Top Receivers in the Empire State

The receiver position requires mental toughness on the field like no other. Reason being is that as a receiver, you have to give great effort on every play despite if the ball is being thrown to you or not. And have the ability to run a good route even if the QB doesn’t see you, or if the play is busted. More than just being athletic and running routes, a receiver has to understand how to use football smarts to find spots to get open in the defensive coverage. There is an art to getting open and when the ball is thrown to you, making the big time play count. Here are New York’s receivers that make big time plays for their squads. &nbsp; <strong>WR [player_tooltip player_id="232921" first="Dylan" last="Evans"] Orchard Park HS, 2023</strong> At 6’3 weighing just a little over 180 pounds, Dylan is a well built receiver who is dominant at the high school level. The star basketball and lacrosse player led all players in New York with 17 receiving touchdowns in his 2021 junior season and racked up 1285 yards over the course of his career. He has very reliable hands and can always make even toughest catches along with excellent body and field awareness. He can play short yardage situations and with his smooth route running ability, does a great job adjusting his routes to find holes in zone coverage, especially when his quarterback scrambles. Dylan is also a huge downfield threat as he can always beat his man in stride, adjust to highpoint the ball and twist and turn his body mid-air to make the basketball type catch in the endzone. Along with his already great football IQ and some improved speed and quickness this offseason, he has potential to seal his fate as New York’s top WR prospect. &nbsp; <strong>WR Dae’Shawn Allen, Archbishop Stepinac HS, 2023</strong> Allen exploded his junior year with over 1700 all purpose yards (951 receiving) and 18 total TDs. He is a dynamic playmaker who has a rare combination of quickness and speed with 611 kick return yards and who can consistently make the first guy miss. He has great success lining up like a pro, out wide, in the slot, motion, and often as wildcat or tailback as he racks up over 150 yards rushing. Although not the biggest at 5’10 and 170 pounds, he is as strong runner not easy to bring down after the catch and can stay in bounds to continue his burst of speed downfield even through tons of traffic. His agility allows him to run anything on the route tree, against any coverage with his sharp cuts and next level ability to get separation. Dae’shawn’s athleticism is next level but his ability to to torch defenses is also much cerebral as he seems to know coverages and how to play his defenders if given option routes. He will be a fun player to watch in his 2022 senior season. And if he is even a hair better than the previous year, some lucky D1 program will have a lot of fun drawing up plays for us to watch him on Saturdays.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> &nbsp; <strong>TE/LB Keith Capuano, Hastings HS, 2024</strong> At 6’4, 197 pounds, Keith is easily the tallest on the field but it is rare that a guy this size moves as fast and efficient as he does. The star basketball player gives great effort on every play. He is physical and a very good blocker. He is a big target for a QB, but his route running and speed are what gets him open. He can line up out wide but is a sure weapon off the line in the TE spot. Keith’s sophmore year was comprised of 894 receiving yards averaging a little over 111 yards per game (T-4th most of all NY receivers). He also found the end zone 12 times (T-3rd most of all NY receivers) and added punt return scores as well as 2,2-point conversions. Keith has all the tools to play at the next level and if he can continue this type of production, he will catapult himself in the national spotlight. &nbsp; <strong>WR/FS Ben Rosenblatt, Poly Prep, 2023</strong> Ben is 5’11 and weighs just a little over 180 pounds. He is a solid size receiver with next level quickness and and track speed. He is reliable and gives max effort on every play whether being the relentless blocker he is or running near perfect routes whether the ball is thrown to him or not. Ben has a great release and consistently gains separation from his defender off the line, at the break point and downfield on his finishing routes. He understands the art of route running and is very consistent with great timing. He is sure to be open in man coverage as single defenders are just not equipped to cover him, but he also knows how to find holes in zone defense. He has suction-like hands that can snag the ball in quickly as he seems to always look to make big yardage after the catch.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> Underutilized and severely underrated, he does not have the stats to wow you but his film will win over any D1 coach in the country. Ben is becoming next level talent and shows a high ceiling for growth. We are expecting him to explode for his senior year this Fall 2022 to show us why he is the top prospect in the state and good luck to any defense that attempts to cover him. </span> &nbsp; <strong>TE/WR/LB Nate Goldrick, Iroquois (Elma) HS, 2023</strong> Nate stands 6’3 and weighs 200 pounds. In his junior year, he racked up 908 yards on just 47 receptions. He also scored 16 times (T-2nd most among all NY receivers). Nate is a leader on his team, dominating both sides of the ball with 75 total tackles, 3 TFL, INT as a linebacker. He is strong and hard to bring down after the catch. He is not a very crafty receiver but can catch in stride and almost guarantee a score in the end zone. He is very good vertical threat as he has very deceptive speed that accelerates him past defenders and most of all he can finish. He has reliable hands and is a willing and more than able run blocker. Overall, Nate has the potential to play at the next level and if his senior year is anything like his previous he will for sure be a top prospect.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>