Pennsylvania Class of 2024 Diamonds in the Rough
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Today, we’re going to take a look at five diamonds in the rough in the class of 2024 here in Pennsylvania. What are we constituting as “diamonds in the rough?”. We’re going to constitute any prospect outside our top 300…
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Continue ReadingToday, we’re going to take a look at five diamonds in the rough in the class of 2024 here in Pennsylvania. What are we constituting as “diamonds in the rough?”. We’re going to constitute any prospect outside our top 300 as “in the rough”. Now, this isn’t supposed to be considered any sort of dig at any of those players, we believe each and every player we rank has the chance of playing college football at the next level. With nearly 600 players ranked, however, in the class of 2024, anyone outside the top 300 is in the back half of our rankings or for the sake of this article, “the rough”. We’re going to do several articles of this kind over the next few weeks and months but today will be the first edition of the Pennsylvania class of 2024, diamonds in the rough.
Let’s begin..
To start, Bunk has some quality size for a tight end at 6-foot-3 and decent weight already at 190-pounds. He’ll need to add about 20-23 pounds at the college level but the frame is there. His route running is solid but work will have to be done at the next level. With the ball in his hands, he shows good vision. Not a super athlete but a very good athlete. He shows quality straight line speed and has the vision to find holes while showing enough shiftiness to his game to pick up an extra few years. As he gets bulkier, I can see him becoming the type of tight end who could barrel over opposing defenders. His blocking skill will have to improve but there is a solid foundation in place. Solid production with 17 receptions for 298 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
A player that Vic Castillo Vic Castillo RB PA recommended for this article, a first rewatch of McCoy’s tape in quite a while and I can see why. He shows upside on both sides of the ball.
On the defensive side of the ball, he has a quality first step, sometimes it even is a great first step, consistently will have to improve in that matter. Hand fighting skills are promising as well and he does a great job of working his way into the backfield.
I think the offensive side of the ball is perhaps where he’s better suited. You get to see his athleticism a bit more there. He has several plays where his athleticism flashes on pulls and getting down field to set blocks. Solid foundation as a blocker, shows the ability to get leverage and get to the point of attack quickly. Also shows very good upper body strength on both sides of the ball, throwing his opposition to the ground multiple times. Has that bulldog mentality you look for, finishing blocks on offense and looking to drive people into the ground on defense.
I’ve said it before, I will say it again. Watson if he was even two inches taller would be getting more looks, unfortunately, that’s not the case yet for him. That being said, even at 5-foot-6, Watson is a polished running back who shows great vision, shiftiness, and athleticism. He was our MVP at our event back in January, I thought he was the most consistent running back we had in attendance that day. Here’s what I had written up following that performance.
“He showed quality speed and agility as well, he was consistently getting the best of the linebackers in one-on-ones and showed good closing speed on passes thrown in front of him as well. While some have him down their boards because his size, he seems to be able to make up for it thanks to great fundamentals, footwork, and athleticism.”rnAgain, I understand the concerns about the size but there’s also no doubt in my mind that despite those concerns he could still be a solid player at the college level.
Terry will be a defensive end at the next level. He’s got quality size at 6-foot-2 and weighing in around the 250-pound mark. He’s not the fastest defensive end but he’s got a decent enough first step and shows decent hip fluidity. Work will have to be done here, the fundamentals are sound, his hand fighting skills are decent as well. Good tackler, wraps opposing ball carriers up well and rarely allows them to get away. Shows good upper body strength as well. There is plenty of potential here, if he can improve his first step a bit, he has a chance to see an elevated amount of production. His straight line speed isn’t great but as long as his burst can improve and can improve on that 10-yard speed, he has a chance to be a nice player at the next level.
Highlights
Jones to start has very good size to say the least, he’s 6-foot-4 and 300-pounds. This is incredibly hard size to find at the defensive tackle spot. That size alone makes him a prospect that is worth taking a chance on out there, especially Division II and Division III schools. He carries his weight well, I think the goal for him should be turn more of his weight into muscle. He’s not going to be an Aaron Donald type defensive lineman out there either way but could be a nice one-tech defensive tackle who with some development could become a nice complimentary pass rusher. I’d like to see him win at the line of scrimmage a bit more consistently but nonetheless, he does a great job of filling holes, and forcing running backs to trey and get to the outside. He has a good motor on him and he doesn’t take plays off from what I can tell either, he’s always working on finding the ball and getting his way to the ball. There will be some patience required with Jones and he may need a year or two of development and in the weight room before he can see the field consistently but is someone that with some polish can be a nice piece of a college defensive line.
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