2024 Rankings: Names to Know
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Many of these players may not be New Additions or even Risers (Thanks to a silly good OL/DL class) but they all have one thing in common. They are guys that I have evaluated who are good football players and…
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Continue ReadingMany of these players may not be New Additions or even Risers (Thanks to a silly good OL/DL class) but they all have one thing in common. They are guys that I have evaluated who are good football players and names you should know as we enter camp season and continue on the run of New York being heavily recruited and advance into the Fall where some of these guys will be relied upon by there teams while some are still looking to carve out the role that is best for them and their squad.
Juelz Russell Juelz Russell 5’11” | 170 lbs | WR University Prep | 2024 State NY is a top playmaker to know in the state and he has the speed that truly wows you on tape. Russell is a rally twitchy quick player and in open space is very dangerous. He can be that sort of gadget player on offense who can play in multiple alignments in get the ball in multiple ways. The speed is legit and the open field ability is really strong. Russell is a top FCS player in this class and should be in store for a big season.
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Travis Carlucci Travis Carlucci 5’10” | 190 lbs | ATH Walter Panas | 2024 State NY is a guy who can excel at multiple positions and has played multiple positions. I think there is a home for him at the FCS level playing RB or a defensive position but there is one thing that is clear with Carlucci and that is that he has the athleticism to be a solid player at the next level. Good speed, really good explosiveness and power, and when he has the ball in his hands is really active with his feet always fighting through tackles and falling foward.
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Nick Parisi Nick Parisi 6’2″ | 235 lbs | LB Holy Trinity | 2024 State NY has s different build from some of the other linebacker in the state with an emphasis on strength, power, and the ability to make plays around the LOS. Parisi shed blocks better than most if not all the LBs in this class and has good upper body length and strength to get away from OL and finish ball carriers. Solid versatility from an alignment standout where I have seen him off the ball or close to the LOS inside or even in a standup OLB/Edge type positioning. Parisi is a really solid run defender, perhaps the best in the class and has a big season coming up as Holy Trinity moves up to CHSFL AAA.
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Matthew Meacham Matthew Meacham 6’3″ | 175 lbs | QB Honeoye Falls-Lima | 2024 State NY has a really quality release with one of the most sound lower bodies when it comes to his mechanics. A really nice arm that can make throws at all three levels including the 12-yard out from the opposite hashmark throw that we see so many QBs struggle with. He has good pocket awareness and a good understanding of being quick to throw but still with good poise and patience. A name to know through the fall as we know he already will put up numbers put the key to more recruiting interest and some offers could be getting HFL to the State Championship game which we saw really boosted some kids recruitment in the lower classes last season.
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DJ Lisbon DJ Lisbon 6’4″ | 180 lbs | WR St. John The Baptist | 2024 State NY has all the promise in the world with his frame and athleticism. The St. John’s the Baptist offense should be a dangerous one this season with Lisbon at WR1 and a full season of the same QB under center. Lisbon has a great 50/50 ball ability that could be the second or third best in this class. Where he excels is some really nice releases off the LOS and utilizing his footwork to make catches on the sideline. Expect some highlight reel stuff from Lisbon this fall.
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Christopher Adegunle Christopher Adegunle 6’0″ | 195 lbs | ATH Lincoln | 2024 State NY I saw for the first time at the Elite V showcase and I was very impressed with how smooth he is as an athlete and how well he creates seperation on his whole route tree. Adegunle was one of the few receivers at the showcase that ran a fairly diverse set of routes and he routinely created seperation breaking both inside, outside, and back to the quarterback. A good athlete who knows how to run routes with soft hands and plays with QB1. A good season is in store for Adegunle who is a ATH/WR/CB to watch this fall.
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Rochester has been producing some fairly solid FCS DL the past couple seasons and Peter Northrup Peter Northrup 6’1″ | 260 lbs | DL Penfield | 2024 State NY is a really talented DT who has really good strength and power in his upper half. Northrup’s feet are quick and has good upfield burst but he usually shocks OL at the POA with his punch and has some really good counter moves to shed blocks. His burst up the field and power are a strong combination and his ability to win with strength shows against some of the bigger IOL in Rochester.
Nazhier Wilson Nazhier Wilson 6’0″ | 220 lbs | LB Monroe | 2024 State NY is really thick for a linebacker and wears a lot of weight in his legs and torso where he is very strong. He has good change of direction and his build allows him to really do good work around the LOS against OL. A solid block shedding Wilson also can push OL backwards or even stall lead blockers with his lower body strength and ability to put a foot in the ground and drive. A good tackler Wilson can finish plays around the LOS and he is solid in coverage. A player to watch out for as a lot of eyes will be on Monroe this fall.
I saw Emir Yuksel Emir Yuksel 6’1″ | 190 lbs | LB Xavier | 2024 State NY in the CHSFL AA2 championship game last fall and he was all over the field. He has really solid measurables for the LB position and does a really good job of finding the ball in traffic. Yuksel is a top tackler in this class and consistently is getting involved with plays even if he is the second or third guy to arrive. A great motor with really good measurables and some really nice traits on the field. Yuksel is one of the better returning linebackers to the CHSFL.
Elijah Kongolo Elijah Kongolo 6’5″ | 205 lbs | DL Half Hollow Hills West | 2024 State NY is a very intruiging edge defender at 6’5, 205lbs and while he is very raw as a prospect and pass rusher there are certainly some really nice flashes and things to love about his game. The first is that Kongolo uses his size well and is able to not get to vertical off the snap. He has solid upfield burst and his length allows him to shed blocks and make plays through the hole. The measurables are there but some more strength and production could mean Kongolo jumps on even more schools radar.
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Kyseem Springer Kyseem Springer 5’11” | 200 lbs | RB Iona Prep | 2024 State NY is an interesting player because he has missed the entire last two Iona Prep seasons due to injury. Springer was a coveted talent just a couple years ago and it looks like the RB room will be lead by him. Based on what we have seen in the past and the potential here it would be hard for Springer to end up higher than the FCS level but he has the measurables and athleticism that with a strong season, could absolutely get some very quality looks to play at the next level.
A theme of measurables continues and this time it is Patrick Fisher Patrick Fisher 6’6″ | 200 lbs | ATH Cocoran | 2024 State NY from Cocoran. Fisher who is coming off a torn ACL is 6’6, 200lbs and I still think is finding his best position to play. He has reps on both sides of the ball and with some more weight could play tight end or defensive end and right now lists himself as a WR on offense. Watching some tape it seems like defense could be Fisher’s best home and there are not many 6’6 safeties or cornerbacks out there. Fisher is intriguing because on tape he is quick, instinctive, and a really solid tackler. I think LB or on the EDGE could be Fishers best spot but with the measurables coaches could get creative. Either way, Fisher is a stud who you should know about headed into the fall.
Amari Colon Amari Colon 6’2″ | 170 lbs | WR Greece Olympia/Odyssey | 2024 State NY is one of the smoothest most well rounded receivers in New York. Colon runs good routes and in some 7v7 where I have seen him play has a really good understanding of how to use his body not just to win running routes but to win at the catch point and protect the ball. Colon may not have a ton of flashy moments or plays but he is very consistent and a very reliable target. A good player to keep an eye on because maybe this season he can start to really make some wow plays consistently showcasing another level in his game.
Isiah Council Isiah Council 6’2″ | 225 lbs | DL Auburn | 2024 State NY is on an Auburn team that has some good measurable at many positions but Council at DE might be the most projectable to the next level. Council rushes the passer well with solid quickness but good pass rush moves. He showcases some nice ability to shed blocks and is a solid run defender who can finish around the LOS. I expect Council to have some solid performances at the camps he is attending this summer.
At 6’2, 220lbs Jordyn Brown Jordyn Brown 6’3″ | 220 lbs | TE Westhampton Beach | 2024 State NY already has some nice size for a TE who should get looks at the next level. He runs routes well and is a really solid blocker. Brown does not standout in any one facet of the game but that works to his advantage as he can consistently be on the field and be a factor in whatever plays the offense is runner. A really nice well rounded TE prospect who could actually take a step forward catching passes this season.
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Braden Mehm Braden Mehm 6’0″ | 190 lbs | WR St. Anthony’s | 2024 State NY is an interesting prospect because he is a really smooth athlete that runs good routes and performed really well at the PrepRedzone showcase. But he plays with three guys who play TE/WR ranked in our top 30 between the class of 2024/25. There may not be a lot of opportunities for Mehm but at the same time could really benefit from teams giving St. Anthony’s top prospects a lot of attention. There is a potential role there for Mehm to carve out and he is a name to watch this fall.
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Aquinas gives the ball to Newman at QB for the whole season this year but they lose some of the top receivers he worked with last season. Tre Walker Tre Walker 6’1″ | 170 lbs | ATH Aquinas | 2024 NY could become the guy for Aquinas on offense as he showed some flashes last year but had some upperclassmen ahead of him. Walker is a prospect to watch up in Section V this season.
I really like Sal Posillico Sal Posillico 5’8″ | 165 lbs | RB Farmingdale | 2024 State NY as a player and the Farmingdale running back has some of the best production in the state. It is rare that players with his build get recruited but I think that Posillico has the speed and quickness to go along with that production that make some teams interested. It won’t be an easy road for Posillico to play above the DIII level but I think his name is one to watch this fall as he continues to perform for Farmindale.
Addison Parris Addison Parris 6’3″ | 215 lbs | DL Webster Schroeder | 2024 NY is a really solid prospect with good potential and plays along a really good defensive line at Webster Schroeder. He eats up blocks and does a good job of using his quickness, especially lateral quickness to attack the LOS and get through gaps. A strong fall season for Parris could put him on the radar of some local DIII schools up in Rochester which I believe he has the skillset to not just play for but have an impactful career at.
Christopher McDonald Christopher McDonald 6’5″ | 180 lbs | ATH Orchard Park | 2024 NY is a basketball player first but I think that he has some really decent football potential. The guy at Orchard Park was always Dylan Evans Dylan Evans 6’3″ | 185 lbs | WR Orchard Park | 2023 State NY for the past two seasons but I think McDonald can have a strong year as WR1 and really got some recognition from DIII schools in the northeast. A name to watch who will likely transition to the rankings from the WL in the next update.