2025 Rankings Update: Offensive Stock Risers
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The WV 2025 Rankings have been updated and there are now 125 players in the class ranked! There were many players who saw their stock rise in the rankings so let’s break down which players saw their ranking increase. Here…
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Continue ReadingThe WV 2025 Rankings have been updated and there are now 125 players in the class ranked! There were many players who saw their stock rise in the rankings so let’s break down which players saw their ranking increase. Here are the offensive players that made a jump in the 2025 Rankings update.
- New Ranking: 12
- Previous Ranking: 72
- Spots Raised: +60
None made a bigger jump in our 2025 Rankings update than Winfield TE/LB Toby Laughery Toby Laughery 6’4″ | 225 lbs | TE Winfield | 2025 State WV who jumped up 60 spots to #12 overall and the #2 ranked tight end. Laughery has really started to grow into his long 6’4 frame and is up to 220 pounds while maintaining his upper-level athleticism for the tight end position. He doubles as a defensive starter at outside linebacker where he racked up over 100 tackles this season and earned First Team All-State honors by the WVSWA. Laughery is in that 4.6-4.7 40 range and could easily increase his weight to 240 pounds without losing much, if any, of his speed. I can confidently say that he is a D1 level prospect and I expect him to get some offers from programs at that level before his senior season.
Highlights
- New Ranking: 21
- Previous Ranking: 53
- Spots Raised: +32
Wheeling Park gunslinger Aiden Davis Aiden Davis 5’11” | 170 lbs | QB Wheeling Park | 2025 OH was the second-highest stock riser on the offensive side of the ball in our 2025 Rankings and jumped up 32 spots to #21 overall and the #2 ranked quarterback. Everyone knew Davis was talented but he had yet to showcase it at the varsity level the last time we updated our rankings. He wasted no time in proving as such as he threw for 2,400 yards and 28 touchdowns to just 3 interceptions during his sophomore campaign. Davis completed 70% of his passes which was one of if not the highest completion percentages in the state. He’s currently showcasing his high-level athleticism on the hardwood during basketball season where he’s averaging well over 20 points per game. The only thing that hurts his ranking is size, but he’ll be pushing for that #1 QB ranking all next season and certainly has all of the ability in the world to do so. Davis is well ahead of most quarterbacks his age from a fundamental and developmental standpoint due to his family pedigree, natural ability, and the work he puts in on his own time. The Top 2 quarterbacks in the 2025 class are really 1A and 1B and it will be a fight to the finish line for who gets that #1 spot in the final rankings after next season.
- New Ranking: 35
- Previous Ranking: 62
- Spots Raised: +27
The highest stock riser at the receiver position in the 2025 Rankings update was North Marion’s Brock Martin Brock Martin 6’1″ | 175 lbs | WR Fairmont Senior | 2025 State WV who had a huge year for the state runner-up Huskies as a pass catcher. Martin was the first 1,000-yard receiver at North Marion since 1997 catching 58 passes for 1,107 yards and 12 touchdowns. He flashed that potential as a sophomore in 2022 but we were waiting for the production to match it before ranking him higher and it did so during his junior year in a big way. Martin is a very well-rounded receiver who showed everything you would want to see from a receiver on his highlight tape other than the blocking aspect which would be a nice bonus to see in the future. If he keeps on this development path he’ll be putting himself in a position to receive some D1 interest and offers.
Highlights
- New Ranking: 49
- Previous Ranking: 67
- Spots Raised: +18
Our biggest offensive line stock riser was Elkins offensive tackle Aiden Lambert Aiden Lambert 6’5″ | 305 lbs | OL Elkins | 2025 State WV who enters the Top 50 in the 2025 class and ranks as the #8 offensive lineman. Lambert might be someone who is under the radar on a struggling 1-9 Elkins team but the 6’5 305 big man is someone you need to know about. No pass-blocking clips on his junior highlight tape hurt his ranking a bit but Lambert has steadily progressed since his sophomore season and has grown into his body since then. Big, physical run blocker who plays until the whistle and you can tell he plays with a bit of an edge and nasty streak as well. Footwork and movement are decent for someone his size and age. Lambert can also improve on his bend and leverage as he plays a bit too high at times. High ceiling prospect though who will be a D2 prospect at minimum and has a lot of upside.
- New Ranking: 18
- Previous Ranking: 32
- Spots Raised: +14
We knew Nitro quarterback Josh Moody Josh Moody 6’2″ | 195 lbs | QB Nitro | 2025 State WV was talented, but we wanted to see how he handled the jump up in competition after transferring from then Class A Buffalo to Class AA/AAA Nitro before ranking him higher. Well, all he did was lead the state in passing yards and tied for first in passing touchdowns with 3,711 and 49 respectively. His rushing numbers won’t say so, but Moody is also a very good athlete who can take off and run when needed and could be a dual-threat quarterback in other systems. That’s also apparent when he’s operating in the pocket buying time and evading pressure. Moody throws on the run accurately and can make some big-time plays in the pocket when under duress to extend the play. He throws with nice touch at all levels but can put some velocity behind his passes when needed. Moody led the Wildcats to their first playoff berth since 2007 and are primed for a big 2024 season after returning a bulk of their talent. He currently ranks as the #1 quarterback in the 2025 class but will be pushed by several other talented passers who will be gunning for that #1 spot all the way until the final rankings update after next season. I expect him to receive some D1 offers in the future and he could see his state rank climb even higher.
Highlights
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- New Ranking: 25
- Previous Ranking: 39
- Spots Raised: +14
It’d be hard to find many more productive players in West Virginia on both sides of the ball than Fairmont Senior WR/DB Cannon Dinger Cannon Dinger 5’9″ | 165 lbs | WR Fairmont Senior | 2025 State WV was in 2023. Dinger tallied 55 catches for 982 yards and 11 touchdowns on offense while leading the state in interceptions with 11. The early favorite for best hands in the 2025 class is Dinger who made some of the more impressive catches I saw this season. He has tremendous body control when going up for a catch and has great timing on his jumps when high-pointing the ball. Dinger can make highlight acrobatic catches in traffic and makes tough contested catches look like routine plays. It’s even more impressive that he’s doing so at 5’9 165 and size is the only thing hurting him. Dinger makes up for it with great speed and quickness and has a very quick burst. He’s a clutch performer who makes the big play when you need him to and is as reliable and consistent as they come. Dinger is also a technician when running routes with great separation ability that seems to always be open.
Highlights
- New Ranking: 27
- Previous Ranking: 32
- Spots Raised: +13
Spring Mills QB/ATH Max Anderson Max Anderson 6’2″ | 200 lbs | ATH Spring Mills | 2025 State WV has really worked to improve as a passer at the quarterback position and has developed into more of a true QB and not just a great athlete playing the position. He’ll still be ranked as an ATH for the foreseeable future though as he’s just too good of an overall athlete who has the versatility to play a number of positions at the next level. Anderson threw for 16 touchdowns and ran for 13 more as a junior in 2023 and led the Cardinals to their best season in school history and a trip to the playoff quarterfinals. I just got to see him in person for the first time at the Winter Exposure Showcase where he earned MVP honors as a quarterback and showed tremendous development in his arm talent. Spring Mills is my early dark horse contender in the new Class AAAA in 2024 behind the arm and legs of Anderson.
Highlights
- New Ranking: 23
- Previous Ranking: 36
- Spots Raised: +13
Spring Valley athlete Jalyn Abercrombie Jalyn Abercrombie 5’10” | 175 lbs | WR Spring Valley | 2025 State WV could really be ranked as an ATH after rushing for 561 yards and 8 touchdowns this season along with catching 20 passes for 350 yards and 4 more scores. The Timberwolves aren’t exactly known for their passing attack though so don’t put too much stock in his receiving numbers as he would put up some big-time numbers in more pass-happy systems. Abercrombie has next-level speed and D1 athleticism and I expect he’ll be a D1 prospect in the near future. He’s a playmaker with the ball in his hands so it’s no surprise why Spring Valley handed it off to him more than they threw it to him this season. The 5’10 175 junior is a threat to score any time he touches the ball and I expect him to play receiver in college. Abercrombie ranks 23rd overall and the #3 receiver in the 2025 class.
- New Ranking: 50
- Previous Ranking: 60
- Spots Raised: +10
The early frontrunner for best deep ball receiver in the 2025 class has to be Scott’s Brayden Clark Brayden Clark 6’3″ | 170 lbs | WR Scott | 2025 State WV who I believe led the state in average yards per catch in 2023, especially among receivers with his type of production. Clark averaged 26.1 yards per catch as a junior for the Skyhawks and caught 35 passes for 912 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s a long receiver at 6’3 170 who has very good straight-line speed. You’d like to see more diversity in his route tree outside of go balls and deep posts which hurts his ranking a bit, but he’s as good as they come getting open on those 9 routes. That playmaking ability also translates to the defensive side of the ball where he had 8 interceptions and 12 PBUs this season from his safety position. Scott will be breaking in a new QB1 in 2024 but look for Clark to continue to have big-time production in their spread offense.
- New Ranking: 53
- Previous Ranking: 61
- Spots Raised: +8
Wheeling Central athlete Braden McWreath Braden McWreath 6’2″ | 185 lbs | WR Wheeling Central Catholic | 2025 State WV is someone we wrote about seemingly every week this season in our weekly standouts series and had a ton of production rushing and receiving for the Maroon Knights this season. McWreath was the leading rusher and receiver for the Knights during his junior season rushing for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns along with 562 yards receiving and 10 more scores. He totaled 2,000 all-purpose yards while being the 4th leading tackler on defense and two picks. McWreath has legit track speed and is a real burner who is often the fastest athlete on the field especially at the small school level. Wheeling Central will be moving up to the new Class AA and right now he’s ranked as a Top 10 player in the AA/A classification and could keep seeing his ranking steadily increase with another season like this one. His speed puts him in the D1 prospect conversation and could see some attention from colleges at that level in the coming months.
Highlights
- New Ranking: 3
- Previous Ranking: 5
- Spots Raised: +2
A two-spot increase in the rankings typically isn’t worth noting but when it involves a Top 5/10 player we need to make note of it. George Washington athlete Keegan Sack Keegan Sack 5’10” | 195 lbs | RB Huntington | 2025 State WV was already considered a Top 5 player in the 2025 class from our last update but now jumps up two spots to the #3 overall player in this class. A P4 offer from Maryland and a productive junior season will do that for your ranking and I expect some more FBS schools to follow suit before the 2024 season begins. Sack could really be ranked as an ATH as he’s a quality running back and receiver for the Patriots along with seeing plenty of time as a DB too. For now, he’ll stay put as a RB and I really like the outlook at that position for him with his physical build and skillset. Sack is just a well-rounded athlete with natural ability that can succeed regardless of which position you put him at.
Highlights
- New Ranking: 8
- Previous Ranking: 10
- Spots Raised: +2
Another small increase in the 2025 Rankings but a notable one is by Hedgesville offensive tackle Levi Faircloth Levi Faircloth 6’4″ | 305 lbs | OL Hedgesville | 2025 State WV who is now firmly inside the Top 10 at #8 overall and remains the #1 ranked offensive lineman in the class. I absolutely love Faircloth’s game and he is steadily growing into his big 6’5 frame. The first thing that jumps out when watching his tape is his athleticism. If you watch his highlights for the first time you may find yourself doing a double take when he’s lining up at middle linebacker at 6’5 and 280 pounds and moving the way he does. Obviously, he won’t be doing that in college but that just gives you an idea of how athletic he is for a kid his size. Faircloth is also a very physical blocker with a nasty streak who is farther ahead in run blocking than pass but with his athleticism, he can develop more there easier than most. I’d like to see more film of his kick steps in pass sets and increased strength/weight will only benefit his game more. Faircloth is a no doubt D1 prospect in my book and could develop into a P4 prospect in the future.
Highlights
- New Ranking: 11
- Previous Ranking: 13
- Spots Raised: +2
Martinsburg ATH Koi Fagan Koi Fagan 6’0″ | 165 lbs | ATH Martinsburg | 2025 State WV jumps up two spots to #11 overall in the 2025 Rankings and is looking just outside of the Top 10. He ranks as the #2 ATH in the class now after being moved from QB in our rankings for showcasing his running back abilities this season. Martinsburg found ways to get Fagan the ball while he awaits his turn to potentially be QB1 in 2024 and he looked like a natural at the running back position. Fagan is a great student posting a 4.625 GPA so it’s no surprise why D1 Ivy League member Brown jumped in with an early offer back in June. Fagan is probably the fastest returning player in West Virginia next season and it will be very interesting to see how Martinsburg uses him during his senior year. I haven’t seen enough quarterback film from him to really give an accurate assessment of how he looks there but he certainly has D1 athleticism and could get some FBS interest next season.
Highlights
- New Ranking: 5
- Previous Ranking: 6
- Spots Raised: +1
Hurricane ATH Noah Vellaithambi Noah Vellaithambi 5’11” | 205 lbs | ATH Hurricane | 2025 State WV only moved up one spot but he can now say that he’s a Top 5 player in the 2025 class and now ranks as the #5 player in the rankings. Vellaithambi was previously ranked as a QB after a successful sophomore season for the Redskins but moved to running back this year when 2024 QB JacQai Long JacQai Long 6’2″ | 200 lbs | QB Hurricane | 2024 State WV transferred back to WV for his senior year. It took a couple of weeks for Hurricane to really figure out how to use Vellaithambi in his new role but he quickly got going and never looked back. He rushed for 1,400 yards and 19 touchdowns at his new position and even had 26 tackles on defense. Vellaithambi was a unanimous First Team All-State selection by PRZ WV and the WVSWA this season, First Team All-Conference, and the Kanawha Valley Player of the Year. He showcased how versatile of an athlete he is this season but I fully expect him to be QB1 again next year. I have complete confidence in his quarterback abilities so he may eventually switch back to that position in the rankings. He’s a D1 prospect that was able to show he can play more than one position at the next level which should make him an even more intriguing prospect to colleges.