Film Review C/O 2025 All Purpose Yard Leaders: Class 4A
With games won in the trenches, finding players who can navigate these murky waters and contribute to the passing game is vital to a team’s success. Looking at the stats from last season, five players put together strong seasons statistically…
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Continue ReadingWith games won in the trenches, finding players who can navigate these murky waters and contribute to the passing game is vital to a team’s success. Looking at the stats from last season, five players put together strong seasons statistically and gained major yards for their team throughout the year. Let’s dive into what makes these players poised for big senior seasons.
Brody Patlan
Brody Patlan
Patlan had a terrific junior season, rushing 97 times for 751 yards and 12 touchdowns while catching five passes for 91 yards and three touchdowns. He also had seven kick returns that went for a total of 131 yards, averaging 18.7 per return. Patlan is a quick and explosive running back who sees the running lane and hits the hole with conviction. He has tremendous agility and the make-you-miss ability in the open field, thanks to a violent jump cut. When he gets the ball in his hands, Patlan is extremely tough to bring down. His speed and leg drive makes it very hard for defenders to get a shoulder into him, and he’ll simply run through arm tackles. Once he’s free, Patlan’s home-run speed makes him wildly tough to track down. If his junior year is any indication of what’s to come next season, he’s on his way to a great final high school year.
BJ Tate
BJ Tate
Tate had a monster junior season, rushing 243 times for 1213 yards and 11 touchdowns while catching 16 passes for 154 yards and one touchdown. His 1367 all-purpose yards ranked first in the Class 4A of juniors, outpacing the next player by 170 yards. Tate brings great vision to the backfield, showing he understands he can set his blocks up and then explode through the running lane. Once he gets going, he has the speed to run away from defenders and hit the home run play. Not only that, but Tate’s also a tough and agile runner, proving he can make defenders miss in the open field and run through defenders for the dirty yards. If last year was any indication of what’s to come, Tate’s in for a huge senior season.
Davarrion Clark
Davarrion Clark
Clark had a phenomenal junior season, rushing 107 times for 609 yards and eight touchdowns while catching 11 passes for 80 yards. Where he did a lot of his damage was as a kick returner, gaining 505 yards on 21 returns, averaging 24 yards per return. His 1194 all-purpose yards ranked third in the class, and he showed the potential to lead the group in his senior season. As a running back, Clark is an agile but tough and physical runner. He has an explosive jump cut and can evade defenders in the trenches and the open field, but he’s also built with a strong lower frame and can generate the power to run over defenders. While he flashed as a returner, bringing that speed to the backfield is what makes him dangerous on offense. Another year of this level of play and Clark will be flying up the rankings.
Caleb Nordhagen
Caleb Nordhagen
Nordhagen had a remarkable junior season, rushing 119 times for 750 yards and eight touchdowns while catching seven passes for 103 yards and a touchdown. His 1143 all-purpose yards ranked fifth in the class, and with his traits, he has the potential for even more next season. Nordhagen is a hard-nosed runner who will put his shoulder down and run behind his pads. As a defender, he’s not fun to tackle in the trenches. He also runs with speed, showing that he can break away from defenders and hit the big play. Nordhagen’s running style of burst, speed, and toughness will have him looked at very closely next season, and he could lead the group of running backs in yardage for his senior season.
Jerrod Lee
Jerrod Lee
Lee had a superb junior season, rushing 144 times for 935 yards and 13 touchdowns while catching nine passes for 56 yards and a touchdown. His 1007 all-purpose yards were good for seventh in the class and could be a sign of things to come. Lee runs with excellent contact balance, running behind his pads and staying upright on contact. While he didn’t catch many passes, he showed versatility, getting into the open field and being a safety net for his quarterback. Lee’s ability to run through arm tackles and evade defenders in the open field provides reliability to the ground attack and helps his offensive line keep their blocks. His speed and acceleration are an excellent weapon, but he’s also an established blocker. Lee’s well-rounded skillset will go a long way to boosting his ranking in his senior season.