2023 Kickoff Series: WR Preview
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A look at five of the best returning receivers in the state before the 2023 season. As we move another week closer to kickoff for the 2023 season, we move on to another position group in the Kickoff Series. Diving…
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Continue ReadingA look at five of the best returning receivers in the state before the 2023 season.
As we move another week closer to kickoff for the 2023 season, we move on to another position group in the Kickoff Series. Diving into the extremely long list of talented returning receivers, it was very difficult to narrow it down to just five. However, with that being said, here are the five that I feel will have the biggest impact in 2023.
Micah Lumpkin Micah Lumpkin 6'0" | WR Sierra | 2024 State CO , Sierra Stallions (WR)(Sr.)(15) – Despite the Stallions’ rough 2022 season, Lumpkin still cemented himself as one of the state’s top receivers. During his junior year, Lumpkin accounted for an extremely impressive 1,286 yards receiving and 12 receiving touchdowns on just 52 receptions (24.7 YPR). When you watch the film of Lumpkins’ 2022 season, you can see he displays outstanding physicality when going up to high-point the ball, easily out-muscling and mossing smaller defenders. Big-bodied receiver that consistently wins with his size, strength, and length while making contested catches in traffic. Extremely physical runner after the catch that doesn’t shy away from contact and almost appears to seek it out. Shows strong and sure hands while making tough catches through contact over the middle. Adequate route runner when working deeper or intermediate concepts but mostly relies on his size/physicality to create separation. Extremely effective jump-ball receiver that consistently wins on fade routes in the end zone. Displays good top end foot speed to pull away from slower 2nd and 3rd level defenders. Lumpkin is currently ranked the number 10 WR and the number 91 player overall in the class of 2024, with that ranking probably rising if Lumpkin can have a strong senior season and if Sierra can manage to win more than one game in 2023.
Joseph Ciccio Joseph Ciccio WR Lutheran | 2024 State CO , Lutheran Lions (WR)(Sr.)(1) – Ciccio is coming into his senior year after having a dominant junior season that saw him lead the Lions’ offense into the state playoffs and one game short of a birth in the 3A state championship game. Looking at the numbers from 2022, Ciccio registered an incredible 1,240 yards receiving and 15 receiving touchdowns on 71 receptions (17.5 YPR). Diving into the tape of Ciccio’s extraordinary junior season, you can see he displays exceptional change-of-direction/route running ability that translates against most DBs that lines up across from him; consistently creating separation with both his release and at the top of his stem. Shows strong, reliable hands even when working shallow and intermediate routes through traffic. Highly intelligent receiver that knows how to use the DBs leverage against him to consistently create separation at multiple levels of the field. Highly explosive receiver that can get on top of a DB in a matter of a couple steps. Displays great top-end foot speed consistently being able to separate against slower DBs and take the top off of the defense if they don’t have the speed to match. Lethal weapon out of the slot that can easily beat the defender covering him inside if they don’t have the short-area quickness to match his. Very tough, physical, and aggressive receiver after the catch, routinely playing through contact and churning out yards at the end of nearly every reception. Ciccio is currently ranked the number 5 WR and the number 56 player overall in the class of 2024, and it’s not hard to see why given how dominant he was as a junior.
Solomon Latimer Solomon Latimer 6'2" | WR Doherty | 2024 State CO , Doherty Spartans (WR)(Sr.)(8) – Latimer is another senior receiver that is coming off an extraordinary junior season, with an even larger season as the goal in 2023. Latimer proved to be a tough cover for just about every DB that matched up with him, as he accounted for an incredible 1,110 yards receiving and 12 receiving touchdowns on 79 receptions (14.1 YPR). When you watch Latimer’s 2022 season on film, you can see he displays outstanding vertical ability that allows him to catch the ball at it’s highest point consistently and win on most jump balls. Tall, long receiver that knows how to use his size (6’2, 170 lbs) as his biggest strength and creates a matchup nightmare for smaller/shorter DBs. Strong, sure-handed receiver that consistently shows the ability to make the tough catches in traffic. Good route runner that knows which release off the line to use based off the alignment of the DB, while also showing an innate knowledge of how to use a DBs leverage against them. Shows outstanding body-control and awareness of where he is on the field, consistently making tight rope catches on the sideline and along the backline of the endzone. Long-stride runner that can cover a lot of ground quickly when getting up to his top end foot speed, consistently out running most 2nd and 3rd level defenders in the open field. Latimer is currently rated the number 3 WR and the number 35 player overall for the class of 2024, with it being fairly easy to see why he’s rated so highly given his tape, production, and frame.
Julian Horsey Julian Horsey WR Palmer | 2025 State CO , Palmer Terrors (WR)(Jr.)(13) – With the first junior receiver on this list, Horsey might be the player I’m the most interested in following through the 2023 season because his 2022 was pretty ridiculous. During his sophomore season, Horsey accounted for 966 yards receiving and 12 receiving touchdowns on just a mind-boggling 33 receptions (29.3 YPR). Nearly half his receptions turned into touchdowns. That’s crazy. When you turn to the tape of Horsey’s sophomore year, you can see he displays excellent explosiveness out of his stance at the line, often winning the release at the line off of first-step explosiveness alone, quickly getting on top of the DB lined up across from him. Excellent athlete with the agility and elite top-end foot speed necessary to consistently take the top off of a defense on deeper routes and take short to intermediate routes the distance on any given reception. Very elusive ball carrier in the open field after the catch that can find daylight in even the tightest running lanes. Displays consistently strong hands in tight coverage when fighting through contact with the DB. Shows good tracking ability when working to locate the ball on deeper breaking routes. Horsey is currently ranked the number 16 WR and the number 122 player overall in the class of 2025, which seems relatively low considering his production and tape but the fact that the Terrors went 2-8 last year could explain why. Regardless of the collective success of the Palmer program, Horsey will be an incredibly fun player to follow individually in 2023 and has certainly shown the potential that says high-level college player.
Jordan Rechel Jordan Rechel 5'11" | 165 lbs | WR Fairview | 2025 State CO , Fairview Knights (WR/RB)(Jr.)(1) – With the second junior entry on this list, is a player I’ve written about before in Jordan Rechel Jordan Rechel 5'11" | 165 lbs | WR Fairview | 2025 State CO , but one that I am never-the-less extremely excited to follow in 2023 given how dominant his sophomore season was in just about every facet of the game offensively. During his versatile sophomore season, Rechel played a role sort of like Amon-Ra St. Brown, registering 872 yards receiving and 7 receiving touchdowns on 54 receptions (16.1 YPR) while also registering 619 yards rushing and 6 rushing touchdowns on 84 carries (7.4 YPC) as well. When you watch the tape of Rechel’s 2022 season, you can see he shows an innate ability as a slot receiver. Compact stature (5’11, 175 lbs) with elite short area quickness when working underneath or outside. Excellent top end foot speed that can take the top off of the defense when working deeper routes against nickel corners and safeties. Elusive runner after the catch, consistently eluding multiple defenders after receptions on screens, mesh concepts, and when working the intermediate area of the field. Shows a quick and lethal release at the line that can beat most opposing DBs locked in man coverage. Good tracking ability when working back to under-thrown passes, showing the ability to undercut the defender and high-point the ball. Rechel is currently rated the number 2 WR and the number 7 player overall for the class of 2025, with that ranking not shocking to see. With that being said though, that ranking can easily rise given the fact that Rechel is easily one of the best offensive players in the state regardless of class or position.