Players to Watch for This Week: 10/14
In this article:
The 2022 fall regular season is nearing its end and we are continuing to see lots of new talent appearing in the state of Kentucky. Plenty of programs have stepped up their reputation as true competitors with their depth of…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe 2022 fall regular season is nearing its end and we are continuing to see lots of new talent appearing in the state of Kentucky. Plenty of programs have stepped up their reputation as true competitors with their depth of talent this season. However, there are plenty of players who are still not looked at even when putting up ridiculous numbers in multiple games. That is going to be my job to find these players and ensure they get the spotlight they deserve. Today, I will be listing out some players to watch for in this Friday’s group of games.
Malachi is extremely good at finding running gaps in the defensive line, no matter the amount of time and amount of pressure he receives from the defense. The senior currently ranks 9th in the 4A state class in total rushing yards and ranked 10th overall in running backs for 4A. Recently, Malachi held an amazing performance racking up 16 carries for 160 rushing yards & 2 touchdowns. Along with his solid ability to read open gaps in the defense, Malachi’s superior footwork on-the-run causes misdirection in the defense which creates even more running room. Malachi plays football with a great strategy to outperform the opposing side, and I expect him to continue to do so this upcoming week.
Highlights
Zack Mason
Zack Mason
Zack is an overall reliable athlete, succeeding on offense & defense. He showed this last Friday as he caught 7 receptions for 135 yards & 1 touchdown while recording 6 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack, & 1 interception. On offense, Zack’s route running is top-notch which allows him to create space to catch a throw from his quarterback. His athleticism is solid as well, often jumping up with multiple defensive backs and still making the difficult catch. Even when the quarterback is pressured, Zack can improvise well to get open and make the play. When on defense, Zack is good at reading the opposing receiver’s routes and making a stop when the ball is thrown near him. He can be seen making multiple deflections and recording some interceptions at the free safety position. I am looking forward to seeing Zack continue to perform at a high level this week.
Jack is a vigorous middle linebacker that knows how to turn the tide over to his defense’s advantage. In other words, Lonaker is spectacular at making crucial stops and putting out lots of pressure on the offense. Jack currently leads the entire state 5A class with tackles per game, currently sitting at 14 per game. From watching Jack play, there is one word I can think of when it comes to him making plays: Brutality. His strength and speed off a blitz enable him to make hard hits that knock off the momentum of the offense. No matter where the ball carrier is at, if Jack puts at least a finger on them, they are most likely getting taken down. I believe many college LB coaches would love to recruit Jack after seeing what he can do on the football field.
Dylan recently put out a fantastic performance completing 17 passes for 278 passing yards & 4 passing touchdowns while simultaneously taking 14 carries for 157 rushing yards & 1 rushing touchdown. He and his teammate Zack Mason (listed above) have built an on-field connection that has turned them into a dangerous duo for any defense to face. For Dylan, his playstyle resembles much of Lamar Jackson as they both are talented dual-threat quarterbacks that can make plays by throwing the ball and running with the ball. Dylan truly shows his greatness when escaping out of the pocket and facing pressure. Once he leaves the pocket, Dylan can sprint past opposing tackles with his quick acceleration and have enough time to make a quick accurate toss to one of his receivers. The other alternative is to find an open gap and run the ball when there are no options to throw. Having a quarterback who can improvise innately whenever there is pressure and still come up with positive yards is a quarterback that can succeed at any level. With some colleges already eying up Burdine, I expect further schools to recruit the talented East Ridge quarterback.