Bright Futures: Breakout Candidates, 2023 Ranked DLs Pt. 1

As a scout, I am on a constant lookout for new names to send to college coaches, often coming across kids with great talent or measurables. Often times, many prospects look the part but have yet to put out substantial production on tape, whatever the reason might be. In this piece, we will highlight some prospects who are ready to breakout this upcoming Fall! &nbsp; <em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="358335" first="Connor" last="Apker"] | 6’4, 230 | South Williamsport</span></strong></span></em> Ideal frame to contribute at either defensive end or tight end. Excels against the off-tackle runs, run-stopping as a whole. Does a great job getting off the ball and standing up his opponent. Can shed with upper body strength in time to make TFL’s or to set edges and blows up runs before gaining real yardage. Good pursuit and motor, has some QB hits that affect ball accuracy because of his ability to not give up on plays. Absolute tank blocking as a tight end, so much so that I believe this kid may have a future at OL at the next level. https://twitter.com/connor_apker/status/1476708514571632642?s=20&amp;t=Z-ACV2K4XIBFqzQehXz7_g <em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">LaFenis Mays Jr. | 6’4, 215 | Chester</span></strong></span></em> Athletic, lean-cut defender whose production reads as follows. 46 tackles, 8 TFLs, 2 sacks on the year, as well as 1 INT and 1 TD. The production isn’t eye-opening yet the talent this young man has leads me to believe we could see his numbers spike this Fall, so long as he continues to work in the weight room. Like his in-out move at edge rusher. Chester has no problem playing him with his hand on or off the dirt, his play style and awareness supports this. Leans to the athletic side of the edge spectrum, I prefer him to stay slim and play with his hand off at OLB. <em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="320975" first="McDermott" last="Murphy"] | 6’2, 230 | Archbishop Ryan</span></strong></span></em> A young man who is officially on local D3 radars, as King’s College recently sent out an official offer to the senior 1st-Team All-Catholic edge rusher. More will be on the way, there is a lot to like. I’ve mentioned it before, Murphy is a first-year player at ABR, so the power and pursuit to the quarterback is all raw and natural. Under correct coaching, which ABR certainly has, we should only see improvement and development when projecting this kid’s future. An uptick in production will lead to an uptick in recruiting. Bright future. <em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="249765" first="Wyatt" last="Cooper"] | 6’6, 210 | Trinity</span></strong></span></em> The obvious stands out when evaluating [player_tooltip player_id="249765" first="Wyatt" last="Cooper"], literally. Cooper’s junior tape doesn’t necessarily scream FCS, yet Stony Brook would beg to differ. The 6’6, 3-sport athlete and honor student provides too much value to be overlooked. Trinity likes to split Cooper out in the slot, where he can use his size to maul smaller defensive backs or linebackers. Cooper is incredible raw as a pass rusher, which leads us to believe his name may blow up if he puts together the senior year we think he is capable of. https://twitter.com/CoopLax22/status/1456295651143192582?s=20&amp;t=Z-ACV2K4XIBFqzQehXz7_g <em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span style="font-size: 14pt;">[player_tooltip player_id="358176" first="Mark" last="White"] | 6’3, 240 | Pottsgrove</span></strong></span></em> It’ll be pretty tough to top 10 sacks in 8 games, double-digit sack total as a junior is impressive as is. We may not project that [player_tooltip player_id="358176" first="Mark" last="White"] the prospect will raise his production, rather that [player_tooltip player_id="358176" first="Mark" last="White"]’s name might blow up amongst recruiting circles. The 1st-team all-conference defensive linemen is capable of providing pressure at his natural outside edge alignment or if kicked inside as a 3-tech. They young man went off against an Upper Merion front that absolutely had no answer for White, a night where he recorded 4 sacks. We think he can top 10 sacks this coming Fall. &nbsp;