2025 Studs Flying Under the Radar

One of the things Prep Redzone does better, and more of, than the rest are scouting and reporting on the players that don't see the limelight as often as they should. Whether it is because you go to a small school, play on a losing team, play for a coach who doesn't do much to network for you, or any of the numerous reasons; the result is too many disappointed kids who are working just as hard and are just as talented as the fortunate few getting all the attention.   These are the studs that I refer to as "Flying Under the Radar"...but not for long.   My process is do a lot of positional film study. Breakdown all 22 positions, identify schemes, look at mechanics, performance, competition level, available stats, prior reporting, coach input, etc., all the many variables that go into assessing whether someone is a true stud or not. Invariably, the kids who have what it takes transcend their circumstances and shine bright.   These are the players that pass the eye test. I make note to go back and do a deep-dive on them to see if they pass the performance test. If they pass both, they get added to the flying under the radar list to get in the reporting cycle. Once they have been reported on, I will look for future opportunities to get them as much attention as possible.   That said, below we have another five standout players from around the state who are grinding away in preparation for the all-important senior season.   Listed below are this week's "Five Flying Under the Radar":   [player_tooltip player_id='595718' first='Jalen' last='Morgan'], 5'11, 180, DB, Junction City, is ranked #121 (Pictured Above). He is a gifted defensive back who has great speed and quickness and moves laterally exceptionally well. He is a fluid athlete who flips his hips and backtracks seamlessly. A versatile performer, he excels as a shutdown cornerback who can take out the opposing teams best receivers; but can also play either of the safety positions. He is a very instinctual player who moves into position quickly and is a rugged tackler in the open field. He is also a standout wide receiver on the other side of the ball, with good hands and the potential to burn the secondary deep on every play. He is on the cusp of a breakout year in 2024.   [player_tooltip player_id='350827' first='Logan' last='Morley'], 6'1, 185, ATH, Shawnee Mission Northwest, is ranked #200. He is an athletic quarterback who is versatile enough to play receiver or defensive back as needed. As a quarterback he effectively runs the the Northwest offense, throwing pin-point darts and making plays with his legs. He stands tall in the pocket and delivers a very catchable ball. He is accurate on crossing passes and outs and throws the long ball with a nice touch. A natural scrambler, he flawlessly executes play action, bootlegs and throws well on the run going either direction. He used last year as a springboard for things to come - keep him in your sights this fall.   [player_tooltip player_id='1115462' first='Guy' last='Tubbs'], 6'3, 210, LB/TE, Colby, is ranked #74. He is a weapon for the Colby offense, where he lines up as a wideout, in the slot, in tight, as an H-back and even runs the ball out of the backfield. He is coming off a standout junior season when he gave everyone an idea of how good he is. An athletic two-way star in the making, he has a great wing span and catch radius for his size and great hands. He goes up to the apex point of the pass and is a dangerous runner after catching the ball. On defense he stuffs gaps as an inside linebacker or causes major disruption coming off the edge. This kid is a stud in the making.   [player_tooltip player_id='868987' first='Jackson' last='Torrez'], 6'2, 205, ATH, Spring Hill, is ranked #159. He is another versatile performer who is a big, physical receiver who can be split out wide to force mismatches. He also operates out of the slot, as an H-back, and runs the ball as a tailback and on jet sweeps. He is a fluid route runner who instinctively finds soft areas in the zone and in the seams. He has excellent hand-eye coordination, catches contested passes in traffic well and is a disruptive force after the catch. He can be used to move the chains on quick passes or stretch the field vertically. This kid won't be flying under the radar long.   [player_tooltip player_id='1213993' first='Harper' last='Engel'], 6'4, 250, DE/TE, Shawnee Mission Northwest, is currently not ranked. Another oversight in the rankings, he is a big, aggressive, versatile player who can line up anywhere along the defensive line and is also a bone-jarring blocker as a tight end. Where he really excels, however, is as a tough-as-nails defensive end who destroys double teams and blows up plays on the edge. He has a strong base, with good feet and strong hands that he uses to shuck off blockers. He is very active and moves well laterally closing on the football and when he gets there he lowers the boom. On offense, he is a devastating blocker who routinely caves in defenders on down blocks. He is going to make some noise in 2024.   In conclusion, you will be hearing more and more about these guys as we accelerate toward the 2024 season. And, as always, if you have questions, comments or have other deserving players that aren't getting any/not enough coverage, feel free to contact me via DM on X.

One of the things Prep Redzone does better, and more of, than the rest are scouting and reporting on the players that don't see the limelight as often as they should. Whether it is because you go to a small school, play on a losing team, play for a coach who doesn't do much to network for you, or any of the numerous reasons; the result is too many disappointed kids who are working just as hard and are just as talented as the fortunate few getting all the attention.