5 Potent Indiana Recruits Everyone Should Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Believe it or not but the regular season has already come and gone. Today, we're looking at 5 potent recruits that everyone should know moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>[player_tooltip player_id='322427' first='Braydon' last='Durham'] - Heritage Hills - FB/LB - 6'0" 200lbs - 2024</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Durham is a decent athlete who is able to bounce around on both sides of the ball for Heritage. Offensively, while not called on a ton, he's been used at FB and shown the ability to play there. He's able to lead block and hit square on to clear the way as well as run the flat routes you ask FBs to run. He gets North and South immediately. However, Durham really makes his money on defense. He's a fantastic LB who is able to play in coverage and impact the running game. When he's coming on a blitz he's able to get in the backfield and cause pressure right away. He's able to change directions decently and has room to grow and develop physically. He's tough and able to take shot after shot and still make the play. He sees the field well and is fairly good with angles and splitting gaps. Durham is also a fairly good tackler and can make plays in the open field. He's someone who picks up on tendencies and things the offense is running and can adjust from time to time to make a play. Durham's had a fantastic year and really burst onto the scene for Heritage Hills like they expected now that he's an upperclassman. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>[player_tooltip player_id='250551' first='Justin' last='Marshall'] - Merrillville - RB/WR - 5'11" 190lbs - 2023</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marshall is an elite athlete who is even harder to bring to the ground, and that's saying something because Marshall is a threat to house it every time he touches the ball. He's been Merrillville's workhorse this year at the RB position and he's having a big year. He rushed for over 1000-yards and 15 TDs. As I mentioned a second ago, he's hard to bring down and that shows up just about every time he touches the ball. Yes, he's got elite balance which helps him stay upright, but he's also an aggressive runner who keeps his legs churning and can fight through upper and lower body contact. There's been a few plays where half the defense tries to tackle him and he's throwing and shaking them off like his life depends on it. He's got elite speed and once he hits the open field he's not going to be run down. This year he's played a lot at RB but he's got an extensive receiver background which helps him in every phase of the game. Wherever Marshall ends up that team is going to get a dynamic play maker who is able to play either RB or WR and can do big things for that offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Javeoin Gills - Merrillville - RB - 6'0" 180lbs - 2024</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gills has really developed and come a long way for Merrillville and he's having his best year to date. He's developed the past few years in JV and showed a ton of potential. This year when he's gotten his chance, he's looked good. Gills is quick, shifty, and can run through some arm tackles. His vision has improved quite a bit and is hitting holes right in stride. He's able to make guys miss in the open field and pick up a few extra tough earned yards. While he's not had the biggest workload this year, he's looked good with what he has been given. It'll only go up quite a bit next year as he enters his Senior season and I'll be curious to see what he can do with it. Gills has the size and shiftiness to develop and become a fantastic back. While there are areas he's a bit raw, as good as he's looked at moments this year, it gives you confidence he's really going to explode next year when his time comes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Reece Bellin - Carmel - WR/KR - 6'1" 190lbs - 2023</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bellin has quietly had a really good career for Carmel and is a threat on Special Teams, yet hasn't quite had the looks you'd expect from a leading receiver at one of Indiana's premier schools. He's able to play in the Slot and Outwide as well. He's shown the ability to be shifty and understand defenses and where to sit in zones in the slot. He's also shown that he's has the ability to be a down-the-field threat for the offense as well. He's lengthy, has long strides, and is able to go up and get the ball. He's good with the ball in his hands and turns into a dangerous runner. He's much faster than defenses seem to anticipate and Bellin is able to take cutback lanes and find open holes. Whether its a Kick Return he just housed or a Screen and he makes something happen, it usually results in a new set of downs for Carmel. Bellin is also decent off the line and knows how to take inside releases and win. Bellin is also able to break tackles and fight through contact in the air. Blocking in the running game isn't an issue either and he's more than willing to do his part. Bellin is a fantastic recruit who is likely going to end up somewhere and making an impact sooner than later and other schools in that area will be wondering how they missed him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Jackson Willis - Indianapolis Lutheran - QB - 6'2" 185lbs - 2025</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Willis has absolutely burst onto the scene for Indianapolis Lutheran this year and they couldn't be more thrilled. Last year, Willis showed a ton of promise and potential. He had his ups and downs but ultimately left you feeling excited about his Sophomore year. He's more than delivered on expectations and has Indianapolis Lutheran in a great spot heading into the playoffs. He's got them sitting at 9-0 and a home playoff match up against a pretty good South Putnam team. Either way, Willis has shown he's capable of everything you'd ask him to be. He's got a decent arm and can put the ball where he wants it. He's able to make quick decisions and gets the ball fast. He's confident and has a good mental clock in the back of his head on when to leave the pocket. He's able to throw guys open and has no issue trusting his guy to make a play. Willis put up just under 2600-yards through the air and 34 Passing TDs on the season. He came out firing week 1 and never lost that swag on the field. He's only getting more confident and better each week. He's a Sophomore and has the team undefeated again this year. Willis is young, still developing, and lighting it up. By the time he graduates he could easily be one of the best QB prospects in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->