2024 Rankings: Top 25 Biggest Risers
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The 2024 Rankings are out after a very successful Signing Day all over New York, where we saw many recruits sign to DI, DII, and DIII schools. With both 2023 signing days in the rearview window, we take look forward…
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Continue ReadingThe 2024 Rankings are out after a very successful Signing Day all over New York, where we saw many recruits sign to DI, DII, and DIII schools. With both 2023 signing days in the rearview window, we take look forward to the class of 2024. The Class of 2024 rankings are updated and out and you can check those out here.
This class is stacked, especially at the top and below we take a look at our biggest risers in the top 25.
Korey Duff Jr Korey Duff Jr 6’6″ | 205 lbs | WR St. Anthony’s | 2024 State NY is the new #1 player in the class of 2024. Duff Jr was in the top 5 before so he only jumped a few spots but he had one of the best seasons in all of New York this season regardless of class. Duff Jr, is physically one of the best athletes in the state and has Power 5 Football size at 6’5, 200lbs. Duff Jr has incredible hands and is one of the most dangerous players in New York after the catch because of his breakaway speed and long strides. With a huge frame, Duff Jr is also one of the best in New York making contested catches. His ability to attack the catch point higher than other players makes him so hard to defend. The rising senior also has shown that he can be an effective blocker out wide on screen passes, swing passes, or even outside runs. This season Duff Jr had 42 receptions, 995 yards, and 12 TDs this season and had one of the best single games in NYCHSFL history with a 7 reception, 205 yards, and 4 TDs in the championship game against Iona Prep. Duff Jr has all the traits you want in a offensive weapon for the next level and already has offers from West Virginia, Temple, Rutgers, Pittsburgh, UMASS, UCONN, and Maryland. After the summer camp circuit I would expect Duff to start getting a lot more Power 5 attention.
Highlights
Jaylin Hicks Jaylin Hicks 6’4″ | 250 lbs | DL Iona Prep | 2024 State NY is one of my favorite players to watch in the trenches from this class. Hicks has really good upfield burst an incredible get off on the snap. Hicks has some of the best pass rush moves of any defensive lineman in this class with really effective rips and swim moves. Hicks’ quickness and ability to get through blocks is the reason he always is making plays in the backfield or around the line of scrimmage. At 6-4, 250lbs Hicks has great size and athleticism for a defensive end and he is a player who could be a force to reckon with at the FBS level. Hicks has offers from Boston College, Minnesota, Wake Forest, Syracuse, Temple, and UCONN.
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Na’eem Gladding Na’eem Gladding 6’1″ | 200 lbs | ATH Christ The King | 2024 VA is one of the most explosive playmakers in New York. The Christ the King Junior has elite speed and was a big play threat every time he touched the ball. Gladding’s ability to turn any short pass into long gains using his speed and quickness after the catch are incredible. As a receiver Gladding has a really solid route tree and does a good job of making contested catches. Gladding also does a really good job of tracking the ball on throws that travel 20+ yards and high pointing the football. Gladding had over 800 yards receiving and 8 Total Touchdowns on the season. Right now Gladding has and offer from Pittsburgh which he picked up midseason.
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Not many saw their stock rise as much as Samuel Madu Samuel Madu 6’2″ | 170 lbs | DB Archbishop Stepinac | 2024 State NY this season. Madu has ideal size and athleticism to be a power five defensive back. Madu is really solid in coverage and he uses his explosiveness and length to make plays on the ball. Madu does a really good job of using his hands to break up passes at the catch point or even poke the ball out before a catch can be fully secured. Made as a man coverage defenders does a really good job of staying on the hip of his assignment. Madu also does a great job of using the boundry as an extra defender closing out the window for a throw on deeper fade routes. Madu not only jumps up almost 50 spots in the rankings but also has picked up a tone of national recruiting attention recently with offers from West Virginia, Minnesota, Vanderbilt, Rhode Island, Purdue, UCONN, Penn State, Akron, Syracuse, Temple, Boston College, Duke, and Missouri.
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Another Archbishop Stepinac defensive back, Deonté Douglas Deonté Douglas 6’0″ | 185 lbs | DB Archbishop Stepinac | 2024 State NY had an incredible season as a defensive back. Douglas has some of the best short-area quickness and burst of any player in New York and he has incredible instincts as a defender. When I saw Douglas play in person he also had some offensive snaps where he easily was the most electric player on the field. However, as a defender Douglas is really physical defensive back who can be a really effective player in the run game. In coverage Douglas does a really good job of tracking the ball down the field and making plays at the catch point. Douglas also has some really solid positional versatility taking snaps all over the defensive backfield for Stepinac. Douglas currently holds an offer from Rhode Island and is not too far away from getting some more attention from D1 schools.
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Matthias Lighten Matthias Lighten 6’0″ | 180 lbs | ATH Moore Catholic | 2024 State NY was one of the best two-way athletes in New York this season. The Moore Catholic WR/DB was always going against teams best defensive backs and covering their top WR’s. Lighten is an incredible athlete who makes really quick cuts and has great change of direction. As a receiver Lighten is a bigger target than his size with a incredible catch radius and really strong hands. As a defensive back Lighten is really solid in coverage and breaks on the ball really quickly. Lighten’s ability to keep his eyes on the quarterback in coverage make him a special player on defense in terms of making plays on the ball. I am still indifferent on what position best suits Lighten at the next level and with the tape he has you could argue either way. Lighten has offers from Temple, LIU, and Rhode Island.
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Vincent Petzold Vincent Petzold 6’1″ | 295 lbs | OL Plainedge | 2024 State NY is one of the most dominant lineman in New York, a two-time all state selection Petzold has proven production on both sides of the ball and at the highest level in Long Island. Petzold has incredible fundamentals and his strength on the inside is the best I have seen from a interior offensive lineman. Petzold does a really good job of taking his blocks to the ground and not letting defenders get off of his blocks as the play develops past the line of scrimmage. Petzold should be one of the most sought after lineman this summer and fall and should perform really well on the summer camp circuit.
Syair Torrence Syair Torrence 5’11” | 195 lbs | ATH CBA-Syracue | 2024 State NY is one of the only committed players in the class of 2024 from New York and when you put on the tape you see why. The Syracuse commit is one of the smoothest route runners in this class. Torrence does not have elite size or speed but he has the number one trait you want in wide receivers in that he knows how to create seperation and get open. Torrence does a really good job of of tracking the ball on deep throws and is a hands catcher who is very reliable catching the ball. Torrence is also really dangerous after the catch because he is so hard to tackle. Torrence has great balance and can make cuts really quickly. Torrence also has a strong lower half which allows him to easily run through arm tackles of defensive backs. Torrence is one of the smoothest players to watch in this entire class.
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Tyrell Simmons Tyrell Simmons 6’3″ | 190 lbs | WR University Prep | 2024 State NY could have one of the highest ceilings in this entire recruiting class. Simmons Jr has elite length and size and is incredible in 50/50 contested catch situations. Simmons has great physicality and can be a threat after the catch with long strides and no fear running through defenders. Simmons does a really good job of high pointing the football and attacking the ball in the air in contested situations. Simmons is also a really solid route runner, smooth on deep routes and with really great long speed Simmons does a good job on simple double moves or one-cut upfield routes. Simmons also has some really nice blocking tape and his long frame make it really difficult for defenders to get off his blocks. Simmons has offers from Buffalo and Campbell and should get some more attention as the #1 offensive weapon this season.
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Eddie Palumbo Eddie Palumbo 6’4″ | 210 lbs | LB Archbishop Stepinac | 2024 State NY was one of the best defensive playmakers in the front seven of the stacked Archbishop Stepinac defense. Palumbo is really solid as a run defender, linebacker in coverage, and as a blitzer. Palumbo’s solid athleticism and elite length give him really solid coverage skills and make him really hard to throw around especially in zone coverage. As a run defender Palumbo has really good instincts and does a good job of taking explosive first steps to the ball. Palumbo has the most well-rounded game of the linebackers in this class and physical traits make him the complete package.
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Anthony Diaz Anthony Diaz 5’10” | 170 lbs | WR East | 2024 State NY is one of the most dangerous players with the ball in his hands. Diaz already has an offer from Buffalo and there should be some more recruiting interest coming after this next season. Diaz is so quick and can reach his top speed very quickly after making cuts. Diaz is so dangerous in the return game and has the ability to use elite speed on the sideline to turn what would be a 10-15 yard return to a return of 35+ yards. Diaz also is a really solid route runner and uses acceleration our of his cuts to create big seperation against defensive backs. Diaz also played some defense and has really solid range as a defensive back.