‘Next Man Up’ Breakout Candidates For Fall

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are five underclassmen who have a chance to breakout in 2023. Some of these young players will need to make the leap from JV, while some are already leaders on their team but still have untapped potential. However, all five have massive opportunities to develop into collegiate prospect in the upcoming year.</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":"Sunny Nguyen","_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":"5'8u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Timberline","_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":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eAs soon as you watch his film, Nguyen's ball skills are obvious. He plays low, keeps his head on a swivel, and flips his hips quickly. As a sophomore for Timberline, he grabbed 5 picks and was close to several more. He's a willing tackler and knows how to use his advantage in leverage. He could be a great outside corner, safety or slot corner depending on how he develops in his Junior and Senior years. Young enough to add muscle quickly, and could still be growing as well.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["449558"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eSchafer is a lengthy corner who's comfortable in both man and zone coverage. He has good footwork and keeps his hands on receivers. He's a good tackler and plays the flats particularly well.u003c/spanu003eu003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eHe needs to work on his ball skills. He bats balls away and prevents catches but will see more picks by highpointing the ball. He also needs to utilize his length more by jamming and pressing receivers. On offense, his footwork makes his routes timely and he gets wide open when covered in loose zones, where his size makes him a good possession target. Schafer will look to make an impact both ways again for Anacortes in 2023.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["338830"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003e[player_tooltip player_id='338830' first='Sam' last='Merriman']'s track speed makes him a true home run hitter at the RB position. He averaged 6.6 yards per carry and amassed over 1,100 total, but the stats don't do Merriman's running style justice. He can score on any given play from any spot on the field, and accelerates rapidly through the line of scrimmage. Most of his long runs were straight footraces, but he showed he can break and spin out of tackles on other big carries as well. All eyes will be on him as he leads Blanchet this fall.u003c/spanu003e","_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":"Karsten Wilson","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Bishop Blanchet","_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":"While [player_tooltip player_id='338830' first='Sam' last='Merriman'] racked up stats, Wilson was lead-blocking for Blanchet. Wilson is a versatile offensive weapon who loves doing the dirty work. He excitedly blocks bigger players, and finishes blocks through the whistle. This skillset allowed him to line up as both a FB and TE for Blanchet last season, and he also scored from both positions. He ran mostly block-and-release out routes as a tight end, which he timed well, sold the fake and caught several of. As a runner, he's patient and stays low through the line. When he's in space, he runs toward contact and falls forward. If he continues to gain strength, he could become one of the state's better blocking backs. He'll look to play a full Varsity season and take another step in his Junior year.","_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":"Evan Buckman","_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":"2496","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Heritage","_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":"u003cspan style=u0022font-weight: 400u0022u003eAlthough Heritage had a difficult season last year, they can find a bright spot in the continued improvement of Buckman. He played both ways for the Timberwolves his junior season after getting acquainted at LB his sophomore year. He's an extremely willing tackler; he wraps up immediately and lets the ball carrier struggle, wearing them down and forcing punch-out opportunities. He uses his size as an RB to his advantage and rarely goes down on first contact. He needs to work on his pad level and footwork to take the next step. Tackling and blocking form will be key to Buckman's progression.u003c/spanu003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63bde89adcf47"} /-->