Hillcrest Season Preview

The Hillcrest Patriots finished their 12-3 season with a state quarterfinal appearance. Here are some key players looking to contribute to another playoff push in the fall. <strong><u><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="235351" first="Ethan" last="Crawford"] 6’1 195 QB</span></u></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">The recent Southern Miss commit is looking to lead his team to another playoff push in the upcoming season. With elite elusiveness, Crawford excels as an improviser that can turn nothing into something. Though he’s fully capable of using his legs to earn yards, he uses his speed and shiftiness to extend plays and get the ball downfield. With significant arm strength, he’s able to accurately deliver off-platform throws on a routine basis. However, Crawford is also comfortable in a clean pocket - and displays accuracy in all field areas. Look for Crawford to be the engine of the Hillcrest offense and to produce as a top-tier QB in the state. </span> https://twitter.com/3thanCrawf0rd/status/1539361557385183233?s=20&amp;t=ffIhDV1Y_KRrhPrHiLZ8fA <strong><u><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="340039" first="Jayden" last="Hobson"] 6’6 296 OG</span></u></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Hobson is a pure mauler who is mobile and tenacious. To be nearly 300 pounds, he can move with the best of him and shows excellent mobility when pulling and getting out on the perimeter to be a lead blocker for his running back. Though his swiftness jumps off the film, Hobson’s mentality will also be crucial for the patriots. His willingness to assert his will on others, play to the whistle, and be an agitator is going to rub off on the other lineman and create a mentality of toughness. Look for Hobson to be taking out defensive ends, linebackers, and secondary players on perimeter runs and holding down his position through the fall. </span> https://twitter.com/Big55live/status/1533577542266929159?s=20&amp;t=ffIhDV1Y_KRrhPrHiLZ8fA <strong><u><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Kendrick Davis 6’0 218 LB</span></u></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true">Davis is one of the more underrated linebackers in the state. While being a tackle machine and multi-use linebacker, he will be a key defensive player for the Patriots this season. With the frame and strength to play as a middle linebacker, Davis also has enough burst to make plays in the backfield as a delayed blitzer and run stopper. He takes solid angles to the ball, is aggressive when engaging with blockers, and shows an enforcer mentality when making hits on the ball carriers. Davis also can generate pressure as a blitzer and contain scrambles as a QB spy. With solid athleticism and skill against the run and pass, look for Davis to be one of the leaders of the defense and make big plays throughout the season. </span> https://twitter.com/kendrickdavis08/status/1535000121666162689?s=20&amp;t=ffIhDV1Y_KRrhPrHiLZ8fA <strong><u><span data-preserver-spaces="true">[player_tooltip player_id="234707" first="Collin" last="Dunn"] 6’2 190 SS/OLB </span></u></strong> <span data-preserver-spaces="true"> Dunn is a pure playmaker who brings roster flexibility with his instinct and positional fluidity. The recent Kansas State commit has the size, strength, and speed to be an enforcer as a Will linebacker while containing the perimeter. He isn’t afraid to engage with blockers to find his way to the ball and can occasionally be an effective edge rusher. Dunn also has the ball skills, and an instinctual play enables him to roam and be around the ball as a safety- where he can rack up picks and pass deflections to shift the game’s momentum. Look for Dunn to be a ball hawk and turnover generator that will consistently get his team’s extra possessions and opportunities to score.</span> https://twitter.com/Dunn04C/status/1539394614356062209?s=20&amp;t=ffIhDV1Y_KRrhPrHiLZ8fA