Success on the football field and the track

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Continuing with our multi-sport athlete series, we start with the first of two stories highlighting football players who excel in track and field. For this first story, we focus on track athletes who got on the podium at State in the Class A and AA meets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["369905"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Nelson found the podium twice last spring, taking first in the 100 meters and the long jump. He just missed being a triple champion with a second-place finish in the 200 meters. Obviously, speed is a big key to his game, but the junior only needs a little space to make catches. He has excellent vision once he has the ball, so much so that he is a big part of the Agates' running game on jet sweeps and off-tackle runs from the slot. He has good length but is strong with the ball and will break a tackle if the defender does not square him up. Primarily an offensive player, Nelson is also a dynamic kick returner and plays some defensive back.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["945927"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Boike was a beast in the jumping events in 2023. He placed seventh in the high jump, second in the triple jump, and finished just behind Nelson in the long jump – taking second. On the football field, he is a matchup nightmare on the outside. His combination of length, speed, and sure hands make him a tough guy to guard one-on-one. His long strides each up ground quickly on defensive backs, making them have to turn and run with him early. One of the best three-sport athletes around, he recently set the school record for points on the basketball court.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["641132"],"_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":"Russell is the most decorated guy in this and my next track and field story. He found the top of the podium as a member of the Bluejays' first-place 4X100 and 4X200 meter relays. The junior also took second in the long jump, and although he didn't place, he qualified for State in the open 200. On the football field, he is a threat on both sides of the ball. He has excellent instincts and closing speed as a deep safety. As a receiver, his straight-line speed and length are too much for many defensive backs to handle. He has good ball skills as a receiver, which translates into great ball skills as a defensive back.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["362277"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Schrot – who was on two relay teams that found the podium last year- is just an athlete. He was on the third-place 4X200 relay team and the second-place 4X400 relay team. On the football field, if you need him to throw a play-action pass, he is your man. If you need him to throw on the move – either by design or to buy time, the Falcons' quarterback will do that. No one is open, you say? Schrot has the speed and agility to make plays with his feet. How about special teams? Do you need a kickoff for a touchback or a forty-yard punt? Schrot has his team's back there, too. Oh, you need him to handle a bad punt snap? He turned one of those into a 50-yard touchdown run.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["234867"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Swinea is another elite three-sport athlete. In addition to being a part of the Trojans' sixth-place 4X400 relay team, he is a terror on the basketball court. Track and field is his second time making a multi-sport athlete list. Find out what I said about his basketball and football skills u003ca href=u0022https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/success-on-the-football-field-and-the-basketball-court-part-ii/u0022u003ehereu003c/au003e.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["641141"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Kludt placed eighth in the long jump, which is a great start on contested balls – on both sides of the ball. On offense, he is a great route runner with solid speed. Kludt has excellent ball skills, making him effective as a receiver and defensive back. Usually lined up at corner, the Cardinals' two-way player is fluid in his backpedal and quickly comes out of his breaks. His speed and length give him great range, especially in zone coverage. He is a big corner, but his athletic ability allows him to stay with smaller receivers.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["234759"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Artz got on the podium twice last season, taking fifth in the shot put and ninth in the discus. On the football field, the Cardinal junior is a physical, athletic fullback/tight end. His compact frame naturally lowers his pad level more than his opponent. His strength allows him to displace most defenders – often onto the ground. While used mainly as a blocker, Artz can catch the ball in the passing game, and when he has the ball in the open field, he shows excellent quickness and speed. Defensively, he is a solid run stuffer on the defensive line. His strength and low center of gravity make him tough to move off his spot.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65d84413e2422"} /-->