5 Overlooked 2025 Recruits Playing At A High Level

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've got 5 recruits in the 2025 class who are fun, breaking out, and showing why they could be steals in the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='620371' first='Kaden' last='Bruhn'] - Mooresville - ATH - 5'11" 160lbs - 2025</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bruhn has had an overall stellar season and has impacted all 3 phases of the game at some point. Whether he's playing WR, DB, or returning kicks, he's been sound and does his job well. At receiver, he's good in the slot and does a good job using his wiggle to get open. He's got solid hands and will lay out to make the diving grab if and when needed. He's always showed late hands as well, which just helps keep his window clean for as long as possible. On top of that, he's quick with the ball in his hands and can pick up YAC. Defensively, he reads his keys and makes the play. He typically takes a good angle and makes sure to put himself in a place to at the very least, make the play. This year he's put up 30 catches for 321 yards and 3 TDs. 26 tackles, 4 interceptions, 5 passes deflected, and 1 forced fumble round out his defensive numbers. He also returned 21 kickoffs this year and broke a long of 85 yards. Everywhere Bruhn has been, he's simply been a playmaker for the Pioneers and is only getting better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Twitter: <strong>@Kaden_20_Bruhn</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='553135' first='Tyler' last='Champion'] - Hamilton Heights - WR - 5'10" 160lbs - 2025</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Champion remains one of my favorite under-the-radar WRs in the 2025 class. It's not that he's the best athlete on the field, while he's a very good athlete, he's just a very high-IQ player who does a great adapting, finding open zones, catching the ball, and moving the chains. Champion is a QB's best friend with how reliable he is. He's going to find a way to get open and make the catch. He's very quick off the line and doesn't have much-wasted movement. Both of which, are big factors in getting open all the time. He's also good downfield and will help push the ball downfield, but is incredibly reliable close to the line of scrimmage. He's slippery and tends to make the first defender slide off and pick up extra yardage. He does have an absolute stud QB in Derrer throwing to him, but the on-field chemistry they have is pretty impressive. It has to be if you're going to catch 85 passes over the past 2 seasons and 20 TDs. Champion is quietly tearing up defenses and building one of the most impressive resumes for a WR in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Twitter: <strong>@Ty1erchampion</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='489288' first='Mj' last='Gaines II'] - Park Tudor - ATH - 6'0" 180lbs - 2025</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gaines has improved week after week and after this past weekend, is showing that he might just be on the verge of developing into one of the best receivers in the class. He's been fine all throughout this year and made big plays when it came his way. Offense and defense, he's been on the field more than ever this year and he's had the light come on. This past Friday he put up 1 of the more impressive Sectional performances. 3 catches, but all 3 went for TDs and he put up over 100 yards on the night and was a big reason why they got the Win. He's an explosive athlete who had been feeling his way through the season and needed to build up his confidence, which he did. If you add his 25 tackles and 3 passes deflected, Gaines had a solid season overall, but his athletiscm and potential have at least me pretty excited about what he could develop into long-term. I'm a big fan of Gaines and he feels like a recruit to watch who could end up sneaky good at the collegiate level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Twitter: <strong>@MjGaines_</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='894087' first='Josiah' last='Mabon'] - Portage - ATH - 5'11" 165lbs - 2025</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mabon has been fantastic this year in both the rushing and receiving game. He's a dynamic athlete who has a lengthy stride that just chews up yardage. That was the case for his kick return for a TD this year, too. He split 2 defenders, found a seam, and hit the gas. Once he hit the open field there was no running him down and he extended the gap between him and the rest of the field. He's not just quick but accelerates quickly as well and does a good job maintaining speed when he's hitting a corner. His most impressive run of the year against Merrillville where he made a man miss immediately in the hole, ran through another defender, stiff-armed another one, and broke it to the outside for a big run. He answered any questions I had about breaking tackles or having short-area agility. He's not just a straight-line runner and that should help him long-term. 408 rushing yards and 2 TDs on the ground combined with 15 catches and 204 yards through the air round out his season, but this seems like Mabon hitting the tip of the iceberg of what he can do.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Twitter:<strong> @JoeJoeNicePlays</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1027720' first='Logan' last='Horne'] - Monroe Central - DL - 6'5" 280lbs - 2025</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Horne has just put together his 2nd straight season being a menace up front. He's big-bodied, does a great job plugging gaps, and still creates penetration where needed. He's able to bullrush and drive his opposition back fairly easily more often than not. Once he gets into a collegiate lifting program, he could really put some muscle on and become a special-build type of player. His length is incredible and I don't think I saw a single rep where he didn't have first contact. First contact and being able to place your hands on a defender and move him before he reacts goes such a long way for linemen. Over the past 2 seasons all up front in the middle, Horne has put up 51 tackles, 13 TFLs, 3 sacks, and forced 2 fumbles. Having someone play Nose or maybe a few shades to either side and be that disruptive is one of the most difficult things for any offense to stop. He's not the most agile athlete, but he understands his skillset and what he does well. Cause pressure, close gaps, and impacting the gameplan on a regular are pretty important skills, all of which Horne thrives in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Twitter: <strong>@LoganHo50693064</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->