Midwest 2024s Blowing up this Offseason Pt. 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This week, <em>PrepRedzone </em>has named and highlighted 30 standout prospects from the 2024 and 2025 classes who have recently entered the P5 and FBS recruiting stratosphere, with representatives from every state in America's Heartland. These studs are the future household names of the college football scene, and <em>PrepRedzone </em>has your coverage fresh off the press and more in-depth than anywhere else you can find. To round things out, we have one more Midwest recruiting special covering rising seniors from across the "flyover states" who are the newest and most noteworthy additions to the FBS &amp; P5 recruiting lists. Nothing but studs below, let's get to it! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>--</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["284575"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"One of numerous prep football prospects popping off this season from the Birthplace of Aviation, \u003cem\u003eMansfield High\u003c/em\u003e \u003cem\u003eSchool\u003c/em\u003e 6'5, 215 lber. had a productive month from late January to late February as he earned his first four college football offers from Eastern Michigan, Bowling Green State, Minnesota, and Pittsburg, all in the span of 30 days. Also a stud hooper, \u003cstrong\u003eElias Owens\u003c/strong\u003e projects as an EDGE in college, but is a standout on both sides of the ball for the \u003cem\u003eTygers\u003c/em\u003e and also carries a 3.3 GPA for a balanced resume as a student-athlete. Noticeable length, good speed, and effective, heavy hands on both sides of the ball are the first three things that jump out to me, and \u003cstrong\u003eOwens\u003c/strong\u003e also possesses soft hands that pluck the ball out of the air at tough angles and physicality at the LOS as a blocker. He snuck by DBs all of 2022 for big gains as a pass catcher, and I like his catch radius and ball skills on top of everything else. The 6'5, 215 lber. does a good job of getting himself involved and making the most of his opportunities, especially on defense, where his hustle and speed show up when he's pursuing the ball from his DE spot. Things have a little quiet the last month+, so look for things to pick back up on the summer camp circuit, where his raw athleticism should show up well in competitive settings.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["541749"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"The Hoosier State is underappreciated in its prep football prospects, especially its skill positions, and 6A \u003cem\u003eFishers High\u003c/em\u003e \u003cem\u003eSchool\u003c/em\u003e RB \u003cstrong\u003eKhobie Martin\u003c/strong\u003e is a big get for the Miami University Redhawks in their 2024 class. High school recruitments can be funny, you put in years of hard work, start flying football before you really even get your feet under you, spend hours and hours in the weight room, grass fields, and stadium turf, and then in the matter of months, it's over and you're committed! This quick explosion of offers and opportunities happened to \u003cstrong\u003eMartin\u003c/strong\u003e, who earned his first offer from the Redhawks in late January, earned his next four offers from Austin Peay, Indiana State, Illinois State, Eastern Kentucky, and Northern Illinois up to the end of March, and then a little more than a week ago he shut things down and committed to Miami. A 2022 All-State, All-County, and All-Conference ball carrier, \u003cstrong\u003eMartin \u003c/strong\u003epossesses solid speed, an impressive ability to drop his hips and create shifty cuts in 1-on-1 situations, and contact balance and a powerful lower body that can churn through contact and carry would-be tacklers for extra yardage. Good vision as well! Can't wait to watch this dude tear up the MAC.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["410464"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Over the course of these three \u003cem\u003ePrepRedzone\u003c/em\u003e Midwest recruiting-focused features, we've written about a ton of Ohio products, their talents, and budding recruitments for yet another testament to the Buckeye State's prep football fertility. We got another good one here in \u003cem\u003ePickerington Central\u003c/em\u003e OT \u003cstrong\u003eJustin Terry\u003c/strong\u003e, who measures in at 6'5, 305 lbs and currently holds eight D1 offers, all of which came after the turn of the new year. Starting with Toledo, \u003cstrong\u003eTerry\u003c/strong\u003e has added Akron, Montana State, Ball State, Bowling Green State, Miami (OH), Maine, and Florida Atlantic, all in the span of two months, and more should be coming as programs check out his strength, motor, and hulking frame. \u003cstrong\u003eTerry\u003c/strong\u003e has great balance and a solid base, and when you combine it with his lateral agility and leg drive once he's engaged with an opponent and you have a stonewall of a blocker who can move and adjust to both speed \u0026amp; power rushers. He can also play guard or tackle, has a bit of a nasty streak, and has experience pulling and in pass pro. Still a bit raw, but the frame and his balance and ability to stay upright, bend his knees, and stay engaged with defenders looks natural, impressive, and hard to get around as a hypothetical defensive lineman. Keep your eyes out his name as the offseason continues to progress.\r\n\r\n\u0026nbsp;","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["126253"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Head Coach Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffs wasted no time in offering \u003cem\u003eNevada High School\u003c/em\u003e iOL \u003cstrong\u003eTalan Chandler\u003c/strong\u003e once he got the job in Boulder, which proved to be a wise decision, as the 6'3, 295 lber. makes for another P5 commit from these \u003cem\u003ePRzMidwest\u003c/em\u003e features who saw their recruitment stock blow up in the ever-important junior offseason. I remember writing about this kid a couple of falls ago for a \u003cem\u003ePRzMO\u003c/em\u003e special highlighting the best un-offered 2024s in the Show-Me State, a reality which did not stay true for long. A 2x First Team All-State, 3x All-Conference, and Academic All-State selection who carries a 4.0 GPA and notched a 29 on the ACT, \u003cstrong\u003eChandler\u003c/strong\u003e grabbed his first D1 offer in early November from Eastern Michigan, which opened the floodgates for Colorado, Northern Iowa, UNLV, Missouri State, and Lindenwood to all offer in January. It wasn't long after that that he committed, giving a verbal to the Buffs in early February, less than a month after CU offered their PAC12 scholarship. He's been happily committed every since, taking multiple trips to Boulder the last couple of months, and will bring great size to the Buffs, hopefully helping to quell the rumors of undersizedness on the CU roster. Explosive at the point of attack, \u003cstrong\u003eChandler \u003c/strong\u003eis comfortable, effective, and impressive when pulling and lead blocking out in space for his RBs. He flies out of his stance, does a great job of breaking down and dropping his hips when he gets into the toes of defenders, and drives his feet and hips through contact to create crushing hits and devastating finishes onto helpless defenders. Footwork, mobility, athleticism, and physicality are the name of his game, and he's going to make a heckuva OG in the speedy PAC12. You got a big fan in me, \u003cstrong\u003eTalan\u003c/strong\u003e!","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["653367"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Yes, I know Kentucky isn't really a Midwest state, but \u003cem\u003eCovington Catholic\u003c/em\u003e is right over the OH/KY border and just outside of Cincinnati, and 6'4, 235 lb. TE/OLB \u003cstrong\u003eWillie Rodriguez\u003c/strong\u003e is a good-looking 2024 who has absolutely exploded on the recruiting trail this offseason. Starting with his first offer back at the end of November, which came from Miami (OH), \u003cstrong\u003eRodriguez\u003c/strong\u003e has added 29 (!) more FCS, FBS, and P5 offers, most recently from the homestate Kentucky Wildcats, the Arkansas Razorbacks, Purdue, South Carolina, USF, Texas Tech, Illinois, and Ole Miss, all since March 30th. A standout three-sport athlete who just nabbed his 100th win on the wrestling mat this winter, \u003cstrong\u003eRodriguez \u003c/strong\u003eis long, lean, and athletic, and is an excellent asset in the passing game who can high point and win 50/50 balls, burn pursuers after the catch, and enforce his will in the run game. His long legs help him slip through tackle attempts and stay upright through contact, he's got a big catch radius and can maintain receptions through contact, and I was pleasantly surprised by some of the hits he dished out as a blocker. The coordination, balance, and speed are rarities in a prospect of his size, and the dominance and physicality as a blocker make him even more unusual for a kid you'd assume would be more interested in having the ball in his hands. No wonder he has so many heavyweight offers! More are coming.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["353992"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"One of a loaded and still-growing crop of 2024s out of the Land of Lincoln, \u003cem\u003eWaubonsie Valley\u003c/em\u003e DE/TE hybrid \u003cstrong\u003eJulian\u003c/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eJohnson\u003c/strong\u003e was busy this fall with unofficial gameday visits, and like many Illinois natives does a good job of getting out and competing on the Chicagoland camp circuit, and things all came to a head after his junior tape made the rounds, resulting in his first offer from Northern Illinois in early January. His stock has continued to climb and climb, and what began with eight FBS and FCS offers advanced to recent P5 offers from Rutgers, Indiana, Minnesota, Iowa, and Boston College, with Furman and Bowling Green State mixed in for good measure. Schools are recruiting \u003cstrong\u003eJohnson\u003c/strong\u003e to play both offense or defense, and his outstanding length, speed, and athleticism will keep them interested and locked in for the rest of his recruitment. Great ball skills, hands, and toughness, the speed to run down plays as the backside DE, and long arms that help him shed blocks or stay attached to defenders, depending on his position that rep. He plays WR right now and shows the ability to take the top off the defense, but his frame screams TE at the next level and I'm sure potential suitors are taking note of his willingness to block as well. \u003cstrong\u003eJohnson\u003c/strong\u003e is like a long, athletic ball of clay right now that CFB programs are itching to get their hands on.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["250255"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"I fell head over heels for the \u003cem\u003eOmaha Westside\u003c/em\u003e roster when I was scouting Nebraska talent last May for \u003cem\u003ePRzNE\u003c/em\u003e, and the \u003cstrong\u003eRezac\u003c/strong\u003e boys were two of my favorite on the team of D1-bound athletes across all positions of the gridiron. One of the brothers, \u003cstrong\u003eTeddy Rezac,\u003c/strong\u003e has seen his recruitment take off since February, and he's now flown into the P5 recruiting space as a 6'3, 195 lb. athlete who had a good junior campaign on both sides of the ball. Beginning with Northern Iowa on February 6th, the likes of North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Air Force, Colorado State, Fordham, Navy, Dartmouth, Coastal Carolina, Army, and most recently, Boston College, have all added their names to the mix. \u003cstrong\u003eRezac \u003c/strong\u003eposted 62 tackles, 4 TFLs, 2 INTs, a sack, and a forced fumble, as well as 32 receptions, 414 yards, and 4 TDs as a pass catcher offensively last fall, and stat line leads to his dynamic ability on the gridiron for the \u003cem\u003eWarriors\u003c/em\u003e. Defensively, \u003cstrong\u003eRezac\u003c/strong\u003e is instinctive in pass coverage and lethal as an off-ball OLB or EDGE at dropping into passing lanes right under a QBs nose, and I also love his speed, both when pursuing the ball, blitzing, coming downhill, and closing on the ball. He can also lay the boom, and the combo of size and speed helps him create some explosive hits that jar the ball loose and stay imprinted in the memories of opponents. That same speed helps him as a deep-threat WR, but I'm all about the defensive reps, where \u003cstrong\u003eRezac\u003c/strong\u003e can also hold the edge, beat blocks with quickness and/or physicality, and always stay around the football. \u003cem\u003eWestside\u003c/em\u003e is a must-stop for college coaches and recruiters the next few cycles.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"Karsen Konkel ","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"2024 ","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"6'6\u0022","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"2407","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"Pinckneyville ","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_7_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_7_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"One of the newest additions to the D1 and P5 recruiting scene,\u003cem\u003e Pinckneyville High School's\u003c/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eKarsen Konkel\u003c/strong\u003e also has the chance to be one of the hottest, as he's added nine offers in two months, including three P5 offers in April. Coming from wayyy down south in Illinois, almost five hours south of Chicago in fact, \u003cstrong\u003eKonkel\u003c/strong\u003e is a 6'6, 225 lb. TE/EDGE and holds offers from Southern Illinois, Illinois State, Lindenwood, Northern Illinois, Eastern Michigan, Ball State, Indiana, Illinois, and Boston College, and is set to visit the Illini in the upcoming weeks. For a big guy, \u003cstrong\u003eKonkel\u003c/strong\u003e brings a ton of speed off the edge of the defensive line, and can fly into the backfield before plays develop, run them down as the backside defender, and tackle in space and 1-on-1 situations. You should see his jets when he's got the ball on offense as well! Homerun speed in a 6'6, 225+ pound frame is a scary sight to behold, and \u003cem\u003ePinckneyville\u003c/em\u003e knows what kind of talent they have in \u003cstrong\u003eKonkel\u003c/strong\u003e and have no problem giving him tosses and jet sweeps as a wing or flexed out TE. He also is a hammer at the contact point, can go sideline-to-sideline in pursuit of the ball, and can start/stop \u0026amp; change direction well. The speed \u0026amp; motor combination on a guy of his size is something you don't run into everyday in my line of work, so it's awesome to see \u003cstrong\u003eKonkel\u003c/strong\u003e receive his well-due attention on the recruiting trail. He'd be a huge pickup for the Illini, especially since HC Bret Bielema has made an effort to lockdown the state's borders and keep Land of Lincoln talent instate.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["161329"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Yet another Land of Lincoln 2024 earning their due on the recruiting trail, 5'10, 175 lb. WR/RB \u003cstrong\u003eJulius Ellens\u003c/strong\u003e comes out of the always-talented Glen Ellyn area of suburban Chicagoland and one of the loaded Glenbard schools, in this case, \u003cem\u003eGlenbard\u003c/em\u003e \u003cem\u003eWest High. \u003c/em\u003eThe decorated prep pass catcher, who has been named First Team All-State, 2x All-Conference, First Team All-Area, and Conference Offensive POY, has had a busy spring and has heard from Eastern Michigan, Illinois State, Air Force, Army, Kansas State, and Fordham, all in the last two months. Eastern Illinois, his dad's alma mater, also offered an FCS scholarship in April of 2022 to get a headstart on the competition. \u003cstrong\u003eEllens\u003c/strong\u003e scored a whopping 30 TDS last fall, in part due to his blazing, homerun speed, vision, shake \u0026amp; shiftiness, and contact balance. Against high-quality Chicago competition, \u003cstrong\u003eEllens\u003c/strong\u003e has rep upon rep of scoring TDs virtually untouched and possesses an extra gear that torches good pursuit angles when he has the ball in his hands. Also has great hands as a pass catcher. \u003cstrong\u003eEllens \u003c/strong\u003ecan beat tackle attempts in just about any way you can imagine, and can create splash plays between the tackles or out in space, and you better not give this kid daylight because he's going to make you pay. Electric, productive, and fast, fast, fast. I loved watching this dude's tape and absolutely agree with KState's assessment that \u003cstrong\u003eEllens\u003c/strong\u003e is a P5 weapon. Yet another P5er in the Land of Lincoln.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["160515"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"\u003cem\u003eMorgan Park\u003c/em\u003e has seen their fair share of P5 talent come through their Chicago Public League halls the last few years and have another baller on their hands in 5'10, 160 lb. 2024 ATH \u003cstrong\u003eChris Durr Jr\u003c/strong\u003e. With a 4.0 GPA, Durr Jr. was named All-State and All-City after his 51 reception, 1,013 yard, and 16 TD junior campaign, and although he came into the season with offers from Western Illinois and New Mexico State, things really popped off during this current offseason. Northern Iowa, Illinois State, Louisville, Eastern Michigan, UPenn, Army, and Fordham have thrown their names in the ring since late February, and more are coming for the speedy and productive wideout, especially once he can show off his speed and body control during the summer camp grind. Twitchy as a route runner as well as after the catch, \u003cstrong\u003eDurr Jr.\u003c/strong\u003e has exceptional ball skills, impressive speed, and is balanced and super shifty when breaking tackles. The body control is outstanding, and allows him to pull off toe-tapping catches, beautifully executed cuts, and hard-to-track snags on throws on a variety of routes. \u003cstrong\u003eDurr Jr.\u003c/strong\u003e is fun to watch and another classic example of athletic playmakers out of the Windy City. I'm surprised more P5s aren't involved right now!","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_10_player":["284599"],"_player_evaluations_10_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_10_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_10_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"\u003cem\u003eOlentangy High School\u003c/em\u003e rising senior gunslinger \u003cstrong\u003eEthan Grunkemeyer\u003c/strong\u003e is yet another Ohio product seeing his recruitment skyrocket this offseason, especially after the 6'2, 190 lber. posted his junior season stats of 241-375 (64.2%) for 2,649 yards and 25 passing TDs with 200+ rushing yards and four more TDs on the ground. After he notched his first offer in October from Miami (OH), things really got going for \u003cstrong\u003eGrunkemeyer\u003c/strong\u003e once the offseason rolled around as Bowling Green State, Yale, Western Michigan, Akron, Columbia, Ball State, Marshall, UConn, Dartmouth, Middle Tennessee State, Buffalo, Liberty, Central Michigan, Princeton, Eastern Michigan, Austin Peay, Arkansas State, Northwestern, Kent State, Memphis, Indiana, Cincinnati, Minnesota, and Penn State all officially offered for a healthy list of opportunities. \u003cstrong\u003eGrunkemeyer\u003c/strong\u003e possesses a big arm that can put deeper throws on a rope and throw wideouts open, standout scrambling ability and a sense of escaping pressure \u0026amp; buying time both inside and outside the pocket, plus the athleticism to take off and hurt defenses with his legs, and reads the field well and is safe and smart with the football, which the stats back up. I also like the zip he can generate on shorter/intermediate throws, and he looks accurate to all three levels of the field. The 2024 crop of QBs out of Ohio is star-studded and \u003cstrong\u003eGrunkemeyer\u003c/strong\u003e is up there with the best of them.","_player_evaluations_10_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_11_player":["544699"],"_player_evaluations_11_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_11_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_11_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_11_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_11_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_11_evaluation":"The always-loaded recruiting ground that is Overland Park, KS is home to a stud 2024 who is right at the genesis of their recruitment explosion, and \u003cem\u003ePrepRedzone\u003c/em\u003e is here to let you know about him first. 6'5, 215 lb. TE \u003cstrong\u003eGavin Hoffman\u003c/strong\u003e comes out of \u003cem\u003eBlue Valley Northwest High School\u003c/em\u003e and is also a Kansas 6A state champion hooper who reports a 36-inch vert and a 3.34 GPA for a solid resume as a student-athlete out of the Sunflower State. Three days ago, \u003cstrong\u003eHoffman\u003c/strong\u003e earned his first college football offer from Eastern Michigan, and fellow MAC competitor Western Michigan followed them up a day later. He's got B1G, Big12, and SEC suitors sniffing around as well, so I'm extremely excited to see how this recruitment continues to develop and play out. Last fall, \u003cstrong\u003eHoffman\u003c/strong\u003e posted 39 receptions for 712 yards and 11 TDs, and shows off length, long strides, and big-play speed, especially for his size. He proved he could easily outpace CBs and safeties impressively, and also shows off ball skills, a big catch radius, and some fantastic footwork in his releases at the LOS against press man. \u003cstrong\u003eHoffman\u003c/strong\u003e is also balanced after the catch when breaking tackles, shows a bit of wiggle at the top of the route, and toughness at finishing catches through contact. The speed is especially eye-catching, and \u003cstrong\u003eHoffman's\u003c/strong\u003e tape can more than hang with some of the P5 TEs on this list, so I'd keep an eye on this one if you like staying on top of the P5 recruiting scene.","_player_evaluations_11_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_12_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_12_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_12_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_12_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_12_player_details_player_name":"Joe Barna ","_player_evaluations_12_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_12_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_12_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_12_player_details_height":"6'4\u0022","_player_evaluations_12_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_12_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_12_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_12_player_details_school":"Wheaton North ","_player_evaluations_12_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_12_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_12_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_12_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_12_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_12_evaluation":"I wrote about 6'4, 250 lb. \u003cem\u003eWheaton North\u003c/em\u003e defensive lineman \u003cstrong\u003eJoe Barna\u003c/strong\u003e a few months back for a \u003cem\u003ePRzIL\u003c/em\u003e recruiting-focused feature, and since then he's done nothing but escalate his stock to lofty proportions in the P5 scene. Now a priority target for the instate Illini, \u003cstrong\u003eBarna\u003c/strong\u003e saw a quick tease of offers come his way near the end of his junior season when MAC competitors Ohio and Miami offered FBS scholarships, but that was just the tip of the iceberg. Once the new year rolled around, \u003cstrong\u003eBarna\u003c/strong\u003e earned Iowa State, Bowling Green State, Central Michigan, Ball State, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, Wyoming, Tulane, Old Dominion, Kent State, Toledo, Purdue, Washington State, Illinois, and Mizzou, the last four of which all came in the month of April. Things change quickly in the recruiting game, and the \u003cem\u003eWheaton North\u003c/em\u003e defensive lineman deserves every bit of the P5 attention, as he's a strong 250 lber. who flexes his muscle particularly well when sending OL onto their butts or 90 degrees out of position, eating cut blocks, and laying out ball carries in painful and crushing fashion. I like his ability to go speed-to-power, bend at the top of the arch, close quickly and use his hands as a pass rusher and when defeating blocks. He plays hard, with consistent technique, and with a hard-hitting playstyle. \u003cstrong\u003eBarna\u003c/strong\u003e is fun to watch and makes the DE position, especially when rushing the passer, look easy. He'll be highly ranked when the upcoming \u003cem\u003ePRzIL\u003c/em\u003e rankings update goes live in the coming weeks.","_player_evaluations_12_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_13_player":["368532"],"_player_evaluations_13_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_13_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_13_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_13_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_13_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_13_evaluation":"Coming out of my home state of Minnesota and perennial 5A contender \u003cem\u003eMankato West\u003c/em\u003e, 6'1, 185 lb. WR \u003cstrong\u003eJalen Smith\u003c/strong\u003e is the second-newest addition to the FBS and/or P5 recruiting scene on this list. Although he's currently under-ranked on \u003cem\u003ePRzMN\u003c/em\u003e, which I take responsibility for, but it's hard to measure speed on tape, and that's exactly what \u003cstrong\u003eSmith's\u003c/strong\u003e recruitment going this spring. In the first track meet of the year for the \u003cem\u003eScarlets\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eSmith\u003c/strong\u003e clocked a blazing 10.87 100M dash time for some verified and eye-popping speed that lit the fire under his recruitment's wheels and got the steam engine churning upwards. Six days after he posted the track time, \u003cstrong\u003eSmith\u003c/strong\u003e received his first offer from Kent State and WR coach Nick Faus, which prompted Iowa State to throw a Big12 P5 offer in the mix, which was followed by a North Dakota State scholarship. He's got a RS freshman teammate currently in Fargo, so keep an eye on the Bison here, but I get the feeling we're still at the beginning of his budding recruitment and I'm strapped in and along for the ride. Natural and impressive at creating separation, both in his releases and at the top of the route, \u003cstrong\u003eSmith\u003c/strong\u003e can drop his hips, break off his routes, and bait DBs into opening their hips \u0026amp; taking his eyes off him, which is when he makes them pay. He also has the speed to take the top off the defense, has some shake after the catch, and displays some ball skills and concentration when the rock is in the air. I'm pumped this dude proved me wrong, and in my defense I was right in the thick of three straight days of watching 2024 film, so I think things just got jumbled together. Boy do I feel silly now!","_player_evaluations_13_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":14,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64443c656b4e0"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>--</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->