GameChangers: MVPs of the Prep Redzone WI Showcase

QB1 in the Class of 2025 ended the day as QB1 of the Prep Redzone WI Showcase.  Grayson caught the eyes of coaches ins o many ways. For starters, the young man has an elite frame. Already standing at 6’4″ 190 lbs, McCain has size that you dream about at the QB position.

Then you get into his talent. For being a sophomore, the mechanics of his game are sharp. He has a smooth, consistent throwing motion that got the ball out of his hands efficiently. His footwork was smooth, and he was light on his feet. McCain was also able to use that big frame to generate a lot of velocity on the ball when he attacked the deep third of the field. Most importantly, despite playing with WRs he had never played with Grayson was an accurate passer all day long. He hit kids in stride at every level of the field.

A final thing that Grayson did to stand out was he was coachable. Multiple times I watched a coach talk to him about a piece of his game, and then on his next rep put it into action. Having that openness to learn and grow was great to see, and has me excited for his future.

A senior that is starting to pick up steam on the recruiting trail, and is going to make a next level team very happy is the Greendale RB. The 5’9″ 170 lbs senior started the day off on the right foot with a 9’1″ broad jump, and advanced body control and change of direction that he proved through a great 5-10-5 drill.

In the individual drill portion Murry stood out from the group again. He was a natural athlete for the position. He again showed off his body control and ability to change direction and accelerate at a very quick rate. Javon showed off the ability to play at different pad levels without losing that body control also.

Then we got to the 1 on 1 battles, and Murry put the final nail in the coffin earning MVP. In those matchups against LBs  Javon left no doubt that he could be a mismatch for a team at the next level. He can be counted on to be that third down back that is  a receiving threat out of the backfield and slot alignments. That body control I have preached about was again on display as he ran sharp, crisp routes while playing at top speed. Lastly, he plucked the ball out of the air easily and made impressive grabs through contact.

The senior holds three offers from Minnesota State University- Moorhead, UW- Oshkosh, and Drake University.

A kid that came out and really competed in every facet of the Showcase was the sophomore WR out of Milwaukee Academy of Science. The 5’10” 180 lbs WR had to stand out from a huge group of WRs to earn this honor. he did it with what he showed us during his position time and 1 on 1 battles.

In the individual drill time, Williams started showing that body control that next level athletes have. The type of body control that allows athletes to make everything they do look effortless. When we switched to the 1 on 1 battles that really shined. It wasn’t just the body control that stood out. His acceleration out of his cuts, how quick and smooth he could flip his hips to run tight, sharp routes, and the strength he had to fight through contact at his release and through the route all jumped out to myself and the coaches in attendance. The young playmaker also demonstrated very strong hands. He was able to make many difficult catches through contact. Kam also was able to make grabs on balls that he needed to adjust to. Tracking them and adjusting were no issue for the smooth athlete. Definitely keep an eye on this kid.

One of our four MVPs from Session I was the junior OL from Appleton North HS. The 6’2″ 275 lbs athlete had a great day and set himself apart from the crowd in all three areas of the Showcase. When I scout OL the first thing I look at is how they are put together. Does it look like they have room to continue to fill out? Do they need to re-comp their frame? Are they near the max for what their frame can hold effectively? Modder’s frame is what you want out of a HS lineman. He has good height and weight, but his frame carries it really well. Modder still has that athletic frame with room to continue to fill out telling me he has the ability to reach the size needed to play college football.

In drill work I started to see that not only does he have the frame to handle playing at a collegiate level, he also has the technique to be able to. Jackson stood out from the crowd during position work with his flexibility. The coaches were preaching that and the ability to play with a low pad level. Jackson made that look easy as he played with good flexibility in his ankles and knees.

That flexibility shown in the drills shined in the 1 on 1s. Thanks to that lower body flexibility Modder was able to play low while keeping his upper body square and strong. In 1 on 1s Jackson was able to get underneath his opponent, set his anchor. His strong anchor was another part of his game that stood out. He was able to stuff DL, and then use his lateral agility to slide and mirror them all while using good hand placement so he could maintain control. It was a great showing for the junior. He is going to be an OL to know.

The LB group had a strong argument for most talented position group in attendance. So it was going to take a big effort from an individual to step up and earn MVP of the group. That is what 6’1″ 230 lbs junior LB Samuel James Samuel James 6'2" | 230 lbs | LB/RB Duncanville | 2025 TX did. The big man caught the eyes of myself and coaches from start to finish. To start, he has a big, powerful frame. The way he can move that big frame is not something you find at every camp. During the testing portion we saw that James had the athletic profile to be a potential three down LB at the next level.

In the drill work Samuel was another athlete who stood out with his ability to take coaching. He took what the coaches were preaching and noticeably implemented it into his game. He also again proved during that time to be an impressive athlete. One that could slide laterally with ease, and transition to attacking downhill with a burst.

In the 1 on 1 battles is where Samuel solidified it. That is where he proved to not only have the ability, but also could put those abilities into action and get positive results. Samuel was aggressive in the battles. He wasn’t afraid to be physical with the RBs and try to bump them off their routes. He was able to slide with them as they cut, and then turn and run with them. He proved to have the speed to be able to stick with them in man deep down the field. A rep I was super impressed with was in his Best vs Best rep. He looked beat initially, but he flashed impressive recovery speed, and was able to break up the pass with a well timed swat to win the rep. It was a great day for Samuel. No question he is a name to know for the Class of 2024.

We didn’t have just athletes from WI at the Showcase. Illinois resident and senior to know, Michael Jefferson Michael Jefferson 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Grayslake North | 2023 State IL made the quick trip up north and it paid off in a big way. The 6′ 170 lbs senior had a strong final season winning Player of the Year for his team, was All Conference, and All State academically. Then he stepped onto the field in Oak Creek and proved he had the talent to play at the next level. Don’t miss out on this potential steal that is willing to put the work in.

When attending these Showcases and others it is always hard to find a big group of DBs. That wasn’t too much of an issue at the Prep Redzone WI event. We had between 10-15 plus rotated a lot of the receivers over to that side of the ball. Among all that, one kid stuck out from the crowd. That was Michael Jefferson Michael Jefferson 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Grayslake North | 2023 State IL . I first was intrigued y him in the drill work. The coaching staff focused on footwork in that portion, and Michael made it look effortless. While reading his man’s hip, Michael always took the proper steps to maintain his leverage while staying right on his man’s hip. Jefferson also demonstrated loose hips that allowed him to turn and run with ease once he felt the receiver commit to going vertical.

In the 1 on 1s is where we got to see it all come together in live action. We got to watch his quick feet keep him at proper leverage and position on the receiver’s hip. His hips quickly flipped as he stayed in phase with receivers through their routes, and he proved to be physical at the catch point to break up passes. Take a look at the Illinois senior.