Future Phenoms: Notable 2029s From AYF Nationals – Part 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nearly all the coverage on Prep Redzone Next is dedicated to the eighth-graders each year. I truly feel that football doesn't start to get "real" until winter/spring of a student-athlete's seventh-grade year in school. With that said, the AYF National Championship tournament has proven to be a nice event to take that leap into the <em>Next</em> class of athletes. Below in <strong>Part 1</strong> of this look at the 2029 class, you'll see five studs from the East Coast that already have my attention in the 2029 class. There will absolutely be more to come, here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1134761"],"_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":"Taylor was the top athlete/running back on the RMG Elite 12U team at AYF Nationals. The RMG squad was the only New York-based team in the 12U-14U age brackets, hailing from Rochester\u002d\u002dwhich historically isn't exactly a football hotbed. Taylor has the potential to become the next big name prospect to come out of the city that is just three hours from the Canadian border. He was one of those kids that just looked physically different out there. Speed, vision and ability to catch coming out of the backfield were all check marks from me while I was watching. There's a ton of time left here, but he's one to keep an eye on. Not to mention, he's certainly on the All-Name Team, for me.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1134792"],"_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":"The fact that Dixon is already all of 6-foot-2 and 170 pounds, is only in the seventh-grade and is playing outside linebacker\u002d\u002dshould get a lot of people excited for the future of football in the greater Charlotte area. There's a lot to like here in terms of his length, range and attacking playing style. Not to mention he has another year of youth football to go. On the field, I made notes about his ability to shed blocks and close in on the ball-carrier quickly. Also plays some wide receiver on the offensive side of the ball and will likely become one of the better wideout's in the 2029 class next year, too.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1134838"],"_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":"Coming from a very impressive City Life Raptors 12U team that made a nice run during AYF Nationals, Carter is a prospect that looks like he'll be able to fit a lot of schemes and offers a ton of versatility. Watching him in warmups and in passing as I walked to other fields, I liked what I saw from him as a wide receiver. He did a nice job of high-pointing the ball and creating a nice window for his quarterback. Defensively, can play outside linebacker or safety at this point. Then watching some film after the week at AYF Nationals, I see he had more than a couple nice gains as a running back. Bottom line: Carter offers a ton of position versatility.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1134866"],"_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":"From the second I saw Woodside step on to the practice field, I could tell he was going to be one to watch. This running back looks like he's going to be a very special player if he continues on the trajectory he is on now. The Miami Gardens Ravens 12U team were an absolute treat to watch on their way to the AYF 12U D1 National Championship, as they are absolutely loaded with 2029 talent. Woodside was one of the many weapons the team had at the skill positions. A shorter, muscular kid at 5-foot-5 and 150 pounds, he had the elite speed to run away from defenders but could also lower a devastating shoulder. Also took direct snaps from the RB position, which gave defenses even less time to key on him behind the line of scrimmage.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1134891"],"_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":"Watching Phipps work on the offensive line was fun to watch, and restored my faith in young offensive linemen playing ball. He lists himself at 6-foot-1 and 240 pounds, but I'm willing to give him another inch because I know I was looking up at him\u002d\u002dand I'm just about 6-foot tall. One of the key members of the offensive line up front for the Prime Time Select Giants 12U team\u002d\u002dthis team out of North Carolina may have been the surprise of the tournament. Behind solid skill guys and a nicely-sized offensive line, the Giants beat the OG Ducks out of California to finish in third place. Phipps is a mean, strong kid for his age and comes complete with the mullet to let you know he could care less about what the defensive lineman wants to do. Depending on how he grows, he's good at either offensive guard or offensive tackle at this point.  He played the latter at AYF Nationals.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6595ba4fce6cc"} /-->