Class 2A: 5 Rising Seniors Who Have My Attention
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As we continue to look back at the season we’re looking at rising seniors who made an impact on their respective teams. Who not only flashed high-end potential but also earned D1 offers. Ernest (EJ) Gilliam – QB – Freedom…
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Continue ReadingAs we continue to look back at the season we’re looking at rising seniors who made an impact on their respective teams. Who not only flashed high-end potential but also earned D1 offers.
Ernest (EJ) Gilliam – QB – Freedom Prep Academy / @Stackzre_ej
Passing Stats: 94-183, 1, 869 yards, 30 TD’s, 1 int
He is one of those guys that makes everyone around him better. He shows a lot of poise in the pocket. When you first put on the tape it is easy to think Gilliam is an athlete playing quarterback and not the other way around until you see several series and realize he is a heady, productive passer with a live arm and the legs to be a serious dual-threat in the spread offense. He has very good mechanics overall. He gets back and sets up quickly and carries the ball high in the pocket. He has a quick release and drives off his back foot to get good power and velocity on his throws.
Desmond Thomas Desmond Thomas 6'0" | 225 lbs | LB Riverside | 2024 TN – RB – 6’0″ 220 – Riverside HS / @DesmondThomas25
Rushing Stats: 295 carries, 1, 976 yards, 6.7 avg, 33 TD’s
Thomas can move the chains in a number of ways and is very flexible in skill-set…Flashes speed and acceleration. An instinctive runner and overall football player. A decisive and sharp cutter who can get thin through the smaller creases and accelerate through the first level of the defense. Very quick in and out of his cuts with great initial burst. Shows the vision, balance and suddenness finding and exploiting the in-line crease and can change speeds to elude in and out of traffic.
Aidan Sweathomas – WR – 5’10” – York Institute / @asweathomas22_a
Stats: 18 receptions, 502 yards, 5 TD’s
He is a solid athlete showing a combination of explosiveness, acceleration, lateral quickness and agility with subpar balance and solid top end play speed. Against zone coverage he shows above-average football intelligence as he does a good job of reading the coverage and quickly finds the soft spot in the zone. Sweathomas is an intelligent, mentally tough player who is reliable as a receiver.
Darien Meza – WR – 5’9″ – Mt. Pleasant HS / @DarienLuckett
Stats: 26 receptions, 467 yards, 6 TD’s
Mea displays good physicality and body positioning through to the catch point. Good on contested catches due to very good body adjustment and control, being able to contort his body mid-air to high-point the ball over defenders and take hits while coming to the ground. Good YAC, displaying elusiveness, slipping out of tackles, and evading defenders with sudden cuts.
Claytin Pelonero – OLB – Huntingdon HS / @ClaytinPelonero
Stats: 98 solo, 47 assist, 145 total tackles, 30 TFL, 8 sacks, 2 int, 2 FF
Pelonero is an explosive linebacker that moves very well between the tackles with good short-area quickness and change-of-direction skill. Mirrors backs well and displays great downhill burst when he squares up to meet ball carriers in the hole. Explosive blitzer who is near impossible to block for smaller running backs in pass pro.