Statewide Players To Watch In 2023: Episode 3
We’re breaking down two offensive linemen who can push opposing defensive lineman off the ball, including one who plays on defense. We’re also taking a look at an attacking cornerback from the Lowcountry who can diagnose a play and a…
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Continue ReadingWe’re breaking down two offensive linemen who can push opposing defensive lineman off the ball, including one who plays on defense. We’re also taking a look at an attacking cornerback from the Lowcountry who can diagnose a play and a tight end who can flex out at wide receiver. It’s all in this week’s Statewide Players To Watch.
Corey Deas, Wando (2024)
Deas has great size on both the offensive and defensive line and uses that size to get after the opposing linemen he faces. On the offensive line, you will see him frequently line up at right tackle and he uses his hands well to get inside of the defensive linemen and push him downfield to create running lanes. There was one play on his film where he pancaked a defensive linemen on a screen play – which is a level of aggressiveness college coaches look for. On the defensive line, he lines up at the nose tackle and can clog up the middle of the line, not allowing the runner to get going. We were also impressed with his level of hustle to get to the ball, even when the play is going away from him.
Zach Ramsey, TL Hanna (2024)
Ramsey is another aggressive offensive tackle who brings physicality to the position. He has great hand usage to be able to push defensive lineman off the ball and he can move them where he wants them to be. He has good knee bend and can move quickly downfield in a critical spot in the Wing-T option offense that the Yellow Jackets run.
Jasaan Faulkner, St. James (2024)
Faulkner is one of the more attacking cornerbacks that we’ve seen on film. He can immediately diagnose a play and rally quickly to the football. His angles are excellent and he can come up and lay the lumber on the ball carrier. If it’s a situation where it’s one-on-one against a receiver, more times than not he’s going to win. He has good instincts to know what the quarterback is going to do and you can tell he spends time watching film to know what opponents may do.
Dwayne Simmons, Ashley Ridge (2024)
If you didn’t know Simmons was a tight end as he is listed as, you’d think he’s a wide receiver with the way he can catch the football. And that’s what can make him such a challenge for opposing defenders to guard in one-on-one coverage. He’s too big and fast and runs effective routes to get out into space. He can also block well at the point of attack and not allow the defensive lineman to get any penetration.