2026s Showing Off Their Position Versatility

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class of 2026 update didn't waste any time showing off a bunch of athletes who are playmakers on both sides of the ball. Not just at the high school level either. These athletes have the traits to be legitimate options at either position they play at the next level. Athletes with this level of versatility need to be highlighted and that is exactly what we are here to do today. We start with the #2 overall player in the class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["700021"],"_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":"Lamont is overflowing with talent on the football field and the basketball court. The 6' 170 lbs dual sport athlete is also a two way standout in football. At WR the sophomore is exactly how I would dream up a mismatch. Someone who has exceptional agility. One who can stop on a dime and accelerate with an explosive burst. Plus he has the speed to simply run away from everyone on the field. Add in strong hands to make catches in traffic and you get a WR that you know you just need to get the ball close to.rnrnOn defense, Lamont uses that speed to pair with excellent play processing. He reads the QB while playing zone coverage at CB. We see him fly out of his backpedal to attack the ball after the baiting the QB. Lamont also is an impact return man. A true three phase athlete.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6608a1904deef"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17790218/6546c67ec119a009b8a4cb5b' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6608a1904df98"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1220652"],"_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":"Ryan is another stud ATH who I can see finding a impactful role on either side of the ball. DE is where he currently looks most comfortable. That position is where he gets to let it all hang loose and attack. We see him jump out of his stance, bull rush his man into the backfield, stand up double teams, or run past the OL before they can square up on him. Westrich's effort jumps off the tape too, making chase down plays and other plays outside the regular structure of the play.rnrnAt TE the massive sophomore is essentially an extra offensive lineman in the run game. Ryan mauls opposing defenders. He closes so quick and that length allows him to make first contact every rep. Contact that usually sends them to the dirt. As a receiver, Ryan has no problem creating yards after the catch. It seems like he almost prefers to run through a man instead of finding the easier path. Ryan is a big athlete that leans on his physicality. He will be able to hang at the next level with his toughness.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6608a1904dffa"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17916231/652fbf6cff01ce0a081b3ad2' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6608a1904e019"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["402807"],"_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":"Another stud WR/DB combo athlete is Kenosha Bradford's [player_tooltip player_id='402807' first='Brandon' last='Walton']. Brandon brings excellent length to the position at 6'2u0022. As a DB, we see Brandon at CB and safety. Safety looks like home for him. There he can show off his excellent range and change of direction. He has excellent awareness in zone coverage and has shown the recovery speed as well. The first INT highlight in his tape shows off all that. To go along with the next level coverage skills, Walton can be trusted to play down in the box or off the edge to help defend the run game. Even at 155 lbs the sophomore doesn't hesitate to stick his nose in the trash and get a tackle.rnrnAt WR Kenosha loves to highlight his speed to create big plays. Jet sweeps, deep corners, and verticals up the seam scatter throughout his film showing an athlete who is usually one of the fastest athletes on the field. Brandon is a tough mismatch out wide.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6608a1904e070"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17790514/653b2a1e7bd46d097cbb5f7e' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6608a1904e08d"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1220660"],"_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":"Zach was one of my favorite midseason finds from 2023. He was a key contributor on a team that mad hit to Level 3 of the playoffs. The 6'3u0022 225 lbs athlete stands out as a FB/TE and DL. On defense, Zach shows consistently effective hand usage. He places them perfectly on the chest of his man, creates separation, and then uses an array of rips or swims to get past the block. The big man play with nimble feet that give him the ability to slide laterally while attacking upfield. You see his wrestling background shine through too as he works to gain the leverage advantage.rnrnOn offense Zach's physicality sets the tone. He is a massive load to bring down with his low center of gravity and powerful stiff arm. He easily rips through tackle attempts and has enough speed to break loose for a big play. The sophomore is a viable receiving option too with soft hands and a size/speed combo that LBs have a hard time matching. Zach is also a road clearing lead blocker. He runs over LBs and looks for more once he finishes one block. Don't sleep on this northern WI standout.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6608a1904e0e5"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14067368/650fcf34a018660b7c6d60aa' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6608a1904e103"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["403583"],"_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":"Semaji first made an impression to us as a TE. This season he showed that it was his only way of impacting the game. The sophomore now makes plays at TE and on the DL. The 6'3u0022 210 lbs TE brings a well balanced skill set. He has dominating power in the run game. We see him drive defenders off the ball, or get to the second level and bury LBs. Petzold shows the closing speed needed to land those big blocks on an LB. As a receiver, Semaji uses his big frame to create constant separation. His simple box out walls off defenders effectively.rnrnOn defense the DE plays with a strong mix of effort, power, and agility. The effort stood out first. Petzold is always battling to the whistle, fighting through blocks, and trying to get to the ball on every snap. We usually see him get there because he has the strength to bull rush, can swipe hands away to free himself, and again shows that closing speed to make the tackle. Semaji also shows that he can make the lateral slide to get around blocks or to maintain containment against the outside run and then attack to secure the talent. I'm excited to see him grow more into both positions. He could have a big year this fall with the potential he has shown.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6608a1904e15d"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17864103/653d6e249a90f20524ed473f' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6608a1904e17a"} /-->