2024 Athletes To Watch For Breakout Seasons

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The state looks to be producing multiple players who look ready to breakout there senior season as athletes colleges will be taking a hard look at in 2023. Here are a few of them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kendal Hammond | RB/LB | 6'2" 215 | South Shelby |</strong><br>A top flight athlete who tests among the best players in the state. Hammond is a combination of good size and speed. A weight room warrior who puts in the work to continue to build and get better and has some serious strength with a 315lb bench, 465lb squat and 545lb deadlift. He rushed for 1,638 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior and added another 240 yards and 3 more TDs receiving for a his Cardinals. He runs with power and speed displaying good vision and quick feet and explosive quickness in his runs. He could easily switch over and and play linebacker on the next level in college. He's a player to really watch over the spring, summer and during his senior season to see take off.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='130195' first='Waylon' last='DeGrave'] | WR/DB | 6'3" 210 | Monroe City |</strong><br>Another big-time athlete who has put up great numbers when testing at camps/combines in the last year. DeGrave did everything for the Panthers as their leading rusher with 1,455 yards and 18 TDs rushing earning 2nd team All-State, along with another almost 300 yards and 6 more touchdowns receiving. He also is an outstanding kick and punt returner as well as a standout linebacker. Waylon has the speed to play multiple positions on either offense or defense in college and has clocked 4.54 in testing and a 10-foot broad jump. It will be interesting to see where college coaches finally utilize his talents. He is physical, runs well, has great hands, can cover, has superior receiving skills and can block.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Peyton Brown | RB/LB | 6'0" 205 | Hillsboro |</strong><br>One of the top two-way players in the state. Brown is another physical athlete who plays at 100mph every down on both sides of the ball and makes the most of his opportunities. He's another one who could play on either side on the ball at his future college. Payton has great size and power at running back and good speed. He is physical and his strength makes him tough for a single man or arm tackles to bring him down on the high school level. He ran for over 800 yards and 13 touchdowns while not being the featured back in a three back rotation, and added 55 tackles, 2 sacks and a fumble recovery from his linebacker spot. He makes good reads, runs very well to the ball and is a big tackler on defense. Brown also does a nice job in pass coverage and could be utilized in many was in college.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Armani Coleman | WR/CB | 6'1" 175 | Hazelwood West |</strong><br>A hidden gem playing for his Wildcats at QB, Coleman will likely play either wide receiver or cornerback in college. Great speed and playmaking ability with the ball in his hands. He throws well enough but if he plays offense on the next level is will be as a receiver where he has really good speed, quickness and cutting ability to make defenders miss. He also has the speed to run with fast receivers and good cover skills at cornerback to shut them down. Amari also displays good tackling ability and is just an all around playmaker on defense the way he is on offense. He made the Wildcats go in 2022. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kane Wilson | WR/DE | 6'3" 210 | Hannibal|</strong><br>Outstanding two-sport athlete in baseball and football. It's football where he excels and has shown me the skills and athleticism necessary to play on the college level. Kane runs very well and has really impressed me with his receiving skills. He has good speed and gets separation from defenders, but can also make the tough catches in traffic, and I've seen him make some great circus style catches. He has good leaping ability and can elevate over defenders to catch the ball at it's highest point. Very good and does a nice job after the catch picking up yards and yards after contact using his strength and toughness. Also a very good blocker. He made the most of his opportunities with 32 catches for 418 yards and 4 TDs. He could play either WR or TE in my opinion. Defensively he recorded 63 tackles with 17.5 tackles for loss and 6 sacks. Kane also has the ability to play defensive end, EDGE or LB in college. He has explodes off the ball and has a great motor and uses his speed and quickness to get in the backfield and make plays. A physical tackler who means business at the point of attack. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->