Football Stock Risers in the Rochester Region
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We all love stock risers! Between teams that have stock that is rising every week, and of course when it comes to this article with players. Below are some high school football players in the upstate NY region, who have…
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Continue ReadingWe all love stock risers! Between teams that have stock that is rising every week, and of course when it comes to this article with players. Below are some high school football players in the upstate NY region, who have stock that certainly will be on the rise when their pads go on in 2023.
Turning to Monroe High School’s WR position, they have an electric receiver here with the 5’9” Landan McKnight that weighs 150-pounds. In addition to the receiver position, McKnight was a very special player as a returner in both the kickoff and punting units. On tape, Landan was able to make house calls in both the sides of the kicking game for his special teams unit.
This young man has a very stout ability to make plays deep down the field. There is so much speed to shake a DB down in coverage in both press and off coverage situations. When releasing off the LOS, the quickness to shake a DB off to get open quickly was evident. The knowledge and awareness to slap the opposing DBs hands down was brilliant to see by Landan before breaking into the early separation of his routes. Being able to gain a huge amount of separation due to his pure speed was very evident as well. Speaking of running routes, McKnight is very crisp in his ability to move in and out of his breaks. This is a smooth and sharp route runner that moves with all around the football field with so much ease.
McKnight does not play like a 5’9” WR. What I mean by that is McKnight will go up into traffic to make difficult catches. When the ball is in McKnight’s hands, the YAC ability is truly special. This is not a receiver that defenders are able to bring down with arm tackles. Landan is a huge weapon that can be utilized all over the offense lining up at either the X, Y, or Z receiving roles. The bar has been set high for McKnight as he stated to me that he wants to make first-team all-state, receive more collegiate offers, and break some of Monroe High School’s receiving records.
Twitter: @landan_mcknight
Instagram: @landan_tm
Huddl Profile: https://www.hudl.com/profile/18285515/Landan-Mcknight
Khaya Moses
Khaya Moses
Dynamic touch and accuracy are strong words to define Khaya Moses talent at the QB position for Monroe High School. Coming into this season, Moses has set big time pure passing goals that he wants to hit. Khaya talked about how he wants to break his own high school’s passing yards and touchdown records in addition to Section V records in both categories. If anyone has the pure talent to break those records, it would be Moses who flashed all over his tape.
When it comes to playing the QB position, Khaya has extreme talent to extend and make plays with his legs. Escaping out of the pocket and making accurate throws on the run was put on display multiple times on tape and raised many of my eyebrows. The skill to keep his eyes down the field and scan what is available in front of him was a plus. This is not a QB that is going to get rattled under pressure. Being able to stand in the pocket and deliver timely balls to his receivers was a consistent ability.There is a lightning-fast release in Khaya’s delivery of the football. So many throws were able to scream by the LBs and DBs hand into the arms of his receivers. Being able to squeeze a throw in between the hashes to the TE is not an easy throw to make, but Moses can do it, and do it at a high level. The best throw I saw Moses make on tape was a corner route throw to the back corner pylon. It was a perfect throw that you rarely see high school players make. Overall, Khaya Moses is a QB that had you walking away saying “wow”, and I cannot wait to see what he has in store to display come this fall.Twitter: @khaya_mosesInstagram: @khaya.mosesHudl Profile: https://www.hudl.com/profile/18307363/Khaya-Moses
If you want to talk about a strong football player that is relentless at battling in the trenches, then you have found it here with Rodney Tull at Aquinas Institute High School. Tull is a senior DT that has high bars that he has set for himself to reach this upcoming season. Some of those high bars include having as many sacks as TFLs and receiving his first collegiate offer playing the game he loves. Rodney has been playing at the varsity level for two years now and informed me that he earned the most improved player on his team in 2022 by the Aquinas coaching staff.
When it comes to Tull’s natural talent at the DT position, that athleticism and complete motor to pursue at 100% was a complete stand-out. Consistently attacking, and pushing the interior linemen backwards was a major plus in Rodney’s game. This is a DT that has no problems playing at the 1, 2, 3, and even 4 techniques. The other huge stand out was how active and strong Tull’s hands were when rushing the passer. Being able to play with leverage at the point of attack, and grant the major push really allowed him to be effective in both run/pass situations.
Speaking of playing against the run, Rodney did an awesome job throughout this year of holding his ground and closing the gaps quickly on the backs hitting into the open holes. Many times, Tull was able to shed right off his block and just barely get enough on the RB to bring him to the ground. There is a tremendous amount of lateral agility for a player of his size standing at 6’4”, 246-pounds, that it was a treasure to see on tape. This is one special player that I highly recommend checking out, and I cannot wait to see play in person come 2023.
Twitter: @tullrodney1
Instagram: @rodneyy.t
Hudl Profile: https://www.hudl.com/profile/13634607/Rodney-Tull
Joshua Ernst
Joshua Ernst
Over at Aquinas Institute High School, they have a physical and versatile football player in this 6’1” young man named Joshua Ernst. Ernst has the talent to play at CB, SS, and even LB. What was impressive to see was the full effort and willingness to not be afraid on any given play. This is a defender that will put his head down in the action of attacking any ball carrier that came into his sights. This is a football player that wants to win and lay it all on the line.
The ability to play CB out at the boundary and in the slot was truly evident throughout Joshua’s film. Ernst has no difficulty playing at the line of scrimmage in press coverage situations. Ernst shined the most in man coverage situations, especially inside the red zone where the field tightens. Joshua is also highly capable of closing gaps quickly to prevent quick passes to wide outs. At a 170-pound weight, Ernst was also incredibly effective when playing down in the box as an OLB. Plenty of times, Joshua was attacking and making big time tackles against the run.
Not only is Ernst a player that wants to have an amazing breakout junior season, but he also has personal goals inside the classroom where he wants to have a 4.0 GPA. Overall, Joshua is a player that you want on your football team simply because of the versatility and experience he has all over the defense.
Twitter: @JoshuaErnstJrInstagram: @jrrr__3Hudl Profile: https://www.hudl.com/profile/15846069/Joshua-Ernst-Jr/about
William Bigham IV
William Bigham IV
This is a monster of an OT for Webster Schroeder High School standing in at 6’3” and weighing 280-pound. William Bigham IV is a stable OT that has the versatility to play on both side of the offensive line and plays the game with a very polished technique. William has goals of making first team AGR and to win a Section V championship by the end of the 2023 season. What is even more unique is that this is one intelligent young man that posted a 4.0 GPA this past year at Webster Schroeder.
The power and drive to move defenders backwards when in-line blocking was a huge stand-out in the run game for number 77. William knows how to help out on blocks and provide lift to create lanes for ball carriers to explode into for positive gains. This is a blocker that ball carriers want to run behind because of the space he can create on every given play.
Additionally, Bigham IV was able to get on the move and make impactful pull blocks into the opposite B-gaps as well. This is an OT with a very strong ability to be an anchor and would rarely allow for much pushback when getting a straight bull rushed. Defenders would struggle in beating William around the outside bend when trying to rush the passer. There is a tremendous amount of power and will to take a defender to the turf in William’s game. Bigham IV has focused on being a straight force for his football team this upcoming season, and truly defenders will have a challenging time taking this young man on in any situation.
Twitter: @WillBigham14
Instagram: @will_bigham14
Hudl Profile: https://www.hudl.com/profile/15774555/William-Bigham
Gavin Taylor
Gavin Taylor
Gavin Taylor is a three-sport athlete in football, wrestling, and lacrosse at Rush Henrietta High School. What makes Taylor a special player is that he has the will to not give in and will continue to have that mentality coming into 2023. This is a player that has faced a lot of adversity and is looking to conquer it all when given the opportunity to so.
Taylor is a 6’1”, 210-pound DE and OT that is very aggressive at the point of attack. The pure ability to wrestle the opponent in front of him to the ground really stood out over his tape. Weighing in at 210 pounds really gave Gavin an advantage when trying to win one-on-one matchups in the trenches. Gavin relays heavily on his straight power and size that it will continue to provide incredible lift in his play.
This past season, Taylor missed some time due to a torn labrum that unfortunately had to get surgically repaired. Gavin spoke about how this off-season he is focused on increasing his lifts. Taylor wants to increase all his lifts by 20–30 pounds. Coming back from this injury at 110% is a top goal of Taylor’s. Gavin’s journey of helping his team win ball games in 2023 will be heavily reliant on his comeback journey which will be inspiring to see.
Twitter: @GavinTaylor2025
Instagram: @gavintaylor56_
Hudl Profile: http://www.hudl.com/profile/16690179