2023 Stock-Risers: Wide Receiver Breakdown (Part 1)
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Our end of Spring rankings update is upon us, giving us the opportunity to reevaluate and restructure our rankings. The spring update is one of the bigger updates we do, since it follows a time in which we get to…
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Continue ReadingOur end of Spring rankings update is upon us, giving us the opportunity to reevaluate and restructure our rankings. The spring update is one of the bigger updates we do, since it follows a time in which we get to watch a large quantity of players. We went to multiple camps, spoke with dozens of coaches and sources and watched hours of film. After all of that, it’s understandable that we have some shakeups in our rankings. Over the next week, we’ll focus on the rising seniors.
The receiver position is so deep that we can’t fit them all in one article. So fear not, if we’re missing someone here, we may have them in the next installment.
Noah Rogers Noah Rogers 6'3" | 185 lbs | WR Rolesville | 2023 State NC , 6’3 185- Rolesville (No. 1 overall, No. 1 WR)
For the fourth-straight 2023 update, we have a new No. 1 overall player, so how could we leave him off this list. Rogers is big, strong, fast and has incredible hands. Rogers has improved his route running, bulked up and actually gained speed and quickness this offseason and he has every right to be at the top of the class. He’s a quiet guy that doesn’t say a lot about his recruitment but we’d have to imagine that his summer will be incredibly busy, with visits to some of the top schools in the country. We’ll see if he can hold his spot at number one at the next update.
Nathan Leacock Nathan Leacock 6'4" | 200 lbs | WR Millbrook | 2023 State NC , 6’4 185- Millbrook (No. 3 overall, No. 2 WR)
Leacock pretty much came of of nowhere this season to put up massive numbers and fly up our board. With his frame, you wouldn’t expect him to be a guy that averaged nearly 25 yards per catch but he’s not just a big body. Leacock is a long strider that can run in the 4.4s, leading to a massive influx of Power Five offers in recent months. His upside is ridiculous, mainly due to the fact that he’s won up to this point with his athleticism. As he continues to unlock the intricacies of route running, he’s a guy to watch in the future.
Que’Sean Brown Que’Sean Brown 5'8" | 150 lbs | WR East Forsyth | 2023 State NC , 5’8 155- East Forsyth (No. 17 overall, No. 5 WR)
Brown is a guy that has been on our radar for a while, but we didn’t really know where he fit. He was a return specialist and scat back type, but after transferring to East Forsyth, he really found his role as a smaller slot receiver. He’s one of the shiftiest players in the state and when he sees an opening, he has the type of high-level acceleration to make defenses pay. We’d still like to see him put on a bit more weight, but he can absolutely fly and colleges are taking notice. He’s picked up a number of Group of Five and even a few Power Five offers in recent weeks.
Jayvontay Conner Jayvontay Conner 6'4" | 240 lbs | TE East Forsyth | 2023 State NC , 6’4 230- East Forsyth (No. 32 overall, No. 2 TE)
Like his teammate Brown, Conner has carved out a nice role in the East Forsyth offense as a big-bodied tight end that can contribute as a run blocker and pass catcher. Conner is being courted by a slew of Power Five teams and has really seen his recruitment pick up in the last few months. He recently committed to UCF, but that hasn’t stopped other schools from continuing their pursuit. He put on some good weight last offseason and he’s still adjusting to using his size. That has teams excited about his upside in the future.
Griffin Reimer Griffin Reimer 6'5" | 240 lbs | ATH Weddington | 2023 State NC , 6’4 230- Weddington (No. 36 overall, No. 4 Athlete)
It’s hard to find a player in the entire state that has put himself on the radar from out of nowhere more than Reimer. A solid defensive player, Reimer sat down with coaches and made the decision to play some tight end this year. Weddington’s tight ends have to be tough, physical and versatile, but it’s hard to find a guy that brings the athletic profile to the position that Reimer does. He’s been clocked in the low 4.5s this offseason and with a huge frame, he’s highly coveted by college coaches. A high-academic, it seems he can pick and choose his offers simply by showing up on campus with his times and measurables.