Uncommitted Matchup Nightmares Out Wide
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We know the history and expectation in Wisconsin. Run the ball, control the line of scrimmage, and impose your will on your opponent. Sometimes that seems to be too much of the automatic thought these days. Looking across the WI HS landscape you will find a ton of massive WRs/TEs that are nearly impossible to matchup with. Having one of these dudes at your disposal is a cheat code at the HS level, and could be at the college level. So, college coaches, you need to confirm that these student athletes are on your recruiting board. Let’s get started with looking into these massive athletes, and matchup nightmares.
We don’t usually see Jackson “out wide”, but you’re out of our mind if you think I’m not including the 6’7″ 220 lbs ’25 TE in an article highlighting the most dominant size mismatches in the state. Jackson is quickly rising up recruiting boards since 2022, and he will be making a big jump when our updated rankings debut. The incoming junior has a very well rounded TE skill set. He is reliable as a blocker in the run game, getting consistent push off the line. As a receiver is where he is a massive mismatch. Jackson’s size alone creates enough separation between the ball and DBs. Add in his smooth body control and route running and you get a student athlete who should have college coaches pumped to build a relationship with him. Big things are ahead for this mismatch at the TE position.
Highlights
The Class of 2025 is producing legitimate FBS talent at the TE position. Leading the way in the group is Green Bay Notre Dame’s 6’6″ 225 lbs James Flanigan James Flanigan 6’5″ | 230 lbs | TE Green Bay Notre Dame | 2025 State WI . The big man is a special athletic talent who has shined on the football field, in the hockey rink (D1 State Champ), and throwing discus (D2 State Champ). James makes it look easy on the football field. His 4.7 speed allows him to get vertical and stretch the field, and he has impressive balance that allows him to cut and hit the breaks of his routes with good speed. Lastly, Flanigan has good strength and short area burst that help him be a man mover in the run game. James is going to be one of the best pure football players in the state this fall.
Now we are actually going out wide for our next size mismatch at the WR/TE positions. That mismatch is Phillips Memorial WR Bradyn Taylor Bradyn Taylor 6’5″ | 200 lbs | WR Phillips Memorial | 2024 State WI . Bradyn has developed a 6’5″ 200 lbs frame that perfectly fits his style of play. Bradyn wins with power. In the screen/short passing game Bradyn runs through arm tackles. He also is a willing and able blocker while out wide. Taylor knows how to use his frame to his advantage at the catch also. He boxes out defenders or goes over the top of the to high point the ball. Bradyn is a tone setter with his physicality as much as he is a mismatch. Teams in need of a WR/TE hybrid check here.
Owen is a fun mismatch TE to watch on tape. He lines up out wide primarily, and the 6’5″ 230 lbs has the necessary feet, hips, and body coordination to be able to run effective routes. Zahm also plays with unfair power over DBs. There are multiple highlights where he simply just powers through DBs as they are hanging off him while he tries to run routes. The big man is unphased though thanks to his power. Yet, at the catch point he shows off soft hands, and does a good job timing his high point jumps. Zahm is going to be a monster in the redzone at the next level.
Highlights
Another Coulee Conference monster mismatch out wide is Trey Lyga Trey Lyga 6’5″ | 220 lbs | ATH Arcadia | 2025 State WI . The Arcadia WR checks in at a long 6’5″, and the tape shows a player that has to be one of the best hidden gems in the state. Not only does Trey have the big frame and long arms, the kid is a natural athlete. He produces in every way. You will see him run the short routes, get his body between the ball and the defense. His ability to go up and get it has shown to be dominant. The big man even demonstrates great body control and awareness as he grabs a TD along the back line of the endzone while keeping his toes in-bounds. I can’t wait for this kid’s recruitment to take off.
Ethan has put together a great summer on the camp circuit, and it has paid off with his receiving a PWO to South Dakota as well as multiple D2 offers. The 6’4″ 190 lbs playmaker sure looks the part of a college WR on tape. The big target has serious track speed that carries over to the football field. Speed that allows him to cross the field, get vertical, or pile up the yards after the catch if the defense hasn’t swarmed to him right at the catch point. Ethan is so smooth too. He strides right through his routes efficiently. The big man can flip a switch from that athleticism to dropping a shoulder and working for extra yards too. Lastly, Mitchell excels at adjusting to the ball. There is a lot to like with this out wide mismatch.
Another athlete putting together a great summer is the West De Pere WR Langdon Nordgaard Langdon Nordgaard 6’4″ | 195 lbs | WR West De Pere | 2024 State WI . The 6’4″ 195 lbs target has earned multiple D2 offers, and a PWO from the home state Badgers. Good luck matching up with the standout receiver. Langdon is a smooth route runner and has effective quickness in his release off the line. He has the speed to attack the deep portions of the field, and he is great at tracking and adjusting to the ball downfield. I believe that is his best trait of all. Whether he needs to stop, twist, jump, or anything in between, Langdon finds ways to get his hands on the ball; or hand. From there he has the soft hands to be able to reel in the catch. A big year is loading for the West De Pere ’24.
Highlights
We wrap up with another massive, standout 2025 WR/TE. This time it is the 6’4″ 200 lbs Tyler Lessard Tyler Lessard 6’4″ | 200 lbs | WR Hudson | 2025 State WI of Hudson. Lessard tricks a lot of DBs with his speed. Once he gets rolling Tyler is able to pull away from secondary defenders. If they give him a clean release off the line it ends up even worse for them. Tyler also impresses on the receiving end with his soft hands and ability to make the hard, concentration catches in traffic. The incoming junior knows how to use his size and trusts his athleticism. As he continues to develop his route running we are going to see him become even more of a mismatch for teams. Good luck matching up with him this fall.