Juniors Shining From the Watch List
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The season is off and roaring! We have hit the midway point, and with all the new film coming out, I have been looking for the best way to pick and choose who to highlight. Last week I started looking…
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Continue ReadingThe season is off and roaring! We have hit the midway point, and with all the new film coming out, I have been looking for the best way to pick and choose who to highlight. Last week I started looking at the Watch List for each rankings. I highlighted a handful of seniors last week. This week I dive into the Class of 2025 with a strong group of six Watch List members. Let’s get into it!
The big QB out of Lake Forest has his team off to a strong 4-1 start. The 6’4″ 230 lbs frame looks the part of a high level college QB. The arm talent is right there with it. It is the arm strength in particular that is special. Every area of the field is available when Van Camp drops back to pass. Daniel has an efficient throwing motion, and the ball explodes out of his hand. On short to intermediate throws he can just flick his wrist and the ball is on a rope. He can easily attack downfield too without having to put much air under it if he needs to get it there now. The rising QB is also completing 60% of his passes on the year. That control over the ball placement while putting head behind it is a difficult thing to learn. The film shows him doing it weekly. Get him on your radars now if you don’t already.
Highlights
I have been a big fan of the 6’3″ 265 lbs DT out of Maine South ever since first watching him at The Line Showcase early this year. Since then, Tyler went on a tear through summer camps, winning reps, and developing his game. Now watching him on the field it has all come together. The big man has really refined his hand fighting technique. He does a consistently strong job of using his hands to keep get separation from OL, or to get their hands off him. Tyler is also very stout at the line of scrimmage. He is able to hold the line or drive his man off the ball, and then find the ball, shed, and make the tackle. The blend of power and technique is going to make Fortis a tough matchup the rest of his HS career and beyond. Get him on your boards if he isn’t already.
Highlights
The 6’3″ 195 lbs junior LB/DE has been playing with his hand in the dirt this season. The long DE has proven to be a problem for OTs at the midway point. The junior has built a reliable, effective pass rush repertoire. Finn has a spin, swim, and rip move that have gotten him consistent wins over OTs. The long athlete also possesses the ability to bend and dip underneath OTs and accelerates out of that bend really well to get into the backfield. Finn is an up and coming edge rusher with the length to continue that success at the next level. I’ll be watching to see how he continues to grow and develop.
Highlights
Colin is a big bodied, possession WR to know. He now checks in at 6’4″ 180 lbs. Colin does a good job of boxing out at the catch point to force separation between the DB and the ball. He plucks the ball out of the air naturally with his hands. The big WR is also a solid blocker out in space. Whether stalk blocking or getting his hands on and overpowering them, Colin is effective. If he continues to grow, Hochmuth may be an option as a receiving TE. Keep an eye on his development going forward.
Highlights
I really like the game that Zion has developed. He is a well rounded athlete who has made highlight plays as a runner, receiver, and blocker. You will see him line up at RB and out at WR. As a runner, Gist is a slasher between the tackles. He is quick to pick his spots, and uses his explosive burst to get up field quickly. Gist can also flip a switch and go from speedster to power runner when defenders close on him. He lowers his shoulder and finishes his carries with violence when ended. The game breaking speed once Zion hits the open field is there too. I’m very excited to follow Zion’s career. He is a versatile athlete.
I came away very impressed by the Brynner Inman Brynner Inman 6’3″ | 275 lbs | OL Nashville | 2025 IL highlights. The 6’4″ 260 lbs junior has heavyweight boxer hands that devastate DL on the receiving end of his initial punch. Punches that pile up pancakes on their own. Inman has a very athletic build to him at this point too. Despite the 260 lbs, he still has a ton of space to continue to fill out and add more strength to his game. Inman has good feet under him too. He can pull, slide laterally to put himself in best position to win, and has a sufficient anchor to shut down the bull rush. This kid is on the rise in the trenches.