On The Come Up: Class of 2024
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Each year there are players who burst on the scene by making a statement with their standout play. These players may not have been household names when the season started in 2022, but at seasons end, these ballers were able…
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Continue ReadingEach year there are players who burst on the scene by making a statement with their standout play. These players may not have been household names when the season started in 2022, but at seasons end, these ballers were able to grab headlines and put the state on notice. Here are several players whose stock rose in the rankings in the Class of 2024 who are On The Come Up.
Patrick-Daniels was a key cog in the Aledo Bearcats run to their 11th state title. He is phone booth quick, he has excellent vision that sets up his blocks well, he hits the hole like his hair is on fire and his suddenness in space, enables him to make defenders miss in the open field. Keiran is a twitchy athlete, who can make sharp, quick cuts and he gets vertical in a hurry. He has the versatility to line up at receiver, make grabs in traffic, he has excellent ball skills and he eats up yards after the catch due to his skill to elude defenders in space. Patrick-Daniels put phenomenal numbers in 2022, rushing for 1,410 yards with 20 touchdowns. Several schools have shown interest and he has several Junior Day visits this spring after his breakout season. Colleges programs will definitely get eyes on him in 2023 on the recruiting trail.
Highlights
Bailey was the field general on Desoto High School’s run to the state title in 2022. DJ has a big league arm, he has a quick, whip-like release and Bailey can make all the throws on the route tree. His ability to make throws from multiple arm slots with pinpoint accuracy are traits that seperate Bailey from quarterbacks around the state. Bailey’s pocket awareness, along with his ability to navigate the pocket like a veteran, are key attributes that stand out in his game. DJ has the arm talent to fit the football into small windows and has great touch on his deep ball. Bailey plays with a calm, cool demeanor, he doesn’t get rattled and he has complete control of the Desoto Eagles fast pace offense. Bailey showed off his running prowess last fall, by having the awareness to break the pocket when needed to move the sticks, he runs with power and strength and made teams pay with his skill to run the read option with precision as an added weapon in the Eagle offensive arsenal. In 2022, Bailey put extraordinary numbers, throwing for 3,871 yards, 45 touchdowns, while averaging 242 yards per game. DJ was selected 1st team all-state, 1st team all-district and he was selected to the All-Area Team in DFW. With Bailey’s emergence as one of the top quarterbacks in the state, expect colleges to make a stop in Desoto to get eyes on him.
Martin is a playmaker with the football in his hands. His ability to change direction, cut, turn and get vertical in a hurry are characteristics that stick out in his game. Martin is cat quick, his route running from the receiver position is sharp and deliberate, he is shifty in space, which enables him to win early off of the line of scrimmage. Once he gets in the open field, Martin is electric, his ability to be explosive, accelerate and make defenders miss is exceptional. He excels at yards after the catch and he runs with power and has the skill set to break tackles. TI’Erick is a threat in the run game, whether gets the football on jet sweeps or lines up in the backfield, put the football in his hands and let him go get it. Martin is a special teams weapon in the return game, he plays with a no fear mentality and his short area quickness and vision allows him to get a quick six from any distance on the field. A multi-sport athlete, Martin is a sprinter on the Lancaster track team, where he brings the heat on the track. Texas A&M Commerce extended a recent offer and you expect more teams to make a stop down I-20 to get eyes on Martin in 2023.