Offensive Skill Players to Look for in 2023 PT. 2

Chris Page

July 7, 2023 @ 07:33 AM

<p>This series will examine skill players who have stood out on film this past season. These are players that, by the end of the 2022/2023 season, will be household names.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='273258' first='Trey' last='Petty'] | 6'1" QB | Senior | Starkville </h2>   <p>Petty is 6'4" tall and 190 lbs; Petty is the cream of the crop regarding the quarterback position in Mississippi in 2023. Petty has one of the better football IQs I have seen in a high school quarterback. In 2022, he threw for 2,737 yards, which resulted in 30 touchdowns with only seven interceptions. Petty is a strong and accurate passer who is also not afraid to tuck the ball and run when needed. With Petty leading the Yellow Jacket offense in 2023, they have a legitimate shot at repeating as State Champions. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='273259' first='Nate' last='Blount IV'] | 5'11" RB | Senior | Brandon</h2>   <p>Blount is 5'11" tall and 220 lbs; Blount is a jack of all trades coming out of the backfield. He is a powerful/violent runner who makes the defender pay for getting in his way. He has great vision and is the type of player that seems to get stronger as it continues to get later in the game. In 2022, Blount rushed for over 2,000 yards and was responsible for 26 touchdowns. Blount will be looking to help the Bulldogs reach their third straight State Championship game in 2023. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='344026' first='Jeremy' last='Scott'] | 6'4" WR | Senior | Calloway</h2>   <p>Scott is 6'4" tall and 175 lbs; Scott is a long-armed big bodied WR who has good soft hands. He uses his body to make it difficult for the defender to get into a good position to defend him. He lines up in both the slot and on the outside and can make the difficult catch in traffic. He is one of those receivers that always seem to find a way to come down with the ball when it is thrown his way. In 2022, he had 32 receptions for 378 yards and three touchdowns. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='273254' first='Marlin' last='Odom'] | 6'1" WR | Senior | George County</h2>   <p>Odom is 6'1" tall and 160 lbs; Odom's ability to stretch the field and create separation is a special talent. His first step off the ball is quick, and he is not slowing down. It takes everything the defender has to keep up with him. He is a quarterback's best friend because of the clean, crisp routes that he runs. He is the ultimate team player with his blocking skills on the outside to help up running lanes for the running game. In 2022, Odom had 25 receptions for 479 yards and three touchdowns. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='139597' first='Braylon' last='Burnside'] | 6'1" ATH | Senior | Starkville</h2>   <p>Burnside is 6'1" and 180 lbs; Burnside is overall one of my favorite players to watch in this 2024 class. He has great football IQ with his ability to read and break down a defense. How he moves in his pads on the field reminds me of how a young A.J. Brown looked when he was playing at Starkville. The way he uses his body to shield defenders and block on the perimeter takes him to a different level for me. The sky is the limit for this young man. </p>

This series will examine skill players who have stood out on film this past season. These are players that, by the end of the 2022/2023 season, will be household names.