SIAC Mid-Season Report: Top Offensive Prospects

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2023 season has been off to a great start in the SIAC. There have been dominating performances from household names and emerging new ones. This article will highlight five of the top uncommitted offensive prospects in the SIAC. Again, I will emphasize that Southern Indiana is a pocket of hard-working young men who want an opportunity to prove themselves. These five SIAC offensive prospects have the tools and abilities to play at the D1 level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Ben Davies","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"FJ Reitz","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Ben Davies is leading the SIAC in passing yards and has led the Reitz Panthers to an undefeated season up to this point. Through the first five games, Ben has gone 63/90, with a 70% completion percentage, 995 yards, averaging 199 yards per game, 9 TDs, and 5 INTs. After watching his most recent highlight tape, I understand why he is atop the leaderboards. The first thing I noticed is that he has improved his footwork and looks confident in the pocket. The ball gets to his receivers effortlessly and with great accuracy. Ben slings the rock all around the yard and shows to make any throw. He does a great job escaping the pocket and finding his receivers when the pocket collapses. Ben Davies has put together a tremendous junior campaign and looks to not be stopping anytime soon.rnrnJunior Year Weeks 1-5 - Ben Daviesrnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17696523/65070739bed6c508e4abae5bu0022u003ehttps://www.hudl.com/video/3/17696523/65070739bed6c508e4abae5bu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["958450"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Elijah Wagner is a Player of the Week candidate almost every week this season. Through the first four games, Elijah went 63/104, with a 60% completion percentage, 818 yards, averaging 204.5 yards per game, 8 TDs, and 5 INTs through the air. The senior QB is not your traditional pocket passer. Elijah gets the job done through the air by making the throws necessary, but he is most dominant with his legs. The dual-threat QB through four games had 85 carries, 753 yards, averaging 188.3 yards per game, and 9 TDs on the ground. He is elusive, has great change of direction, and runs the ball with great vision. Wagner leads the conference in rushing and has shown to be durable through the first half of the season. Elijah Wagner has the ability to play at the D1 level whether that is at QB, RB, or some type of offensive weapon, just get him the ball!rnrn1-3 Week Highlights - Elijah Wagnerrnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14770363/64f5e349dfd9da023864c379u0022u003ehttps://www.hudl.com/video/3/14770363/64f5e349dfd9da023864c379u003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["608077"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='608077' first='Maximus' last='McCool'] has been dominanting the ground the last three weeks of the season. Through the first five games, Max has had 63 carries, 507 yards, averaging 101.4 yards per game, and 7 TDs. Week 3 has been the highlight of McCool's junior season when he had 209 yards on 16 carries and 3 rushing TDs. Turn on the tape and you will watch a RB running with a purpose. Maximus does not dance around in the backfield and he does not run out of bounds. Instead, Max looks like a freight train on the way to the endzone, running over anyone in his path. He does play with some shiftiness and makes clean cuts at the line of scrimmage. [player_tooltip player_id='608077' first='Maximus' last='McCool'] plays with grit and has a run style that makes you enjoy watching him play.rnrnBosse High School - Max McCoolrnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16035037/64f2c6807bde0f0b00a30514u0022u003ehttps://www.hudl.com/video/3/16035037/64f2c6807bde0f0b00a30514u003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["735557"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='322411' first='Antonio' last='Harris'] has taken his game to the next level. He is on pace to break his personal single season records in rushing and receiving. Harris is the focal point of the Castle Knights offense and has a lot of eyes on him when he is on the field. His first five game rushing stats include 54 carries, 432 yards, averaging 86.4 yards per game, and 8 TDs. On the receiving end, he has 14 receptions, 333 yards, averaging 23.8 yards per catch, and 4 TDs. It is simple: get Harris the ball and good things happen. He is a tremendous athlete, plays with great balance, and has a great sense of the game. The most impressive attribute that Antonio has is his ability to separate from defenders. You see this in his route running ability and from his flat out speed. [player_tooltip player_id='322411' first='Antonio' last='Harris'] is a D1 prospect and there is no debate that he can play at a high level.rnrnMid Season - [player_tooltip player_id='322411' first='Antonio' last='Harris']rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/14763443/6507c3fb176ce30fc4aabf6eu0022u003ehttps://www.hudl.com/video/3/14763443/6507c3fb176ce30fc4aabf6eu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["290469"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='290469' first='Roland' last='Vera Jr']. is showing up every week and impressing every one that watches. Through five games, the senior WR has brought in 36 receptions, 515 yards, averaging 103 yards per game, 4 TDs. Roland currently leads the SIAC in receiving yards and receptions. The senior WR is stacking great performance on top of great performance weekly. In Week 4, Roland tied the school record with 15 receptions and broke the single game receiving record with 225 yards. He is a deep ball threat and gets behind the defenders with his great route running. Put on his highlight tape and watch him juke defenders out of their shoes. The Reitz Panthers have found ways to utilize Roland all over the field. Additionally on offense, he has two rushing TDs and a passing TD on the season. Defensively, Vera Jr. shows to play in the secondary and looks to lay his opponents out! [player_tooltip player_id='290469' first='Roland' last='Vera Jr']. is proving every week he can play at a high level and compete with the best.rnrnWeeks 1-4 Game Highlights - [player_tooltip player_id='290469' first='Roland' last='Vera Jr'].rnrnu003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/11923639/65009e48c124fe0120db3380u0022u003ehttps://www.hudl.com/video/3/11923639/65009e48c124fe0120db3380u003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6508e89acc47b"} /-->