Nate’s Canadian Mid-Season Notebook: Part I

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>CANADA-- Who are some prospects that have popped out from their game highlights or mid-season tape throughout Canada? Here are six names to track from Vancouver, Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Toronto that have had impressive early week performances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>JJ Wahl, WR, Dakota Collegiate (2026)</em></strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/JJWahl15">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>JJ has some well-balanced elusiveness with the athletic mobility with his first steps as he starts his route off. He also shows off catchy awareness with his route running by tracking the ball down with the longevity of his route running. As a slot receiver he has a steady burst that finishes well with his routes. JJ has some development brewing with his open field awareness with shorter routes but has plenty of time to develop more agility and strength within that skillset as only a 2026 prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='881340' first='James' last='Hill'], QB, Paul Kane (2024)</em></strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/_jameshilll">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>James has shown that he is much more agile than he gets credit for inside and outside of the pocket. I have been impressed this fall with his timing of his throws especially within intermediate routes as his patience has improved since my last evaluation of his tape. He shows off a fluid quick release that coaches at the next-level should want on their roster in my eyes. James is an example of a QB prospect you go outside the measurables threeshold for.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Owen Macneil, DB, Bev Facey (2024)</em></strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/owenmacneill">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The motor that Owen has coming off the line certainly explodes more in a game-setting than what his 40-yard dash time will tell you. He also shows off for a DB the explosive hands you want for the position as well. He also is damaging with his vision in the return game and has some catchy agility that goes along with it. Owen plays with smooth awareness and has fundamentally sound positioning as a free safety that is one to know that plays WAY bigger than 5'10 175 pounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>Ethan Dahl, RB, Argyle Secondary (2024)</em></strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/Edahl26">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ethan's tape from last week shows off plenty of fluidity in his running ability and shows off a 5'8 220 pound tailback that runs with plenty of power thru the tackles. He shows off the upside of reactive agility once the ball reaches his hands as he has a swift change of direction to react quickly to what the defense gives him upfront, as he usually is one step ahead of the defender consistently on tape against Belmont Secondary. That reactionary instinct pops out early as Ethan is a RB prospect with one offer and I see many more opportunities to come, as a prospect that looks to work his tail off in the weight room.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='887040' first='James' last='Drake'], WR, George McDougall (2025)</em></strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/J_Drake88">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>James is a 6'4 190 pound wide receiver that is proficient with his route-running and has the upside to look for the best opportunity if his first look isn't there. For his size, I like the agility James shows off with his change of direction on short yardage and I certainly see growth for more twitch brewing as a 2025 prospect. The finishing ability from James shows off some eager skillsets on shorter routes, giving his QB a big target that has some solid strength with his legs in the open field. He also is a smooth blocker without the ball with good hand positioning on his blocks. Certainly his size and upside should appeal to college coaches throughout Canada.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='881338' first='Ioanni' last='Michalos'], OL, St. Andrews College (2024)</em></strong> <a href="https://twitter.com/IoanniMichalos">Twitter</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We checked in on our #1 overall offensive linemen in St. Andrews College's [player_tooltip player_id='881338' first='Ioanni' last='Michalos'] as this kid has continued to show off dominance within his first few weeks of the fall season. Ioanni shows a good trigger of reactive instinct at the point of attack and is mobile with his hands and also shows off good length to attack his defender with force with his angle blocking. Even with light hands, the strength Ioanni possesses is why he is our #1 offensive linemen in all of Canada. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->