Some Top Season Start-ups Among Pass Catchers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In conjunction with the large number of impressive passing game displays coming out of this season's opening weekend, it naturally stands to reason that several of the state's most talented and polished playmakers would stand out, too. And interestingly, Week 0's top receiving performances come from a wide variety of player profiles, including highly touted transfers, former quarterbacks, proven returning veterans and even an under-the-radar sophomore tight end. Whether vertically stretching defensive secondaries with sheer speed, generating chunk plays with yards after the catch or finding those windows in short-yardage or goal line coverages, these performers are poised to separate themselves from the pack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["334645"],"_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":"Currently a 4-star performer with dozens of Division I offers, Carter recently transferred from Brainerd (TN) High School, and his exceptionally athletic, skilled and competitive initial performance with his new Tornado teammates certainly confirms why. While primarily touted as a defensive back, his offensive acumen enabled him to generate over 1800 yards of total offense and 21 touchdowns as Brainerd's quarterback last season, and after hauling in 6 receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown in last week's 42-7 thumping of McCracken County, he clearly possesses the ability to excel at wide receiver, too. In addition to elite straight line speed (10.95 100m), Carter also displays tremendous elusiveness, efficient change of direction mechanics and explosive physicality on both sides of the ball.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["876429"],"_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":"A second u0022repurposedu0022 quarterback who enjoyed a breakout performance in his initial start as a wide receiver, Dumphord's athleticism, frame and skill set appears well-suited for a wide variety of roles/positions both offensively and defensively. After producing over 2600 yards of total offense last season from the quarterback position, he seems equally well suited to succeed in his new position. In addition to gaining 32 yards rushing and 1 touchdown on 7 carries, he also generated 164 receiving yards and 2 more touchdowns on 6 receptions. Whether aligning wide, in the slot or in the backfield, at 6'4u0022 and 195 pounds, he poses countless matchup problems for most defensive schemes, and as his route-running and timing continue to develop, the ways in which the Cardinals opt to get him the football will increase.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["418721"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"After compiling a consistent and impressively productive junior season as the Tomcat's leading receiver last year with 39 receptions, 920 yards and 9 touchdowns, Houston served notice that he intends to pick up just where he left off after Ashland's 28-21 opening week victory over Raceland. Primarily aligning as a single/isolated receiver away from his offensive formation's passing strength, he collected 6 catches last week for 91 yards and 1 touchdown. Whether catching the ball on a quick hitch route or getting behind opponents and taking the top off of their defenses, he possesses a skill set that largely demands combination or bracketed coverages, thus dictating to some degree what defensive coordinators must do to account for him.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["418717"],"_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":"If his season-opening performance is any indication of the impressive feats to follow, Ruffin has firmly positioned himself as the standard bearer among his position's peer group for clutch playmaking and offensive production. Of course, he enters his senior campaign on the momentum of the Centurions' undefeated, state title-winning season last year, and with the majority of that team's offensive contributors returning, it stands to reason that he has poised himself to elevate his game, too.  In his team's 28-14 win over Owensboro, he collected 12 receptions for 144 yards and 1 touchdown. After totaling 38 catches for 735 yards and 12 scores last fall, he verbally committed to West Point's football program just this summer, but additional performances like his first this season might prompt Army's coaching staff to fight off even more next-level suitors to keep Ruffin in the fold.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1176941' first='Aiden' last='Wagers']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2407","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Clay County","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Likely one of the more unexpected breakout performances to emerge from the first week of action occurred down in the southeastern part of the state, where Clay County got a huge performance from a sophomore tight end that sealed their first victory of the season over Pineville.  Last year, Wagers was a freshman starter on the defensive line and concluded the season as the Tigers' third-leading tackler. Fast-forward to this season, and the 6'0u0022 220-pounder clearly has added offensive production to his repertoire after hauling in 5 receptions for 83 yards and 3 touchdowns and topping off the night with an 18-yard carry and a fourth trip to the end zone. Still a starter and major contributor on the defensive side of the ball, too, he projects to develop into a stellar prospect over the next three seasons.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64e4feaba57cf"} /-->