WV Preseason Spotlight: Harrison County (Part Three)
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As we reach the two-month window until the 2023 football season begins, we will spotlight some of West Virginia’s prospects to watch for this season. Today will be part three of Harrison County. Here are some prospects you need to…
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Continue ReadingAs we reach the two-month window until the 2023 football season begins, we will spotlight some of West Virginia’s prospects to watch for this season. Today will be part three of Harrison County. Here are some prospects you need to keep an eye on in Harrison County for the 2023 season.
Tanner Hathaway
Tanner Hathaway
I got to see Bridgeport LB Tanner Hathaway in person at the GCOH Performance Exposure Camp earlier this month and he was one of my standouts and took home one of the LB Camp MVP awards. The 2024 prospect is a linebacker/safety hybrid type of player at 5’10 185 and he can really move. The rising senior saw most of his time as a back-end safety last season but can also move up and play some outside backer. As with all Bridgeport Indians, Hathaway is a tough hard-nosed player that will come up and pop you regardless of where he’s lined up. He’s a speedy player who plays fast and tracks down runners well. He also sees time on offense as a blocking back in their single-wing offense and is an effective blocker. I really like the way he plays the game of football and just flies around the field making plays.
I absolutely love watching Bridgeport athletes play the game of football and that continues with 2024 DL Aidan Sparks Aidan Sparks 6’1″ | 210 lbs | DL Bridgeport | 2024 State WV . Sparks is a bit undersized for a traditional defensive end at 6’1 210 but you’d never know it from watching him play. I am going to keep repeating myself about Bridgeport players, they are just tough and physical. Sparks often gives up a few inches and 50+ pounds at his position but he just goes out there and gives offensive linemen fits. He uses his hands really well and has some good block-shed moves. Sparks is pretty quick and fast for a defensive end and he can run and track guys down from behind. He often made opposing linemen look silly when trying to block him and moved right by them in the blink of an eye. The rising senior is just tough to block and I could see him being more of a standup edge player at the next level if he can’t add weight with the level of athleticism he has.
Brayden Edgell Brayden Edgell 5'10" | 160 lbs | WR Lincoln | 2024 State WV
Brayden Edgell Brayden Edgell 5'10" | 160 lbs | WR Lincoln | 2024 State WV
I was really impressed when I turned on Lincoln WR Brayden Edgell Brayden Edgell 5’10” | 160 lbs | WR Lincoln | 2024 State WV ‘s junior highlight film. Edgell is a 5’10 160 receiver who plays on the outside as a smaller receiver and can really stretch the field. His speed and quickness really jumped out to me right away and is some of the best I’ve seen so far when evaluating players this year. Edgell has a quick burst and his stop-and-start is really fast. I thought he also ran crisp routes and has some twitch to his game. You can get him involved in the screen game and short and intermediate routes or throw it over the top and let him run under the pass. Edgell is a dynamic and explosive player who is a threat to score any time he touches the ball. He’s also a standout basketball player and runner on the track and field team.
Robert C. Byrd’s Trevor Dean Trevor Dean 5’10” | 220 lbs | DL Robert C. Byrd | 2026 WV was another athlete that I got to see at the GCOH Performance Camp and he had one of the best camp performances I’ve seen. Dean just wrapped up his freshman year and isn’t the biggest defensive lineman at 5’10 220, but he absolutely dominated at that camp. Dean is just plain unblockable in that setting and his pass-rush moves are very advanced for his age. You might overlook him because of his size and age but once he starts going you can’t look away. Even with his size, he played a lot of zero technique as a freshman and was just a nightmare for centers to block one-on-one. The way he uses his hands and arms to block shed is some of the best I’ve seen regardless of age.
The future is very bright for this 2026 prospect and if he can grow a little bit more he certainly has D1 potential.
Liam Gallagher
Liam Gallagher
One of the top 2024 specialists in West Virginia is Lincoln’s Liam Gallagher. Gallagher is an all-around good athlete who also sees time at defensive end and receiver but it’s at kicker where his ceiling is highest. That athleticism was apparent last season on kickoffs where he can go out and cover his own kicks well and is also a good tackler. The rising senior has a strong enough leg to hit from 50 yards and is consistent on PATs. Gallagher was a perfect 7/7 for extra points in their opening game of 2022 against Braxton County and even caught a touchdown pass. He earned First Team All-Big Ten conference honors as a junior.
If you’re looking for an athletic kicker, look no further than Lincoln’s Liam Gallagher.