AL Pops’ 2028 Defensive Prospect Potpourri – 11.1.23

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Use&nbsp;<strong>PROMO CODE: ALPOPS40&nbsp;</strong>for a&nbsp;<strong>40%&nbsp;DISCOUNT&nbsp;</strong>on your Prep Redzone Next subscription. I literally check out the film of dozens, if not over 100, different middle prospects every single day. From coast to coast, farm towns to big cities, mountains to the beaches and fertile recruiting grounds to needles in a haystack. Here are five offensive prospects that stood out to me today from across the United States on November 1st, 2023. Please note the date, you'll want to remember it in the future.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1073875"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Not far from Tulsa in Northwest Oklahoma, Dishman is part of the machine that is Bixby football. Standing 6-foot-2 and 160 pounds, Dishman played outside linebacker and Tight End this past season, in addition to some special teams work. In addition to his height, Dishman's demeanor on the field also caught my eye during some film review. He brought a sense of physicality in all three phases of the game. Whether wrestling down a ball carrier on defense, throwing some big blocks on special teams, or throwing some big blocks \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eand \u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003ebreaking tackles after the catch as a tight end on offense\u002d\u002dhe did it with a mean streak. The Spartans ran a three-man front this year, with Dishman playing primarily standup outside linebacker. However, with his length and after watching him move\u002d\u002dif he hits the weight room hard, I wouldn't rule out a move to defensive end over the course of the next four years.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1073926"],"_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":"On the middle school level, if they come any meaner or more aggressive than Fine Vailahi of Central Junior High in Euless, Texas, I don't think I want to meet them out of pure fear. Shootin' it straight - Vailahi is a bad, bad man on the football field. Big, thick and tough are all ways to describe the 6-foot-1, 235-pounder who helped lead the CJH Spartans 8th grade team to a conference title. However, the prospect is more than just a big body\u002d\u002dhe's incredibly athletic. Quite literally can make one-handed catches or even carry the ball out of the backfield on offense. Furthermore, he has the speed that most middle school running backs don't even have yet. He played outside linebacker this season but think he'll find his way with his hand in the dirt as a defensive lineman as he continues to progress. His exceptionally quick hands, hips and feet help him defeat blocks, and after that, he is incredibly violent tackler who looks like he's on a mission to inflict pain. He'll be off to Trinity High School in the fall.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1073722"],"_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":"Just an eighth-grader, Battle has established himself as one of the top two-sport athletes in the greater Tampa Bay, Florida area. On the diamond, Battle had a fastball that was clocked at 80 mph this past June\u002d\u002dputting him in the 98th percentile for velocity out of all 2028 prospects with a recorded pitch. His baseball ability is only topped by what he does on the football field, playing varsity ball this season at Zephyrhills Christian Academy. Making highlight plays at both cornerback and in the return game, the 5-foot-7 and 165-pounder has a solid, muscular build. Film has a number of clips showing disciplined eyes and really loose hips, that help him out regardless of position he's playing.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1074104"],"_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":"Any time I come across a prospect from Hawaii it excites me a bit more than usual, because in addition to identifying a good player, I feel I'm also helping show kids on the mainland that the talent is everywhere. Defensive Back Tyson Wailehua fits that bill today. The future King Kula Kiʻekiʻe prospect looks to be a name to know in Hawaii recruiting circles, as he has already been on a game day visit to the Rainbow Warriors. While he displays pretty good coverage skills like a corner, this kid is a safety all the way, in my eyes. Already shows to have a good grasp on the touch between coming downhill to attack, versus playing softer and understanding his role. At this level, doesn't show any hesitation to help out against the run. Also has the necessary innate timing to stay on the good side between great pass break up and pass interference. Lastly, has quantified experience in the return game on the pre-high school level.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1074998"],"_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":"As a Northern New Jersey guy, who played against Cedar Grove High School back in the day, I loved coming across the film of Vincent Russo. Russo played middle linebacker and running back for the Cedar Grove Panthers this season, the same program that produced 2017 NFL first round pick, David Njoku. When it comes to Russo, he's a 5-foot-9 and 145-pound kid who simply folds kids up when he tackles them. While I'm not too Jersey Proud to realize he's not playing against the toughest competition in the world, the kid can play. In comparison to some of the big boys in the state, many of which are coming to the \u003ca href=\u0022https://events.prepredzone.com/e/955/register/northeast-middle-school-camp\u0022\u003eNortheast PRZ Next Middle School Camp\u003c/a\u003e in January, there appears to be some room for improvement on lateral quickness and overall athleticism. With that said, I think he has the potential to be playing on Saturday afternoons in the future, if he continues to grow and continues to play like he does. Russo, a lefty, is also a talented baseball player.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6542c052280bd"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->