Team FSP Speedsters Win Gold At USATF Junior Olympics

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Five of Washington's fastest football players made meaningful strides in their recruiting journeys off the field altogether this week. By competing at the USATF Junior Olympics in Eugene, Oregon, they answered the most important question any coach could ask of their potential- how fast really is he?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These five high school football players While plenty of other tools can be extrapolated from film, speed isn't trackable on tape but instead seen relative to the competition they're playing against. Colleges look for verified speed as the most crucial measurable next to size- and while players can state their height, weight and 40-yd dash time, they can't be helpful unless measured in a controlled environment. Any football prospect who wants to be recruited should run track, mainly to improve their running form and get faster, but also to prove their speed beyond a shadow of a doubt and eliminate room for uncertainty in a coach's decision.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["693696"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eThe evergreen state's class of 2025 is shaping up to have several nationally prized recruits, and Weir's speed tickets him as one of the top dawgs. Speed is the most coveted tool for a skill player in recruiting as it dictates their potential ceiling and track times are the most credible way to prove it. Weir's 21.92 200m earned him 3rd place in the country this week and will open doors to the majority of D1 programs as a result. Power 5 programs are accounting for track championship levels of speed and need similar firepower to fight it, which Weir now brings to the table with zero doubts. Whether he fits best at Corner, Receiver or RB is still to be determined- but if he plays well this fall, he has every other box ticked to be one of the most recruitable players in the state.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["693842"],"_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":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eGriffin dominated the state's track and field scene this Spring and now proved himself against national competition, but remains under the radar as a football prospect. In the Boys 15-16 100m, he ran a 10.89 to take 1st in in the Prelims and advance to the finals. He finished 6th in the finals with a 10.96, although he recently ran a 10.76 for Lynnwood in May during the high school season. He's one of the players I'm most excited to see film of this football season and has the tools to be one of the most dynamic playmakers in the state. We don't know how he'll be used at Lynnwood but he instantly makes their team a must to follow. I hope to evaluate Griffin's other tools as he gets on the field for Lynnwood this year and find out more about North Seattle's best kept secret as his presence grows.u003cspan class=u0022Apple-converted-spaceu0022u003e u003c/spanu003eu003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='945843' first='Akeem' last='Murph'] Jr","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Rainier Beach","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"FSP","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eAkeem is one of the most interesting recruiting stories this Spring and Summer. His recruiting broke out overnight, joining FSP in early June and receiving his first D1 offer to Arizona days later. He performed and won for Lincoln's football and track teams before transferring to Rainier Beach for the upcoming season, where he'll lead a promising young crop of talent that aims to bring the Vikings back to the top of the loaded Metro landscape. He's a raw football player with the talent to be special and has been training alongside the other top RBs in the state, namely [player_tooltip player_id='115335' first='Jason' last='Brown'] and [player_tooltip player_id='206270' first='Navarre' last='Dixon'] this offseason. He anchored the Boys 4x100m relay team to a 42.25 1st place finish in Prelims and started them off in their 41.35 runaway victory in the finals, cementing his status as one of the fastest players in the state. He should see his offer list grow and will be a national recruit if he has a big year on the field.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["693729"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eHe's one of the best players in the Metro League without an offer. Playing at O'Dea gives him a hard time receiving attention among a plethora of D1 talent. With several blue chip 2024 prospects such as [player_tooltip player_id='158323' first='Isendre' last='Ahfua'], [player_tooltip player_id='115335' first='Jason' last='Brown'] and [player_tooltip player_id='158345' first='Kyan' last='McDonald'] under national spotlights, Salopek doesn't get the recognition he deserves from media or recruiters yet- even as he led Metro with 6 interceptions and was an all-league 2nd teamer. However, his performance and measurables are as promising as any cornerback in the state. He's in a similar position with FSP Track, playing the role of alternate for the star-studded 4x100m relay team this year. He filled in for Weir on the starting leg during the prelim round this week and for Waverly in the Regionals earlier this month. He also ran an 11.15 in the 100m and 22.56 in the 200m this week, both close to his personal records of 11.11 and 22.43. He's come close to breaking those PRs several times recently and looks to be making big improvements quickly on the track, projecting as one of the biggest burners in the state this coming year. Showing nationally impressive track speed and the best ball skills in the state, it's surprising there isn't more buzz around Sage yet. He could be the difference-maker on one of the best teams in the state. Salopek has been rising under the surface for the last year and his recruitment is due for a breakout soon.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["348137"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"u003cp class=u0022p1u0022u003eThe state's number 1 player continued to justify his ranking. After touring the South's best programs last month and impressing coaches on the field far from home, he got right back on the track to win more accolades for his speed in July while standing out as the largest runner in each event. There aren't any players who can compare to T'Andre, and that's why he holds offers to nearly every school in the country. He's in the conversation for the nation's top 2025 prospect and looks to cement that status by translating his unique gifts to production on the field this fall.u003c/pu003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64c6cb4a04517"} /--> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/TFordFSP/status/1685694934991667200","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/TFordFSP/status/1685694934991667200 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->