Freshman Report: Standout Newcomers
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As the high school football season rolls on, it’s important to take a look at which youngsters are making their mark on varsity. In Alabama, there are plenty of candidates. Some are making buzz nationally, while others might be getting…
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Continue ReadingAs the high school football season rolls on, it’s important to take a look at which youngsters are making their mark on varsity. In Alabama, there are plenty of candidates. Some are making buzz nationally, while others might be getting things done under the radar.
Gunner Rivers Gunner Rivers 6'2" | 175 lbs | QB St Michael Catholic | 2027 State AL – QB – St. Michael Catholic
Rivers, the son of NFL great Philip Rivers, is having an extremely efficient freshman season and has made some buzz nationally as a result. Rivers is what you would expect out of your typical freshman QB. He is long, lanky, and obviously still developing physically. He is still refining his footwork and delivery as well. Regardless, he plays with tremendous timing, anticipation, and is capable of completing numerous different passing concepts. His arm strength is still developing, but Rivers shows the ability to switch up velocities and trajectory on each throw to make a completion. He does an excellent job of layering throws over LBs and under DBs and can also hit the deep receiver in stride. When needed, he can shorten up his release and even switch up his arm angle when he needs to bend a ball around the defender. Rivers throws with tremendous timing and rhythm, frequently hitting his receivers when they are out of the break. He makes decisive throws to keep WRs out of harm’s way and throw them open. Simply put, he is a WRs best friend thanks to his ability to find the open man and safely deliver the ball (15-2 TD/INT ratio). Rivers is going to grow physically and develop some more arm strength and athleticism. Still, his feel for the position at his age makes him a must-track prospect.
Cason Myers Cason Myers 6'2" | 175 lbs | QB Pike Road | 2027 State AL – QB – Pike Road
Myers is yet another 2027 QB who has broken out in a big way this fall and has already received an offer from Alabama State as a result. Myers is a tough competitor at QB and is always looking to make plays and stay ahead of the chains. In the quick-read/RPO game, Myers shows a solid understanding of how and when to make reads and pull the ball. He doesn’t have a rocket arm right now, but he gets the ball out quick enough to attack those tighter windows in the short game. He does an excellent job of reading the defense, whether that means when standing tall in the pocket or out on the run. He is schemed to the outside on boot-leg type plays where he can get his eyes downfield and throw in timing to receivers streaking across the field. He has the discipline and awareness to locate other receivers that may be open on the back side of those plays as well. Myers plays with good pocket presence, standing tall and making his reads without appearing like he is stressed or tight. When the pressure leaks, Myers does a good job of escaping through the pocket and getting out to the flat once he reaches the line of scrimmage, which opens up more possibilities once he and the receivers have to create. Myers is a good athlete and a quick decision-maker. He is a confident passer who is on pace for a highly productive freshman season.
Savarius Evans Savarius Evans 5'11" | 200 lbs | RB Decatur Heritage | 2027 State AL – RB – Decatur Heritage Christian
Evans is a hard-nosed, bruising runner who is by far the most productive freshman RB in the state, toting over 700 rushing yards while rushing for 10.5 YPC. The first thing you notice is his size. At 5’11 200, Evans is not your normal freshman RB. Thanks to his stout, muscular frame, he is able to bounce off weak tackling attempts, push the pile, and fall forward for extra yards. For a runner at his size, he is more than just a bowling ball north and south. He is noticeably light on his feet and is capable of making defenders miss in short areas. When needed to create yards for himself, he is more than athletic enough to do so. Evans isn’t a one-trick pony at RB. There are numerous ways he can impact the defense with the ball in his hands. The basis of his intrigue, however, is that it at least appears like he should be able to handle a workload over the next few years and potentially at the college level barring his development. Expect Evans to be towards the top of state leaderboards in major rushing categories.
Kalib Spivey Kalib Spivey 6'2" | 230 lbs | DL Benjamin Russell | 2027 State AL – DE – Benjamin Russell
Spivey has had himself a super productive freshman season and a first offer from Auburn has put himself on the map. Spivey comes in at around 6’2 230 with clear physical upside. Against the run, Spivey sets the edge nicely by being physical at the point of attack and by playing with good outside leverage. When clear of the blocker and engaging the tackle, Spivey does a good job of widening his base, playing light on his feet, and flagging down the ball carrier. He also does a good job of shedding blocks and collapsing running lanes for the tackle. He finishes tackles aggressively, doing a great job of wrapping up the ball carrier and securely bringing them to the turf. He is a good pursuer of the football in the pass rush. He plays with good pad level and bend around the edge and will use his arm to create extension or swim off blockers. Once he gets around the arc, he flashes a hot motor and closes ground to the QB in a hurry. Spivey is well-advanced both physically and IQ-wise for his age. He will continue to maximize his frame and add P5 offers over the next few years as a result.