WV Preseason Spotlight: East Hardy

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we reach the under three-week window until the 2023 football season begins, we will spotlight some of West Virginia's prospects to watch for this season. Today we will focus on East Hardy HS. Here are some prospects you need to keep an eye on from East Hardy HS for the 2023 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["894276"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":940252,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='894276' first='Justin' last='Parker'] was a Class A First Team All-State performer as a junior in 2022 for the East Hardy Cougars and should repeat those honors for his senior season. The 6'3 215 defensive end was a terror on the Cougars' defensive line all last season and tallied a whopping 16 tackles for loss and 9 sacks. Parker helped lead his Cougars to a 9-3 season and the second round of the Class A playoffs. He has a unique combination of length and athleticism for a small school lineman and was just too much to handle for most Class A offensive linemen. Parker uses his length and wingspan well when getting off the ball and has good speed coming off the end. Parker can run down most quarterbacks and running backs from behind but is also stout when setting the edge and keeping contain. He's a 2024 defensive lineman name to know in Class A for this season.rnrnu003cstrongu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/14866125/Justin-parkeru0022u003eHudlu003c/au003e | u003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/Parker592024u0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003eu003c/strongu003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["940254"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":940271,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='940254' first='Brandon' last='Jones'] was the Cougars' second-leading receiver as a junior and should be in line to be their #1 target with Ashton Haslacker graduating. Jones caught 18 passes for just under 400 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2022 and could easily double those numbers for his senior season. He also had an interception and 6 passes defended on defense. The 5'9 150 slot receiver showed he had good hands to match with his speed and can stretch the field or make tough catches. You can either throw him deep balls from the slot or let him work in the middle of the field and the sidelines in the short and intermediate game. Jones is really good at running wheel routes from his slot position and had several big plays from that route. Look for him to have a breakout senior season for the Cougars.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/14906567/Brandon-Jonesu0022u003eu003cstrongu003eHudlu003c/strongu003eu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["940272"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":940273,"_player_evaluations_2_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='940272' first='Damien' last='Dellinger'] was East Hardy's #2 QB as a junior but should take over the reins at quarterback for his senior year after the previous one graduated. Dellinger is a stocky and well-built QB at 5'11 215 that should be able to carry the rock 10-15 times a game and hold up well physically. He's a physical runner that will lower his shoulder on you but has enough speed that he can run away from defenders at times. You can run a lot of QB power and draws with him and East Hardy's 2022 QB ran for over 1,200 yards which gives you an idea of how they like to use their quarterbacks. Dellinger rushed for over 300 yards and 2 touchdowns as a junior and also threw 2 touchdowns. He also had 40 tackles and 6 TFLs on defense and should start both ways this season.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/14911622/Damien-Dellingeru0022u003eu003cstrongu003eHudlu003c/strongu003eu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["907610"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":940283,"_player_evaluations_3_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Another quarterback option this season for the East Hardy Cougars will be 2025 ATH [player_tooltip player_id='907610' first='Brayden' last='Gregory']. He'll be the lightning to Dellinger's thunder and the speedy option at the position. Gregory saw limited varsity time as a sophomore but should see a much larger role as a junior in 2023. If he doesn't win the QB job he'll also be one of the Cougars' top receiving targets and will likely see time on defense as well. The 6'1 170 rising junior is very athletic and although his film is limited you can tell he has pretty good arm strength and is a good runner too. It will be interesting to see how that QB battle plays out and how they'll use Gregory in the next two years.rnrnu003cstrongu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/16556635/Brayden-Gregoryu0022u003eHudlu003c/au003e | u003ca href=u0022https://twitter.com/Braydengreg_2u0022u003eTwitteru003c/au003eu003c/strongu003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["907613"],"_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":"East Hardy has another promising 2025 prospect in RB/DB [player_tooltip player_id='907613' first='Price' last='Strawderman']. Strawderman is one of many Cougars that saw carries a season ago and his production should keep increasing over the next two seasons. East Hardy returns 4 of their 5 leading rushers so he will still be fighting for carries and playing time but things will open up for him more when he's a senior. Strawderman is on the smaller size at 5'6 160 but he plays well above his weight class. He's not afraid to take a hit and will lay a booming block in pass protection. Even as a smaller running back, Strawderman runs hard and breaks the first tackle often. He's a fun little player to watch and his production will increase in the next two seasons.rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/profile/16901370/Price-Strawdermanu0022u003eu003cstrongu003eHudlu003c/strongu003eu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64d14278d56fb"} /-->