Under The Radar 2024s
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Antone Araujo WA #69 DB #9 HEIGHT 6'1" WEIGHT 200 POS DB CLASS 2024 View Profile Antone Araujo State: Washington School: ODea Araujo loves the last inch before contact. Accelerating through it is the single most important factor in hitting…
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Continue ReadingAraujo loves the last inch before contact. Accelerating through it is the single most important factor in hitting power, whereas bracing is a natural impulse for most humans. The sturdily built Junior is far from a normal defensive back and has football impulses. While he takes pride in frontloading his highlights with energetic and motivated big hits and stops, his tackling form is incredibly sound and situational. He lays big hits and forces turnovers when ballcarriers are wrapped up, but can do the same for his teammates, enabling them to get involved by biting ankles. His recruiting has just picked up with his first two offers as Ivy schools Dartmouth and Penn have noticed his prowess and work ethic. Playing alongside one of the best and most well known players in his class in safety mate Kyan McDonald Kyan McDonald 6’0″ | 175 lbs | DB ODea | 2024 State WA , he’s had to work extra hard to get his name out; but O’Dea look to have one of the best defenses in the state this year and Araujo should see himself in the limelight too.
Greene is a dual-sport athlete with excellent coverage skills who shores up Eastside Catholic’s defensive backfield. He has great hands and can stick to receivers off the line by pressing or with a hand on while turning and running. His strong 6’2” 170 build is still growing with an athletic bounce in his movement that can be seen not only on tape, but when he features as a guard in basketball. His balance and agility from playing several sports makes him excellent both coming forward and backward, which complete his aforementioned coverage package along with effortless footwork that he makes look routine. He’s also a willingly physical tackler. Greene is a key cog on one of the better teams in the state and could further breakout this year. He’s been to North Dakota State and Oregon State camps, and while he’s still awaiting his first round of offers, they traditionally come in bunches for a player of his caliber.
Highlights
Keymarione Croft
Keymarione Croft
Croft is a consistent skill player who utilizes his best tool of speed to set up the rest of his game. He’s most deadly as a KOR who can hit one crease and get to midfield with long strides, bounce to the outside and run away from the pack, or weave in between and create magic. He’s a natural boundary player with a lengthy frame, and knows he can beat DBs deep; so when he gets off the line at full speed, they have to give him a cushion. However, he has a good catch radius and seems unfazed by traffic around him, leaping to high-point it away from LBs and making sideline catches in small windows on DBs. His hand dexterity could make him a good blocker, but he needs to get off at full speed like a route and sell it harder; he’ll also benefit from continued addition to his slender frame. As Croft fills out and features as a senior, we could see the interesting speedster attract more collegiate attention.
Hardin is a versatile lineman who has a great toolset and strong upper body. He plays several positions across the offensive and defensive lines and is serviceable at each. He doesn’t have game-wrecking speed or strength but he generates enough power to execute through low pad level and good angles. He is active with his hands, with good pass rush moves and hand fighting on defense and a strong press while blocking. Without seeing his combine numbers, his upper body strength and lower body speed plays on tape and he has good coordination. His ability to generate power, pressure, and block are all impressive and worth college coaches attention. Hardin doesn’t fit one position extremely well yet but could have a big Senior year for Garfield.
Stout is a feisty and scrappy corner who can outplay bigger athletes with instincts. He takes good angles and understands leverage well enough to be calm in coverage of a lengthy or fast receiver by staying inside them while deep and making explosive turns when running with them. This confident demeanor and great eye allowed him to save several TDs from across the field for Ballard, whose defense should further center around his playmaking and stopping abilities this year. He uses all of his length to capitalize on his positioning for PBUs and Picks, which several more of could help the Beavers make huge differences in tough Metro League games. Stout has already visited Washington State, Oregon State, Washington, and Idaho, but his upcoming Senior campaign should finally land him a plethora of college offers.