7 Upstate New York Players for 2023
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These 7 players are banking on their game to improve to one heavenly level in 2023. There are a lot of unique backgrounds and stories from this group of young football players. Check their stories and type of skills that…
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Continue ReadingThese 7 players are banking on their game to improve to one heavenly level in 2023. There are a lot of unique backgrounds and stories from this group of young football players. Check their stories and type of skills that they use on the gridiron below.
This is a straight burner and one the most talented WRs that I have scouted at the high school level so far. Kelvin Shepard Kelvin Shepard 5’9″ | 160 lbs | WR East | 2025 State NY has so much play making ability in his game that it screams off the film. It is so much fun to watch Kelvins film, and it makes you want to see more. Shepard is from East High School and spoke to me about how he wants to evolve into a great leader in 2023. Putting his teammates and himself in position for greatness is such a huge goal that Shepard has set for himself this upcoming season.
Shepard will be a junior this upcoming season, and he is a WR that can be utilized all over the field, even at the RB spot. Kelvin was sent on many jet sweeps where he was able to rely on is explosive speed to gain large amounts of yardage. When Shepard has the ball in his hands, his outstanding ball carrier vision was showcased when being able to cut up field into the open lane. So many times, multiple defenders would fail to bring Shepard down in open space because of how quick he is. The ability to cut on a dime and use his showcase of moves to gain that extra yard is present. There is so much fight and willingness to find the end zone in Shepard’s game.
The natural talent to make big-time catches deep down the field in traffic popped all over his film. Being able to track the ball over his shoulder was put on display time after time. When releasing off the LOS, defensive backs would have a tough time trying to keep up with Shepard when running simple 9 routes. So many times, Kelvin was able to get open so quickly because of his fluid ability to run sharp routes. Kelvin stated to me that he wants to double his stats from this past year, lead his team in receiving yards again, and to finally lead East High to a championship.
Twitter: @kelvin_shepard
Instagram: @hollywood_kelviin
Hudl Profile: https://www.hudl.com/profile/15823983/Kelvin-Shepard
Taivon Wilson
Taivon Wilson
If you like tough and physical ball carriers that put their head down to drive for extra yardage, then here is a prime example with Taivon Wilson. Standing in at 5’9” and weighing 180-pounds, Wilson is a do it all RB for University of Prep Rochester. In addition to the RB position, Taivon is a OLB that has already set goals of averaging 10 tackles a game and to lead the entire Section V in total tackles.
When placed at the RB position, the physical nature to drag players while advancing for the extra yards was always a consistent effort here with Taivon. Wilson’s extra effort to gain the necessary yardage to move the chains is what you want to see and will see often. The ball carrier vision to see even the smallest lane would show up on film. Taivon’s acceleration around the outside C & D gaps was outstanding and came in handy when beating defenders in open space. Always being able to gain the edge on the defender was a big part of his game.
Coming out of the backfield, Wilson is a back that is a very effective at being a threat in the passing game. Many times, Wilson would catch the ball and make many defenders miss in space. For the upcoming season, Wilson wants to hit the 1,000 yards mark when it comes to rushing. Since Wilson is also an effective pass catcher, he wants to also hit at least 200 receiving yards. Finally, Taivon stated that he wants to end this upcoming season with a state’s championship for University of Prep Rochester.
Twitter: @TaivonWilson
Instagram: @dreamchasintai
Hudl Profile: http://www.hudl.com/profile/17494873
Miron Gurman
Miron Gurman
This was truly one of the most physical players at the RT and DE position that I have seen thus far at the high school level. Standing in at 6’7” and weighing in at 245-pounds, Miron Gurman is a force to be reckoned with at Spencerport High School. This is a pure beast of a player that has monster intangibles and will be entering into his junior year in 2023. The pure drive and emotion to throw the opposing player off their feet occurred multiple times on tape at both the RT and DE positions. It was mind-blowing to see and should make any football coach at the collegiate level want to recruit this young man. Over at the RT spot, there were so many times in the run game, Gurman was able to come off the line and take a defender straight to the ground on a reach or in-line block. At times, Miron was even utilized as the leading blocker on pull blocks and was able to create consistent space for the ball carrier. The brute strength and power is a complete stand-out that certainly is exciting to see on film. Gurman is one if not the best blocking RTs in Section V. The pure dominance at the line of scrimmage gives his football team a huge advantage in the run game. When it comes to the defensive side of the ball, rushing the passer often, and creating results of the QB on the ground is a huge point of emphasis for Gurman in 2023. Miron wants to break Spencerport’s sack record and make AGR this upcoming season. One trait that Gurman is going to lean on heavily to accomplish these goals is his ability to bull rush the opponent. Using his pure speed and size to overpower the opposing offensive linemen granted Gurman to produce tremendous pressure on the QB. Miron can even bend and dip to gain a quick leverage win when making a second move to shed off his block. Twitter: @MironGurman Instagram: @mironGurman Hudl Profile: https://www.hudl.com/profile/16510346/Miron-Gurman
Luca Desandis
Luca Desandis
A very hardworking and agile LB here with Lucas Desandis from Brighton High School. Luca has been playing the game of football for 11 years and will be coming into this year as a junior. During the spring, Desandis also plays the game of lacrosse and has been doing that for 9 years. This is a very smart and intelligent young man that stated that he plans to take multiple AP classes next year. When it comes to the action at the LB spot on the field, Luca is much more of an instinctive LB that can be an on or off the ball LB. One of the main goals for Luca coming into 2023 is being able to read defenses even better right before the play develops. Putting himself in an even better position pre-snap will truly allow his game to develop even more.The ability to recognize between run or pass, and then attack with impactful speed was confident throughout Luca film. One play that stood out tremendously was when Desandis read right through a play action play and swatted down the QBs pass to the end zone. The fluid ability to move around and chase down ball carriers at a quick rate was a huge plus in Luca’s game. Being able to fight off of blocks and then still purse after the ball carriers are traits that Desandis has and that you want to see. Taking the correct pursuit angle was a big trait that shined on Luca’s film. Desandis has a strong ability to wrap up the ball carrier low and at first contact. Even when it was a challenging tackle to make, Desandis was able to wrap the ball carrier up for multiple seconds before his teammates came in to secure the tackle up. Luca stated to me that he wants to be a better tackler this coming season. Being able to make big time tackles for his defense to get them off the field are plays that he wants to make. Twitter: @LucaDesandis Instagram: @lucadesandis Hudl Profile: https://www.hudl.com/profile/16114819/Luca-Desandis
Experience playing the game of football at the varsity level is a huge part of who Xavier Smith Xavier Smith 6’1″ | 225 lbs | ATH Greece Arcadia | 2025 State NY is. Smith played his first varsity football game for Greece Arcadia when he was in 8th grade. This is a player that has a giant goal of having 65+ tackles this upcoming season and most importantly picking up a collegiate offer, so Smith can continue to play the game he loves post high school. Smith has experience playing multiple positions such as LB, DL, and TE.Weighing in at 230-pounds and being able to fly around to make big time tackles at his age is impressive to see. This is a hard-hitting linebacker that was able to effectively cause havoc behind the line of scrimmage in both the run or pass. Plenty of times, Smith was able to showcase his ability to fly through the A or B gaps to make electric tackles behind the line of gain. The fundamentals of making a clean, but forceful tackle on the ball carrier stood out the most when watching Xavier play the game of football.Now at the TE position, Xavier was able to use his pure size to his advantage when out leveraging defenders. The size and power in Smith’s game really stood out when making one-on-one blocks on the outside. At times, Smith was even the lead blocker or would take hand-offs when lined up in the shotgun. The ability to make catches in traffic was put on full display throughout Xavier’s film as well. Tough player and a tough kid from Greece Arcadia on a ton of radars.Twitter: @xaviersmith5_Instagram: @xaviersmith.5Hudl: https://www.hudl.com/profile/15655929/Xavier-Smith
Highlights
Quite the story here with Aquinas Institute’s QB/S named Trent Buttles Trent Buttles 5’11” | 175 lbs | QB Aquinas Institute Of Rochester | 2027 NY . This is an athlete that has experience in basketball, baseball, track, and wrestling in addition to football. Part of the reason why Trent is so talented is because his mother and father were both college athletes playing softball and football. Trent also mentioned that his uncle played at the University of Maine and was with the Buffalo Bills for a short period of time. Trent is a high honor roll student at Aquinas and has been asked to be an ambassador at his school. This young man made very intelligent statements to me including: “Individual success and accomplishments are important and will come with the success of the team.”
Buttles was brought up to the varsity level when he was in 8th grade at the safety position. At the safety spot, Trent’s natural athleticism and football instincts were huge standouts. Buttles was also putting himself in the right position pre-snap often. The ability to close quickly on both balls in the air and ball carriers was evident throughout Trent’s film. At times, Trent was played at the nickel CB being able to effectively cover receivers coming out of the slot in both man or zone situations. This is a defender that will pursue at full effort and make clean tackles on running backs coming downhill. The overall toughness and willingness to lay his body on the line in any situation stood second-to-none. There is no shy nation here with Buttles.
The QB position is where Buttles showcased his dominant athleticism where he was able to make defenders miss with spins, jukes, and stutter steps in 1v1 situations. Buttles even was able to hit big throws 30–40 yards down the field. Being able to extend plays by escaping the pocket and making those challenging throws on the run is a huge part of his game at the QB spot.
Twitter: The_Tbuttles1
Instagram: thetrentbuttles1
Hudl profile: https://www.hudl.com/profile/18085812/Trent-Buttles/about
Highlights
Addison Parris
Addison Parris
Addison Parris is a young, but big C and DT for Webster Schroeder High School. Parris stands at 6’3” and weighs 215-pounds, and he is only 16! What stands out in Parris’ overall game is his pure quickness for his size. Being able to get off the snap of the ball to make a block or shed off a block always had a fire burst to it.
Production at the Center position of the offensive line was quite strong here with Parris. Being able to control his man in both the pass and run game was showcased on his film. Bringing that physicality on each block was an outstanding trait to see. Knows how to remain square on his blocks and gain his leverage with his natural size.
Being that disruptive force in the middle of the defensive line is set and stoned into Addison’s game. One of my favorite tools that Parris has in his toolbox when shedding off of his blocks is his ability to get skinny. The ability to slip through the tiniest of lanes to get to the QB or ball carrier is such a valuable threat trying to face for any given offense. Overall, this is an up-and-coming football player that is an outstanding young man off the field. In addition to being in a marching band, Addison is a volunteer in his community, and loves to help people in need. Truly excited to see how Parris improves his game in 2023.
Twitter: @parris_addison
Instagram: @addisonparris14
Hudl Profile: https://www.hudl.com/profile/15786069/Addison-Parris