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Sophomores Who Can Explode as Juniors Pt. 2

Sophomores Who Can Explode as Juniors Pt. 2
CJ Marable
CJ Marable January 17, 2024 @ 11:32 PM
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In this article:

Billy Neill
Billy Neill 6'1" | 200 lbs | LB | 2026
AL
Hezekyah Avery
Hezekyah Avery 5'11" | 190 lbs | LB | 2026
AL
<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As high school football players advance from their sophomore to junior year, they often experience significant growth and development in their skills and abilities. This growth can lead to increased recognition from college recruiters and coaches, as well as a heightened level of competitiveness on the field. In this scouting report, we will identify and discuss sophomores who are poised to explode as juniors in high school football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Brayden Benbow","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Zion Chapel ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Energetic, high-motor player with the speed to play sideline to sideline. Reads keys quickly and doesn't take many false steps in pursuit. Accelerates quickly when playing downhill. Shows impressive suddenness/short-area quickness to slip past blockers. Aggressive approach allows him to make a lot of plays in opposing backfields.rnrnGets good extension to play off of blocks, and has active hands to shed and work his way to the ball.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1466430' first='Billy' last='Neill']","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Bayside Academy ","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"A high-motor player with the athleticism to work sideline to sideline; can play both the Will and Mike positions. Reads keys quickly and has some explosive traits when playing downhill. Has shown that he's able to work behind three-man lines. Attacks blocks aggressively with good extension and adequate functional strength. Does a nice job of using his hands to sift through traffic when playing between the tackles.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1115961"],"_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":"Excellent athlete with true sideline-to-sideline range and a high motor. Plays the run with square shoulders and good knee bend, showing patience and discipline. Takes his time to diagnose and rarely gets caught out of position as a result; shows good overall awareness of locating the ball carrier. Attacks blocks with good extension and physicality; has some violent power in his hands. Active with his hands to sift through traffic. Length and closing burst give him an impressive tackling radius","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Sawyer Sullivan","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Leroy","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Physical, energetic downhill thumper who accelerates quickly but avoids committing too early. Keeps his shoulders square and plays with discipline when defending the run between the tackles. Shows the ability to get extension and play off of blocks. Lateral quickness to shuffle and find lanes to the ball carrier is above average for his size. Generates some thudding impact as a tackler to help set the tone defensively.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Ben Johnson","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Valley Head","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Tough between the tackles and can fly downhill and plug holes in the run game. Has excellent functional strength and contact balance; when playing downhill, can jolt opposing blockers. Plays with good knee-bend and balance. Has been a very reliable tackler. Can hear the pads clicking on contact, and helps set the tone defensively. Given his size, was asked to handle some relatively extensive coverage responsibilities, including carrying opponents down the seams. Hard to knock off of his spot when blitzing from the A-gap.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65a8b7d10d815"} /-->

As high school football players advance from their sophomore to junior year, they often experience significant growth and development in their skills and abilities. This growth can lead to increased recognition from college recruiters and coaches, as well as a heightened level of competitiveness on the field. In this scouting report, we will identify and discuss sophomores who are poised to explode as juniors in high school football.

Brayden Benbow

Brayden Benbow

HEIGHT 5'10"
POS LB
CLASS 2026

Brayden Benbow

School: Zion Chapel
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
<span class="pn-tooltip pn-player-link">
        <span class="name-pointer">Sophomores Who Can Explode as Juniors Pt. 2</span>
        <span class="info-box not-prose" style="background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(193,25,32, 0.95) 0%,rgba(193,25,32, 1) 100%)">
            <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/01/sophomores-who-can-explode-as-juniors-pt-2/" class="link-wrap">
                                    <span class="player-img"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/05/Black-and-Orange-Graphic-Dynamic-Sports-Football-Flyer-5-×-5-in-2-1-e1652109917202-crop-787x517-1705548332.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1" alt="Sophomores Who Can Explode as Juniors Pt. 2"></span>
                
                <span class="player-details">
                    <span class="first-name">Sophomores</span>
                    <span class="last-name">Who Can Explode as Juniors Pt. 2</span>
                    <span class="measurables">
                                            </span>
                                    </span>
                <span class="player-rank">
                                                        </span>
                                    <span class="state-abbr"></span>
                            </a>

                    </span>
    </span>

Billy Neill Billy Neill 6'1" | 200 lbs | LB Bayside Academy | 2026 State AL

HEIGHT 6'1"
POS LB
CLASS 2026

Billy Neill Billy Neill 6'1" | 200 lbs | LB Bayside Academy | 2026 State AL

School: Bayside Academy
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
Hezekyah Avery

Hezekyah Avery

AL
LB
HEIGHT 5'11"
WEIGHT 190
POS LB
CLASS 2026
View Player
​
Hezekyah
Avery LB
Class
2026
Height
5'11"
Weight
190
HS
Valley
|
AL
Sophomores Who Can Explode as Juniors Pt. 2
Excellent athlete with true sideline-to-sideline range and a high motor. Plays the run with square shoulders and good...
Written by CJ Marable
Read more at PrepRedzone.com
Prep Redzone

Hezekyah Avery

State: Alabama
School: Valley
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
Sawyer Sullivan

Sawyer Sullivan

HEIGHT 5'11"
POS LB
CLASS 2026

Sawyer Sullivan

School: Leroy
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
Ben Johnson

Ben Johnson

HEIGHT 6'0"
POS LB
CLASS 2026

Ben Johnson

School: Valley Head
Subscribe below to view this player's evaluation
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