Super-Sophs: More to come these skills’ Jr. Year

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore season is typically one full of growing pains. We watch freshman boys turn into young men. Athletes are immersed into deeper, schematic aspects of the game. Many are not yet equipped, neither physically nor mentally, to succeed at the varsity level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But then there are simply just some ballers out there.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Today we scout some of the state's top-performing sophomore skill players from the 2022 football season. What made them successful? Where can they continue to grow to have killer junior campaigns?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["478441"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"As a sophomore, [player_tooltip player_id='478441' first='Kenny' last='Smith'] and his 175lb frame was ready to withstand the gauntlet known as the West Jersey Football League. His size is complimented by his elite speed. Smith is a natural runner in every sense of the word. He hits the hole at full speed and uses his vision and balance to effortlessly cut back when a seam is available. In the open field defenders seem to have one of three options: bounce off of him, get ran over, or get their ankles broken.rnrnDespite playing for a historically run-heavy team u002du002d carrying the ball 221 times u003cemu003ewithout u003c/emu003ea fumble for 1670 yards and 21 TDs last season u002du002d Smith brings diversity to his game too. He lined up at slot receiver, hauling in 10 receptions for 76 yards and 2 TDs. Defensively he registered 38 tackles and 1 interception. However, what probably excites his coaches the most is his willingness to be battering ram of a lead blocker - consistently bowling over defenders when his teammates pound the rock.rnrnDual-sport baller [player_tooltip player_id='478441' first='Kenny' last='Smith'] is a special talent.rnrnu003ca href=u0022http://www.hudl.com/v/2Jq6hxu0022u003eHudlu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["218550"],"_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":"Big time players make big time plays. That's how [player_tooltip player_id='218550' first='Dez' last='Jones']' sophomore season will be defined. In a season where he converted 59 catches to 1,001 yards and 6 TDs (he also added two, two-point conversions too), his 60-yard touchdown reception was arguably the play of the game en route to a 19-17 State Championship game victoryrnrnOn film the first thing that jumps off the screen are the cuts he makes while running routes. He breaks defenders down like an Allen Iverson crossover. He gains a lot of YAC due to his uncanny ability to get skinny, low, and keep his legs churning as defenders close in on him. He tracks the ball's flightpath and adjusts to it u003cemu003eextremely u003c/emu003ewell while it is in the air. He also has a knack for acrobatic grabs.rnrn[player_tooltip player_id='218550' first='Dez' last='Jones'] will have an insane junior campaign.rnrnu003ca href=u0022http://www.hudl.com/v/2Jjitfu0022u003eHudlu003c/au003e","_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":"Sah'nye Degraffenreidt","_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":"2410","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Atlantic City","_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":"Sah'nye Degraffenreidt might sound like a familiar name to you if you are a fan of the SportsCenter Top 10; however he deserves to go viral for more than just one play he happen to make. Degraffenreidt managed to grab 51 balls thrown his way for a total of 894 yards for the season.rnrnAs a vertical threat, Degraffenreidt excels at high-pointing the ball and making the grab at its apex. He controls his body well enough to shield defenders from making plays on the ball too. On top of that, he makes one-handed grabs look routine. He is a violent runner with the ball in his hands and utilizes his stiff arm to assist diving tacklers to the ground.rnrnWhat impresses me the most is the threat Degraffenreidt is to score u003cemu003eat any pointu003c/emu003e on the field u003cemu003eat any timeu003c/emu003e in the game. In addition to his 11 touchdown catches, he returned a punt for a TD, had two house calls on kickoffs, and one pick-six.rnrnThey say lightning does not strike twice. Sah'nye Degraffenreidt does though.rnrnu003ca href=u0022http://www.hudl.com/v/2Jq5S3u0022u003eHudlu003c/au003ernrnu003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/AchsVikings/status/1596119551020003328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1596119551020003328%7Ctwgr%5Ef250da387099fa85bb38ead281f6956aa9636eb1%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10u0026amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2F973espn.com%2Fatlantic-city-nj-wide-receiver-makes-sportscenter-top-10-plays%2Fu0022u003eSportsCenter Top 10u003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["218554"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Once upon a time, a 14-year old freshman suited up for his first varsity game against the eventual North Group V #1 seed. That freshman accrued 208 total yards from scrimmage, scoring on a 65-yard kickoff return and a 86-yard catch.rnrnThat freshman was [player_tooltip player_id='218554' first='Lotzeir' last='Brooks']. That is how he burst onto the prep scene and he has only gotten better.rnrnFor my money 2025's most explosive WR in the state, Brooks registered 69 catches for 1089 yards, scoring 14 times. He added 160 yards on 17 rushes and scored twice. Defensively made 47 tackles, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, and picked off two passes - scoring on one of them.rnrnBrooks game revolves around his speed. He moves so fast, that the most subtle shimmy forces defenders out of position from about 6 yards away. When he finds a seam, he hits it with a full head of steam. He stops on a dime and returns to top speed in 3-steps-or-less. This shiftiness and acceleration allows him to bob-and-weave through bubble/tunnel screens. The one things absent from his film is the ability to track the home run ball - but he constantly hits inside-the-park home runs.rnrn[player_tooltip player_id='218554' first='Lotzeir' last='Brooks'] may already be a household name in the state of New Jersey. In his junior year, he might become a household name across the country.rnrnu003ca href=u0022http://www.hudl.com/v/2GBS0Uu0022u003eHudlu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["525111"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Playing as a sophomore is a big deal, but beating out u003cemu003efive seniors u003c/emu003eahead of you on the depth chart - that's impressive. That's just how [player_tooltip player_id='525111' first='Quincy' last='Porter'] rolls.rnrnIn an offense that ran the ball twice as many times as it threw, Porter grabbed 34 balls - accounting for 27% of the teams completions. This translated to 682 yards and 10 TDs. Perhaps the most telling stat was his 20.1 YPC average.rnrnPorter immediately has an advantage over DBs due his size. Listed at 6'4u0022, few DBs can match up. With this size comes his catch radius. Porter is adept at making catches all within his wide catch radius - including back shoulder and balls thrown behind him. When he runs his routes, he gains so much ground with each step he takes. This allows him to threaten any direction when an DB is in front of him and forces DBs move backwards on skates. On top of that, he runs very crips routes and his breaks on out-cutting routes are sudden and violent.rnrnThis kid is a DUDE. No doubt in my mind he will play on national TV every week one day. It's just a matter of for who and on which day of the week.rnrnu003ca href=u0022http://www.hudl.com/video/3/16203458/6388036290eec3053c9dda08u0022u003eHudlu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63c2f9799ec33"} /-->