Rising Stars of 2024: Houston’s Top Receivers in the Area
We are back with some more high quality athletes who leave their marks on the field, especially when they are needed the most. The players below are standouts at the receiver position and know how to take advantage of mismatches…
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Continue ReadingWe are back with some more high quality athletes who leave their marks on the field, especially when they are needed the most. The players below are standouts at the receiver position and know how to take advantage of mismatches and how to stretch a field with their skills. Some names will be new and are players to watch for this summer as well as next season!
Debraun Hampton
Debraun Hampton
Hampton is an athlete who shows impeccable vision with the ball in his hands and is lethal with his yards after the catch. He is quick and agile, and will make defenders look foolish in the open field. He shows great skill in tracking the long ball and hauling in difficult catches. Hampton can line up inside or outside and be a major issue for defenses. Strong hands and upper body helps him fight off defensive backs in tight spaces and make those contested catches in the middle of the field. Hampton also happens to be a valuable return man, flipping the field for his team at crucial times and giving them good field position to work with. He finished the season with 735 receiver yards on 41 catches and 9 receiving touchdowns. Expect his role to be increased even more for next season and for his name to be mentioned much more.
Watkins is an already known player in the area due to his playmaking abilities on the field but it never hurts to show more love. Watkins makes a living of leaving defenders reaching and grabbing on his way to the endzone. Throw the ball up and let him go get it. His speed is other worldly and he makes it look easy. Watkins shows very good foot work and smooth route running, and combined with his quickness off the ball he becomes an open target at a consistent rate. He runs his routes very cleanly at every level, putting pressure on defensive backs and coaches to find a way to limit his impact which is extremely hard. Watkins is a special player who’s name you will hear for years to come.
Carson Littlefield
Carson Littlefield
Littlefield put up some monstrous numbers this past season and proved to be a big play threat whenever he hit the field. He was most comfortable in the slot where he shredded defenses in the middle of the field and found a way to always find the soft spots in zone coverages. Littlefield was a top target throughout the year. He made it easy for his quarterback coming back for the ball turning curls and drags into big yard plays. He showed good strength when running after the catch, breaking tackles and getting those extra yards. Littlefield racked up 1,064 yards and 6 touchdowns on 51 catches. He is without a doubt a name to have tagged this offseason and next season.
Owen Carter
Owen Carter
Big target Carter showed us what he brings to the table at the position. Jump ball specialist who overpowers defensive backs and has the speed to outrun them as well. Carter is a mismatch for defenders in one on one situations where he shows his skills. Great at high pointing passes and bringing down contested catches, especially in the redzone. He made some spectacular catches last season showing his concentration and strong hands and his overall athletic ability with the ball in his possession. Carter caught 56 passes for 1,050 yards and 10 touchdowns. He will be looked to continue his dominant play next season and even turn it up a notch to help the team get to where they want to be.
Christopher Jones
Christopher Jones
Jones was a big play waiting to happen whenever he touched the field. His long build and open field speed was his biggest advantage. He went into another gear when he saw green grass in front of him and his long strides made it easy to outrun defenders. Jones was very dangerous after the catch if he was not taken down immediately. He was able to find those open creases and use his explosiveness to beat anybody in pursuit. Jones also showed to be a deep threat. He beat double teams with ease and showed his ability to ignore contact and make contested catches. He outjumped most defenders and showed the strength to hang on to the ball. Jones finished last season with 28 catches for 658 yards and 4 touchdowns. His skillset makes him a valuable part of the offense and he has shown that he can take over a game when his number is called.
Blaine Lucas
Blaine Lucas
Lucas is a quick, reliable target who showed some juice last season. He is a receiver who can run effectively at all three levels and a player who does not shy away from contact, lowering his shoulder for extra yards when the opportunity presents itself. He is quick off of the line and can beat defenders one on one with ease. He runs his routes with purpose and shows confident hands. Lucas’s role should see a big increase next season and expect him to be a name talked about much from his play.