All State Team Honorable Mentions: Class A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The last couple of weeks, I have covered the top players in Western New York that made the All State team. Here are those players that made honorable mention in Class A; athletes that made an impact for their school but for one reason or another did not get the same recognition from New York State.</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":"Branden Liggans","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"200","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Mckinley","_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":"Unlike most Quarterbacks, McKinley's Branden Liggans played both sides of the ball. As a Defensive End in his last two seasons, he was exceptional - tallying 92 tackles, 5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries. He is very quick off the ball and tackles with aggressiveness. His overall agility was showcased in his role as Quarterback. Branden accounted for 3,254 yards through the air and on the ground (828 yard were rushing). He also added 20 total touchdowns. Liggans is incredibly agile with a great spin move. His footwork is great. Branden Liggans is still undecided on what he wants to do after graduation. While he does have a decent arm, his athletic future may lie in converting to RB/WR or on the defensive side of the ball, where I think he would flourish.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["806875"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":1175313,"_player_evaluations_1_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='806875' first='Nigel' last='McDuffie'] did it all; playing as a Running Back, Wide Receiver and Strong Safety. He also was a major contributor in the return game. A 2 year varsity player, McDuffie came into his own as a Running Back in 2023 rushing for 571 yards. But statistics don't tell his story. Nigel runs with a full head of steam. With a unique mix of speed and power, he shoots through the line like a bolt of lightning and then will take on a defender head on and run him over. He also played Safety for the Macks racking up over 100 tackles in two seasons. After many offers, [player_tooltip player_id='806875' first='Nigel' last='McDuffie'] is officially off the market as he has committed to Alfred State.u003cbru003eu003cbru003eu0026nbsp;","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["806909"],"_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":"After two quiet years on varsity, Wide Receiver [player_tooltip player_id='806909' first='Steven' last='Butler'] blew up in 2023 catching 43 passes for 749 yards and 11 touchdowns. Butler has the innate ability to get open. Even when he is covered, he is fantastic at catching the ball in traffic. Listed at 5'11, he is not tall but does possess an incredible vertical leap that allows him to catch the ball at its highest point. His route running is very good and he has great concentration. Although he did receive an offer from St. Francis University, his academic and athletic future is uncertain.","_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":1175316,"_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1213088' first='Patrick' last='Wind']","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_weight":"180","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Clarence","_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":"WR [player_tooltip player_id='1213088' first='Patrick' last='Wind'] runs his routes with precision and has soft hands. He has incredible body control and his footwork is excellent. Patrick was 3rd in all of Section VI in receiving with 51 Receptions. He also had  701 receiving yards (a school record) and 4 touchdowns. Wind put up those kind of numbers as the Red Devil's second option in the passing game. With their #1 wideout, [player_tooltip player_id='1209910' first='Cory' last='Cummins'] graduating this year, I expect [player_tooltip player_id='1213088' first='Patrick' last='Wind'] to have a monsterous senior season with him getting a lot of collegiate exposure.","_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":1175320,"_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1210258' first='Jake' last='Stickney']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_weight":"205","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Starpoint","_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":"A two way-two year varsity stud, [player_tooltip player_id='1210258' first='Jake' last='Stickney'] was an exceptional lineman for the Spartans. He is very agile, a great puller with quick feet and superb hand technique. Jake is quick off the ball and has the toughness to take on opposing linemen twice his size. He has speed to be a significant edge rusher. Unfortunate for the University world, [player_tooltip player_id='1210258' first='Jake' last='Stickney'] won't be attending college as he is going into a trade but he gave Starpoint a great 2 years of varsity football.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["806445"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_player_featured_image":1175321,"_player_evaluations_5_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='806445' first='Lucas' last='Stiglmeier'] started both side of the line for Lockport. As a Defensive End, Stiglmeier wreaked havoc with 112 tackles (9 for loss), 4 sacks, a fumble recovery and a safety in just two seasons. He has a high football IQ and his ability to read and react is excellent. For a player of his size, Stiglmeier has great closing speed. [player_tooltip player_id='806445' first='Lucas' last='Stiglmeier'] has one more High School season left and with the career he has put together so far, he should gain some collegiate attention in 2024.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":1175323,"_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1213098' first='Michael' last='Sole']","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_weight":"160","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"Grand Island","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Running Back and Safety [player_tooltip player_id='1213098' first='Michael' last='Sole'] is blessed with amazing speed and quickness. He also has excellent vision and balance to match. 2023 was his first season on varsity and he rose to the challenge rushing for 364 yards and 5 touchdowns in a complimentary role. Grand Island's #1 runner in 2023 is graduating this year, leaving the door open for Sole to lead the Vikings rushing attack as a Senior. Michael showed his versatility and nose for the ball on defense, where he led the team with 5 interceptions. With only 1 year under his belt, the college offers haven't been flowing in but if he can improve on his Junior year, he should get some recognition in 2024 as a Senior.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65c3b37a2a030"} /-->