’23 Preseason Super 7 – 5A Receivers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/06/23-preseason-super-7-8-player-quarterbacks/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 QBs</a> (scroll down) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/06/23-preseason-super-7-8-player-running-backs/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">'23 Preseason Super 7 RBs</a> (scroll down) </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>IOWA CITY, Iowa - </strong>July arrives this weekend, drawing closer the start of the high school football season. And we all know times flies. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've been highlighting top performers from last season returning in 2023. You can see the links for quarterbacks and running backs in all seven of the state's classifications listed above. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wide receivers are next up. We'll start in 5A:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carson Robbins, '24, Southeast Polk - </strong>Robbins stood out with other playmakers for the two-time defending state champion Rams in '22. He caught 39 passes for 743 yards (19.1 YPC) and six touchdowns. He returned a fumble for a score, averaged 27.0 yards on 12 kick returns and 18.4 yards on seven punt returns. His <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/12808733/637ff930da52a70b002d4a80" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong> reveal a wideout that gets into his routes quickly and runs them crisply. He shows speed and elusiveness after the catch and on returns. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='847795' first='Xzavion' last='Robinson'], '25, West Des Moines Valley -</strong> Robinson is the in-state underclassman receiver most coveted by colleges. He reports scholarship offers from Colorado, Iowa, Iowa State, Missouri and Vanderbilt before starting his junior year. He caught 36 passes for 409 yards and two touchdowns as a 10th-grader on a talented Tiger team that reached the state championship game. You can see the talent oozing out when watching his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17022380/648245f4688ea60f48ff725e" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sophomore highlights</a></strong>. He has a knack for positioning his body where he can win the ball. A standout at basketball as well, he brings the size to go along with the speed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Daniel Zeoh, '24, Des Moines East - </strong>Zeoh (5-10, 170) hauled in 34 balls for 534 yards and four touchdowns with a pair of two-point conversions as a junior in '22. He added 27.5 tackles, returned kicks and punts for the team, and handled kicking and punting duties. His <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16677002/64134fe89a91100dac52c06a" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong> open with him catching a short pass over the middle and out-running the defense in taking it to the house. He excels at settling into holes in the defense, receiving the ball and making opponents miss in the open field. He delivers a lot of plays when it looks like they aren't there. He also looks like a sure tackler with smooth hip movement at defensive back. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='986660' first='Cyrus' last='Courtney'], '24, Cedar Rapids Kennedy - </strong>At 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, Courtney provides a big target for his quarterback. During his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14924609/63cf3ed30c53830e3cb86ccc" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong>, you see more than just a guy with good size. He eludes would-be tacklers regularly with excellent short-area quickness followed by burst. He does a nice job adjusting routes and also shows good instincts as a safety. He caught 35 passes for 521 yards and five touchdowns last fall. He intercepted two passes on defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carsen Newton, '24, Iowa City High - </strong>Measuring in at 5-foot-8, 160 pounds, Newton looks pretty unassuming running onto the field. Then you watch his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14816111/635843b6578e970b2cf4051b" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong> and witness a problem for opposing defenses. He's elusive in tight spaces and gets to top speed quickly. He does a nice job finding openings in the defense and providing an outlet for his quarterback. He caught a team-high 39 passes for 497 yards and six touchdowns as a junior in '22. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Apollo Payne '24, Cedar Rapids Prairie - </strong>Payne (6-3, 185) hauled in a team-best 39 receptions for 476 yards and a pair of touchdowns last fall. He added five kick returns for 77 yards and played in the secondary for the Prairie Hawks. In viewing his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14834424/636aaa32a022fb0d8428faae" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong>, you see a strong route runner with good size and speed. He also shows off good hands and body control. On one play, he starts the play in-line before breaking down the seam for a touchdown. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Koen Fleming, '24, Davenport North - </strong>Fleming (5-9, 187) caught 23 passes for 414 yards (18.0 YPC) and three touchdowns last season. He also returned 19 kicks for 349 yards (18.4 YPR). Fleming is shown returning kicks in the first two clips of his <strong><a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15550228/640f5424ab924d096c9974dd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior highlights</a></strong>. The open-field speed and burst pop off the film. He adds in solid small-space elusiveness when on the receiving end of passes. He's also dangerous in jet-sweep action. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->