5 New Additions & Gems In The 2024 Rankings
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We’re looking at 5 newly added recruits to the 2024 rankings and what they can offer down the road. The 2024 class is absolutely loaded and pushing 100 players with D1 offers, with only more coming by the weeks! Alex…
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Continue ReadingWe’re looking at 5 newly added recruits to the 2024 rankings and what they can offer down the road. The 2024 class is absolutely loaded and pushing 100 players with D1 offers, with only more coming by the weeks!
Alex Ortiz Alex Ortiz 6'1" | 200 lbs | QB St. Joseph (SB) | 2024 State IN – St. Joseph (SB) – QB – 6’1″ 200lbs
Ortiz is coming off of a fairly solid season where he proved to be a pretty valuable weapon in the pocket. He’s got sound footwork when dropping back into a clean pocket and typically has a nice throwing base. At the same time, there are times on the heel click, nothing major that is too hard to clean up. He’s able to throw with anticipation and step into throws as well. While he doesn’t have the biggest arm, he’s got nice touch and arch on his ball. He’s then a good athlete who can be a really effective dual-threat QB. He makes good reads on the read-option and scored from 40 yards out last year on the ground. An overall really sound season from Ortiz has him set for an exhilarating season that could land him at the next level.
Twitter: @Alex_Ortiz_3
Clay McClelland Clay McClelland 6'1" | 170 lbs | QB Charlestown | 2024 State IN – Charlestown – QB – 6’2″ 180lbs
McClelland is one of the best small school dual-threat QBs in the state who doesn’t get nearly the love he should. He’s a great athlete who eats up chunks of yards in a hurry. His long stride length combined with his ability to accelerate is what makes him such a guy to read. This past year he put up 1085 rushing yards and 21 TDs. He then added just under 1800 passing yards and 20 passing TDs. When you combine those numbers things get pretty wild. A year of 2854 total yards and 41 total TDs is a career year for most QBs in the state. McClelland is dynamic no doubt, but if he can work on cleaning up the mechanics a bit, his accuracy will continue to improve with it making him incredibly hard to slow down. McClelland could easily end up being a steal for the right program and don’t be shocked if he duplicates his performance from last year.
Twitter: @Clay_McClelland
Memphis Louden Memphis Louden 6'1" | 205 lbs | QB Bedford North Lawrence | 2024 State IN – Bedford North Lawrence – QB – 6’1″ 205lbs
Louden is an incredibly intriguing QB who could develop into everything you look for. He’s got a fantastic frame with broad shoulders. He’s thicker than you’d think, but in a good way and well built. He’s got really strong legs and can have very pretty footwork. There are times it’s not so great, but that’s to be expected at a young age. He’s got a bunch of arm talent which is what makes him so interesting. He can throw over the middle and hit the edges of the field. There are times he goes through progressions beautifully, and times he can get stuck. I believe that’s always a development and rep thing. Having that natural ability to move your eyes and keep your head straight down the pipe is a great sign of long-term development. Last season Louden put up 1405 passing yards and 12 TDs while adding 630 yards and 6 TDs on the ground. If Louden can continue to develop, he’s going to make some QB coach very happy on Saturdays.
Twitter: @Memphis32401086
Alex Hofer Alex Hofer 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH Fairfield | 2024 State IN – Fairfield – RB/WR – 6’0″ 180lbs
Hofer is a dynamic player who began to make his impact for Fairfield last year in multiple phases of the game. He returned some kicks and did a fantastic job. He accelerates fast and then has long strides to shoot down the field. This was true for his 67-yard punt return last year, as well as his ability to find lanes and cut across the grain. He’s good with the ball in his hands and could be a fantastic piece in the screen game. That was the case last year as he was someone they were designing screens for. At the same time, he was in the backfield getting some work at RB. He’s got the frame and size to move around along with that athleticism. He was someone who quietly had a good day at the UINDY camp last week as well. He was shifty, making guys miss, and looked much more confident. Hofer is interesting because he could come out and be their leading rusher, leading receiver, or both. A big fall ahead for the young man from Fairfield.
Twitter: @AlexHofer0
Lance Jones Lance Jones 5'10" | 210 lbs | LB Franklin Community | 2024 State IN – Franklin Community – LB – 5’10” 210lbs
Jones has been an incredibly productive and consistent player for Franklin Community over the past 2 years since he took the field for them. He’s a confident and downhill player who does a great job sniffing things out. He’s wiggly for a defender and finds nifty ways to get by and make the tackle. His sophomore year saw him put up 77 tackles, 7.5 TFls, half a sack, an interception, and 3 batted down balls. He then followed that up by improving as a Junior. 90 tackles, 5 TFLs, 1 sack, 2 batted down balls, and 1 forced fumble is how he followed up his breakout year. To say that he’s given Franklin Community an identity over the past 2 years is nothing short of the truth. They went from 3-7 and giving up 27.8 ppg to 8-3 and giving up 18.9 ppg. Jones was a huge part of that defensive turnaround and is set for another year of leading that defense. Jones is a 3-year starter with a ton of production who only seems to get better every time he steps on the field.
Twitter: @LanceJ31