Under Appreciated Ohio Recruits
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I’m state line jumping today for the first time in a few months but I promise it’s worth it. We’re looking at some recruits in Ohio who are being underappreciated and need more love. We’re looking at what they can…
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Continue ReadingI’m state line jumping today for the first time in a few months but I promise it’s worth it. We’re looking at some recruits in Ohio who are being underappreciated and need more love. We’re looking at what they can do and what their futures may hold.
Reggie Crawford – Licking Heights – DT/DE – 5’11″ 210lbs – 2024
Crawford is a fun recruit because of the versatility he offers on the line. He’s able to come off the edge, play inside, and drop back into coverage when asked to. He’s a really good athlete who always seems to split gaps and is in the backfield making plays. He’s got a decent first step and is able to get downhill quickly. He’s got longer strides and that helps him eat into cushions quickly. He’s got long arms and they’re fairly strong. While I do think he’s a bit light, his height actually helps him. He’s able to get leverage easier and win the pad-level fight more often than not. There are times he really has to fight through a block and as he gets stronger that’ll get easier for him. There are times he plays LB as well and does a decent job. He’s not the fastest player but he’s got a high motor and will chase down the ball carrier when he needs to. Crawford is someone who seems to be half a step ahead of the offense sometimes and can sniff out a screenplay and blow it up. He’s got good instincts down in the trenches and is getting better. The confidence from the first half of the season to the second half of the season was night and day. He was playing faster, stronger, and more confident. Crawford seems like someone who is going to really hit his stride this fall. If he’s able to put the work in and develop over the next 2 years, his future is very bright and where he ends up will be up to him.
Ja’Ontay Bryant – Mansfield – WR/CB – 6’0″ 150lbs – 2024
Bryant is a fun player to watch because he’s got a nose for the football. He’s an aggressive corner and really likes to play hands-on. If he sees the ball, he’s taking a shot. It’s as simple as that with him. He’s going to jump the route and try picking it off. Luckily, when he commits he doesn’t miss and comes down with it. He’s got long arms which helps his reach. He likes to keep a hand on the receiver, feel him out, and adjust to what he’s doing. Mansfield trusts him out wide by himself and most of the time doesn’t feel the need to give him back up. He was playing on an island as a sophomore which is a very good sign of things to come. He’s a rangy athlete who has good bend and when he has the ball in his hands, he’s good at creating and making room. He’s a threat to return the ball to the house. His footwork is a work in progress but it’s not a liability like some his age. His feet are naturally fluid and you won’t catch him standing around on his heels. At receiver, he’s best when he’s operating out of the slot. He’s shifty, able to make guys miss, and is willing to go over the middle without being afraid of the hit. He’s able to get open quickly and then will turn into a runner immediately after bringing the ball in. Bryant is someone I could see returning kicks at a high level too. Bryant is a good athlete who is able to bounce around. In my opinion, he’s best on defense and sniffing out the ball, and creating offensive opportunities for his team. If he’s able to develop over the few years, his future is as bright as he wants it to be.
Luke Williams Luke Williams 6'1" | 295 lbs | DL Archbishop McNicholas | 2024 OH – Archbishop McNicholas – OL – 6’1″ 295lbs – 2024
Williams is going to be a fun one to watch down the road. He has the mentality on the field you love to see with offensive linemen. After he buries you, he’s going to chirp. He’s an energizer and gets more juice as the game goes on. Williams has no issue throwing his body on the line to make a play. He’s going to throw every tool at the defender he has if he has to. Right now, I think he could benefit from a good summer in the weight room and working on getting his body right. He’s got the frame you want to see and is still developing so there’s a good chance he continues to grow into it. As he develops physically, he’ll get a stronger base and that’ll help round off his game. He’s got long arms and they are fairly strong. He’s got a nice punch behind them and can make a strong first impact. There are times he aims too high and it makes the rep harder than it needs to be but over the second half of the season that really got cleaned up. Williams comes across as someone who would be best on the outside of the line. They use him on the inside and while he’s reliable, I think the upside could be on the outside. He’s a confident player and wouldn’t have an issue being 1-on-1 on the outside. In the running game, he’s going to try burying his guy and then finish his guy into the ground. When he’s coming downhill, there’s a different confidence that he gets and that’s when he starts to get into his rhythm. I think over the next 2 years, if Williams is able to put the work in, he’s going to have a very bright future at the collegiate level.
Jake Britt – St. Xaver – WR – 6’0″ 160lbs – 2026
Britt is a fantastic athlete who is going to be a menace for opposing defenses. He’s quick, shifty, and understands leverage and how to use it. For his age, he’s already a good route runner. He doesn’t have much-wasted movement, can use a pressure step, and then wiggle at the last second to make the catch. He’s got fantastic ball skills and is able to go up and get it. He’s got a great vertical and long arms which helps him win the contested balls. There are times it looks like he’s levitating as he goes up to make the catch. If the ball is in his area, he’s going to bring it down. Britt will fight through contact and stay strong through the catch and the ball will never bobble. Right now, physically, he’s light but you can trust that’ll improve. Britt likes to work and really stood out at camps this spring which is how he ended up on my radar. Even when he was covered, he was open. He’s got laser vision on the ball as it comes and he will not lose track of it. Britt has some of the best concentration and vision I’ve seen and it also shows up in his route running. He’s able to read some coverages live and adjust on the fly. He understands to get to the open zone or when to keep running. He’s going to be someone they can move around. With his ball skills and vertical, you can throw him at X. With his agility and ability to read coverage, you can throw him at Y/Z and let him go to work over the middle of the field. He’s got decent speed as well. He isn’t the fastest guy you’ll see but he’s still fast. Over the next few years, if he’s able to develop in a few areas and keeps putting the work in, he could be one of the best WRs in the state and will have his choice of offers.