Brian's Best - Regular season Part II

Part two of my regular season best focuses on the second half of the regular season and seven more guys who stood out at the games I saw live. Like the first of these stories, these aren't just the obvious – DI or DII guys that get a lot of notice – but they were guys I noticed, and I hope get noticed by football programs this recruiting cycle.   [player_tooltip player_id='348735' first='Danny' last='King'] Bloomington Jefferson TE/WR   What I said then:   King was electric all night. Early, he got down low to make a catch below his knees. He made a short catch and made multiple defenders miss until he was brought down. He caught a crossing route for ten yards and made a diving catch down the middle of the field to set up a first and goal. He grabbed an out route and immediately got upfield for a big gain. On a fourth and three, he made a short catch for the first down and then broke three tackles to get up the field for a 16-yard touchdown. His block on the edge allowed Tevin Ekse to cut up an end-a-round.   King ended up leading the team in receptions (34), receiving yards (481) and receiving touchdowns (5). The senior would flip back and forth between lining up in the traditional tight end spot and outside as a wide receiver. With a big catch radius, he is too big for corners to deal with and too athletic for most linebackers. His ability to catch contested balls also stands out for the senior.   [player_tooltip player_id='234871' first='Dalon' last='Gurley'] Robbinsdale Cooper ATH   What I said then:   Gurley was the best player on the field for the Hawks. His speed and quickness helped him break a long kickoff return near midfield. He showed good body control with a six-yard catch on an out route on the sidelines. He caught a crossing route for a first down. Then, he made a series of quick moves at the line of scrimmage to pick up twenty yards down the sidelines. Late in the game, the junior made a highlight catch for 40 yards through double coverage. On defense, Gurley made a one-on-one tackle on the outside, forcing a fourth and goal. He also made an immediate tackle on an outside throw for a short gain.   Gurley ended the season with 28 catches for 430 yards and a touchdown. On defense, he contributed 24 tackles and an interception. He was also one of the primary kick returners – taking one back for a touchdown. With good length and speed, Gurley was an effective deep threat. That length also made him a problematic cover on short and intermediate routes, as he was much bigger than most of the guys tasked with defending him.   [player_tooltip player_id='392533' first='Grant' last='Tylutki'] Rocori ATH   What I said then:   Early in the game, Tylutki caught a deep out on the sidelines. Then, he caught a touchdown down the middle of the field. Then, the junior caught a quick out route, put his foot in the ground, and got upfield for fifteen yards. On defense, he made a solid tackle on the outside. Then, he held contain and made an excellent form tackle for a short gain. Later in the game, he effectively played the option, stopping an option pitch for a short loss. Tylutki even made a big play on special teams – a 25-yard punt return.   With over 700 yards of total offense and four touchdowns, Tylutki was a do-everything offensive threat. His most significant contribution was on the defensive side of the ball. His wide receiver skills translated well as a linebacker, as his coverage skills and ability to make a play on the ball are evident. He was second on the team with 133 total tackles. As an outside linebacker, Tylutki is a solid combination of size and speed. He is physical enough to get off blocks on the outside and athletic enough to be effective in coverage.   D'Mario Davenport Andover RB   What I said then:   Davenport was the most effective offensive threat for the Huskies. Early, a patient run picked up five yards. Then, he stepped out of two tackles in the backfield but kept his feet and got the corner for twenty yards. He showed strength, breaking a tackle to pick up a first down. Two runs early in the second half picked up back-to-back first downs. Then, he bounced a run to the outside, turning a short gain into a first down. His speed to the corner got him into the end zone for a short touchdown. Davenport used a series of jump cuts to pop a run outside for eight yards. His 12-yard touchdown run between the tackles basically put the game away late.   Davenport kept up the pace he established when I got a chance to see him. He rushed for over 1100 yards and scored 23 touchdowns on the ground. He added another 700 yards and nine touchdowns through the air. With nearly 2000 yards of total offense, Davenport separated himself from most running backs in the state. His combination of straight-line speed and quick feet make him one of the most explosive runners in the state. He has one of the best jump cuts I have seen in some time. The senior isn't just a check-down receiver in the flat; he made plenty of plays in the passing game down the field.   Ethan Martin Sauk Rapids-Rice ATH   What I said then:   Despite a cast on one of his hands, Martin was the best player on the field in the first half. He showed great speed and agility coming across the formation to make two tackles for short gains on the other side of where he originally lined up. Martin drew a penalty by getting into the backfield and nearly sacking the quarterback. Later, he read a quarterback draw and made a tackle for a short gain. In the second half, he stuffed two inside runs.   Martin was such a versatile player that he switched numbers from 20 to 52 at some point in the season. With that type of position flexibility, his athletic ability shows itself early and often. As a defensive lineman, he can track down players on the backside and several yards down the field. His length allows him to keep blockers off him. That length also makes him a tough cover on the outside as a receiver, a tight end, or a threat in the passing game coming out of the backfield. By the time I saw Martin, he had a cast on one of his hands – which might have caused the position switch.   [player_tooltip player_id='105385' first='Azrie' last='Yeager'] Minneapolis North OL/DL   What I said then:   Yeager was a force on both sides of the line of scrimmage, so he gets a second mention. The offense had early success behind Dotson and Yeager. Later, they ran to the other side of the line, and then they ran to the other side, and Dotson and Yeager pulled across the formation to lead the runner. The Polars' first touchdown run was behind Yeager, Ellis, and Osborne. He helped the Polars run whatever they wanted on offense – especially in the running game. On defense, the big man held off a block, held contain, and made a tackle for a short gain. Later, he fought off a block and made a big hit at the line of scrimmage. Yeager, Dotson, Osborne, and Devin Lay, who would rotate in, dominated the game. They were so much more athletic than the Tigers' offensive line. One of them was in the backfield much of the time.   Yeager finished with 56 tackles and 11 tackles for loss. He was also a beast rushing the passer, collecting 9.5 sacks on the season. Where he really excelled was on the offensive line. Yeager is a mauler on the inside. His low center of gravity, strength, and aggressiveness make him an outstanding straight-line run blocker. However, his quick feet and solid pass-pro technique take him to the next level as an interior lineman. He is a quarterback and running back's dream. The senior plays through the whistle and always looks to get downfield and keep defenders off his guys.   Lofton O'Groske ATH Coon Rapids   What I said then:   Cummings-Coleman might have a bigger football future, but the most impressive player on Friday night – even though they lost the game – was O'Groske. Early, he caught a pass that was too high with a defender right on him, trying to rip away the ball for a short gain. O'Groske was a huge asset as a blocker. Three or four times, he would lock up a defender on the outside, helping his teammates pick up extra yards. With more traditional receiver skills, the senior tapped his toes on the sidelines for a catch to pick up a first down on third and twenty. On the same drive, he caught a touchdown, leaping in the air and getting his feet inbounds.   O'Groske was a deep ball threat the whole season. His length and ability to adjust to the ball were only two reasons he was a big play threat whenever the ball was thrown his way. Not just a deep ball guy, O'Groske was used often on bubble screens and other throws at the line of scrimmage that forced him to break tackles and show off some power. As a defensive back, all of those ball skills and speed made him a great deep safety with the range and instincts that come from being a high-level receiver. He doesn't make ‘business decisions on either side of the ball. He is a good tackler in the open field and blocks well on the edge.

Part two of my regular season best focuses on the second half of the regular season and seven more guys who stood out at the games I saw live. Like the first of these stories, these aren't just the obvious – DI or DII guys that get a lot of notice – but they were guys I noticed, and I hope get noticed by football programs this recruiting cycle.