Twitter Film Study Pt. 2: Four ’25s Poised For A Big Senior Year
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Launching into the second installment of ‘Twitter Film Study,’ we shift our focus solely to the class of 2025, highlighting four athletes on the cusp of a massive senior year. Through the lens of X (previously known as Twitter), we’ve…
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Continue ReadingLaunching into the second installment of ‘Twitter Film Study,’ we shift our focus solely to the class of 2025, highlighting four athletes on the cusp of a massive senior year. Through the lens of X (previously known as Twitter), we’ve curated film submissions directly from players themselves who want to showcase their skills to a wider audience. This series is dedicated to spotlighting these young stars while offering a nuanced critique of their game. We’re zooming in on players who aren’t just preparing to leave their mark in their final high school season but have shown they have the tools to play at the next level. From dynamic offensive threats to stalwart defenders, this edition is jam-packed with talent.
Johann Gundermann Johann Gundermann 6’0″ | 170 lbs | WR Prescott | 2025 AZ is an elite deep threat on the outside for Prescott’s offense. With true break-away speed, opposing defensive backs don’t stand a chance of keeping him in front of them without giving him a massive cushion. One play from his film below (38 seconds in), I feel, perfectly displays just how special Gundermann is. I must’ve watched eight times because I was so impressed with the whole operation. He takes a quick step inside and the DB falls for it, and instead of trying to recover, the DB turns and starts sprinting straight down the field because he knows what’s coming next. What makes the whole play even more jaw-dropping is, if you look closely, you’ll notice that the DB actually still has at least a full step on Gundermann and is in a full sprint when the QB releases the ball. Showing you not only the pure speed, but the confidence his quarterback has in him to win deep. The play ends with Gundermann pulling far away as he strides into the endzone; something that seemed to be happening an awful lot this past season. His ability to do it consistently, even when the defense knew it was coming, really stands out. Gundermann averaged over 20 yards a reception, and managed to do so with 43 receptions. When he isn’t running straight for the goal line, he has really sharp routes and can get separation nearly any time he wants it. Gundermann is primed for a massive senior season.
Avery Rodriguez
Avery Rodriguez
The first thing that stood out about Avery Rodriguez was his incredible footwork. He just seems to glide across the field in every direction. When he’s in his backpedal it looks very natural and his quick feet allow him to stay in that backpedal to keep his attention on the play as it developes. He’s very quick for a bigger frame, which is why he’s seen flying all over the field. Rodriguez isn’t always sitting back on the pass though, he shows good versatility when he steps up in the box and provides very solid run support. You start to see how physical of a player he is when he’s attacking the run as well. In coverage, he seems very methodical and strategic – making sure not to get beat while also being able to make plays. But when the ball gets handed off, he uses his athleticism to aggressively attack the ball carrier. Further highlighting that aggressiveness and versatility, Rodriguez was able to block a punt and two field goals during the season to go along with his four interceptions and five tackles for loss. Whenever he’s on the field, he’s bound to make an impact.
Ryan Kavalami
Ryan Kavalami
Ryan Kavalami has excellent handwork coming off the edge for Thunderbird’s defense. Listed at 6’2” 205lbs. he has a really nice balance of speed and strength. When he’s making a powerful push to the backfield he does a great job of keeping a low center of gravity and using his base to create his power and using his arms just to create space and separation for him to get by. He also has a vast set of speed moves to attack off the edge. Kavalami’s first step is so explosive and it allows him to get a good position on lineman where he uses that great handwork to slip by on his way to the quarterback. His hands aren’t just flailing around trying to get people off of him, he has this way of manuevering lineman just enough to give him an opening. The play at the 1 minute mark in his film below is a perfect example. He’s at a size disadvantage from the jump, and on his initial push Kavalami gets denied and the tackle makes a good block and gets engaged. That doesn’t stop him though, he uses his quickness to switch directions on a dime and slips through on the inside with a straight shot to the quarterback. When the quarterback ends up handing it off, Kavalami does a great job of crashing down the line. Oftentimes his quickness allows him to catch up to backs before their running lane is able to develop. Coming off a season with more than 80 tackles and 14 of those for a loss, Kavalami is sure to make some noise among pass rushers in his senior year.
Listed at 6’0” 200lbs. Brody Michael Brody Michael 6’0″ | 205 lbs | LB American Leadership Academy Queen Creek | 2025 State AZ has quickness that’s rarely seen from the linebacker position. Many linebackers have an explosive first step – it’s a great trait to have – but Michael takes it a step further. It’s not just the first step, it’s how quickly he can get to top speed. Once he makes his read on a play he shows this quickness and turns on the jets to wherever the ball is. What really sets Michael’s game apart is how incredibly talented he is as a blitzer. You can tell it’s something he’s worked on and refined; yet there’s still this natural look and flow to it. Starting before the ball is even snapped, he does a great job mixing up his looks by not showing his blitz, or bluffing to set up a straight attack later in the game. It’s all strategic, and that strategy continues once the ball is snapped. He times his blitzes very well in order to make sure he already has some momentum before lineman are out of their stance. On his way to the backfield, he’s a very bendy and slippery player. Lineman are hardly ever able to get engaged because he’s either already by them, or is quickly maneuverung his body around whatever they throw at him. The blitzes showed in his production too, finishing the year with 12 TFLs from a true outside linebacker spot. Michael should be on everyone’s radar heading into the 2024 season.