Scouting Deep Dive: Underrated 2024s
As we enter July, we want to supplement our program profile coverage with the in-depth scouting that we provide to subscribers. If you need a refresher or you’re new to Prep Redzone, check out our guide to how we evaluate.…
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Continue ReadingAs we enter July, we want to supplement our program profile coverage with the in-depth scouting that we provide to subscribers. If you need a refresher or you’re new to Prep Redzone, check out our guide to how we evaluate. Here, I take an in-depth look at four players I really like in the 2024 class that may not be getting the recognition or college interest they deserve.
Again, these scouting reports are fluid. A player we’ve graded as an FCS talent could develop differently than anticipated and move up to a G5 grade or down to a Division 2 grade. We try to grade independently of a player’s current college interest or offers, though those often overlap due to similar opinions between our staff and college coaches.
Cooper Perone Cooper Perone 6'3" | 210 lbs | LB Christ | 2025 State NC , 6’3 195, LB- Christ School
Length of Scouting: 6 months
College Projection: Group of Five
Strengths: Size, Versatility, Football IQ
Areas of Improvement: Experience, Technique
Analysis: Perone does a lot of unique things for the Greenies, including his play as a big running back on offense. He makes a lot of off-script plays (on both sides of the ball) and isn’t afraid to change his assignment when a play breaks down. He’s shown the ability to get to the quarterback as a blitzer or if the quarterback breaks the pocket while he’s in zone coverage, mostly thanks to his downhill speed and quickness. I love his aggression on the field and his big-play ability, something he flashed often as a sophomore.
Evan Medders Evan Medders 6'0" | 195 lbs | QB Marvin Ridge | 2024 State NC , 6′ 195, QB- Marvin Ridge
Length of Scouting: 18 Months
College Projection: Group of Five
Strengths: Athleticism, Pocket Presence, Middle of Field Accuracy
Areas of Improvement: Sideline Accuracy, Secondary Reads
Analysis: Medders burst onto the radar last spring when he took over midyear as a freshman and helped lead the Mavericks to a 4-2 Covid season. The way he did that was mostly as a run-first quarterback who took a few shots down the field but ultimately wasn’t asked to do much when it came to reading a defense. I listed him as an athlete. Then came his sophomore year. Even with just half of the normal offseason, Medders improved notably, becoming a true quarterback. He began running more strategically, and greatly improved his accuracy, completing 10 percent more of his passes and throwing 18 touchdowns to six interceptions. I love his ability to throw over the middle at all levels and if he sees similar improvement as a junior, he’s going to fly up recruiting boards.
Tyler Mason Tyler Mason 6'0" | 190 lbs | RB Mount Airy | 2024 State NC , 6′ 185, RB- Mt. Airy
Length of Scouting: 2 months
College Projection: Group of Five
Strengths: Speed, Acceleration, Shiftiness
Areas of Improvement: Vision, Play Strength
Analysis: I somehow made it through the entire year and half of an offseason without knowing of Mason. It wasn’t until he posted a 4.52 at Virginia Tech that I became aware of the junior back. On film, that speed is evident and he routinely outruns even the fastest defenders. Perhaps more impressive is that he gets up to full speed in a hurry, often reaching cruising speed near the line of scrimmage. He’s shifty and tough to gets hands on in the open field, and prefers to run around rather than through defenders. On film, many of his long carries come on pitches or sweeps that don’t require his to find a hole, only to run to the outside. His vision is not a weakness as much as it is something that doesn’t show on film due to his offensive system. I don’t really worry about that and neither should college coaches.
Brady Hibbard Brady Hibbard 6'3" | 195 lbs | QB Forest Hills | 2024 State NC , 6’3 190, QB- Forest Hills
Length of Scouting: 2 Years
College Projection: FCS
Strengths: Size, Progressions, Accuracy
Areas of Improvement: Processing Speed
Analysis: Like a lot of the young quarterbacks in the Charlotte area, I’ve been following Hibbard for a few years. What really stands out to me is his combination of size and athleticism and the way he’s not afraid to hit his third or fourth target. Most young quarterbacks like to tuck it and run when the first option isn’t there, but Hibbard really goes through his progressions. There are times that he’ll be a quarter-second late in hitting an open receiver but he’s usually able to escape pressure and still hit the open guy in those situations. I have a very loose FCS college projection on him, but a strong year at Forest Hills (after transferring from Providence) could easily sway me to raise that projection.