Sneaky Good 2023 Recruits Being Under-Appreciated

We're back in the 2023 class today looking at some recruits who are being under-appreciated as a whole. While some of these guys may be getting some love, they're incredibly talented and may not be getting the spotlight they deserve.   [player_tooltip player_id="402906" first="Trey" last="Speek"] - Noblesville - LB/S - 6'2" 205lbs   Speek is an incredibly fun prospect to watch because of what he could be down the road. Right now, you've got a fantastic frame that clearly stands out when he's on the field. He's a legit 6'2" 205lbs and that weight isn't fat. He puts the time in behind closed doors in the weight room. While still a work in progress physically, there's good reason to be excited. He's able to play zone coverage, come play the run, and make tackles in space. I don't believe he's got much experience in man coverage, but he's got the athleticism to thrive once he gets the nuances of it down. Right now, Noblesville likes to use him as the safety blanket. Put him out deep and let him come downhill and make tackles. It's a fairly effective strategy and Speek has some power behind his hits so it's not just your ordinary safety hitting these guys. However, with his frame, length, and range I have to imagine that once he gets to college he'll likely move down to LB. Speek is a physical football player and has the frame to feast in the box, especially once he hits his stride at the collegiate level. This summer he's shown his progress at camps and schools have begun to take notice. However, if Speek is able to come out and ball out again this fall, he'll be buried in offers.   [player_tooltip player_id="402907" first="Micah" last="Coyle"] - Center Grove - RB - 6'0" 185lbs   Coyle is a fairly explosive athlete who is just starting to get a feel for what he can do with the ball in his hands. He's got really quick feet and the vision to go with it. He's able to see some impressively small holes and shoot out the backside of them. His speed is really interesting too. I say that because he catches people off guard. He's got the speed to loop all the way around the edge of the field, turn the corner, and hit the gas. While not a good habit to make, it's exciting to see that level of athleticism. Physically, I do think he's a bit raw and if he's able to keep his feet underneath him, he'll take his game to another level. Right now, I think of Coyle as a speed back who has the potential to develop into a 3-down back at the college level. He's got a decent enough frame that when he gets to college and gets in their lifting program he could really take off. With that much speed, I don't think we need to worry about him losing a step, either. He's good out of the backfield and is someone who could develop into a great screen game RB as well. The upside with him truly is limitless depending on the type of back he wants to be. The point is, good things happen when he touches the ball and when he gets to college, I'm looking forward to seeing his playmaking ability translate!   [player_tooltip player_id="398346" first="Christian" last="Boutte"] - North Central - LB - 5'11" 220lbs   Boutte is someone I saw at a few different camps this summer and it paid off for him. He's a versatile LB who has a ton of experience playing in coverage. He's also got fairly good ball tracking vision and doesn't get lost in the mix. Time and time again, he's able to track the ball through the mesh point and make a play. He's thick and while still developing physically, he's still strong enough to hit and leave some bruises. He's also got pretty good speed and can cover sideline to sideline. He's able to string out plays and force the ball carrier outside and then he'll make the tackle in space. He isn't afraid of competition or competing in front of masses of people either. Some guys hide during camps, but that's not the case with Boutte. This summer he showed all the same traits, just in person. His progress is decent from last year and his coming into his senior year in much better shape compared to previous years. The camps he's been to this summer and the work he's put in is going to pay off. When he's on the field, he's making plays and stopping the offense. At the end of the day, that's what football is for the defensive side and Boutte fits the mold perfectly.   [player_tooltip player_id="301731" first="Zachary" last="Shultz"] - Castle - OL/DT/FB - 5'10" 200lbs   Schultz is a hardnose player who will do anything you ask of him. Whether it's offense or defense, it doesn't matter. He's shown the versatility to play DL and FB. He's also played inside and outside of both lines when asked. If Castle has needed someone to step up, they plug in Shultz and have him patch the hole. Offensively, when he's coming downhill he's got an extra edge to his game. Whether he's lead blocking or going deep into the trenches, he's shown he's a good lead blocker. He's also a sneaky good athlete and has been used to sneak out of the backfield as a receiver. He's got soft hands and brings it in before turning up field. He'll lower his head and churn out those tough yards. Defensively, he's fairly quick off the line and can play inside or outside. He's able to set the edge or come inside and split gaps and make tackles at the LOS. On defense, he's fairly disciplined and doesn't get caught looking or trying to make something happen he can't. As he develops physically, his ceiling only gets higher. He's a good enough athlete I feel like he might have his choice on whether he wants to play offense or defense at the next level. Whatever he chooses, I think he's going to develop into a quality starter for his collegiate program if he sticks with it and puts the work in. This fall, I'm excited to see his progress and how far he's come since last season.

We're back in the 2023 class today looking at some recruits who are being under-appreciated as a whole. While some of these guys may be getting some love, they're incredibly talented and may not be getting the spotlight they deserve.