The Discovered Undiscovered & Risers: 24′ Breakdowns Pt. 1
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 one of our 24′ breakdowns.
Julius Ellens Julius Ellens 5'10" | 165 lbs | ATH Glenbard West | 2024 State IL Twitter
Mr. Ellens took his snaps on varsity this last fall season where he worked as a receiver on the outside. He has the foot quicks to close the cushion on the defender playing in off coverage quickly and once he does he can get to the cornerback’s toes. Once he does, he can snap the route off staying knee over toes creating separation on the play which is seen throughout his highlights. There’s a clip in his highlights showcasing his ability to adjust to secure tough catches. In this clip, he’s running a fade route in the redzone and is able to go up for the 50/50 ball in the back corner of the endzone. Once he does, he attacks the ball at the highest point to secure the contested catch over the defender for the touchdown. Throughout his film, he also provides insight into his ability to track the ball well on deep shots downfield to secure the catch for a big gain on the play. This brings us to his separation ability as this is one area of his game that’s one to keep an eye on moving forward. There’s a clip in his highlights where he’s in the redzone and uses his foot quicks to stack the defender before breaking the defender off at the top of the route. Upon snapping the route off on the comeback route, he creates enough separation to secure the touchdown grab with no contest. In another clip in his highlights, this young man runs a comeback route along the sideline and is able to get out of his route securing the sideline grab by getting a foot in. His elusiveness is seen in the first clip of his highlights where he runs a post route and once he secures the catch he’s able to spin making the first defender miss. Once he does so, he uses his foot quicks to get into the endzone for a touchdown. There’s another clip in his highlights where he runs a jet sweep and uses his lateral quickness to turn the corner. He then gets vertical using his foot quicks as he follows his lead blockers and blows by the second level defenders coming away with a touchdown in this clip. When he’s going up against off coverage he can win over the top. This is seen in the second clip in his highlights where he’s lined up as a tight end and uses his foot quicks to blow past the second level defenders as he runs a fly route and gets into the endzone to secure the touchdown grab. When he’s going up against press coverage, there’s a clip in his highlights where he slow plays the route out of his stance before using an initial burst and foot quicks to win over the top on the fade route. Once he secures the catch he gets vertical into the endzone for the touchdown. Also holds his own as a defensive back as well. Currently holds no offers. Highlights
Dylan Rickman Dylan Rickman 6'0" | 185 lbs | RB Lyons Township | 2024 IL Twitter
Mr. Rickman took his snaps on JV this last fall season as a running back where he provides glimpses of being quick into and through the hole as well as glimpses of using his foot quicks to take plays the distance. In the first clip in his highlights, he’s met behind the line of scrimmage upon securing the handoff but is able to stay up after taking the initial contact and bounce the play to the outside. Once he does, he delivers not one not two but three stiff arms to defenders as he gets along the sideline gaining net positive yards on the play. There’s another clip in his highlights where once he gets through the hole he’s not afraid to lower his shoulder to deliver a heavy blow on the head up tackler. This provides a glimpse of his ability to run through weak arm tackles and does so by running with solid pad level as well as his aggressive/attacking play style. There’s another clip in his highlights where the frontside running lane is clogged up so this young man uses a quick cut to hit the cutback lane and then uses his foot quicks to outrun the second level defenders. This provides insight into his long speed as he wins the foot race to the endzone for the touchdown. He’s also used in the air attack as well. In the second clip in his highlights, this young man secures a swing route and uses his foot quicks to get vertical upon doing so. Once he does, he gains around fifteen yards before he’s met by a defender. Upon initial contact, this young man keeps his feet driving as there are two defenders trying to being him down and is able to gain an extra ten yards on the play by not allowing himself to be brought down. In another clip in his highlights, he’s split out wide as an X receiver and runs a post route. Upon doing so, he goes up for the 50/50 ball against two defenders and attacks the ball at the highest point to secure the contested catch on the play. Again, this analysis is taken off his JV highlights and we have yet to see how his skill set is going to transition to the Varsity level. With that being said, the glimpses this young man showcases in his highlights set him up to be a versatile back. Currently holds no offers. Highlights
Colin Hayes Colin Hayes 6'6" | 220 lbs | QB Bloomington Central Catholic | 2024 IL Twitter
Mr. Hayes took his snaps on Varsity this last fall season as a quarterback where he showcases a glimpse of not being afraid to lower his shoulder on the head up tackler to play through contact when he runs the option. In one clip in his highlights, he’s in the redzone and is able to put a touch on a level three throw putting the ball into the receiver’s basket only where the receiver can get it between two defenders in the back of the endzone (the receiver secures the catch for a touchdown). When he’s running RPOs, this young man provides insight into being able to get the ball out quickly as well as being able to add easy velocity across all level throws (level 1, level 2, and level 3). When this young man can set up, he can drive off his back foot and get rid of the ball quickly in the quick game. A trait to keep an eye on is his field vision and ability to read a defense. In the first clip in his highlights, he fakes a screen pass to his left before looking right and delivering a strike downfield getting the ball off right as the defender is in his face. In another clip in his highlights, he’s in the redzone and rolls out to the right before stopping. He plants his foot and puts a touch on the ball to the far side of the endzone where his running back then secures the catch for the touchdown over the defender. The ball is put only where the running back can haul it in. There’s another clip in his highlights where he’s surveying the field once he drops back and sees that nobody is open. Upon seeing this, he then slides out of the pocket and is able to fit the ball into tight coverage while he’s throwing off balance/on the move to keep the chains moving. Currently holds no offers. Highlights
Silvano Spatafora Silvano Spatafora 5'6" | 175 lbs | RB Neuqua Valley | 2024 IL Twitter
Mr. Spatafora took his snaps on JV this last season as a running back where he provides a glimpse of being able to pick up the blitzing defender through the A gap by anchoring at the point of attack. In the second clip in his highlights, he follows his lead blockers to get through the hole and use uses his foot quicks to burst past the second level defenders breaking a long run for a touchdown. In another clip, he takes the handoff on outside zone and reads his lead blocks in open space. Upon doing so, he stays vertical using his foot quicks to get into the endzone showcases a glimpse of his lateral quickness to turn the corner. A trait to keep an eye on is his vision as, whether it’s an inside the tackle run or outside zone run, he showcases glimpses of being able to find the hole quickly and once he does he uses his foot quicks to get through. This young man is also used in the air attack. In one clip in his highlights, he runs a halfback screen and once he secures the catch he makes the first defender miss in open space. He then uses his foot quicks to get vertical as he weaves in/out of defenders and finishes the play by diving into the endzone for a touchdown. Again, this analysis is taken off his JV highlights and we have yet to see how his skill set is going to transition to the Varsity level. With that being said, this young man is going to fit well with the offensive scheme Neuqua Valley runs. Currently holds no offers. Highlights
Matthew Kelley Matthew Kelley 5'11" | 175 lbs | QB United Township | 2024 IL Twitter
Mr. Kelley took his snaps on Varsity this last season as a quarterback bringing insight into his mobility as if there’s nothing open downfield this young man can pull the ball down to scramble. In a clip in his highlights, he runs the option and uses his foot quicks to get vertical. Once he does, he’s able to make the first defender miss in open space as he breaks a long run. This young man provides glimpses of being able to deliver a touch pass when on the move/off balance into the receiver’s basket. He also provides glimpses into his compact delivery/release, which goes hand in hand with him putting the ball into catchable spots for his receivers both working in platform and on the move. In the second clip in his highlights, he steps up in the pocket as pressure is coming and ends up working laterally as defenders are coming from behind. This young man is able to get the ball off right before he gets brought down delivering a level two throw to the receiver downfield to keep the chains moving. There’s another clip in his highlights where he runs the option and uses his foot quicks to get through the line of scrimmage. Once he does so, he’s able to find a seam on the backside as the defense overpursues to cover the running back and this young man then breaks a long run as a result. In another clip in his highlights, the pocket collapses and this young man is able to spin out of a sack. Once he does, he keeps his eyes downfield but nobody is open so he pulls the ball down to scramble along the sideline turning a broken play into net positive yards. In the first clip in his highlights, the pocket collapses around him and he stands strong to deliver a level three throw on a deep shot downfield for a touchdown. This is only one instance where this young man provides insight into being able to stand strong in the pocket to get the ball off right before taking a hit which is seen throughout his highlights. Currently holds no offers. Highlights
Vincent Tiberi Twitter
Mr. Tiberi took his snaps on Varsity this last season as an offensive lineman that provides insight into his quicks off the ball to get through the line of scrimmage getting to second level blocks on the linebacker. There’s a clip in his highlights when he’s working in line, he’s quick out of his stance using a quick punch at the point of attack. Upon doing so, he doubles with the center to drive block the defensive lineman 5+ yards downfield. In another clip in his highlights, he starts the clip off with him down blocking the defensive lineman and gets hands on. Once he does so, he’s able to drive the defensive lineman back 10+ yards downfield through the whistle with the center before pancaking the defender at the end of the play. In the first clip of his highlights, he’s quick out of his stance and is able to kickout the defensive end creating a running lane for the ball carrier. In another clip in his highlights, he doubles the defensive end with the offensive tackle before working up to the second level to latch onto the linebacker. Once he gets through the line of scrimmage to the second level, this young man is able to deliver initial contact onto the linebacker and is able to tie the linebacker up eliminating them from the play. Upon doing so, it allows his teammate to get past the second level and break a long run for a touchdown in one of the clips in his highlights. This young man provides insight into using his foot quicks to get out of his stance and into blocking position quickly in both run blocking as well as in pass protection. In the second clip in his highlights, he’s quick to get out of his stance to slide and get set to block quickly. By doing so, he uses a quick punch to get his hand inside as he is able to tie up the rushing defender to keep the pocket clean for his quarterback. Currently holds no offers. Highlights
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