5 Of The Best Diamonds In The Rough In The 2024 Class

<p>We're taking a look at 5 recruits today who are simply diamonds in the rough. Guys who are more than worth heading down to meet personally and seeing what they can add to your program!</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='801620' first='Brayden' last='Johnson'] - South Dearborn - LB - 6'2" 195lbs</h2>   <p>Johnson was absolutely instrumental last year for the defense down in South Dearborn. The team as a whole went 7-3 last year, but in those 7 wins, the defense only gave up 11 PPG and Johnson was a big reason why. He's got a fantastic frame with the athleticism you'd like to see along with it He's big, physical, and is more than able to play in or around the LOS. He's able to create penetration and get the leverage with his ability to bend more often than not. He's much more of a downhill LB who looks for contact than he is someone who is going to go out and cover a bunch of different spots, but he likely could. He's got decent range and isn't slow by any means. He's shown more than once the ability to drop back into coverage, read the QB's eyes, and react. He's just arguably best when he's near that line. Last year alone, Johnson put up 98 tackles, 8 TFLs, a sack, 2 interceptions, and then forced 3 fumbles. An overall fantastic year on the stat-sheet, yes, but it's the upside that he possess which makes him so intriguing. Johnson is right in the wheelhouse for schools who not only want a LB with great upside, but who also want a LB with a frame that you only dream of, and that has shown can produce at a high-level.</p>   <p>Twitter: <strong>@BraydenJSD33</strong></p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='762094' first='Michael' last='Soderdahl'] - Center Grove - DB - 5'10" 175lbs</h2>   <p>Soderdahl is a 2-sport star for Center Grove who literally never leaves the turf. His other sport, Lacrosse. Whether he's covering the backend for Center Grove or legally body-checking in Lacrosse, he's an incredibly smooth athlete. Everything with him is easy and he seems to glide around. He's able to cover sideline to sideline, his half, be the only man deep in something like a Cover 1, and has the closing speed to come up and make just about any tackle. He's got moments of elite vision in the running game and with his speed, he's able to create more TFLs coming from the backend than you'd anticipate. He's quick, hard for linemen to get a hold of, and is strong enough to fight through contact to get to the ball carrier. Last season, he put up 40 tackles, with 24 being solos, and a pair of interceptions. Having the Lacrosse background has helped really make Soderdahl much more versatile than a lot of other DBs. Where it's arguably helped the most in football is his vision. Needing to pass on Lacrosse takes precision and hitting precise throwing windows. Soderdahl is a fantastic recruit in both sports, but he could make one heck of a collegiate DB if he chooses that route.</p>   <p>Twitter:<strong> @MichaelSoderda1</strong></p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='801621' first='Darreon' last='Newson'] - Elkhart - DB - 6'1" 180lbs</h2>   <p>Newson is the straw that stirs the drink in Elkhart. Without him, everything separates and can get clunky. With him, he gives them so much extra breathing room that it's noticeable. He's able to run down just about anyone and prevent the massive play. Even when he's down near the LOS, he's ran down a ball carrier 20-yards downfield. Some of the plays remind me of the DK Metcalf chase-down from a few years ago. A play that should be an easy 6, but then the one guy with more speed and effort than anyone comes out of nowhere. Not just that, but Newson can hit. He's physical and then gets energized off of big hits like that. Others feed off of him and the energy that he creates on the field. He's got great size and length for his age and yet, is still developing and hitting the weight room on the regular. He's able to do so much for Elkhart you can't help but wonder if somehow his role could be expanded to offense. If not, I can't blame them with the advantage he gives you on defense. Last year, he put up 81 tackles, an interception, forced a fumble, broke up a trio of passes, had a sack, and scored 1 TD. That right there would have been defensive bingo. Hitting all 6 major categories in the box score is incredibly impressive no matter who and where you are. Newson is a name you shouldn't forget because he's going to be a star on Saturday's in the near future.</p>   <p>Twitter: <strong>@DarreonNewson</strong></p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='801622' first='Hayden' last='Miller'] - South Bend St. Joseph's - ATH - 5'11" 170lbs</h2>   <p>Miller is an incredibly dynamic player who can not just play both sides of the ball, but multiple spots on offense. It's a great idea to get him the ball and let him do his thing. He's got elite speed, has really long strides, and pulls away from the field time and time again. He's not only quick, but then he's also incredibly elusive. He'll make multiple defenders miss in the second level. With his frame, he's not the easiest to bring down, either. He's a tough runner and can absorb some contact. They've given him hand-offs, had him run routes, and sent him on Jet-Sweeps to get him full-speed before the ball is snapped. That gives him quite the advantage on the play and it almost always turns into a big one, even when the defense knows it's coming. With his short-area agility, you'd have to believe he could develop into a fantastic route runner as well. While his route tree isn't quite there yet, it could be in a matter of time. He's a fun athlete to watch simply because of how easy he can make things look with the ball in his hands. Miller is a perfect recruit to target if you want someone with KR/PR abilities while he develops and blossoms at the next level.</p>   <p>Twitter: <strong>@H_Miller01</strong></p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='749902' first='Isaac' last='Johnson'] - Terre Haute South - DL - 5'10" 240lbs</h2>   <p>Johnson is a really compelling recruit in the class as we head into the 2023 season. His production the past 2 years has improved steadily, and last year he blew up. It felt like some things really started to click and he got a much better feel for everything going on up front. There's no doubt that right now he's a bit underweight, but to see what he can do without the weight there yet, should be a very good sign. As he develops in the weight room, it'll only make him a much more impactful and dynamic player. He's already consistent and has the raw strength to hang in there as he is now. He's good against the run as he's able to shed blocks and properly extend to get off of them. To say he's good at getting in the backfield and disrupting a play for a TFL is a bit of an understatement. Last year, he had 64 total tackles. 14 of them being TFLs, and he forced a fumble. He only had 1 sack, but then 6 hurries. The tape matches this as well. QB's began to get jumpy and would throw the ball away when they sensed Johnson beginning to lurk. Johnson has been at camps and in the weight room this winter as well, so it's a good bet that he'll come out ready Week 1 to build upon his previous seasons.</p>   <p>Twitter: <strong>@1saacJohnson</strong></p>

We're taking a look at 5 recruits today who are simply diamonds in the rough. Guys who are more than worth heading down to meet personally and seeing what they can add to your program!