All-Delaware Bowl 2028: Black Team Practice Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024 8th Grade All-Delaware Bowl was a game nobody will soon forget. As If the first-ever Triple OT game in the Bowl's history wasn't enough, the athletes and coaches had to deal with a Nor'easter storm bringing wind, hale, heavy rain and even a tornado warning during the days of practice leading up to the event. Nonetheless, many of the top athletes from the 302 made a name for themselves–or reminded folks just how good they really are. <span style="text-decoration: underline;">DO NOT</span> sleep on the state of Delaware.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Offensive Standouts</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1240977"],"_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":"Muhammad was somewhat quiet at practice (in comparison to what he went on to do in the game) but the ability was there from the jump. He primarily lined up at wide receiver during practice, but he could have u003cemu003eliterallyu003c/emu003e lined up anywhere and his ability was going to shine through. Other than Tysir Young on the other team, Muhammad struck me as the dawg in this showcase. Blessed to have longer limbs for this body, he has a frame that is going to absolutely fill out over the next four years. Again, primarily a wide receiver at practice, he made his mark come game day as a running backu002du002dbut he can play anywhere. To put it bluntly, in a game featuring many of Delaware's top 2028 prospects, he was the Alpha.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1240995"],"_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":"In full disclosure, I was surprised to see that he was shorter than I anticipated. That being saidu002du002dthere was a presence and calmness, that he gave off in the huddleu002du002dthat the other two quarterbacks in the game didn't have. He looked comfortable and in-command the whole time. Gardner, in my opinion, was also the most athletic/dynamic of the three signal callers in this game. He could reel back and spin it downfield just as well as he could move the pocket, set and fire a dart on an intermediate route. He's one to keep an eye on, as he progresses to the next level.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1241067"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Speaking transparently, Kyreih Smack was the first non-offensive lineman that stood out to me on this black team. While I don't have exact measurables and don't want to guess, I'd put him at anywhere between 5-foot-11 and 6-foot-1, and in the neighborhood of 165-185 pounds. At practice I didn't see him do much more than go in motion and block, but an eighth-grader with his size and frame doesn't go unnoticed for too long. He's physical enough right now as a blocker, to get the job done. If he can find the weight room to add some weight and keep up with his agility/mobility, he's got a better than 50/50 shot to go play beyond high school at a decent level.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1241641"],"_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":"Out of the three quarterbacks I saw at practice for the 2024 8th Grade All-Delaware Bowl, I'd say Phipps was the most balanced and varsity-ready of the three quarterbacks. That's not a knock on the athletic Cam Gardner (listed above) or the beautiful ball of Jameson Bryant (on the u003ca href=u0022https://prepredzone.com/2024/04/all-delaware-bowl-2028-blue-team-practice-standouts/u0022u003eBlue Teamu003c/au003e), but Phipps just is just the most physically ready. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 205-pounds, the size and arm strength check the boxes. Also had very good footwork in his drops, though he wasn't facing a live rush at practice.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1241661"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Sticking with the superlatives, Matt Brunner was absolutely the best offensive lineman I saw during practice. He may have been a late addition to the 2024 8th Grade All-Delaware Bowl, but he was first lineman I noticed doing things right for this Black Team. His technique and skill set were head and shoulders above the rest of the lineman I watched during practice. Other than the thud of his pads, I didn't hear him say another word the entire nightu002du002djust did his job and looked strong doing so. He played tackle during the All-Delaware Bowl, but he looks like an ideal interior player for the future.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1241679"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Before an unfortunate injury ended his 2024 8th grade All-Delaware Bowl prematurely, Javon Byrd showed off exactly just how good could he could potentially become. When talking about athletes that stood out from the rest during practice, Byrd was certainly near the top of the list. He looked the part at running back, with a long torso and long legs on top of itu002du002din the mold of Najee Harris of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Showed off impressive vision on cutbacks and moved with suddenness if he saw a lane to get to/through.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["1241696"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"On a Black Team that had a clear size advantage, at 6-foot-2 and 270-pounds Stanley was the biggest prospect on the field during practice. At this level, often times the biggest kids find success because they overwhelm with size as oppose to actually having abilityu002du002dbut not Stanley. As an eighth-grade offensive tackle, clearly there are some foot work things to improve on in space, and he could drop a few pounds to become more agile, but he has a strong base and run blocks exceptionally well. If he bumped inside to play guard, I think he'd be even more dominant because he can toss a lot of other interior defensive linemen around with his strength.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["1241739"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"Standing a legitimate 6-foot-2 and 170-pounds with a great body to work with, Swift was the first prospect I took a picture of at practice for the 2024 8th Grade All-Delaware Bowl. As the offensive line, running backs and opposing defense started inside run drills, Swift showed some leadership by getting routes on air going for the outside receivers. Didn't take long to see why he's also thought of as one of the top 2028s in Delaware on the hardwood too, he showed some nice ups high-pointing the ball. He's not as fast as I thought he would be at this point, but still showed out at receiver. That said, Swift as a tight end down the line...could be u003cemu003every, veryu003c/emu003e scary.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["1241724"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"Another offensive lineman that stood out to me during practice for the Black Team, was big Konner Neale. Neale, lined up at guard alongside Matthew Stanley (listed above) on the right side of the lineu002du002dwith both prospects being 6-foot-2. The two complemented each other well with Stanley having more power and Neale having the more ideal frame at this point. He tends to play a little too tall and lunges at time, but those are correctable things with hard work and attention from a high school offensive line coach. He has the unteachable size and some of the basic frame work down, to be an offensive lineman with a future.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_9_player":["1241764"],"_player_evaluations_9_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_9_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_9_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"While the practice I attended was offense-heavy and featured the dotting i's and crossing of t's before the game the next night, there was no denying that Ke'Von Johnson (also goes by KJ) was the defensive lineman that nobody on this team wanted to line up across from. At 5-foot-9 and 240 pounds, he wasn't even going full tilt and this disruptive skill set was noticeable. Best way to describe him Johnson's play, is a u0022bull in a china shopu0022. Fires off the ball low and hard, gets his hands into the chest of the offensive lineman and extends his arms quickly for immediate separation.","_player_evaluations_9_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":10,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6615821bb3eb6"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Additional Practice Standouts</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Josiah Guy</strong> | Running Back</em> - At practice, the Black Team ran certain packages that called for Guy to join Javon Byrd (listed above) in the backfield. While others, featured him in a single back set. The shorter, muscular running back had some nice runs but did struggle keeping his feet while attempting to cut on the soggy field. Improving and developing a higher knee drive will help combat this.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Jaimi Peace</strong> | Wide Receiver</em> - The weather wasn't ideal at practice for an effective passing attack in the days leading up to the 2024 8th Grade All-Delaware Bowl, but Peace still caught my eye at practice. Listed at 5-foot-9 and 140-pounds, there was a smoothness to his route-running and he looked comfortable/natural catching passes. He looked specifically good while catching balls from from Max Phipps (listed above).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->