WV Preseason Spotlight: Monongalia County (Part Three)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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 Monongalia County. Here are some prospects you need to keep an eye on in Monongalia County for the 2023 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":856695,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='949556' first='Maddox' last='Shriver']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Clay-Battelle","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"I really like the way that 2024 FB/LB [player_tooltip player_id='949556' first='Maddox' last='Shriver'] plays the game of football. The Clay-Battelle product is a compact but strong 5'10 210 and is very aggressive on the football field. Shriver is a two-way starter for the Cee Bees who could play on either side in college. I equally like his game on both sides and I don't think he has a higher ceiling at either position. On offense, he plays a lot of fullback and running back that can get you some tough yards and fall forward. Shriver was very good at taking direct snaps and making positive plays, especially in short-yardage situations. He's not the fastest but certainly has enough speed to be effective. At linebacker, he plays the same way and flies around, and loves to hit. You could put him in the middle or on the outside and he would fare well at either. He's best when getting upfield in run defense but can also rush the passer some. Shriver is a hard hitter and a sure tackler as well.rnrnu003cstrongu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/14788776/Maddox-Shriveru0022u003eHudlu003c/au003e | u003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/ShriverMaddoxu0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003eu003c/strongu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["854471"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Morgantown High's Aaron u0022AJu0022 Thomas has had a great season of summer camps this year and he really popped when I saw him at the GCOH Performance Exposure Camp. He's another prospect who could play on either side of the ball at the next level, and I like him at both positions. Physically, Thomas is an impressive-looking athlete who doesn't look like a 2025 prospect and is also very athletic to pair with it. I'm expecting Thomas to have a big role this season for the Mohigans on both sides of the ball, and he should see a lot of carries in their Wing-T offense. On offense, he's big enough to carry the ball between the tackles but has enough speed to get outside and get to the corner. Thomas is a hard runner and will shed weak tackles and fight for extra yards. On the defensive side of the ball, he's best suited for safety right now and can cover ground and be physical in run defense. Thomas had some good reps in camp in pass coverage in 1-on-1s showing that he can be a complete defensive back.rnrnAaron u0022AJu0022 Thomas is definitely a name to follow the next two seasons.rnrnu003cstrongu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/16059493/AJ-Thomasu0022u003eHudlu003c/au003e | u003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/alldayajt9u0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003eu003c/strongu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["370296"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":856707,"_player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Joining Thomas in the Mohigans' secondary is Robert u0022Bobbyu0022 Powell. Powell is one of the best 2024 DB prospects in the state but is also a playmaker on offense. His game likely best translates as a defensive back at the next level but he could certainly play some running back and slot receiver as well. Powell is a very fluid athlete who has a good pack pedal and enough speed to make up ground and break on balls. He looked to be very fundamentally sound on film and has the ability to take away one side of the field at corner. At 5'9, he could be big enough to stay at corner in college or could slide over to nickel or even drop back to safety. With what he showed on film though, I'd be comfortable keeping him at corner. Powell also isn't afraid to come up and hit you either and also showed to be a threat in the return game.rnrnOverall, Powell is a very good all-around athlete and there is a lot to work with in his game.rnrnu003cstrongu003eHudl | Twitteru003c/strongu003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":856712,"_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Ethan Jackson","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"University","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"The University Hawks also have a promising two-way player in 2025 WR/DB Ethan Jackson. The 5'10 150 Jackson plays slot receiver and cornerback for the Hawks and did some good things at both positions last season. Jackson was another player that I got to see in camp and he made some nice plays during it. On offense. he's your prototypical slot receiver who can find openings in space and is fast enough to make plays after the catch. I was most impressed with his film at corner where he showed some really good things in his sophomore year. Jackson is fast enough to run with most receivers on defense and did well at flipping his hips and sticking with them. While he needs to continue getting bigger and stronger, his outlook is very promising and there is a lot to work with there. Ethan Jackson is a name to watch for his next two years of high school.rnrnu003cstrongu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/16334011/Ethan-Jacksonu0022u003eHudlu003c/au003e | u003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/EthanJackson_24u0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003e u003c/strongu003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":856713,"_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Mason England","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2406","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"University","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"University's Mason England is one of the biggest high school athletes I've gotten to see in person. The rising senior is a whopping 6'4 360 and his size and strength were on display at the GCOH Camp. I thought he moved pretty well for a guy his size and he didn't take plays off. He often overpowered the opposing offensive lineman and was able to push them back rather easily for most of his reps. On the field, a lot of what I saw at camp looked familiar on film and he's just a handful for most linemen. England played defensive line last season and could play 0-3 technique. You aren't going to rely on him to pass rush but he's going to take away the middle of the line and force teams to double him. England does a nice job freeing up holes for his linebackers and is very good in run defense. I really liked what I saw from him at camp and I'm looking for him to build upon what he did as a junior.rnrnu003cstrongu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/16333898/Mason-Englandu0022u003eHudlu003c/au003e | u003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/masonengland_00u0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003eu003c/strongu003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64827bc9af694"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->