Success on the football field and the wrestling mat – part II

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is well-documented how solid a pairing of football and wrestling are. Especially on the line of scrimmage and any defensive position, the skills needed in both sports go together like peanut butter and jelly. So, wrapping up the wrestling part of my look at returning football players who excel in other winter sports, check out four more athletes who are just as comfortable on the football field as they are on the wrestling mat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["362306"],"_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":"u003ca href=u0022https://theguillotine.com/2024/01/the-guillotine-high-school-rankings-class-aa-january-25-2024/u0022u003eThe Guillotine ranking - 10th 215AAu003c/au003ernrnJohnson has a rocket of an arm. He has shown multiple deep throws where pressure prevents him from stepping into a throw. It doesn't seem to matter; he has the strength to push the ball downfield, even falling backward. Johnson's deep throws aren't all strength – he throws a catchable deep ball. He can put touch on those deep balls and routinely drops balls softly into his receivers' hands. The junior moves well in the pocket and tends to scramble to find a receiver rather than make off-schedule runs, but if the coaches call a quarterback run or an option concept, look out. Johnson runs more like a fullback than a quarterback – bouncing off tacklers and dragging them for extra yards.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["422176"],"_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":"u003ca href=u0022https://theguillotine.com/2024/01/the-guillotine-high-school-rankings-class-aa-january-25-2024/u0022u003eThe Guillotine ranking - 4th 215AAu003c/au003ernrnSpeaking of physical running – Holbrook doesn't have the frame of a bruising runner, but his style of play – on both sides of the ball is all about physicality. As a running back, he is a force running between the tackles. He keeps his pads low and doesn't give defenders much to hit other than shoulders and knees. He is a duel threat coming out of the backfield – catching passes both in the screen game and with routes deeper down the field. As a linebacker, Holbrook often stops the runner dead in his tracks when he squares up a ball carrier. When he reads the play and comes downhill toward the line of scrimmage, he quickly closes in on the runner – without any wasted steps.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["945919"],"_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":"u003ca href=u0022https://theguillotine.com/2024/01/the-guillotine-high-school-rankings-class-a-january-25-2024/u0022u003eThe Guillotine ranking - 2nd 189Au003c/au003ernrnWilliams is a great all-around athlete. On the mat, he took 5th in the 182AA weight class in last year's state wrestling tournament and will be looking to get higher on the podium later this year. On the football field, it is easy to see the wrestler in the football player. On offense, his combination of speed, power, and balance makes him one of the best running backs in the state. He is as likely to sidestep a tackler with a quick move in the open field as he shows his balance bouncing off tacklers or his strength as he powers through tacklers. As a deep safety, he will not just lay back and play centerfield. He has good range against the pass, but he is most effective coming downhill, blowing up ball carriers, or dislodging the ball from a receiver.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["870646"],"_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":"u003ca href=u0022https://theguillotine.com/2024/01/the-guillotine-high-school-rankings-class-a-january-25-2024/u0022u003eThe Guillotine ranking - 7th 160Au003c/au003ernrnAnother two-way player on the football field, Olson made his first state tournament appearance last season. As a running back, he has the speed needed to turn a ten-yard run into a house call, and he has the power to make arm tackles fruitless, but what impressed me the most was the explosiveness of his cuts in the open field. His cuts are fast, and the junior comes out of his breaks with immediate power. As an outside linebacker, he does a great job setting the edge, using his hands to get off blocks, and his quickness to string out sweeps. He has good range in pass coverage, and my guess is he has a great blast double leg takedown – because that is precisely what it looks like he is doing when he meets a ballcarrier and puts a big hit into the runner's thighs and wraps his man up.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":4,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b84ebdc1191"} /-->