Film Room: Uncommitted ’25 Receivers with Upside

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You don't often think of Iowa producing a lot of college receivers through the years. While population will always cap it, the group right now is strong. It's led by dynamic 2025 West Des Moines Valley four-star Xzavion Robinson, who reports scholarship offers from Colorado, Iowa State, Iowa, Kansas State, Missouri and Vanderbilt. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I recently checked out film on more juniors at the position and came up with seven guys with upside: </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":980001,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1279961' first='Connor' last='Cross'] ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"160","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Iowa City High ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"The son of former Iowa Hawkeye tight end, Alan Cross, [player_tooltip player_id='1279961' first='Connor' last='Cross'] should be getting way more college attention. While Connor won't be playing tight end, I think he can line up in the slot at the next level, and he's a good enough athlete to play defensive back. Cross operates well in space with sharp cutting ability and quick acceleration. He gets off the snap well, transitioning into well-run routes and displaying reliable hands. He can help a lot of college programs.  Check out his u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16263997/65a9bbf7c1244e052c9f293cu0022u003ejunior highlightsu003c/au003e.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["604773"],"_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":"Grimsely is a known commodity and has been for awhile. He reports scholarship offers from Indiana, Kent State, Miami, UNI and others. He remains uncommitted, however. He could add more opportunities during the summer camp circuit with some coaches wanting to see the speed he displays during his u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16543508/633b45a5ff01ca08f4c66e40u0022u003ejunior highlightsu003c/au003e for themselves. It's a stigma small-town Iowa players must overcome. Grimsely blends speed and quickness with crisp routes. He's a threat in the return game as well. I like the upside here.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1286501' first='Dylan' last='Stecker'] ","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_weight":"196","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Spirit Lake ","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Stecker's frame could add the mass for him to make a dangerous tight end at the next level. I wouldn't limit him to that outcome, however. As you can witness while watching his u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16629313/655e91d44bb2390b90acd838u0022u003ejunior highlightsu003c/au003e, he's a fluid athlete with good speed. He does well selling his routes to defensive backs and winning 50-50 balls. He includes blocking clips in his highlight package, showing a willingness and knack for doing it. He's committed to catching the ball with his hands with arms extended.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["252341"],"_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":"Gardner is heading to Waterloo West after spending his first three seasons at Columbus Catholic. Like Stecker, Gardner owns a frame that could grow into a tight end. If he did switch, he'd have the receiver part down as you can see during his u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16476287/65583b98bee1200d00d42a1fu0022u003ejunior highlightsu003c/au003e. He's a match-up problem as a tall pass catcher with long arms and good speed. He thrives in picking up yards after the catch. Gardner could fit on defense at the next level, as he shows on his u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16476287/655826012347fc0bd47ac0e0u0022u003ejunior highlightsu003c/au003e on that side of the ball. The athleticism he offers at receiver translates well to linebacker with safety another possibility.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1278273' first='Sam' last='Zelenovich']","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_weight":"185","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"Southeast Polk ","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Zelenovich played a key role in helping the Rams win another state championship in '23. The son of head coach Brad Zelenovich, Sam caught a team-best 68 balls for 891 yards and nine touchdowns. When watching Sam's u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16018737/64fdf2f60c54fe0abc59e708u0022u003ejunior highlightsu003c/au003e, it's easy to see how he finds success.  He lines up in the slot and on the outside, ripping off crisp routes from wherever he starts. He shows an ability to race by defenders for the deep ball or take a short pass and turn it into a big gain. Zelenovich often seizes the advantage early on in the play with sharp cuts. He's a good athlete that plays varsity basketball as well.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"T.Y. Pour","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_5_player_details_weight":"150","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"Cedar Rapids Prairie ","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_5_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_5_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Pour could help programs at the next level as a cornerback. Maybe that's where he ends up. I think he could be a dynamic offensive weapon, too. And either way, he's an electric return man as you can witness watching his u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16436892/653d28e9c124d40c94a2afd1u0022u003ejunior highlightsu003c/au003e. Speed and quickness are his outstanding traits in all three phases of the game. As a receiver, he fits nicely in the slot with smooth actions and a good burst. He can be used on jet sweeps with a strong feel for finding the seams in defenses and accelerating in tight spaces. This is a kid you get in your college program and figure out where he works best in the system.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1280894' first='Maverick' last='Inman'] ","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"6'2u0022","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_6_player_details_weight":"170","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"Waukee Northwest","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_6_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_6_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Inman put together a junior season that saw him lead the Wolves in receptions (36), receiving yards (751) and touchdown catches (8). His u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/15944248/654904d02352620a404e5e98u0022u003ejunior highlightsu003c/au003e reveal a well-rounded receiver with a knack for securing contested catches. The route running is sound as are his hands. He appears to have good speed and adjusts nicely when the ball is in flight. He brings a high level of concentration, allowing him to beat defenders even when they're well positioned.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e5169289554"} /-->