Pops Picks: A New 2028 Colorado Prospect To Know At Each Position

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ahead of our<a href="https://events.prepredzone.com/e/1072/register/middle-school-combine-colorado">&nbsp;first-ever Prep Redzone Next Middle School Camp in Colorado on May 4th</a>, we're starting to really kick the tires and look deep in the state for the talent. The Box State has a ton of talent in its four borders, we'll just continue to shine a light on them earlier. Here's a look at a prospect at each position that I feel is destined for big things.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Quarterback</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1214582"],"_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":"If you've followed my writups through the years, it's no secret how much stock I put into genetics when trying to forecast the future success for eighth-grade prospects. For that reason, among u003cemu003emanyu003c/emu003e others, [player_tooltip player_id='1214582' first='Titus' last='Huard'] is a quarterback prospect that the high school world will hear about in the near future. If that Huard last name rings a bell, he's the son of former NFL quarterback turned FOX College Football analyst, Brock Huard. In addition to that, his mother Molly played basketball at the University of Washington (where father Brock went to school, too) and his two older sisters Haley and Macey are both playing hoops at Montana. u0022Little brotheru0022 Titus is already listed at 6-foot-4, 170-pounds and will be off to Valor Christian in the fall. He's got an obvious height advantage and as you can see in the film from two years ago below he can throw some frozen ropes.rnrnFilm: u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/805490/636a6a8f4210b6012ca5b690u0022u003eu003cstrongu003e7th**u003c/strongu003e u003cstrongu003eGrade Filmu003c/strongu003eu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f9ce2001d54"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Running Back</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1214797"],"_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":"Colorado isn't exactly a tropical climate, and anyone who has strapped up pads in a cold-weather game knows how much more you feel those collisions in the cold. I say that because attempting to tackle a running back like [player_tooltip player_id='1214797' first='Charlie' last='Kroell'] in that chilly weather can't be very fun for the guys he's running against, over and through. At an estimaded 5-foot-6 and 150-pounds, Kroell is put together very well and has a lot of muscle mass for a back only getting ready to enter high school. He hits the hole hard and easily busts through would-be arm-tackles, showing off his power, before using his speed to outrun linebackers and defensive backs on the second and third levels. On top of the contributions on the field, Kroell is also a tough kid by all accountsu002du002dplaying some of the season with a cast on his left arm from his elbow to his knuckles.rnrnFilm: u003ca href=u0022https://www.instagram.com/p/CyKX9RCu_q5/?img_index=2u0022u003eu003cstrongu003e8th Grade Filmu003c/strongu003eu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f9ce2001de1"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Wide Receiver</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["984586"],"_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":"The Mile-Hi Thoroughbreds 13U team was a force this season, as they tore through the Rocky Mountain Pop Warner league with a 6-1 season recordu002du002doutscoring their opponents 231-78 and winning the league title in the process. There were a number of really impressive prospects on this team, including his partner-in-crime at wide receiver, [player_tooltip player_id='983689' first='Lawrence' last='Griggs'], but for today we'll focus on [player_tooltip player_id='984586' first='De'Jay' last='Davenport']. Davenport is one of the better-balanced receivers I've seen in this crop of Colorado 2028s, thus far. At 5-foot-8 and 140-pounds, there are bigger and faster receivers in the state, but there's something about his game that keeps catching my eye. Between body control, incredibly reliable hands and his track record of flat out winning, there's a ton to like here.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65f9ce2001e3a"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Tight End</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1215772"],"_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":"In no way is the hay in the barn yet, but the last time I liked an eighth-grade tight end from Colorado as much as I like [player_tooltip player_id='1215772' first='Cannon' last='Zubeck'], it turned out to be consensus class of 2026 No.1 player in the state, [player_tooltip player_id='283697' first='Camden' last='Jensen']. While Zubeck doesn't yet have the double-digit scholarship offers that the 6-foot-7 Jensen has, he is already 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds before even entering high school. The three-sport athlete is currently on the shelf with a leg injury, but there's no denying the high ceiling he has an athlete. With his best sport being basketball right now (in my opinion), give any football coach in America an incoming freshman that is a  legitimate 6-foot-6, 23o-pounds, with the feet of a basketball player, mental toughness of a baseball player and physical ability of a football playeru002du002dand they'll be doing back flips in their office.rnrnFilm: u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16452095/658279b06e8c180988af6ddcu0022u003eu003cstrongu003e8th Grade Filmu003c/strongu003eu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65fa09187a862"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Athlete</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1215659"],"_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":"I only need one hand to count the number of Colorado 2028 prospects that I feel are in the same realm as [player_tooltip player_id='1215659' first='Jai'Dan' last='Richardson']. Richardson suited up for the Cherry Creek Bruins youth program this year, which serves as the feeder into Cherry Creek High Schoolu002du002dwhose varsity program hasn't lost more than three games in a season since 2012. When it comes to Richardson, I don't even know where to start. Offensively, he took the bulk of the snaps lined out wide as a wide receiver where he didn't even have to use his size and strength advantage that often, because he typically had already blown past the defensive back cursed with guarding him. However, he also took handoffs and pitches from the running back position, too. All that, and he appears to have the size of many pre-high school tight ends, to boot. Flip sides of the ball, and he's also one of the top outside linebackers in the state. Honestly, if I had to make a prediction today, I think he may be a better outside linebacker than any thing else because of his ability to get off blocks and devour whoever has the ball. Bottom lineu002du002dthis kid is a future Saturday football player.rnrnFilm: u003ca href=u0022https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16633656/65076c83a676570578bf273cu0022u003e8th Grade Filmu003c/au003e","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65fa09187a8c3"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Offensive Line</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1213674"],"_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":"Make this twice in as many days that we're covering [player_tooltip player_id='1213674' first='DJ' last='Curry'] as a u0022newu0022 prospect, but in a 2028 Colorado class that hasn't necessarily knocked my socks off in terms of offensive line prospects since my initial sweep in September/October, he really is u003cemu003etheu003c/emu003e new name to know. He's a big kid that does a great job of delivering a big blow right off the whistle. I think he might end up as a disruptive interior defensive tackle when it's all said and done, but he's one of the best offensive tackles in the state.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65fa09187a916"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Defensive Line</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1213719"],"_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":"Bryon Madrid has had quite the disruptive middle school career as a two-way lineman for the Mile-Hi Thoroughbreds. At 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, Madrid is a bit of a tweener at this point - not big enough on a national scale to hang in there as a defensive tackle, but not crazy-athletic enough to be a pass-rushing defensive end. That said, when it comes to Colorado 2028 prospects, there's not many more that consistently get into the backfield like Madrid does. He's got a mean streak to him and isn't afraid to mix it up if the situation calls for it. Fires off the ball quickly and gets into the offensive linemen's chest first, he then follows it up with quick-action moves that clears the lane to the backfield.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65fa09187a968"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Linebacker</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1215660"],"_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":"Heading back to Cherry Creek, where the high school varsity program finally had their run of four straight Colorado 5A state football championships broken this past December, [player_tooltip player_id='1215660' first='Jeriah' last='Barnes'] is a really good looking prospect. One of the many weapons that played on both sides of the ballu002du002djust like [player_tooltip player_id='1215659' first='Jai'Dan' last='Richardson'] (listed above)u002du002dI had trouble deciphering between running back or linebacker for him.  At 5-foot-9 and 160-pounds, he has some pretty good size right now for the position(s) he plays and his style of play follows suit. He's strong, aggressive and seems to be always attacking. Specially at linebacker, which is where I think he ends up long term, he's a tough kid to stop from blitzing up the gut if he times it right. He's a downhill runner that gets from point A to point B, in short order.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65fa09187a9cb"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Defensive Back</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1213513"],"_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":"On film, Cassese is one of the fastest 2028 prospects in Colorado, that I've seen to date. On a national scale, he's average-to-below-average in terms of height and weight based off his last reported measurements (5-foot-8 and 130-pounds), however he can absolutely go. He is more than capable as a wide receiver or return man, but don't sleep on him as a free safety. He covers ground quickly and his speed is certainly a difference-maker. On the rare chance that a receiver slips behind him, he can play in trail and still make a play on the ball. On a flat out fly route, if he picks up his man in time, there aren't many that can get loose from him.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65fa09187aa1d"} /-->