2025 Recruits With A Big Fall Pending
We’re looking at 5 recruits who could have a big season and take off this fall. To this point, they’ve all produced and gotten better each year they’ve been on the field. Jaxon Ott Jaxon Ott 6'4" | 235 lbs…
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Continue ReadingWe’re looking at 5 recruits who could have a big season and take off this fall. To this point, they’ve all produced and gotten better each year they’ve been on the field.
Jaxon Ott Jaxon Ott 6'4" | 235 lbs | ATH Mississinewa | 2025 State IN – Mississinewa – ATH – 6’4″ 235lbs – 2025
I love 2-way players who then either line up at FB or TE, and Ott isn’t just another one of those guys, but he’s potentially special. Being 6’4″ and 235lbs I know immediately the thoughts go to him having the ball in his hands. He’s fantastic and has another gear that you wouldn’t expect. He’s able to get the corner, hit that gear, and find his way for 6. He’s shifty for his size and doesn’t just tumble over like some other big guys can. He’s already got experience lining up on the end of the line and in the backfield. He’s more than capable of blocking and faking a block, releasing, and hitting a big play as a delayed screen. Defensively, he’s a leader for them as well. He controls the middle of the 2nd level and does a great job attacking the football. He can jump the snap perfectly creating pressure in the backfield and will rundown the ball carrier from behind. His junior season saw him put up 16 receptions for 235 yards and 1 TD at the TE/FB slot and then 76 tackles, 12 TFLs, 3 sacks, an interception, and 2 forced fumbles. Ott is fun to watch, has great size, and could be a hidden gem in Little Ole Gas City, Indiana.
Twitter: @JaxonOtt2025
Cruz Williams Cruz Williams 5'11" | 200 lbs | LB Westfield | 2025 State IN – Westfield – LB – 5’11” 200lbs – 2025
Cruz is beginning to make me feel old as I remember meeting him as an incoming freshman way back when I first started with Prep Redzone. He then quickly became one of the hottest and quickest rising LBs in the midwest until a severe knee injury sidelined him for his entire junior campaign. He was coming off of a sophomore season where he put up 90 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, and forced 3 fumbles, so of course expectations were high. Knee injuries are no joke and they can derail a career. I know schools all over the country are anxious to see Cruz and not just his health, but if he’s the same player when he gets back on the field. His most recent training videos show good progress. He’s running, cutting, and stopping at full speed. He was coming to balance from full speed in another clip and wasn’t wearing a brace. However, Williams will likely need to get back into game shape as he heads into the season. If he’s healthy and gets back on the field playing at the level he was, he should begin to get his traction back in the recruiting game. As of February, he looks good and well on track to be back leading the defense this fall.
Twitter: @LennoxCruz
Brendin Kolter Brendin Kolter 6'2" | 215 lbs | DL East Central | 2025 State IN – East Central – DL – 6’1″ 205lbs – 2025
To win championships it takes both sides of the ball and players making plays, showing up, and doing the dirty work without getting all the credit, and that’s been Kolter to this point in his football career. He rotated in as a freshman, started as a sophomore, and just had his breakout season as a junior. Each year he’s trended upwards and now has a frame that is beginning to catch up with his playstyle. He’s tough, not someone who is trying to get overly cute with moves, and will stay in his lane. He’s able to create pressure up the middle and force the QB out of the pocket from time to time. If he’s able to build up his lower body and get a stronger base, he’ll start mauling guys at the point of attack. He’s able to shed blocks and make the tackle as it comes his way, which gives a coach a slight sigh of relief. With 44 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks as a junior, Kolter began to play at a high level as the season progressed and should be someone to watch moving forward.
Twitter: @BKolter_52
Jayden Holmes Jayden Holmes 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB Andrean | 2025 State IN – Andrean – ATH – 5’10” 175lbs – 2025
Holmes just had himself a stellar season and proved to be an asset for Andrean on both sides of the ball. While he didn’t play much receiver, he did catch a TD. A slant route to the inside where he set the DB up nicely and cut cleanly open for the 6. However, where he did most of his damage this season was on the backend for Andrean and his athleticism allows him to make play after play. Whether it be running down an RB who just broke through the line unscathed to save the game or coming up from a tough spot, Holmes was the guy to make the play. He seemed to give their backend some feeling of safety that if the first 2 lines got beat, he’d be there to make the play and then had the athletic ability to clean up any mess. Holmes has a nose for the ball and does a good job putting himself in situations to either make the tackle or make a play on the ball. With 85 tackles, 58 being solos, 2 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles it was a great year for Holmes and it showcased what he can do for a defense on the backend.
Twitter: @JaydenHolmess23
Braden Walter Braden Walter 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Heritage | 2025 State IN – Heritage – ATH – 6’0″ 170lbs – 2025
Heritage is coming off of a great year and a big part of that was their safety who helped clamp down the backend. He’s listed as an ATH because he got some work as a WR this year and with his speed, he’s able to hit that big play, as he did for Heritage a few times this past season. It wasn’t much opportunity, but he caught 11 passes for 200 yards and 3 TDs with a long of 65 yards. It’s the same speed that allows him to be so effective as a DB. He’s got great range and phenomenal closing speed when he trusts what he sees. He’s got long arms and can knock the ball away from a greater distance than most DBs, yet still has the ball skills to pick the ball off or catch an awkwardly tipped ball, which he did and returned for a TD last year. Some guys just have the instinct to cut plays short or pick the ball off and that’s Walter. With 39 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 broken-up pass, and 7 interceptions, he had offenses trying to avoid him, which is the ultimate compliment.
Twitter: @BradenWalter_12