Small School Gems Pt. IV

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The majority of the high school football players in our state don't play for premier powerhouses in big cities. A lot of them are the kid next door who doesn't get the shine associated with some of the recruiting hotbeds. That doesn't mean these small schools don't contain a ton of good ball players just looking for the next opportunity! In this series, I will be highlighting some small town dudes with big dreams of playing at the next level!</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- 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":"Zac Dykes","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"185","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Armada ","_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":"Zac is a tough 2 way player who has a high motor. Offensively he runs incredibly hard and doesn't go down on first contact. He's a patient runner who waits for the play to develop, and he has the vision to find the gap quickly and get up field. Defensively, Zac is a downhill LB that does a nice job of reading plays quickly and getting to his assignment and making the sure tackle. He's a weight room warrior and I think that will really help him heading into his final high school season! Keep an eye out for Zac this fall.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1615720' first='Jackson' last='Malburg'] ","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_weight":"165","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Armada ","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Another Armada kid with a ton to offer is [player_tooltip player_id='1615720' first='Jackson' last='Malburg']. Though he's a touch undersized right now, I think his ceiling is incredibly high. Last season he ended with 22 touchdowns, and I wouldn't be shocked if he surpasses that with ease in 2024. He's a burner that can get in open space and make teams pay. He is a patient runner, but when he sees his opportunity he gets up field quickly. He doesn't do much dancing, and he does a nice job of falling forward for extra yardage. Jackson is already one of the best RB's in the BWAC, and this fall could be an impressive one for the speedy back.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Mason Mansfield ","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_weight":"175","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Gobles ","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Mason is a prospect I have been keeping my eye on for quite awhile now. Mason is a hard runner who does a nice job of following blocks, and turning on the jets when it's time. I really like his ability to run through arm tackles and make defenders pay for not getting square with him when they attempt to bring him down. He has no issue with vision as he tends to get to the open parts of the field on nearly every run. His highlights even show him on defense making some plays on the ball and coming down with interceptions, showing his true 2 way potential. I think he's a small school hidden gem that a team at the next level would be super happy to find! Colleges should do their homework on this dual threat prospect.","_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":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Derrick Simmons ","_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":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_weight":"270","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Frankenmuth ","_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":"I'll cut right to the chase here, this is a D1 prospect. At very least, he's a really good D2 offensive lineman, but I wouldn't be shocked if he is able to obtain some MAC level offers. He's a warrior on the field, and prepares hard in the weight room. Everyone I talk to really likes him, and the times I have been fortunate enough to watch him, I have come away incredibly impressed. He's an aggressive blocker who is always hunting for the pancake. He has a strong wide base, and locks onto his guy and it is impossible to escape. He doesn't play games off the ball, he just fires into their chest and drives them downfield. In the passing game, Derrick does a great job of staying square, not lunging or getting off balance, and burying the pass rusher he's matched up against if they make a mistake. As he continues to evolve, don't be surprised to see a lot of opportunities come knocking for Derrick.","_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":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Broden Peska ","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_weight":"230","_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":"Ithaca ","_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":"Broden has really impressed me the last few years, and he is now heading into his 4th season as a starter in the trenches for Ithaca! It can't be overstated how much that kind of experience means, as he has now started 34 games through 3 seasons, and will add to that his senior year. He's a tough competitor who brings the physicality on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Broden is a very technical lineman with good footwork and fundamentals. Broden constantly brings a pop along the line and doesn't take a play off. Defensively, he fills his gaps well, stays where he should be and doesn't get tricked into leaving his assignment. Coaches rave about the fact that he is an incredibly hard worker who has put in the work to get better on both sides of the ball, and as someone who has seen him work a good number of times now, I can confidently recommend this kid to coaches at the next level.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d8ca5a58e38"} /-->