Scouting Report: Johnston vs. Valley
Johnston, Iowa – The Dragons hosted the Tigers in a big-time 5A matchup. While Johnston got on top early with two scores, Valley never truly went away by narrowing the lead down and having a very stout defense for most of…
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Continue ReadingJohnston, Iowa – The Dragons hosted the Tigers in a big-time 5A matchup. While Johnston got on top early with two scores, Valley never truly went away by narrowing the lead down and having a very stout defense for most of the game. In the end, the Dragons were able to pull away with the final score being 21-9.
Here are some of the names that were impressive from Friday:
After what appeared to be an off night for Nuss up in Cedar Falls, he bounced back this week with an exceptional performance against Valley. All night Nuss was as consistent as they come, hitting many different openings within the Tigers zone defense and landing on some shots taken. He has the arm to beat defenses deep but can also cause problems underneath in the quick game. His ability to play make outside the pocket was a key factor as well. Nuss shows his baseball background in that regard as he is able to make some tough throws on the run or when improvising. He finished the night 12/19 with 193 yards in the air, one touchdown and one interception.
Adrian Broadus Adrian Broadus 5'11" | 185 lbs | WR Johnston | 2024 State IA
Adrian Broadus Adrian Broadus 5'11" | 185 lbs | WR Johnston | 2024 State IA
Broadus used to take snaps under center for the Dragons at one point but now he finds himself flexed out and continuing to be productive. The senior receiver was able to assemble some good plays for the Johnston offense as he did a majority of his work in the slot. He shows good change of direction, toughness and soft hands. Along with those traits, he is a well put together athlete who you would label as a gadget player due to his productive versatility. Broadus finished the night with four receptions for 44 yards.
JJ Shaw
JJ Shaw
The Dragons actually have a pretty talented defensive backfield and it begins with their hard nose senior corner JJ Shaw. Shaw is a gritty yet technical football player who understands leverage. The Dragons’ senior DB was very sound against the Tigers. He shows the ability to excel in both zone and man coverage weather he is in the boundary or to the field. Labeled as an “annoying” defender which is more of a compliment, he was able to come down with an interception and a couple pass break ups. He also totaled three tackles and returned 4 punts for 25 yards showing he can be a play maker in the return game.
Taye Proctor
Taye Proctor
On the opposite side of Shaw is Taye Proctor. The bigger corner of the two, Proctor brings exceptional length on the outside. His frame allows him to be physical with receivers and pretty much size up against anyone across from him. His man to man ability is worthy due to his speed and route recognition. Like Shaw, Proctor can excel in either the field or boundary as he made plays at both. However, the athleticism and IQ he possess allows him to play multiple positions such as safety and returner. Proctor also totaled an interception while adding on 5.5 tackles and two punt returns for 24 yards.
D’angelo Barkue
D’angelo Barkue
Barkue was a tremendous two-way player. Making plays at both safety and running back, the 5’9 junior packed a lot of physicality for a smaller frame. As a safety he showed that he can run and mirror whoever’s in front of him but also come downhill and lay the wood. On the flip side, he is a very crafty utility back. He has good speed when hitting the edge and reads his blocks tremendously well when hitting the hole. Barkue showed that he has game changing and play-making ability no matter where you line him up. He finished the night with 8 tackles (7.5 solo) two pass break ups and 28 yards on the ground on three carries with a touchdown.
Damon Head
Damon Head
Head is a quick, physical one-cut type of back. The senior tailback was productive all night for the Tigers. While he may have not found the end zone, he still rushed for 78 yards on 15 carries. The offense of the Tigers struggled with consistency but Head was truly a bright-spot. He was a tough runner to bring down for the Dragons and never made it easy. Whenever he got the ball it seemed like Head was always one broken tackle away from breaking a long one. As the season progress, many should expect Head to be a focal point of this unit.
Jayden McGregory
Jayden McGregory
McGregory is a true dynamic play maker on both sides of the ball. The sophomore stud is showing why he is so highly regarded . Offensively, there was nothing eye-popping on the stat sheet but watching him run routes or work in space shows massive potential. He is quick with the ball in his hands and has the speed to get on db’s toes quickly. Not to mention his jumping ability is exceptional as well. Defensively is where he excelled, as he was in the hip pocket of many Dragon receivers totaling two pass break ups and four tackles. He also had a momentum swinging interception as the Dragons were in the redzone ready to score. His return ability is also a factor, as the Tigers showed they’re willing to put him anywhere when they’re counting on a play to be made.
The junior hybrid defender is a key piece to this defense. Price shows as a safety but also plays in the box with the aggressiveness of a linebacker. Over top he can roam, come downhill and even lock opponents across from him. In the box, he is a savy defender who can shed blocks due to strength and or athleticism. He has the versatility that allows him to work well in space or in coverage. He posses good speed, quickness and awareness which lintels for his ability to be around the ball so much. Price will be an anchor for this defense as the season moves forward.
Theron Castle
Theron Castle
Castle is a linebacker who does his damage in space but can also excel in the box. While he may line up in the middle from time to time, he is legit in open field tackling and has lateral speed that is efficient. He has the ability to get sideline to sideline while also being able to drop into coverage to effectively re route defenders. Castle’s block shedding purely comes from his effort and strength as he can sometimes be a tough block to reach in the second level.
Honorable Mentions:
Jacob Simpson Jacob Simpson 6'5" | 220 lbs | WR Johnston | 2024 State IA – Johnston (WR/TE 6’5 220) 2024
Braylon Jenkins – Valley (OL 6’4 290) 2024
Menson Martin – Johnston ( RB 5’9 190) 2024
Isaiah Pinks Isaiah Pinks 6'2" | 170 lbs | DB West Des Moines Valley | 2024 IA – Valley (ATH 6’2 180) 2024
Nathan King – Johnston (WR 6’0 165) 2025
Ramez Naba – Valley (DL 6’2 335) 2024
Dalen Huston Dalen Huston 6'4" | 205 lbs | QB Marshalltown | 2024 State IA – Johnston (ATH 6’4 215) 2024
Robert Gbollie – Johnston (DL 6’0 210) 2024
Nathan Jenkins – Johnston (DB 6’0 175) 2026