Alief Taylor Spring Game: Offensive Standouts

After clinching a playoff birth in 2021, the Alief Taylor Lions have set their sights on another postseason run. Alief Taylor is a hotbed for college talent and more eyes are coming to campus with 2023 QB [player_tooltip player_id="60838" first="Chase" last="Jenkins"] committed to Rice. These guys listed below all caught my eye and have unique skillsets they can offer to college programs. <strong>OT Ebuka Okafor | 6’6" 320lbs | 2023</strong> When I took my first look in the trenches, right tackle Ebuka Okafor popped out. He’s got great strength and is a mover in the run game. Okafor works well on combo blocks and washes linemen out of his gap. He gets his hands inside where he takes full control of the defender. In pass protection, his athleticism shines. The 2-sport athlete came into spring ball from basketball and brought his swift feet with him. He keeps a solid base, mirrors edge defenders, and keeps his QB clean. Okafor is an athletic, agile, versatile, and powerful tackle with the perfect size to be a staple on a college offensive line. &nbsp; <strong>WR Bricen Brantley | 6’3" 165lbs | 2023<img class="size-medium wp-image-347087 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/05/IMG_2432-225x300.jpeg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></strong> The 23-6A unanimous first-team all-district wideout Bricen Brantley looks to become the next big-time WR for the Lions. His tall and lengthy frame gives him a large catch radius that he uses to haul in passes regardless of where the DB is. Although Brantley is 6’3" the Taylor staff is confident enough in his after-the-catch ability to where they targeted him heavily in the screen game. With the ball in his hands, he’s so difficult to bring down as he’s strong and very physical. It consistently took more than one defender to bring the 6’3" WR down. In his routes, he’s smooth and sells vertically. Brantley has true D1 potential and this Taylor offense is a perfect fit for the physically dominant playmaker. &nbsp; <strong>WR Brandon Barrera | 5’9" 160bs | 2024</strong><img class="size-medium wp-image-347084 alignright" style="font-size: 1rem;" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/05/IMG_2429-225x300.jpeg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /> Starting on the outside in the first hurdle is rising junior Brandon Barrera. I first noticed Barrera in warmups with his smooth route running and speed. Although he didn’t get the downfield receptions he was looking for, Barrera gets open for big-play opportunities. Winning with a combination of speed and getting out his breaks cleanly allowed him to haul in a handful of passes in the spring game. I was impressed with his tenacity to attack the football. Low passes were no problem for the sophomore to haul in as well as sideline passes. This fall could be his stock rising season as he has found his role in this spread offense. &nbsp; <strong>WR Terrance Naulings | 5’10" 160lbs | 2023<img class="size-medium wp-image-347086 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/05/IMG_2433-rotated-crop-3024x1986-1653497984-300x197.jpeg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></strong> The Lions have a quick and twitchy slot in Terrance Naulings. Athletically, he’s super smooth, fluid, and fast. He uses quick feet and controls his hips to get out his breaks and generate separation. Naulings is a YAC guy with the ball in his hands. With his 4.5 speed, you can tell he’s so confident and always trying to make a play. Against man coverage, he wins effortlessly and was even able to find the endzone after winning the 1-on-1. in 2021 he was a 23-6A All-District Honorable Mention and I see 2022 being an all-district year for the speedy rising senior. &nbsp; <strong>C Chance Hernandez | 5’11" 245 | 2025<img class="size-medium wp-image-347092 alignright" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2022/05/IMG_2431-225x300.jpeg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></strong> Lining up in the first hurdle and going up against the feisty Lion DL is 2025 center Chance Hernadez. Looking at the line Hernandez is young and smaller than the rest of his companions but his play is no joke. I didn’t see a bad snap from the freshman. He plays with an appropriate low pad level and gets under defensive linemen. Hernandez does a great job on combo blocks, maintains his leverage, and get can get to the second level. I love how you can see his head moving when he looking for work. There are no plays off for the young center and he has serious potential to be one of the best interior offensive linemen in 23-6A. &nbsp; <strong>WR Yo-Rel Turner | 5’9" 155lbs | 2025 </strong> Watching the wide receivers get loose and run routes on air is where I first noticed Yo-Rel Turner. I really liked his movement skills and how he approached warm-ups. Turner has quick feet and makes clean breaks that create separation. I was excited when I learned he was class of 2025. Turner has a great skill set to work with and improve off of. He gets open and has a lot of potential to be a playmaker for Taylor for the next couple of years. &nbsp;