💎Diamonds in the Rough Series C/O 2023: Pt 10
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Western Pennsylvania is a region that’s rich with football talent yearly. The transfer portal has altered recruiting for high school prospects in terms of visibility. Due to the abundance of eligible recruits, some high school athletes have become recruiting collateral…
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Continue ReadingWestern Pennsylvania is a region that’s rich with football talent yearly. The transfer portal has altered recruiting for high school prospects in terms of visibility. Due to the abundance of eligible recruits, some high school athletes have become recruiting collateral damage. I’m going to be highlighting some of the underrated or unheralded prospects around western pa in the 2023 & 2024 classes. These recruits spotlighted are either uncommitted or haven’t been offered altogether in a lot of cases. These gems will be introduced in a series of articles to adequately spotlight their abilities.
Jason is sitting on 4 offers from Division 2 Clarion, Fairmont State, Lock Haven, and Walsh at the moment. The senior DL/OL has been receiving some D1 interest as well, but none have pulled the trigger on him. McBride moves well for his size and he displays a lot of hand violence. Quip’s senior lineman plays well off of blocks simultaneously using his hands well. His effort is substantial in pursuit and he’s an explosive hitter. McBride shows athletic ability with a good change of direction chasing ball carriers. His strength allows him to engage & disengage quickly in run pursuit. The 2023 prospect is productive and often makes plays behind the line of scrimmage. McBride has great game experience from playing in big games for the reigning 4A PA state champs.
Brickner is on FCS & D2 radars right now but hasn’t been offered. Jaren has been productive at QB, previously being named 1st team All-state in 2021. The senior dual-threat QB has the winning experience, he led Beaver Falls to a 2020 WPIAL title. The Lefty signal-caller has poise in the pocket & throws an accurate deep ball. His QB mechanics are adequate plus he throws well off of play-action. Brickner is athletic & he shows playmaking ability rushing on QB keepers. Jaren stands tall in the pocket completing down-the-field throws. The 2023 athlete throws with good anticipation and has good placement. Brickner is athletic enough to be a Safety as well. He displays good hips, footwork, and play recognition. He had a good play on his junior film reacting to a fade in single high coverage.
Ty is getting D2 looks mostly for his college recruitment. Banco displays a lot of strength and power firing out of his stands on both sides of the ball. He’s a tweener in a sense because he is capable of being a productive D-Tackle, Offensive Guard, or Center. Ty’s center of gravity mixed with his explosion makes him a tough matchup. One of the things he’s great at is pulling and bludgeoning defenders. His strength and agility also give him the capability of being a starting quality Center on the next level. Defensively, He fires out of his stance well & redirects quickly in run pursuit. Banco is a leader on the D-Line with a top-notch motor that doesn’t relent. Ty has recently been named a finalist for the Bill Fralic Memorial award, which highlights the WPIAL’s top lineman.
Dinari has one D2 offer from Lock Haven & a lot of FCS interest as well. The senior athlete has a good frame at 6’1 185 with speed. He has good play recognition and isn’t afraid to stick someone. Clacks is a reliable open-field tackler that disengages blockers well. He has experience playing cornerback so his man coverage skills are above average for SS. Dinari utilizes the soft shoe press technique, which just means he patiently walks out of press coverage. The 2023 DB has good ball skills and the size to contest throws. Offensively, Dinari is a good route runner with playmaking ability. He possesses strong hands & a wide-ranging catch radius. His athleticism can be seen when he’s fighting for YAC yards.
Rashod Woods
Rashod Woods
Rashod has multiple division two schools pursuing him right now. Carrick’s senior wide receiver is sure-handed and not afraid to catch passes over the middle. Wood’s speed and athletic ability make him very dangerous when fighting for YAC. Rashod is a smooth releaser versus press coverage. His ball skills are good and he’s talented at adjusting to make the reception. The 6’1 wideout has big playmaking capabilities averaging 20 yds per catch as a senior. Carrick’s Head Coach Greg Johnston relied heavily on Woods when he needed a big play down-field. Rashod finished with 42 catches for nearly 800 yds and 5 touchdowns in 2022. D2 schools such as Gannon, West Liberty, and Walsh have shown interest in Woods as of late.