Wide receivers back and looking for more
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When I started looking at the top returning receivers, strictly off receiving yards in 2022, I was surprised to see how many elite pass catchers from last season are returning for at least one more year. Here is part one…
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Continue ReadingWhen I started looking at the top returning receivers, strictly off receiving yards in 2022, I was surprised to see how many elite pass catchers from last season are returning for at least one more year. Here is part one of the top returning receivers from last season.
Carter Olson Carter Olson 5'10" | WR Wayzata | 2024 MN
Carter Olson Carter Olson 5'10" | WR Wayzata | 2024 MN
Olson led all receivers in the state with over 1200 receiving yards. Olson is usually lined up in the slot and has good speed to get down the field. He has good length and a large catch radius. Once he gets the ball in the open field, the soon-to-be senior is more elusive than you would think. That good body control also translates to his ability to use his athletic ability to make contested catches. Because of his great balance, Olson is not easy to knock off his feet – especially in the open field. He can bounce off and break tackles – especially if the defender tries to put a shoulder into him and not wrap up. This is one of the reasons the coaches get him involved in the running game – on jet sweeps – he has the speed and can break a tackle.
The six and a half minutes of Holcomb’s highlights were about the most fun I have had watching a skill position player in a long time. First, Holcomb might be the state’s most dangerous kick return man. He combines speed, quick feet, and power in a way few kick returners can. He totaled over 1200 receiving yards, who knows how many punt and kick return yards, and eighteen receiving touchdowns. His body control and ability to make contested catches are also up there with the best you will see. His long striding running style eats up ground quickly, but he is agile enough to throttle down and get out of his cuts quickly. In summary – he is the complete package on the outside.
Highlights
You don’t total over seven grabs a game without being willing to make catches in uncomfortable places. Martens is fearless going over the middle. He is not worried about taking a big hit as he extends his body to make a tough catch. His hands and length make him tough to handle anywhere on the field – especially in the red zone. He is not just a chain-moving wide receiver. He has the speed to get behind a defense and make a big play. He is fast enough and tough enough to run the ball on jet sweeps and as a Wildcat quarterback. He plays the ball well and makes nice adjustments on balls that are not perfectly thrown.
Highlights
When I spoke to Khijohnn earlier this offseason, he said his speed and acceleration were his two most significant assets. I would agree. Once in the open field, Cummings-Coleman’s long-striding style eats up ground. I didn’t see many defenders making up much ground. One play in his highlight package exemplifies this perfectly. He made a relatively harmless catch in the flat against Rogers and was surrounded immediately. But he saw a tiny bit of daylight. When he planted his foot, he exploded out his cut and made any angle the three defenders thought they had on him and broke into the clear for an 84-yard touchdown. He has excellent body control and is a threat to make plays on the sidelines and in the red zone – even when covered.
Highlights
Gabriel Swedenburg
Gabriel Swedenburg
With a great pair of hands, Swedenburg’s ability to make contested catches on balls that are not perfectly thrown stands out immediately. He has excellent body control and hands – making him a tough cover. Once in the open field, that body control translates with solid explosiveness out of his cuts – making him tough to grab one-on-one. He has good vision, contributing to Swedenburg’s ability to make two or three cuts in a two or three-yard area. He has good speed, but his route running and quickness are his strengths.