Meet the Hidden Gems in Class 2A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tom Brady, Roger Staubach, Deacon Jones. All three of these players were overlooked through the NFL Draft. They now stand as some of the best players to ever play the game. This happens all the time in football, especially on the high school level. Looking at the game today, players like Brock Purdy and Joe Burrow show that talent is at any corner. These superstars had to power through oppositions in order to get where they are today. There are over one million high schoolers playing football in the United States today. With a number that big, many student-athletes will not get the recognition that they deserve. This list recognizes five players in Class 2A that play on a level much higher than what their rankings and lists show them as. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1309801' first='Braxton' last='Creed']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Halstead","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1309801' first='Braxton' last='Creed'] is a fast body that can do it all. Having highlights of him playing quarterback, wide receiver, and safety, Creed has proven that his speed and skills can translate to most position on a football field. He demonstrates good determination in his running and is downhill when meeting running backs in the hole. He breaks down on his tackles and does not show hesitation in contact. His hands are also great, being able to pull down 30+ yard jump balls with corners directly in his pocket. Although he may not wrap up on tackles or explode when breaking on routes at times, his athleticism and nose for the ball helps him overcome his few technical fixes.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Van Loop","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Haven","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Just looking at his film, many viewers would have no idea that Loop was only a sophomore last year. His ability to change direction and make people miss already looked seasoned, as well as his courage and ability to drop his shoulder to go through someone as the need arises. He may not be ideal size, but he plays like he is 7 feet tall. He has speed to keep big plays big, but does not create space behind him. Haven has utilized him as a pass catcher out of the backfield too, which works like a charm. Loop is set to have an excellent junior campaign and should bring the Wildcats past .500 in 2023.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Logan Page","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Humboldt","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Logan Page is a bad man. A tall, sturdy frame that loves nothing more than running downhill crumpling ball carriers. He possesses good speed that he utilizes on defense by crashing on running backs and receiver coming across the middle, as well as offense by lining up in the slot or on the outside and sprinting down the seam. Page has great body control and pulls down back shoulder throws with ease, using his frame to shield defenders away from the ball. The biggest setback from Page is his film tape, with only a few games at his disposal. Only being a sophomore, that is sure to change with time. Given what he has shown already, it spells nothing good for the man lined up in front of him.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Aiden Broxterman","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Nemaha Central","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"The only thing keeping Thunder Nation from exclaiming the term u0022Broxterman Islandu0022 is that it doesn't roll off the tongue. Aiden has already checked every other box for that title. As a corner, he demonstrates that he can hang with the best receivers in 2A and stay in their pocket for all four quarters. He is a smart player and can hide from quarterbacks, baiting them to throw balls that he will not hesitate for house calls. He plants his feet hard on hitch routes and digs, and will always get a body on someone catching a pass. Although he can make tackles, he lacks the pop and fundamentals in tackling that others on this list have. It is no secret that Nemaha Central trotted out one of the best defensive units in the state with athletes like Broxterman, and that was the key to them winning the 2A state title.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Jay Johnson","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Council Grove","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"For 48 minutes, Jay Johnson is a man on a mission. Johnson is a player that knows every play is capable of becoming a highlight play. He has a super high motor and does not give up on plays. Time and time again he will make plays on the other side of the field. He is a edge rushing LB that although may tackle too high, possesses a great jump and get to quarterbacks fast. He plays angry on both sides of the ball, always playing to the whistle and needing to get a hat on someone every play. He runs through arm tackles and blocks for the other ball carriers for the Braves. Jay Johnson is looking to lead the Braves this season past the second round where they fell in 2022.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63d4247615cb7"} /-->