AYF National All-Star Game: West Team First Look
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PRZ Next National Scouting Director AL Pops & Keaton Donnelly collaborated to a look at the East Team roster The AYF National All-Star Game features some of the most elite prospects in the country. All of these athletes played for…
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Continue ReadingPRZ Next National Scouting Director AL Pops & Keaton Donnelly collaborated to a look at the East Team roster
The AYF National All-Star Game features some of the most elite prospects in the country. All of these athletes played for an AYF-sanctioned team and spent the regular/post-season as class of 2028 (currently in eighth-grade) prospects. This is one of the deepest 60-man All-Star Games I have EVER seen. Both teams feature kids that you will be hearing about for years to come.
The alumni base stretches well into the NFL, but if looking at the class of 2024 Seniors who played in this game in eighth-grade (2020), you may recognize these names: Peyton Woodyard (Alabama), Kyngston Viliamu-Asa (Notre Dame), Ryan Puglisi (Georgia), etc.
Here’s a look at the West Team members, listed in the position group they presumably will play–but all bets are off once they hit the turf.
Quarterback
– Played on 14U 5280 Colorado Jr. Buffs this year and led team to AYF National Championship.
– Without question, was the best quarterback at AYF Nationals in December. Every throw was a dime and place perfectly.
– Elite is the only word to describe him. Has NFL genes from his Dad and older brother Jake Rubley is currently playing at Illinois State, after starting off at Kansas State.
Highlights
– Played on 14U Ginn Elite this year and led team to AYF National Championship.
– A scrappy, competitive kid that makes throws on the run look easy. Goes without saying that he’s on point from the pocket, too.
– All this kid does is win football games. Should have a field day with some of the Alpha’s he has in the receiving corps.
Running Back
– Played on 14U Phoenix All-Stars at AYF Nationals.
– A really good looking, muscular kid for being a 2028 prospect.
– Runs low to the ground, yet still strides out. Plain and simple, he’s a natural running back.
– Played for Columbus Dream this season and was one of only a handful of kids selected from teams that were not at AYF Nationals in December
– Without knowing he even played for an AYF-sanctioned team, I wrote about him a few months ago after watching his film.
– Checks a lot of boxes in terms of speed and catching the ball out of the backfield. Also showed a ton of peer-to-peer leadership as a team captain this year
Athlete
– Played on 14U Michigan All-Stars at Nationals and led team to tournament finals.
– In my eyes, he was the best player on a very good all-star team. The kid is special and play any skill position on the field.
– Good size, great speed and elite ball skills. Can be used in a bunch of ways and allows the offensive play-calling to get a little creative.
– Played for the El Paso United this year and was one of only a handful of kids selected from teams that were not at AYF Nationals in December.
– Speed and quickness is the key to his game. On regular season film, he ran away from dudes in open field on the regular.
– On that regular season film, he played everywhere on the field: QB/RB/DB/LB. Great vision as a runner. Not sure where he exactly fits on this roster, but wherever he lands, rest assure he’ll make a difference.
– Played on 13U Heir this season.
– One of the nicest, most humble kids you’ll ever find off the field–and the complete opposite on the field. Has that “switch” that all the greats can flip.
– Can play any of the skill positions on the field. Might me best as some type of Tight End/Wide Receiver hybrid in this game. But can also play linebacker at a high level too.
Highlights
– Played on 14U Phoenix All-Stars at AYF Nationals.
– A really good looking kid that shared carries at running back with Jhaheem Brown (listed above).
– When not playing running back, he also played slot and create after the catch. Showed off some hands and the ability to shake defenders in a phone booth.
Highlights
Wide Receiver/Defensive Back
– Played on 14U Ginn Elite this year and led team to AYF National Championship.
– He’s an athletic marvel right n0w. Used to play quarterback because he was simply the most athletic kid on the field
– Really tall kid that needs to be accounted for on every play. From what I’ve seen doesn’t make a consistent splash throughout the game, but when he does make a play, it’s a tidal wave. I think the best is yet to come for Lemons.
– Played on the 14U Southfield Falcons this year and was one of only a handful of kids selected from teams that were not at AYF Nationals in December.
– Looks to be a future elite wide wide receiver. Good size, great muscle mass. Fast, smooth. Just a complete athlete. Also a talented basketball player.
– Without having an idea he’d be in consideration for this game, wrote him up in article this past fall based off his ability. With the other weapons this team has, he could own the middle of the field and have tons of room to create after the catch.
Highlights
– Played on 14U Phoenix All-Stars at AYF Nationals this year.
– As I wrote in my article after AYF Nationals in December, the last name says it all. Speed is the name of the game with Ferrari.
– Speed that separates from most corners at this level. Can go deep with the best of them. Great build for this age. Really impressive prospect.
Highlights
– Played on 14U Old Town Ducks at AYF Nationals this year and led team to tournament finals.
– Really tall, long kid that runs with great strides. For the second year, he impressed me at AYF Nationals two years in a row.
– One of three natural Z wide receivers that come with college size already, despite being only in eighth-grade
Highlights
– Played on 12U Buckeye Elite at Nationals this year. That’s right, 12U–meaning he is very young for this 2028 class, comparatively.
– Really tall, thing and long. The third of three wide receivers that are at least 6-foot-3 on this West All-Star Team
– Your classic Z wide receiver. He’s a, “throw it up to him and go let your guy make a play” type of receiver. Once again, I strongly dislike the NFL comparison for kids at this level, but the most realistic comparison in terms of skill set, is Randy Moss. Read it again. Randy Moss.
Highlights
Linebacker
– Played on 14U Old Town Ducks at AYF Nationals this year and led team to tournament finals from both the RB and LB positions.
– Played in this game last year as a seventh-grader and is back again. He’s that level of dominant.
– Bottom line: He’s a sideline-to-sideline player. Big, long, fast. Best comparison NFL comparison (which I don’t typically like doing) is Micah Parsons.
Highlights
– Played on 14U Michigan All-Stars at Nationals this year and led team to tournament finals.
– Good looking prospect with long arms and really good speed. Played running back on the offensive side of the ball, the way he moves makes me think he’s a defensive player going forward.
– I only saw him play three full quarters of football, but his vision and attacking mentality scream outside linebacker to me. Then again, maybe playing against elite talent in this environment changes things. We’ll see.
– Played on 14U Phoenix All-Stars at Nationals this year.
– Bit of a tweener at this point. He’s a Linebacker/Defensive End type of player, trending more towards a Linebacker in my opinion.
– Regardless of where he plays, he’s fast to the ball and secures the tackle with ease.
– Played on 14U Michigan All-Stars at Nationals this year and led team to tournament finals.
– Was a team captain and played with a business-first mentallity on the field.
– Muscular, compact kid that looks like your classic middle linebacker/fullback type. Though, he screams middle linebacker and A-gap filler to me.
Defensive Back
– Played on 14U Phoenix All-Stars this year at Nationals.
– Started at Safety on the defensive side of the ball, but could easily see him thriving as a wide receiver.
– Really enjoy the length and frame he has, to get substantially bigger. He covers a lot of ground back there and has a ton of range as a Free Safety.
– Played on 14U Old Town Ducks at AYF Nationals this year and led team to tournament finals.
– Really fast athlete that plays both Wide Receiver and Defensive Back at a high level. However, immediately following nationals my gut said to list him as a corner
– Plays on his toes at all times and appeared to have reactions that were just a tad bit quicker than everyone else on the field.
– Played on 14U Ginn Elite this year and led team to AYF National Championship.
– Lockdown corner that eliminated the other team’s best wide receiver in nearly every game they played
– Also contributed as a Running Back and Wide Receiver, but his future is on defense. Very quick and compact. Can turn and run with the best of ’em.
Linemen
– Played on 13U Las Vegas All-Stars at Nationals this year and led them to a tournament championship.
– Extremely smart kid that led the offensive line group by playing Center, literally led warmups and led by example.
– Smart kid, called out the blocking schemes. Also a talented baseball player, will be at St. John Bosco in So. Cal, come the fall.
Highlights
– Played on 14U Phoenix All-Stars at Nationals this year.
– Has the ideal body for a future offensive tackle. I’d go as far as he has future early-round draft pick potential.
– Elite height and the perfect amount of thickness for this level. Also plays defensive line, but the kid could be a future franchise Offensive Tackle, no doubt.
– Played on 13U Las Vegas All-Stars at Nationals this year and led them to a tournament championship.
– Was a member of the squad that outscored opponents 212-15.
– I did NOT have him written down as a standout from what I saw at AYF Nationals, but there’s a reason undrafted free agents make the NFL & walk-ons get scholarships. We miss, too!
– Played on 14U Phoenix All-Stars at Nationals this year.
– Started at Center for the team and was a vocal leader that has the smarts up front to set up the blocking needed for his backs
– His game translates to anywhere in the interior three offensive line, but between him and Hergott, there are two impressive middlemen
– Played on 13U OG Ducks this year at AYF Nationals and led them to a National Championship.
– On a team of future big-time players, he was the heart and soul of the offensive and defensive lines.
– Not sure if he wrestlers or boxes, but he’s got the stamina to do so. At AYF Nationals, I never saw him come off the field. Literally banged in the trenches every play, every game day.
– Played on 13U OG Ducks this year at AYF Nationals and led them to a National Championship.
– A really good, new-age defensive tackle that is really strong and extra athletic for the position.
– Equally good against the run and pass, I’m sure he’ll be good for a few plays resulting in a loss during the game.
– Played on 13U Heir this season.
– Was part of a good offensive line group, that was solid across the board.
– He started at Left Tackle there, but looks like he could slide inside and play Guard too.
Highlights
Kicker
– Played on 13U OG Ducks this year at AYF Nationals and led them to a National Championship
– A native of Nevada, he was one of a couple Ducks that made the trip to wherever they played during the week
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