WV Preseason Spotlight: Wood County (Part Two)
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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 two of Wood 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 two of Wood County. Here are some prospects you need to keep an eye on in Wood County for the 2023 season.
Parkersburg South’s Triston Walker Triston Walker 6’5″ | 180 lbs | WR Parkersburg South | 2024 State WV is a very talented 2024 two-way player that you need to watch for this season. Walker plays both receiver and safety for the Patriots and was a Second Team All-State selection at defensive back as a junior last season. He’s a very lengthy 6’5 185 who could play on either side of the ball at the next level. Walker had a very impressive 8 interceptions as a junior while helping lead his Patriots squad to a 12-2 record and an appearance in the WV AAA State Championship game. With some key pieces now gone in the wide receiver unit due to graduation, Walker should see a significant increase in targets and production on offense. He’s a big target that you can just throw it up to and let him make a play. Walker already holds a D2 offer before his senior season has begun.
2024 WR/DB Anthony Ice Anthony Ice 5’9″ | 170 lbs | WR Parkersburg | 2024 State WV of Parkersburg High School really popped on film when I watched his junior highlights. Ice is a very speedy and quick slot receiver and cornerback whose speed really jumped out to me. He can really stretch the field from his slot position and is very dangerous after the catch. Ice is the type of playmaker that can break the game open at any given time and can take it to the house on any touch. He does a nice job of using his speed and quickness to get open, and he has some twitch to him to make some plays after the catch as well. I liked his burst and he used it well when running routes and once he makes a catch. You can get him the ball in a variety of ways and is also a threat in the return game. Ice also plays corner on defense where he made some nice plays last season, but I like him most as an offensive playmaker right now.
Similar to his fellow teammate and classmate Maxwell Molessa Maxwell Molessa 6’0″ | 190 lbs | ATH Williamstown | 2024 State WV , Williamstown’s Colton Hesson Colton Hesson 6’0″ | 170 lbs | ATH Williamstown | 2024 State WV is a pure athlete that can do a lot of different things. Hesson played some quarterback and wide receiver on offense and cornerback on defense last season for the Yellowjackets. He earned Class A First Team All-State at defensive back as a junior last year and helped his team win the Class A State Championship. Hesson threw for 536 yards and 7 touchdowns while catching 13 balls for 171 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also rushed for 254 yards and a touchdown while totaling 24 tackles and 3 interceptions on defense. The 6’0 170 Hesson is a very versatile athlete that can help his team in so many ways. He should have an even bigger senior season on a reloaded Williamstown team that’s looking to defend their state title.
Another very versatile athlete is Parkersburg South’s Turner Garretson Turner Garretson 6’0″ | 225 lbs | LB Parkersburg South | 2024 State WV . Garretson is a 2024 ATH that can play a number of positions on offense and linebacker on defense. He earned Class AAA Second Team All-State at linebacker as a junior while helping lead the Patriots to a state title game appearance. As a junior, Garretson totaled 889 all-purpose yards on offense and racked up 151 total tackles and 2 interceptions on defense. The 6’0 225 rising senior will be the starting quarterback this season and can also play some receiver and h-back. Garretson is a physical player that enjoys contact and loves to hit. He’s a very athletic player which makes him such a versatile athlete. He has pretty good speed and has some quickness and a nice burst. Garretson is tough to bring down and creates missed tackles by running hard and fighting for extra yards. I like him the most as a linebacker where he flies around and is always around the ball.
The Parkersburg Big Reds have one of the biggest offensive line prospects in West Virginia with 2024 Caleb Norman Caleb Norman 6’8″ | 300 lbs | OL Parkersburg | 2024 State WV . The 6’8 315 behemoth has elite size and length that you just can’t teach which can be a blessing and a curse for offensive linemen. When Norman keeps defenders in front of him he’s one of the best offensive linemen in the state. With that being said, as a young linemen sometimes defenders get under him and and use his height against him. That’s to be expected for a young lineman with that kind of height, and he will continue to learn how to use his size and wingspan to his advantage. There is so much raw potential with Norman and is definitely the kind of prospect that you want to take a chance on. If he can fine-tune his fundamentals and footwork he will be a steal for any college looking for a “franchise” offensive tackle. Norman plays left tackle in high school but will probably slide over to the right side at the next level.