Level Up 7v7 Tryout: High School Standouts, Part II

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WEST DES MOINES, IA-- </strong>Part II of the Level Up 7v7 tryout has now been released. This Group of five standouts we caught in person last Sunday at the RecPlex in West Des Moines shows off a wide mixture of skillsets and all FIVE should be playing college football in the future. Three of these prospects in the State of Iowa in the 2024 class are extremely under the radar, and we could visualize the future of probable next-level prospects with the other two. Let's take a look into Part II from the Level Up 7v7 tryout!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='320766' first='Dylan' last='Calvin'], DB, Creston (IA) 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":550782,"width":332,"height":218,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/Dylan-Calvin-rotated-crop-480x316-1671083372.jpg?w=480" alt="" class="wp-image-550782" width="332" height="218" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dylan's instinctive ball-tracking ability on Sunday at the Level Up 7v7 tryout struck a chord with me from watching him on multiple reps of 1on1s. He also showed excellent read steps before the rep even started, putting himself in a solid position to identify the route and jump into it with his athletic ability and fluid football IQ. When you get to roll the tape on this young man, that consistency I saw on Sunday continues, which is a keyword I look at when evaluating any prospect that draws interest to me. Dylan's active change of direction shows off a swift downhill motor to get to the football with a lot of pop in his speed, and he shows off that pop in his physicality level by popping the wide receiver right in the mouth. I like Dylan's vision early, especially when he goes 1on1 with the wide receiver on intermediate routes. His reactive demeanor paints a great picture when looking at the next level. I also like Dylan's footwork as he shows off the physicality, however, keeps a smooth tempo every time when I watch him in pass coverage. <a href="https://twitter.com/DylanCalvin4">Twitter </a>&amp; <a href="http://www.hudl.com/video/3/13397484/6383bfa53448f70898508218">Tape</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='156641' first='Wyatt' last='Powell'], LB, MFL-MarMac (IA) 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For some, this was the first look for Wyatt at the Level Up 7v7; however, not for me as I got the chance to evaluate this young man's skillsets at the Winona State prospect camp this summer as he was one of my standouts from the linebacker group in Winona. The motor that this young man plays with at the 1A level in Iowa football was yet again a joy to watch on Sunday as he drove 3.5 hours to West Des Moines to get an ample amount of reps and showed out as one of the top overall performers at the tryout. His physical on-tape is demoralizing to the ball carrier as his knockback tackling ability just swarms to the ball and opens up with an excellent contact level. He shows off excellent vision in space and that quick trigger in his change of direction I love watching when evaluating linebackers. Wyatt's athleticism is outstanding, and I agree with the fellas at Level Up 7v7 that Wyatt reminds us of 2023 prospect <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='104114' first='Nolan' last='DeLong'],</strong> as Wyatt carries a similar frame and is just extremely solid on both sides of the field and plays with a determined grit that college coaches should fall in love with. I believe Wyatt is a LB prospect with a Division I ceiling in my eyes. <a href="https://twitter.com/2wyatt4">Twitter</a> &amp; <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2JpcLb">Tape</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Malik Epps-Keller, QB, Cedar Rapids Washington (IA) 2025</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":550784,"width":332,"height":218,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/Malik-Epps-Keller-rotated-crop-463x304-1671083442.jpg?w=462" alt="" class="wp-image-550784" width="332" height="218" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Malik was a quarterback prospect on Sunday that you could just read into the early potential that is there based on the arm talent I saw in individual reps at the Level Up 7v7 tryout. I was quite intrigued with this young man's quick release and the elevated speed and determination he played with as he showed lots of upside on the muliple reps I got to watch. He has some loaded up arm strength that has some pop and also carries solid precision especially on his his deep and intermediate routes on tape. I like his swift awareness with the demeanor he plays with as he has the instincts to tuck it and run as a dual-threat with fluid change of direction he has in his arsenal as I loved his game tape against Newton in the 2022 season. Malik's ability to work his eyes without overselling wear he is going with the football was another intriguing skillset I found on tape with him from his recent tape upload. He might of just wrapped up his sophomore season at Cedar Rapids Washington, but I love this young man's next level potential playing on Saturdays as he's just scratching the surface with all that talent he has. <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2K3KWP">Tape</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401870' first='Drake' last='DeGroote'], QB, Valley (IA) 2026</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":550786,"width":338,"height":222,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/Drake-DeGroote-rotated-crop-463x304-1671083493.jpg?w=462" alt="" class="wp-image-550786" width="338" height="222" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another quarterback that caught my eye from the 15U group on Saturday was 2026 QB prospect [player_tooltip player_id='401870' first='Drake' last='DeGroote'] from West Des Moines (IA) Valley. He's not yet grown into his body with his 5'10 160 pound frame but man does he have some upside in the reps I caught from 1v1s on Sunday in West Des Moines as he showed off noticable solid technique on the throws I got to watch from him. Even at a young age, Drake showed off early that he can whip it from all three levels as I enjoyed watching his composure he carried inside the pocket. His tape shows off great awareness to escape and still make a competitive throw from the run with excellent precision fitting the ball in some tight windows. Drake also shows off the awareness to use make the accurate throw with the proper arm strength needed within his quick release. He might be a younger QB propsect, however with plenty of years left of ample development at Valley, I will make the early call on him that this 2026 QB prospect has the tools to play on Saturdays even though it sounds premature, this kid is just scratching the surface to his next-level potential. <a href="https://twitter.com/DegrooteDrake">Twitter</a> &amp; <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Jw6AF">Tape</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Gabe Chayee, DB, Waukee (IA) 2024</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":550787,"width":347,"height":228,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"none"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/12/IMG_3984-rotated-crop-1456x956-1671083534.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-550787" width="347" height="228" /></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gabe was a defensive back prospect I was intrigued with at the 2021 Level Up 7v7 tryout and although he's undersized at 5'7 150 pounds this young man can lock wide receivers up with his reactive speed to the football. As a cornerback that focuses on press-man coverage, Gabe has some superb instincts as there is no question his change of direction is one of the best one's I have seen amongst DBs in the Des Moines Area. His crashing ability helping the inside run shows off a DB prospect if you blink on tape, you might never know how fast he can get there. He's got some development to be seen this offseason with growing on his ball-tracking skills and utilzing that vision to his advantage putting his head on a swivel. Still, my eyes point at a college football future for Gabe, as there are some skillsets that are still untapped that he can develop going into this offseason into his senior season. <a href="https://twitter.com/gabeyu123">Twitter</a> &amp; <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2JraTj">Tape</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->