PRZ Iowa | New to the Scene | Part 12

August 26th feels like it is forever away and then some. It may not seem like it, but the season will be here before you know it. There are plenty of household names that everyone has on their board and will be keeping a close eye on, but there is also plenty of lesser known or undiscovered talent that could make 2022 their year. These athletes have already done some very impressive things on the field, have shown flashes of serious ability, or dominated the underclassman scene that make them legitimate breakout candidates and names on the rise. Get to know these guys now before the season is here as they are sure to make plenty of noise and become known across the state. [player_tooltip player_id="155566" first="Dylan" last="Calvin"], DB, Creston, C/O 2024, 6'0 160, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/13397484/619bdf4ae97b010a88a2e61c">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/DylanCalvin4">Twitter</a> Calvin put together a nice Sophomore campaign recording 27 tackles and 3 interceptions for the Panthers. What impresses most about his game, and what is immediately clear in the first couple minutes of his film, is how well he keeps tabs on opponents within his zone, plays the ball and not the man, and doesn't ever seem lost or out of place when the ball is in the air. It is obvious that he plays with a lot of confidence and is an ideal fit for the coverage he exists in. One of his interceptions came on an under thrown ball; the Quarterback pump faked and the Receiver hit a little stutter and go as he closed in on Calvin. At first glance it appears that Calvin got caught and had to recover, but when you watch it a few more times you can tell that Calvin wasn't beat, he just knew where the ball was going. That kind of prowess in the secondary should lead to more interceptions in the next couple years. On another play that resulted in a pass break up Calvin flew down from his deep zone where a vertical route was threatening to dislodge the ball on an out route near the sideline. Scott Harr, DL, Hampton-Dumont-CAL, C/O 2024, 6'4 235, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14864201/618968f6ff02490550bfdb82">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/scottharr05">Twitter</a> Harr, just a Sophomore, notched 3 sacks and 29.5 tackles at Defensive End for the Bulldogs in 2021. The frame and length are ideal, he passes the eyeball test with flying colors, but what really impresses is how filled out he appears to be and how well he moves with it all at his age. One of his sacks came against eventual state champion Southeast Valley. He absolutely froze the Right Tackle with a top notch hesi step; all his opponent could try to do is reach for him and Harr knocked those hands away as he stepped by. The Quarterback could see him coming from a mile away and did his best to step up and avoid the rush, but there was no escaping Harr. His acceleration off his move was elite and the way he adjusted on the fly to match where the Quarterback was moving was impressive. It looked like one of those plays that is just too good to be true where the Quarterback makes a subtle move to get free and evades the rush, but there was nothing that could be done here. It is clear that Harr has what it takes to develop into one of Iowa's top Defensive Linemen. Griffin Olson, DB, PCM, C/O 2024, 5'9 165, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15027386/61946fd590ef7d03441abaa7">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Griffinolson21">Twitter</a> A player to keep an eye on heading into 2022 that figures to get a lot of snaps, as a two-way player, is Mustangs Defensive Back and Wide Receiver Griffin Olson. He recorded 14.5 tackles and caught 3 passes for 39 yards in 2021. PCM played a lot of seniors on both sides of the ball last year and will need new faces to emerge; Olson has shown he has the ability to be one of those guys. As a defender he brings a lot of value to the table in man coverage and as an extra hat against the run. There are a few clips on his highlights that show he can stick to opponents and run with them through routes. There are also a few clips that show he knows how to get off a block and isn't afraid to stick his nose into the thick of it when carries go off-tackle. He is not afraid of contact. The explosiveness and twitchy movement should translate nicely into his role as a receiver, too. It is easy to see him thriving next year in the short game, taking advantage of quick hitting routes and screens, and turning them into big gains. Olson is a playmaker on the verge of a breakout season. [player_tooltip player_id="320622" first="Cooper" last="Spurgeon"], North Polk, C/O 2023, 6'1 185, <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2GXiHJ">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/spurgeon_cooper">Twitter</a> The comets are going to need a new vertical threat in 2022. [player_tooltip player_id="320622" first="Cooper" last="Spurgeon"] should be that guy; he caught 17 passes for 173 yards and 2 touchdowns a season ago and proved he knows how to stretch the field. Those vacated targets may very well wind up in Spurgeon's hands and that makes him a breakout candidate worthy of consideration. One clip on his highlights captures his ability on the outside, where he figures to take most of his snaps next season. Spurgeon burst out of his stance, looked to be at top speed in just a few steps, it was cover 1, and the corner bailed. About ten yards into the route, after Spurgeon had sold his opponent deep, he slammed on the brakes, powered down on a dime, hauled it in and turned up the sideline for some extra yards he fought hard for. There is a lot of effort present in the way he plays. On another play, this one went for a score, Spurgeon ran a route opposite roll out, but protection broke down, scramble drill went into effect, and he worked hard to find a window in the secondary so his Quarterback could get the ball out. Taiwon Young Jr, DL, Prairie, C/O 2024, 6'0 210, <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14834436/6255dc5596778a0ab4baf0a0">hudl</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/TaiwonYoungjr">Twitter</a> If there is opportunity on the Prairie Defensive Line next season, be on the lookout for the name Taiwon Young Jr. He looked especially impressive on inside gaps last season as a Sophomore and, with an offseason of lifting underway, the ability and technique he has shown to this point should be ready for the Varsity stage. Something that shows up across the board on Young's highlights is his getoff and how explosive he is. On a down at 3 technique, Young fired off at an exceptionally low angle and ripped right through the Hip of the Guard he was lined up across from. The sheer force with which he moved from his stance and made contact put his opponent on his heels and knocked him back several yards. Young impressively kept his eyes up as he worked through his gap, saw the ball, disengaged, redirected, and ripped the ball right out of the Running Back's hands to force a turnover. On another, against a team that ran Inside Veer right at him, Young blew up the A gap, swallowed up the Fullback, and took down the Quarterback who pulled it because he had nowhere to go.