Film Review Pt. 1

On a weekly basis I get sent a TON of Hudl links asking to watch their film. I do try to, but sometimes it's hard to get to it all. This article and a few others in this series are going to break down some players that have sent me their Hudl and I'll give some feedback on some things I like about them.   Connor O'Rourke, WR/DB, Mattawan- First off, Connor has been on my radar for quite some time as a 2 way player, and I am super high on his ability and future at the next level. First thing that jumps off to me on the midseason highlights is that offensively he is extremely quick off the line, and has a really good ability to get vertical and stretch the defense. He's got solid size and good hands that make him a true home run hitter at any given time. YAC comes easy as he watches the ball in, and then immediately turns upfield and has great vision to get around defenders. He runs really hard and puts a ton of effort into fighting for every yard. He's a big time mismatch in 1 on 1s, as he is able to box the defender out and the QB can throw it where only he can get it. Defensively he breaks on balls really well, and breaks down and tackles in the run game. He clearly has a nose for the ball and there isn't much separation between him and his man more often than not. I love what I see from this dude so far this season, and I think the offers are about to really flood in for Connor.   [player_tooltip player_id='368031' first='Devon' last='Pettus'], RB, Canton- Devon is another guy that has been on my radar that I have been high on for quite some time. He's a big kid with some side to side agility and complimentary quickness, and also some physicality where he runs through arm tackles and defenders not ready to deliver a big shot. His film from this week shows that as there is one play where he is all but down, with about 7 defenders on him, and he somehow breaks free for 6 anyways. The film from this week was a glaring example that he has big potential, as he was used between the tackles, outside on the edge, and they dabbled with him catching the ball now that he has his cast off his arm. He makes good and decisive moves and doesn't really dance around, but he does have the ability to shake defenders. You have to love his ability to be this versatile and still impactful. I look forward to what else he is able to accomplish this season and at the next level.   Mahlek Hebron, DL, Detroit Loyola- I wasn't super familiar with Hebron's game, but I had heard his name floated out there a few times. Turning on the tape, I really enjoy what I see. He's big and nasty, and has a mean bullrush with a side of a few finesse moves. He has a quick get off, and pursues the ball carrier like his life depends on it. He's pretty quick, and is able to catch QBs and RBs trying to escape. Usually he is able to keep his pad level low and maintain really good leverage while keeping the offensive player out of his chest. If there was one thing I would say it's just to continue working keeping the pad level down, even if you know you're able to physically dominate the guy across from you. One thing that impressed me that I didn't expect was the discipline on screens. He recognizes them quickly and makes sure he doesn't get upfield in a bad position. This guy will be a game wrecker at the next level, so colleges need to make sure to get in on this beast right now while they can!   Parker Solano, OL, Flint Powers Catholic- Parker has really put himself on my radar with some impressive highlights. Looking at his mid season reel, I was really impressed. First, he is an absolute pancake machine. He hits hard and drives guys into the ground. If I had one thing for Parker to continue to work on, it would be pulling and getting to the 2nd level with quickness. I think a college weight room would unlock another level for this dude. He has the aggression and knowledge of the game and his assignments, and he has the size. Literally if he could just be molded into becoming a bit more agile, he could be a fantastic grab for a college team looking for a nasty offensive lineman. In the limited pass sets he had on film, he did demonstrate the ability to hold his own in that department, but I would need to see more before I had a solid opinion on that. Overall, I think this dude is a monster just waiting to be molded into an incredible offensive lineman at the next level.   Bryant Shack, RB/LB, L'Anse Creuse- Shack was another player I was unfamiliar with until recently, but I do like what I see. He plays in control, but still reckless and at 100%. His film has a lot of examples of him absolutely flying to the ball and making the hit before the play ever really gets going. I think there are times he may go a little far and run by the play at times, but for the most part, he is able to make up for it. His run stopping is quite impressive, and the fact that he delivers the boom on basically every hit is awesome too. This kid is a thumping linebacker with a lot of potential left to be unlocked, I am super excited to see what is next for him in his development process. I definitely think some schools at the next level should look into Bryant.

On a weekly basis I get sent a TON of Hudl links asking to watch their film. I do try to, but sometimes it's hard to get to it all. This article and a few others in this series are going to break down some players that have sent me their Hudl and I'll give some feedback on some things I like about them.