2023 AYF All-Star Practice Notes: West Offensive Standouts
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Marshawn Sales IN #WL WR #WL HEIGHT 6'2" WEIGHT 160 POS WR CLASS 2027 View Profile Marshawn Sales State: Indiana A long, tall, Wide Receiver that caught my eye right away when practice was getting started. Don’t have official measurements…
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Continue ReadingA long, tall, Wide Receiver that caught my eye right away when practice was getting started. Don’t have official measurements on him, but he has to be in the neighborhood of 6-foot-2. A long-strider, Sales is from Indianapolis and proved to be the go-to homerun threat for the offense, on plays they decide to push the ball down the field vertically. Going by the nickname “Bama”, the future Lawrence North Wildcat is all legs. Without doing more homework on him as an athlete, he looks like a stud basketball player and/or high jumper with his high-cut build. Needs to get in the weight room and keep packing on muscle for the rigors of varsity football, but he was impressive.
Unequivocally the best prospect I saw on the field yesterday—for either team—by a large margin. In an all-star game setting, it’s typical for even the top kids to lose a rep or two. The alpha male that goes by “Big Lex” didn’t lose a single rep all day—on either side of the ball. This is my second time seeing him play live in the past three months and he’s just impressive. By my guess, he’s in the neighborhood of 6-foot-3 and in the 320-pound range with a tremendous frame. His entire body is big and thick, until his ankles which are skinny(ish), which allows him to move with exceptionally laterally. Sits low in his stance and throws an initial punch that knocks the wind out of people. In the offense the West team was installing, the big man was on the move a lot, having to get down the line and up to the next level. On top of the physical dominance he displayed, I also saw tremendous leadership out of him. Having a grasp on the offense and his responsibilities, he spent time helping and coaching up his other teammates. If there’s a most complete Offensive Guard in the country for the class of 2027 right now, I’d love to see him.
Another Offensive Lineman that had a good day was Nevada’s Chief Togafau-Paleafei Chief Togafau-Paleafei 6’1″ | 300 lbs | OL Sierra Canyon | 2027 State CA . When I first started watching the Offensive Line, who was impressive overall as a unit, Chief was playing Right Tackle. However, after some snapping issues, the 6-foot-1, 265-pounder was moved inside to play Center for the remainder of the day. While the snaps still weren’t 100% and is something the coaching staff was harping on, it did improve with Chief manning the position. Long term I think Chief is ultimately an interior Defensive Lineman, but he didn’t look out of place at all as an interior Offensive Linemen. Agile and aggressive for a nice-sized 2027 prospect, his snaps and first step were in sync and timely. Understood angles well, in order to cut off scraping Linebackers. He did a very solid, commendable job.
The only Offensive Linemen I didn’t hear get yelled at during practices on the first day was Lauifi, who was a mainstay at Left Tackle for the West squad. After seeing him play at the AYF National tournament in December as a member of the San Diego All-Stars, watching him play again only reconfirmed what I already know. He has a ton of athleticism for an eight-grade prospect that likely measures in the 6-foot-1, 250-pound range, if I had to guess. The Tackles aren’t asked to do a tremendous amount in this offense, but being the Left Tackle, majority of the time you have the responsibility of protecting the Quarterback’s blindside—and he did that well.
Grab the sunglasses because the future is so bright for this 2027 prospect…just as soon as somebody figures out what position he fits at. Here at the AYF National All-Star Game, he’s taking reps at Running Back on offense and Defensive End on defense, but I’m not convinced he plays either position at the next level. He’s a big kid, around 6-foot-2 if I had to guess and had better straight-line speed than some of the Running Backs and Wideouts. Runs straight up and down, and on his toes. Looks like a grow man out on the field with his build and ability. Personally, looks the part of a future Outside Linebacker/Edge on the defensive side of the ball because of how well he moves in space, yet can put his hand in the dirt. If he ends up on offense, has the body type of an athletic Tight End. That said, haven’t seen him asked to block in the box, so that’s to be determined. Either way, he is the definition of the “ATH” position
A thick, powerful, bowling ball at Running Back, William Flores William Flores 5’10” | 205 lbs | RB Cathedral Catholic | 2027 State CA makes it a long day at the office for opposing defenses. Like Bryce Vasquez and Lex Mailangi Lex Mailangi 6’3″ | 325 lbs | OL Mater Dei | 2027 State CA above, Flores comes from the OG Ducks organization in souther California. He had a sweatshirt on under his pads at practice on the first day and looked even bigger and thicker. Flores is a chain-mover that isn’t going be an Olympic sprinter but is still faster than the majority of the 2027 Running Backs in the country at this point. He’s a smart, instinctual runner that doesn’t waste time shuckin’ and jivin’ in the hole. He knows where he’s supposed to go, gets behind the big boys upfront and gets rumbling downhill at unsuspecting Linebackers and Defensive Backs.
Possibly the shortest prospect on the team, Hendrix may possibly be the most complete, pure Running Back on the team at the same time. When looking at Hendrix the comparison has to be made to NFL Pro Bowler, Saquan Barkley of the New York Giants. He’s a smaller, more compact Running Back that his West All-Star team offense looks to be Tailor-made for. Relying heavily on screens, quick passes and the big guy’s up front to clear the way, a Running Back that can hide behind the Offensive Line and suddenly pop out—like Hendrix does—should have a big day. He showed reliable hands out of the backfield and a low center of gravity when running with the rock in his hands. He’s a patient back who waits for the line to get out in front and then bobs and weaves his way behind them, up field.
Highlights
Coming from the same youth team as fellow offensive standout Marshawn Sales Marshawn Sales 6’2″ | 160 lbs | WR IN , Moore was another new name to me. The Indianapolis prospect isn’t as thick as Flores or Hendrix in the backfield, but he’s a perfect complimentary piece. Moore is more of your typical scat back who can slash and gash defenses if given a crease. Again, I don’t have official measurements or timing but he’s probably in the 5-foot-5, 140-pound range right now but can absolutely fly if given a lane to run through. Has the wiggle of a slot receiver and the vision of a Running Back, which makes him a tough kid to bring down in space. Like Hendrix, this offense is suited for him to have a big day if he can catch, turn and run with the big elephants out in front of him. Moore is a prospect that could have a sneaky good game.