2024 Sleeper Prospects

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are always some players that we see that are good players, but for some reason don't get media or recruiting attention. This is the first edition of Sleeper Prospects for the 2024 class. Let's check them out: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DL Xzavier Booker - Mooresville </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 6'2 and 298 pounds, Booker has had some recruiting interest, but that has not resulted in any offers as of yet. It is a bit surprising because Booker has made plays consistently in big games against good opponents, and has the size and strength to really impact games at the line of scrimmage. He uses his hands well and has a number of pass-rush moves to pair with really good strength in a bullrush attack. He also can shed blocks and impact the interior run game at a high level. I'd expect interest to increase as he hits the camp circuit and shows off his agility and strength through drills and 1 on 1's against offensive linemen. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB Robert Kendrick - Kings Mountain </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 5'11 and 170 pounds, Kendrick makes some eye-popping plays on defense - he's a big hitter from a strong safety/rover position and tackles well overall in the open field. More specifically, he fills the alley on outside runs and makes an impact on ball carriers in an impressive fashion. He can also play corner and read routes well. I think Robert is an exceptional athlete - he also played some running back last year in spot duty, scoring 5 touchdowns and showing good speed and agility. One thing I think that can help him is getting out to camps and getting exposure, along with locking in on that slot db/safety position, I think that's his future on the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>DB JT Lattimore - North Gaston </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lattimore comes in at 5'10 and 155 pounds, and that will prompt college coaches to say to add weight - but when you look at film and see him in person, he has some very good technique and natural ability at the corner spot. Two things that immediately stand out to me are his discipline in zone coverage and ball skills. In his film, you can see some teams run some good route combinations to put him in conflict, but he reads the combo well and forces an interception. Which leads me to his ball skills. He high points the ball well in 1 on 1 situations and makes some really nice catches for those interceptions in those instances. He also plays with confidence which helps him play at a high level; I think he can definitely help a program to the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WR [player_tooltip player_id='327280' first='Saxon' last='Jenkins'] - Cox Mill</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At 6'1 and 170 pounds, Jenkins has a good-looking film and a little bit of recruiting interest, but I think there should be more for sure. He has strong hands and has the speed to close a cushion on a cornerback pretty quickly. I am impressed with the catches Saxon makes in tight coverage. Another thing I like is his ability to run after the catch, he rarely gets caught in the open field from behind. Saxon is also excellent at winning 1 on 1 on the fade route in the end zone - he has several highlights of touchdown catches on that exact route. The thing that puts it over the top for me is that he is a monster blocking in the run game - he relishes making pancake blocks and being physical. A college will get a steal with this one. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RB Keyon Phillips - Concord </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keyon is a great young man, and while he played quarterback in a run-first offense last year, I think he is a running back prospect on the next level. He is starting to get some recruiting interest that in my opinion is long overdue. At 5'9 and 170 pounds, Phillips excels in reading blocks, making the right cut, and getting north and south in the open field. There isn't a lot of wasted motion, dancing, and all those things in his running style. He has excellent speed in the open field and can make the big plays and take it to the house consistently. One thing Keyon will have to show on the camp circuit is his ball skills - playing QB he didn't get a chance to show how he can catch out of the backfield, but I have seen him do well in a camp setting with this. He also is a good leader, with strong intangibles on his side. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->