The Best Edmonton 2025 WRs
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Now that early signing day has passed and the calendar has flipped it is time to start diving into the class of 2025. Edmonton is a known to produce high end football talent and the class of 2025 is no…
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Continue ReadingNow that early signing day has passed and the calendar has flipped it is time to start diving into the class of 2025. Edmonton is a known to produce high end football talent and the class of 2025 is no different. In the coming months we will go through all of the position groups but today we are going to start with the wide receivers.
Liam Piccinin Liam Piccinin 5’11” | 175 lbs | ATH Harry Ainlay | 2025 State CAD is absolute burner at the wide receiver position with speed that is rarely seen at the high school level in Canada. Listed at 5’11” 165lbs, Liam has a forty yard dash time of 4.59s which is rare. What makes his speed such a talking point is that his speed pops on tape as he routinely is running by defensive backs and constantly making defenders miss in the open field. It’s pretty easy to see on tape that he is head and shoulders faster then everyone else on the field but he isn’t just a one trick pony. Liam shows that he has an understanding of how to use his speed to his advantage as he will change speeds throughout the route as another avenue to win his route. He also has a very good ability to throttle down and cut which allows him to run every route on the route tree. Liam also displayed the ability to win at the catch point as he also has a 30″ inch vertical. Liam has all of the tools to have a monster senior season and his physical tools should have Division One schools excited about his potential.
Darius Crandell Darius Crandell 5’11” | 165 lbs | WR Bellerose | 2025 State CAD is the best all around receiver coming out of Alberta in the class of 2025. Darius has showed it all on tape whether it be the best ball tracking skills in the country, the ability to beat press with his release or the ability to get YAC yards. I was very impressed with his ball tracking as I think it is the best in the country because he showed the ability to win at the catch point by making multiple spectacular catches to bail out his quarterback but it is also his ability to track the ball and make over the shoulder catches look effortless. Darius can also beat press clean without allowing hands on as he displayed multiple different types of releases to keep corners guessing. He also has more than enough speed to win vertically and separate in the open field to get YAC yards. Darius should have FCS level schools trying to recruit him because of his ability and if he can get even faster he should garner Division One offers.
Highlights
Zayden Ward Zayden Ward 5’8″ | 150 lbs | ATH Austin O’Brien | 2025 CAD is small there’s no denying that as he is listed at 5’8″ 150lbs, but he has the potential with his ability that he has shown as a junior to quickly pop on schools radar’s. Zayden is a quick and shifty receiver who has surprising speed once the ball is in his hand. He is a YAC machine at the high school level as he has constantly shown the ability to get YAC yards once he makes the catch. The fact that he is agile with good lower body strength that allows him to get the free yards that every school is looking for as he can turn any catch into an explosive play. He also has an ability to win at the catch point as he has shown the ability to climb the latter and make a great catch. He can improve on being a more crisp route runner as he sometimes doesn’t make the sharpest cuts on breaks which can allow defenders to make a pass breakup. Obviously he needs to get bigger but even now he should be hotly recruited by CIS schools thanks to being a YAC machine with the potential as he gets bigger to be on the radar FCS schools.
Coming in at 6’2″, Edward Davies Edward Davies 6’2″ | 175 lbs | WR St Francis Xavier | 2025 CAD is a big body receiver who uses his body really well which is impressive for a junior. His size is his biggest trait and it shows on film as he routinely uses his frame to boxout out defensive backs on short to intermediate routes which allows him to be an outlet for his quarterback on every play. He also uses impressive strength to win at the catch point as he routinely wins with his hands as opposed to his speed. His speed is good as he can get vertical but I would like to see him improve the straight line speed to become even a bigger threat. The other area of improvement is that he can improve on dropping his hips on cuts as he is currently to upright in his routes but it’s an easy fix. Edward has the frame to be a diamond in the rough prospect for any CIS school.
Cayden Rae Cayden Rae 5’11” | 160 lbs | WR Archbishop Jordan | 2025 State CAD is a standout route runner thanks to his field vision, football IQ and hip mobility. Cayden is so adept at finding soft spots in zone coverage that it is rare tool for a junior receiver. He processes the game at a high level and can scan the field to figure out coverages in an instant which allows him to be open versus zone coverage. He also has a unique understanding of the weak points of a defense and of what type of leverage the defenders are trying to guard him with, as a result he always seems to be open despite not having special speed. Cayden has a great standout physical tool which is hip mobility. His ability to drop his hips suddenly as well as being able to turn his hips on cuts before his upper body allows hip run crips routes that leave him open. Cayden is a great receiver prospect who should garner interest from every CIS school and even some U.S. schools.