PRZ WI Prospect Tour: Best of the DL
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The DL/OL battles were must watch during the PRZ WI Prospect Tour. Some of the best in the state came out to compete at it was fun to watch! Juniors, sophomores, and freshmen all represented the state of WI well,…
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Continue ReadingThe DL/OL battles were must watch during the PRZ WI Prospect Tour. Some of the best in the state came out to compete at it was fun to watch! Juniors, sophomores, and freshmen all represented the state of WI well, and they will all be included in today’s article. Let’s dive into the best performances of the group!
Westosha Central junior DT Jacob Ward Jacob Ward 5’11” | 240 lbs | DL Westosha Central | 2024 State WI has built a stout frame that will be able to hold and control the line of scrimmage this fall. He checked in at 5’11” and just under 290 lbs. Ward’s performance further hinted towards an athlete who will have a big fall. He demonstrated a solid punch, played with leverage, and his strength was able to help walk the OL off teh ball. Don’t overlook the junior this fall. Westosha Central had a couple athletes in attendance that had good days. Definitely a team to check out now and this fall.
Nicholas is quickly becoming one of the top PRZ WI Showcase veterans. Each time he comes back he is better than the session before. He has grown to just under 6’3″ and 242.4 lbs. I was most impressed by how much of a technician he has become. The sophomore plays with the technique of a much older prospect. He flies out of his stance with very low pad level. He always makes first contact with his hands on the inside of his opponent’s chest. Nicholas always kept separation with his long arms. From there, McCullough capitalized on that separation with finely tuned pass rush moves. He demonstrated a long arm move, spin move, and also showed counter moves if his initial move was stopped. Nicholas strengthened his grip on DL1 for the Class of 2025. Big summer and fall ahead of him.
Highlights
The biggest athlete in attendance was the Greendale DL. Pierce checked in at 6’6″ 262.5 lbs, and that frame is far from being tapped out. Weber is raw when it comes to the fine details of the position, but the tools for a coach to mold are all there. Long arms, active hands, raw strength, and light feet are going to help him grab the attention of the next level. Coaches want athletes that have what can’t be coached, and Weber has those. I also really liked his motor. Weber got a ton of reps in, and he attacked every rep with his full abilities. He was already a handful to stop, and as his technique/pass rush moves develop his game will only become more of a problem for his opponents.
Highlights
Consider my attention grabbed when it comes to the Hartford Union sophomore. He doesn’t fit the size threshold many have at the next level, yet. However, that was the only weakness I saw from him in one on ones. Cooper was a problem for the OL with his speed. So much so that he earned a rep in the Best vs Best to end the day. The 5’9″ 230 lbs DL was the quickest out of his stance, and showed off his agility and body control to be able to move laterally and cross his opponents’ faces with consistent success. Rolsma used that natural leverage to his advantage too. I’m looking forward to watching his growth and development over the next two seasons. He had a strong Showcase.
A freshman standout, and PRZ WI Showcase veteran, is the Union Grove DL. His growth this offseason has been noticeable. He is 6’1″ and up to 225 lbs. Quinn sure looks the part of a budding DL prospect. He broke the 5.00 threshold in the 40 with a 4.97. The freshman demonstrated the strength to be able to collapse the pocket and create pressure even when he doesn’t disengage with the OL. His overall quickness looked improved since last December also. Quickness is his feet and hands helped him win his reps throughout the day. I’m excited to see him get on the varsity field.
Another freshman standout is one of the top freshman DL that I have come across. Dante is just under 6′ and 260 lbs. Dante put numbers to the quickness that we saw on tape. His 5.12 was one of the top times for the DL in the shuttle. Body control, flexibility, and agility are natural strengths of his that we got to see in the one on ones. When he couldn’t win the rep with quickness, Dante also showed us that he had the strength to be able to overpower his opponent. Either by walking them into the backfield or having his strong hands chop away the OL’s hands. Dante is a prospect to know these next few years.
Our MVP of the position was Carl Pevey Jr Carl Pevey Jr 6’0″ | 240 lbs | DL Catholic Memorial | 2024 State WI . out of Catholic Memorial HS in Waukesha, WI. The 5’11” 240 lbs junior dominated the day. Read about his full performance in the MVP article HERE.