2024 Recruits Who Can Put Themselves On The Map This Fall

We’re looking ahead to the fall and a handful of recruits with a great opportunity sitting in front of them. If they’re able to take hold and break out, big things could be in store for their futures. [player_tooltip player_id="217889" first="Ransom" last="McDermott"] - Noblesville - T - 6’7" 290lbs McDermott is everything you’d hope he’d be at his size. He’s strong, physical, shoots off the ball, and has a good base. The minor details are there to start instead of needing to be engrained. He’s a legit Tackle who does a great job. He’s able to seal the edge, properly gain depth, and has good hand placement on his punches. His hands are strong and he’s able to blow his guy back off the ball down after down. In the running game, he’s a beast and that’s when he’s at his best. Get him coming downhill and use his frame against the defensive lineman. Once he begins to find his groove and starts to get a feel for the guy across from him, it’s over. I do think mechanically there’s some stuff to work on. Most notably, his stance at the LOS. If he’s going to play Tackle at the next level, I imagine his OL coach is going to want him to have a more standard stance. It’ll help him in the passing game gain depth against speed rushers. For a guy his size, McDermott is fairly agile and nimble while being light on his feet. He’s not heavy toed or going to be caught standing on his heels. McDermott really does have every tool you want an incoming recruit to have. The frame and physical ability have already been more than enough for schools to come knocking. As of late, the offers have started to come in but that’s just the start. Once he hits the field this fall and proves he is who we think he is, he’s going to have more offers than stars in the sky. McDermott has the chance to develop into an elite starter at the next level with potential beyond if he really hits his ceiling. Yassine Falke - Ben Davis - WR/DB - 6’0" 135lbs Falke is potentially next in line to be a versatile weapon for Ben Davis that breaks onto the scene this fall. Ben Davis, like every year, is loaded and at both WR and DB and to get on the field means you must be doing something right. Falke has been groomed and developed with the JV squad primarily over the past 2 years but has shown some flash that makes you get pretty excited. Not only does he have really good hands, but he’s also got strong hands. When the ball hits, it locks in and with that, he’s able to bring down the ball in some sticky situations you wouldn’t think possible. Falke isn’t afraid to go over the middle and catch the ball in traffic with the potential of taking a shot. He’ll hold onto the ball and bounce right back up. When he’s got the ball in his hands, he can be dangerous. He’s got great short-area agility and is able to make people miss with the best of them. Falke is very light on his feet and is able to shift side to side insanely fast. He’s someone you can draw up a ton of screens to and let him get to work. Falke is going to find the cutback lane, create them when they aren’t there, and sometimes backtrack. On defense, he’s shown those same twitchy feet, the ability to run with anyone he comes across and can tackle. Right now, I do think he’s a bit lighter than you’d want but he has 2 years to bulk up some. Regardless, he’s still someone you want touching the ball because of the things he’s able to do with it in his hands. There is a ton of opportunity for Falke this fall to come on strong and break out. Everything is sitting in front of him and he’s been putting the work in. I’m excited to see what he can do and if he’s able to become that next elite weapon. [player_tooltip player_id="316297" first="Teagan" last="Bennett"] - Lawrenceburg - RB  - 5’9" 175lbs Bennett is a jittery runner who likes to get downhill as fast as he can. He wastes no time getting north and south and wants to pick up every yard possible. He’s a slippery runner and can shoot through gaps and be out the backdoor before the defense has time to react. He’s a shorter back so there are times he gets lost behind the linemen and the defense can’t find him until he’s in the second level. His vision is decent and more often than not, is able to find the right lane and be off to the races. Bennett has speed as well. He gets to his top-end speed in just a few strides and isn’t being caught once he’s in the second level untouched. Once he sees daylight, he’s going to do everything he can to find that next gear and hit the jets. In the first half of the season, he was pretty easy to bring down. Sometimes it felt like a strong wind took him over. During the second half of the season, he became a more physical runner. His contact balance improved and he was staying upright and breaking more tackles than ever before. If that trend continues this year, there’s no doubt Bennett can explode onto the scene. He’s good out of the backfield, decent in pass protection when asked to, and is a high motor player. It felt like the light really began to click and the confidence was going off the charts. He’s been putting the work in this offseason and understands what’s sitting in front of him. If Bennett can put it all together this fall, he’s going to skyrocket up boards. Noah Schneider - East Central - G - 6’2" 275lbs Schneider is a player who just plays angry. Some guys hit you with a smile off the field and then can flip the switch when they step on the field and Schneider is no different. He’s someone who can get into the game and help set the flow of the game. He’s a violent finisher and wants to bury his guy into the ground each rep. In the running game, he’s off the ball rather quickly, has strong hands, and a powerful punch. He’s going to blow his guy back, but how far is the question. There are times he can reach too far too fast and stumble a step or 2. He also gets a hand or 2 on the outside of the pads from time to time. While it typically wouldn’t help the defender because of how quickly they’re being buried, but we want good habits and fundamentals all the time. Schneider is also fairly good on the run and is able to be the lead blocker when asked to. In the passing game, he’s decent but mechanically needs to improve on balance and back foot placement. His frame and natural strength give him the advantage more often than not but it’s still developing. There are times the extra weight and muscle could help him dominate rep to rep. When the rest of his game catches up it’s going to be a long night for opposing defenses. He has the mentality and swagger that you need guys upfront to have. He works hard, lifts all the time, and has been putting the work in. I’ve got no doubt that this fall he’s going to come out and prove that he’s got what it takes to be mentioned with the best of the best recruits. He checks just about every box you want and has an incredibly bright future ahead on the field. John (Jack) Butwin - Terre Haute North Vigo - K/P - 5’10" 135lbs We’re stopping to give some Special Teams love today. 1/3 of the game and doesn’t get the credit it deserves unless something goes wrong. Well, life is a lot easier when you have a Butwin. He’s a cool and collected guy who doesn’t show a ton of emotion. He runs out on the field, is in the zone, lines it up, and follows through for 3 most of the time. He’s able to kick off and punt when asked. Kicking FGs appears to be the most natural for him though because he’s got a nice stroke and good fundamentals. The best Kickers talk about the mental game and how it’s all in between the ears. Butwin doesn’t get rattled often and can come in and make some pressure kicks. As an underclassman, he showed a lot of potential and is heading to his upperclassman years with the chance to separate himself from the rest of the pack.