When he’s scrambling, he isn’t afraid to lower his shoulder to play through contact. This is seen in a clip in his highlights where he lowers his shoulder running through and bouncing off weak tackles as he turns the corner for extra yards on the play. Currently holds no offers. Highlights
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