Success on the football field and the hardwood – Part I
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Continuing to focus on multi-sport football players, we go from the wrestling mat to the hardwood. These athletes are ranked not only by prepredzonemn.com but also by prephoopsmn.com. Before these athletes return to the football field next season, check them…
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Continue ReadingContinuing to focus on multi-sport football players, we go from the wrestling mat to the hardwood. These athletes are ranked not only by prepredzonemn.com but also by prephoopsmn.com. Before these athletes return to the football field next season, check them out in a gym near you.
Ranked 233rd by prephoops.comrnTarawallie is one of the more athletic big men you will see on the gridiron in 2024. His straight-line speed stands out immediately for an athlete as big as he is. He regularly chases plays down ten and twenty yards down the field. That is impressive for a linebacker – even more so for a defensive tackle. That straight-line speed transfers to a quick first step off the line of scrimmage. Even when he doesn’t get off the ball, he is tough to block one-on-one – especially when he keeps his pad level low. The junior treats smaller offensive linemen like little kids – literally throwing them around. On the hardcourt, he is scoring over 15 points a game while shooting 66 percent from the field and pulling down 14 rebounds a contest.
Highlights
Ranked 71st by prephoops.comrnRussell is a big, physical athlete whose best physical trait might be his breakaway speed. On offense, the way he separates from defensive backs and outruns angles defenders think they have on him makes him stand out. His closing speed from safety might be even more impressive. That closing speed gives him range usually not seen at this level. His overall athletic ability and hands give him a large catch radius – not just because of his length but also because he gets up in the air and makes grabs most receivers cannot make. On the basketball court, Russell averages 27 points a game to lead the 11-7 Bluejays.
Highlights
Ranked 145th by prephoops.comrnAnother big target with a big catch radius, Hromadka, is all a coach would want in a tight end. Usually lined up in the traditional tight end position, he gets off the line quickly and is especially dangerous in the middle of the field. He does a great job of finding openings between the hash marks, and he is physical enough to take a hit to make a catch. He will deliver a hit, too – he is great at collapsing the perimeter of opposing defenses with his physical blocking. He is powerful enough to drive guys off the line of scrimmage but agile enough to stay with blocks at the second level. The Crimson big man is averaging five points and five rebounds for the 12-7 Crimson basketball team.
Highlights
Ranked 56th by prephoops.comrnLike most guys on this list, Wangen has excellent length. He is a tough cover one-on-one simply because of his size. He runs excellent routes and comes out of his breaks cleanly. As a deep safety, he had good range and is a physical player who will make it uncomfortable for any receiver coming over the middle. Wangen can hurt defenses in multiple ways. He is an end-around threat. He will bounce off or run through tackles when running with the ball. The junior has a solid arm – completing passes on receiver option passes. On the hardwood, Wangen averages eight points a game for the 14-3 Tigers.
Ranked 89th by prephoops.comrnSchiltz is a multi-threat offensive player for the Panthers. Offensively, he plays all over the field. The junior lines up wide, in the backfield as a running back, a lead blocking back, and even at quarterback. He has great hands and uses his length to high-point deep balls. For a part-time quarterback, Schiltz is not just a runner. He has a good arm and can push the ball down the field. Defensively, he is a big-hitting downhill linebacker. He moves laterally down the line of scrimmage smoothly and gets off blocks quickly. When moving laterally, he puts his foot in the ground and closes quickly when he sees the hole. He is a big hitter but doesn’t sacrifice good tackling technique for the highlight hit.