Best of the Best: Week 4 Offense
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Use code Johnson30 for 30% off a new PRZ subscription! I can’t believe how fast this season is going! We are roughly halfway through the regular season, and with conference battles in full swing we are seeing some DUDES step…
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I can’t believe how fast this season is going! We are roughly halfway through the regular season, and with conference battles in full swing we are seeing some DUDES step up into the spotlight. They are taking over key games, showing their talents, and we are lucky enough to get to go through the film and break it down. We will start our Week 4 coverage off with a look at the offenses across WI and see who put on a show last Thursday/Friday. Let’s get right into it!
Stats: 7/11, 160 Yards, 2 TDs, 4 Carries, 130 Yards, 2 TDsrnThese type of performances always blow my mind. Seeing an athlete be able to turn 11 completions/carries into 4 total TDs is not easy. You need to stand out from the crowd, and as a QB you need your receivers to do so also. Right off the bat, Nathan quickly shows he has the athleticism for the next level. It should also provide him the valuable trait of versatility. I could see Nathan helping at more than just QB for a team. Not only does he have the long speed that allows him to pull away, but also the agility, quickness, and elusiveness to turn plays that look corralled into big yardage. That natural athleticism carries over to his arm. Nathan has a quick release, can zip the ball on the short to intermediate routes, and showed good ball placement all night. Nathan has made an impact at W-B for awhile now. It looks like he has taken a nice step up since I watched him live last fall.
Coaches, I have your steal at the OL in the Class of 2024. Jacoby is a massive prospect, and it looks like he is still growing. Krill is now listed at 6’5″ 275 lbs and possesses the special bonus of elite length. Length in the form of an 81″ wingspan. In Week 4 it looked almost unfair. Jacoby was able to easily overpower the opposing DL, wash them down the line or off the ball, or get to the second level and toss LBs around in the run game. In pass protection, Krill does a good job of consistently utilizing that length to make first contact and gain control. He also shows light feet to mirror the pass rusher, a nice flip from when he is bulldozing DL in the run game with his strong base. Jacoby has a well rounded game, and a lot of raw tools to develop. Get on him now.
Highlights
Stats: 10 Receptions, 136 Yards, 4 Rushes, 22 YardsrnPatrick is one of the most consistent players this season. Every week he seems to put up huge numbers. So it’s time we dive into the film of the multi-threat athlete. This week Patrick won his battles on offense with twitch, quickness, and loose hips. He was able to run very sharp, clean routes thanks to his ability to change direction and burst out of it. Haese’s balance is key to his success too, allowing him to stay square and drive his feet out of the breaks. Patrick is a natural hands catcher, and he isn’t afraid to play physical after the catch against DBs. Patrick is putting together a strong season for Sturgeon Bay. Make sure to have him on your radars.
Highlights
Stats: 5 Receptions, 174 Yards, 2 TDsrnVerona came away with a huge win over Middleton last Friday night, and a key contributor to the victory was senior WR Michael Valitchka Michael Valitchka 5’11” | 185 lbs | WR Verona | 2024 State WI . Michael changed the game with his speed. Right from the first highlight play where he had DBs running into each other as he flew by them for the easy TD. The speed shined on every play of Michael’s. He ate up cushion, putting pressure on the DB, and was used on a lot of routes that allowed him to make subtle breaks so he could stay at top speed. It paid off big time. Key to that gameplan is being able to track the ball, and Michael easily ran under passes and adjusted when needed. The senior also made a lot of the selfless plays, like delivering key blocks in the run game. He is moving up our boards, make sure he is on yours.
Highlights
Stats: 8 Receptions, 202 Yards, 3 TDsrnOne of the top senior WRs in WI, especially when looking at uncommitted ones, is Watertown’s Zach Scher Zach Scher 6’1″ | 180 lbs | WR Watertown | 2024 State WI . The go-to, big play weapon has been shining week in and week out. This week seems to have topped them all so far. Instantly, you see the huge cushion respecting his speed, but Zach eats that up and makes a spectacular adjustment to the ball for the TD. The second TD was as easy of a pitch and catch that a 40+ yard completion can be thanks to the speed. Same with the third TD, but Scher also had to show a little agility to finish into the endzone too. We also got glimpses of some physical, tough running after the catch. He drug some DBs, and ran over another this past week. Scher is looking better than ever. Don’t sleep on him.
Highlights
Stats: 23 Carries, 174 Yards, 3 TDsrnOwen has taken on a much bigger workload this season compared to his junior season. The big plays and production have only gone up with the extra work. Carlson’s speed gives him the ability to go off tackle, find a seam, and get out into space off the edge. Owen has developed good instincts with the ball in his hands. He capitalizes on what the defense and his OL gives him. Owen also has multiple examples of effective agility and lateral moves in tight quarters to create space and then accelerate past would be tacklers. I was interested in how he would look as the bell-cow. He hasn’t disappointed.
Highlights
Stats: 6 Receptions, 91 Yards, 2 TDsrnCaden made his way onto my radar as the season started. The athletic senior has put together a strong year, but he needs far more attention than he is getting. Wold is an accomplished track athlete, with next level interest because of it. However, football coaches should take a look too. Wold had a great Week 4 winning with speed, elusiveness after the catch, and smooth route running. He opens with a nice post corner route and the body control to make the sideline catch in bounds. He made defenders miss one on one, and Wold even added in a smooth one handed catch to show off the natural hands. The long jumper has good burst out of his breaks and out of his jukes with the ball. He could provide a nice mismatch for the next level.
Stats: 2 Receptions, 1 TDrnMark is a TE prospect that intrigues me with his play and use. McGinnis is primarily used as a blocker in the Elkhorn offense. A role that he has fit into very well. Mark is able to hold his own against DEs, and uses his agility to put himself in the best positions to win with leverage. He runs his feet to the whistle and is very sticky on his defender once he locks on. This week we got to see some receiving to go with the blocking. Mark was used to attack the short/intermediate levels, and he made a nice in traffic catch for the score. I look forward to getting him in the rankings this offseason.
Highlights
Stats: 18/25, 252 Yards, 2 TDs, 20 Rushing Yards, 2 TDsrnOne of the top passers in the state, whether you watch the tape or look at the stats, is Grafton junior Brady Hilgart Brady Hilgart 6’3″ | 190 lbs | QB Grafton | 2025 State WI . It only took the talented signal caller one half to put up those numbers in Week 4. I love watching Brady’s highlights. He has the size and the talent, but Brady is also a technician. When he gets to stand in the pocket he does a great job of keeping his eyes and feet working together. He keeps two hands on the ball. He is on the balls of his feet and always ready to step into one. The arm talent is definitely there too. Hilgart made an impressive throw while in the process of being tackled showing that he doesn’t need to have his feet set to be able to deliver the ball. Hilgart was very impressive with his pocket mobility this week also. He stepped up, slid laterally, and rolled out to buy time while keeping his eyes downfield. Add in great accuracy to every level of the field and you get a talented prospect that should be on everyone’s radars by now. Check out the tape.
Highlights
Stats: 25 Carries, 268 Yards, 2 TDs, 11 TacklesrnAn under the radar athlete who has really taken off this season is Nicolet’s Ben Ott Ben Ott 6’1″ | 190 lbs | LB Nicolet | 2024 State WI . The senior started his career at QB, but has made the switch to RB on offense, and it has resulted in some big games, and good tape. The first trait that jumps out to me is his lateral agility. Ben is able to get himself out of trouble with strong jump cuts that get him out of the reach of defenders and into open space. Once out there he has the speed to break off the long runs. Ott’s instincts also stand out. He has a great feel for the position, sees the field well, and is able to consistently create big plays. The senior handles a massive workload too. Not only on offense, but also on defense and special teams. Ott has the size, athleticism, and a high motor. Check out his tape and see where he might fit on your roster.
Other Noteworthy Performances
- Mason Radobicky, RB- Mukwonago: 10 Carries, 105 Yards, 3 TDs
- Jayden Gordon Jayden Gordon 5'10" | 165 lbs | RB St Joseph Catholic Academy | 2024 State WI , RB- St. Joseph’s Catholic Academy: 14 Carries, 192 Yards, 4 TDs
- Brock Koeppel Brock Koeppel 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Westosha Central | 2024 State WI , QB- Westosha Central: 11/12, 361 Yards, 5 TDs