FIVE Rising Juniors to know
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Ankeny (IA.)– Ankeny High offensive lineman Lukis Beroth (6-foot, 250 pounds) is a powerful, athletic force within the Hawks front and a Junior to watch. The Hawks’ junior is a dominant force up front. He was the right tackle for the…
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Continue ReadingAnkeny (IA.)– Ankeny High offensive lineman Lukis Beroth (6-foot, 250 pounds) is a powerful, athletic force within the Hawks front and a Junior to watch.
The Hawks’ junior is a dominant force up front. He was the right tackle for the Hawks and was a beast at protecting the perimeter. He is a violent blocker when it comes to the run and is light on his feet within pass pro. He knows how to redirect and pick up blitzes from the second level but perhaps is the most dangerous when he’s pulling. He comes around leading the way and buries the first person in his way which creates massive holes for his ball carriers. While he may not be the biggest lineman, he can withstand bigger defensive linemen without any issues. He was a vital part of an offense that rushed for 2222 yards, averaging 4.9 yards per carry and scoring 24 touchdowns. In addition, he longsnaps as well and has some serious spin. He was awarded both First Team All-Conference and All-State.
Beroth discusses what he feels are his strengths and what he’s working on improving this offseason.
“Some of my strengths include my aggression and my ability to play all 5 spots across the OL. Along with my OL play, I am also a 4-star Kohl’s LS. I would say that my biggest weakness would be my size. Being an undersized lineman, I make up for it by playing aggressively and non-stop through the whistle. I want to work on my speed off the ball this offseason to improve my game, so I can use that as an advantage against the defense and get to the second level on my combo blocks. Getting to the second level will elevate my game and help big runs pop off.”
Beroth shows extreme versatility for his skill while being extremely tough and durable. Displays the tenacity, leg drive, and mean attitude that is highly coveted by OL coaches and could raise his recruiting status. He understands schemes and has a high IQ of the game. While he may be required to move inside at the next he possesses the skill set, intelligence, and desire to successfully convert.
Beroth discussed his motivation for the game and what goals he’s set for himself.
“I’ve loved football since I was young just watching it, then playing it. There’s something about the competition and teamwork that fuels my passion for the game. There’s nothing quite like the brotherhood of your teammates, and going to battle with them every time you step on the field. That’s what motivates me to play the way I do. Along with that, I can play with a feeling of confidence because through my faith I know that outside of the game I’m not defined by my wins and losses. My goals for this upcoming year are to help lead the Ankeny Hawks back to the playoffs and to be first-team all-state again. Additionally, I would like to secure an opportunity to play football at the next level.”
The junior is a name to watch as the spring and summer start to roll. So far he’s had a game day visit to Dordt University, a Junior Day visit to the University of St. Thomas, and has heard from NDSU and Wayne State (NE). As camp season rolls around and schools start to focus on the class of 2025 they’ll notice the value of him once they turn on the film and/or see him compete.
Iowa City (IA.)– Iowa City High Quarterback Bobby Bacon Bobby Bacon 6'0" | QB Iowa City | 2025 IA (6-foot-2, 175 pounds) is a confident gunslinger for the Little Hawks and is a Junior name to watch.
Bacon looks bigger than 6’2 on film so it’d be interesting to see if he adds a few more inches in time. The record-breaking QB is a dazzling pocket passer with eye-popping production. He is a confident passer willing to challenge both man or zone coverages on all three levels. His release quickness and arm strength are both things you notice once you turn on the film. His decision-making prowess and precision accuracy are exceptional and will only get better with time. Leading the charge on offense for the Little Hawks, Bacon shows that he has all the tools to be a leader and someone to be counted on whenever they need a play. He finished the season with passing for 2193 yards on 141/209 completions and tossed 18 touchdowns along with 8 interceptions. His passer rating was 155.6 and he was named 1st Team All-Conference.
Bacon discussed his motivation for the game and what goals he’s set for himself.
“It’s just fun because I love football and I’ve been at every city high game since I was 6 so I love playing with my friends and getting better. I also want to win a state championship and play college football.”
The Little Hawks QB is as productive as they come. He has a prolific pass production, a great feel for his scheme, and isn’t easily rattled. He takes time to get a good pre-snap recognition of coverage, trusts his pocket, and feels pressure off the edge which allows him to climb the pocket to throw. He possesses the vision to exploit holes in the zone and alters trajectory on deep throws according to the coverage which shows the excellent touch he has. Make no mistake though, he has functional mobility inside and outside of the pocket and isn’t the shiftiest athlete but can escape with ease at times. Bacon had some outstanding performances this season as well. Against both Cedar Rapids Kennedy and Bettendorf he amassed 300 passing yards and threw for 3 touchdowns. There were multiple games where he averaged 200 passing yards with 1 or more passing touchdowns.
Bacon discussed what he feels are his strengths and what he’s working on improving this offseason.
“My biggest strength is leading with emotion/communication and things to improve would be adding size I know I can get the job done at 170lbs but 185 can’t hurt so I’m working on that.”
The junior is a name to watch as the spring and summer start to roll. So far, he’s been in talks with South Dakota and recently took a Junior Visit day there. He has also heard from North Dakota and Iowa Western. As camp season rolls around and schools start to focus on the class of 2025 they’ll notice the value of him once they turn on the film and/or see him compete.
Ankeny (IA.)– Ankeny Centennial Linebacker Reed Anderson (6-foot-1, 185 pounds) is an instinctive hard-hitting defender and a Junior name to watch.
Anderson is interesting because he can play anywhere within the box. He was listed as an outside backer who often played to the weak side (WILL) but favors more of a mike when you watch him play. He isn’t the biggest or fastest, but plays with determination and a nose for the ball. He plays almost as if he has a chip on his shoulders and shows that effort within his play. He’s efficient when taking on blocks from running backs and receivers and doesn’t at all shy away from linemen. He welcomes contact, triggers downhill, and runs sideline to sideline with great vision. He finished the season with 72 (48 solo) tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and was named First Team All-Conference.
Anderson discussed his motivation for the game and what goals he’s set for himself.
“What motivates me to play the most are my teammates and coaches. I believe that we play for each other and not for ourselves, because that can lead to big things for a team and can lead to a good culture and a successful season. Also, the lack of time motivates me a lot because time moves fast and you should take advantage of it all. A big goal of mine is a team goal, and that is to make it back to the semis next season and also win that semifinal game as well. A more personal goal I have set for myself is to have more tackles this next season than in my past season. I had 72 TOT this past year so it might not be easy but with time this off-season to work it should help me achieve that goal.”
When turning on the film, you’ll notice Anderson is a hard-nosed ball player. He is a tough guy who lives for football and has a tenacious demeanor when playing. Anderson flows with proper restraint and pace against run plays, will fill into his fits to spill when possible, and has very good recognition and readiness. Once he can gain some speed and sharpen his coverage ability, Anderson will become an all-around backer who can show true dominance at any three of the backer spots.
Anderson talked about his strengths and what he’s working on improving this offseason.
“This off-season my main thing to improve is my strength and weight. I believe if I put on some more pounds the right way it would benefit me greatly on the field. Also, I have been working on speed this off-season as I think I can make it better, and this will also help me on the field as well.
The junior is a name to watch as the spring and summer start to roll. So far, he’s been in talks with The University of St. Thomas about visiting on their Junior Day and has heard from multiple D2 and D3 schools. As camp season rolls around and schools start to focus on the class of 2025 they’ll notice the value of him once they turn on the film and/or see him compete.
Waukee (IA.)– Waukee Northwest Defensive Back Andrew Eastman (6-foot, 175 pounds) is a playmaking defender for the Wolves and is a name to watch.
Eastman is a versatile safety with adequate size and good athleticism. He is a willing tackler who is aggressive and experienced in a defense that requires his versatility. He’s athletic and his route recognition is good when he’s playing from deep; however, he’s more productive when playing in the box or the slot. He can pretty much be a Swiss army knife within this defense and will continue to do so within time. Eastman finished the season with 44.5 (42 solo) tackles and 3 interceptions while getting elected Second Team All-Conference.
Eastman talked about his strengths and what he’s working on improving this offseason.
“I would say my strengths are my speed and knowledge of the game. My weaknesses would most likely be my size and strength, so I am working on that this offseason trying to get bigger and stronger. I am also working on my speed more because it is important to keep getting faster.”
Eastman is the type of player that intrigues you with his potential. He gets downhill quickly in support, has adequate burst to close on plays, and plays very instinctual. He plays with good eyes and can read QBS pretty well. Eastman fits the profile as a safety but I could see the transition to linebacker being possible in the future due to his play style. I think once he gains some better short-area quickness and can put on a little more weight, Eastman will be a problem as a box safety/hybrid defender.
Eastman discussed his motivation for the game and what goals he’s set for himself.
“My teammates and coaches motivate me a lot. When I play the game I want to play it to the best ability so I don’t let my teammates down when tough times or big moments come. My teammates push me in the weight room and on the field and make me go harder even when I am tired. My coaches also push me to be the best I can be so I can perform well on the field. Finally, something that motivates me the most is seeing other players that I feel like I am as good as or better than getting looks from colleges, while I’m getting nothing. This makes me want to work harder to prove them wrong and show what I am capable of. I just want to have a great offseason and senior season, get noticed by some colleges, and have fun during the season.”
The junior is a name to watch as the spring and summer start to roll. As camp season rolls around and schools start to focus on the class of 2025 they’ll notice the value of him once they turn on the film and/or see him compete.
Iowa City (IA.)– Iowa City Liberty Athlete Sutton Koller Sutton Koller 5'11" | 170 lbs | ATH Iowa City Liberty | 2025 IA (5-foot-11, 175 pounds) is a playmaking offensive threat and a name to watch.
Koller does it all on offense. He takes handoffs and catches passes out the backfield, works well out wide but also can work in the slot. He knows how to create separation and beat defenders one-on-one. Koller aggressively finishes runs and consistently falls forward in a crowd. His low pad level and a bit of wiggle keep him from absorbing big hits. He’s equally dangerous in catch-and-run situations as Koller can take the top off a defense. He’s a utility back first and will continue to do so because of the value he brings. Koller finished the season with 59 receptions, 816 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns. He rushed for 330 yards on 73 carries and found paydirt 7 times, which totaled 1146 yds all purpose yards.
Koller discussed his motivation for the game and what goals he’s set for himself.
“I think what motivates me most is wanting it more than everyone/wanting to be better than everyone around me, I’m competitive. I have set goals to run 4.55 or faster(40 time). reach 180 pounds by August, and compete at the next level.”
He is a natural playmaker, at his best with the ball in his hands and his competitiveness and knack for attacking the ball in the air allow him to play bigger than his size. He has lateral movement and is an instinctive runner. He has a knack for setting up defenders and making people miss in space. He’s at his best in space and on the perimeter, where he shows the balance and acceleration, plus pure speed, to make a move and then take off. While his route-running ability needs more polishing, he is a tough slot who can come across the middle and make the tough catches. He most certainly can get the work done inside or out but would just need to add a little more finesse to his gameplay. Koller also is an aggressive blocker as well. There are many times he leads the way as a lead blocker and opens up some space for ball carries.
Koller talked about his strengths and what he’s working on improving this offseason.
“My strengths are quickness, discipline, and IQ. I’d like to improve my speed, weight, and strength. I am improving each weakness in different unique ways.”
The junior is a name to watch as the spring and summer start to roll. He’s heard from NDSU and recently attended a junior day at St. Thomas. As camp season rolls around and schools start to focus on the class of 2025 they’ll notice the value of him once they turn on the film and/or see him compete.