Diamonds in the Rough – Five Players to Know Next Season
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Looking back to this past season, five Minnesota high school football players stood out as diamonds in the rough and are in for a big season. With their variety of skill sets, they’re bound to help carry their teams both…
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Continue ReadingLooking back to this past season, five Minnesota high school football players stood out as diamonds in the rough and are in for a big season. With their variety of skill sets, they’re bound to help carry their teams both on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Keep an eye out for these players next season and get to know what makes them special athletes.
Larson is a big-bodied, physical linebacker who is extremely strong at the point of attack. He’s an instinctive linebacker who sees it and explodes downhill to make the hit. He uses those instincts and his vision to scrape the line of scrimmage, finding the running lane, and filling the gap to meet the linebacker with force. Larson understands how to utilize leverage and shed blocks while keeping his eyes on the ball carrier to make the tackle. When he’s dropping in coverage, he knows his landmark, holding his zone and reading the quarterback’s eyes to make a timely break on passes to make a play on the receiver.
Highlights
At 6-foot-4, 205 pounds, and just a sophomore, Wheeler has the prototypical size for a quarterback and the physical tools to succeed throughout his development. He stands tall in the pocket and remains poised under pressure. Wheeler has good footwork throughout his drop, delivers a strong pass with his cleats in the dirt, and has a wide base that generates power in his passes. He’s smooth when delivering passes on the run, keeping his mechanics intact and remaining accurate. Wheeler has great timing on his passes, getting his passes into tight windows and fitting the ball between zone defenders.
Highlights
Alex Schott
Alex Schott
Schott had a very solid season last year for Hermantown, throwing for 1,666 yards, completing 62% of his passes, and scoring 21 touchdowns. He understands how to take snaps from under center and the shotgun, showing good mechanics in either formation. Schott is a tough and poised quarterback, staying strong under pressure and isn’t afraid of contact. He has great touch on his passes and displayed the ability to push passes downfield. He has the arm strength to fit passes into tight windows while putting the ball in a position only his receiver can get the ball. Even on the run, Schott keeps his mechanics tight and doesn’t lose velocity or accuracy, showing he can be a mobile quarterback and adapt to adverse situations.
Ramzi Rislove
Ramzi Rislove
Statistically, Rislove had a phenomenal season, rushing for 1,142 yards on 148 carries with 12 touchdowns. He even caught 19 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown. Rislove is a tough runner, fighting through arm tackles and breaking long runs. He has the speed to break through the line of scrimmage and hit the home run. Rislove has excellent patience and vision at the line, waiting for his blocks to get set up and exploding through the open lane. He’s shifty when he gets in the open field, making defenders miss and creating space to break the big run.
Abdi Nur
Abdi Nur
Nur is a solid athlete on the offensive line who is used to pull and lead block. He’s explosive out of his stance, quickly getting into the defender’s chest and controlling the rep. Nur is very strong in his upper and lower body. He uses his strength to out-leverage opponents at the line of scrimmage and overpower defenders at the second level. With his athleticism and strength, Nur can outman defensive linemen at the line of scrimmage and dominate linebackers. His footwork and hand technique work simultaneously, allowing him to mirror defenders and be effective in run blocking.