Looking at Top Wide Receivers in The 2025 Class

Brandt Parshall

April 9, 2023 @ 01:04 PM

#13 [player_tooltip player_id='247647' first='Deshaun' last='Lanier'] | Chippewa Valley | <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12973037/63687f8eda515c0c204c307a">Hudl</a>   Lanier accelerates quickly off the line of scrimmage and is a guy who can burn defenders deep easily when given a free release. Lanier has very good long speed and can create multiple yards of separation from defensive backs. Lanier has no fear when it comes to making a catch over the middle. You can see a play where he takes a big hit on a slant route and still holds onto the ball for a touchdown. Lanier has very good footwork and can get off-press coverage with ease. Lanier works back to the football very well on curl routes. I like that he makes emphasizes catching the ball with his hands instead of making the ball travel into his body. I love his ability as a punt returner. I really like his overall game and looking forward to seeing how he does next year as only a junior.   #7 [player_tooltip player_id='247684' first='Eric' last='Slater'] | Roseville | <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16237351/636959ef19a53f0f947e3ecb">Hudl</a>   Slater has very good speed and can beat defenders deep on go-routes. He has an effective double move and uses it well to get open. Slater has good body control and can catches ball that are thrown off-target. Slater is very good after the catch and can easily break tackles and pickup extra yardage. I love that he is determined to get up field immediatley after he secures the catch. Slater is a guy who can play in the slot and on the outside. Slater will block and has the strength to knock a defensive back to the ground.   #22 [player_tooltip player_id='947979' first='Brady' last='Beck'] | Clarkston | <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Jua7x">Hudl</a>   I got to watch Beck at the prospect tour in Wixom and was very impressed by his athletisism. He is a guy who played very good football this past year for Clarkston. At the tour in Wixom I got to see him go thorugh receiver drills and he did a very nice job. He played safety for Clarkston and showed a lot of versatiliy by being able to play true deep safety and up towards the line of scrimmage. He is a very good tackler who does a good job of clsoing quickly on ball carriers.   #4 [player_tooltip player_id='603747' first='Braylen' last='Naves'] | Davison | <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16180823/63b3d449c1242b0da0ba71ae">Hudl</a>   Naves has very good foot work and does a great job of breaking down and planting his foot so he can work towards the quarterback when he catches the screen. Naves is very good with the ball in his hands and has no problem making defenders miss. He has very good play strength and it shows up in his contact balance upon breaking a tackle. Naves catches the ball well and does a good job of securing the ball in stride on in breaking routes. I love that Davison ran a lot of screens and slants with him so that they could get the ball in his hands quickly. Naves is a good blocker as well.   #21 [player_tooltip player_id='602292' first='Matthew' last='Evans'] | Grand Blanc | <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16237609/635224c4a6770200e819abbd">Hudl</a>   Evans has shown the ability to win contested catches in the end zone. He has good speed and covers a lot of ground with his long strides. He came up clutch this year late in a game with a game-winning touchdown catch. Evans speed allows him to beat defenders vertically with ease when he is given a free relsease. Evans adjust well to off target throws and can go down and get balls that are thrown low. Evans has an effective double move that will fool defensive backs.