Section V: Must See Players Returning
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There are more must-see players that will be returning for Section V football. Check out these players below that had impactful tapes and will be looking to show on the football field how they improved over the off-season. Ian Ortiz…
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Continue ReadingThere are more must-see players that will be returning for Section V football. Check out these players below that had impactful tapes and will be looking to show on the football field how they improved over the off-season.
Ian Ortiz
Ian Ortiz
The young Ian Ortiz from Rush Henrietta High School is looking to have an incredible sophomore season as he gets ready to take the field from the DT and OG spots. At the DT spot, Ortiz showed off his quick feet and fast hands. The ability to work as a lineman with tremendous twitch would show. Getting more work at attacking lower and using his lower center of gravity is only going to help win more 1 on 1 battles. When it comes to the OG role, Ortiz was able to drive his opponent backwards multiple times on tape. The pure strength really showed out for Ortiz, and defenders would have a difficult time trying to bull rush him. Ortiz will be a trench player that Rush Henrietta can build around for the coming years.
The James Monroe Red Jackets have a 1st-Team AGR and 2nd-Team All State player here with Styhles McKenzie-Baker Styhles McKenzie-Baker 5’9″ | 160 lbs | DB Monroe | 2025 State NY . This is a CB that can do it all and even showed flashes of being able to play at the WR spot. The ability to be left on an island and being able to play in zone schemes stood out tremendously on tape. Many times, McKenzie-Baker showed his pure physicality on WRs at both the LOS and before the breaking point of routes. Being able to come up and lay the hammer down on the ball carrier was also a huge point of emphasis on McKenzie-Baker’s tape. The pure lateral quickness to change direction allowed McKenzie-Baker to come away with many INTs. It almost looked like he was the designated WR on some of the interceptions because he was there so quickly. McKenzie-Baker does stand in at 5’9 and weighs 160-pounds. It will be an interesting senior season for McKenzie-Baker to put on display this fall.
Highlights
Blaze Waters
Blaze Waters
Blaze Waters is a 6’0”, 240-pound C/OG that is entering into his senior season at Fairport High School. When it comes to Waters’ pure run blocking ability, his down blocking did come into play on film on multiple occasions. There were a few times when I did see Waters communicating with his teammates at the LOS. Being able to pull and adjust on opponents in space did flash on tape, especially when it came to making a block on the outside C-gap defenders. When it comes to Waters pure play strength at the point of attack, he was able to control opponents with good leverage. Waters was very quick at getting into his pass set with much balance and control. Continuing to develop at being able to handle bull rushes and being an anchor when facing pass rushers will only continue to improve his game. A very smart and impactful linemen for Fairport.
Xavier White
Xavier White
The RG that will be entering into his senior season at Brighton High School made sure to show some aggressive nature on the gridiron this past season. Xavier White stands in at 5’9” and weighs 240 pounds and has a mean force when he goes to block his opponents. On pull action blocks, the physical nature to down block the opponent into the second level of the defense was very visible on tape. Many times, defenders were caught trapped on their back because of the play strength that White has at the POA. I was really impressed by White’s ability at being able to be a stable force at being able to mirror defenders in his pass sets. Knowing who to block and where to block seems to be a constant pattern for White in passing situations. White did get some playing time on the DL, but his best work did come at the RG spot. White can play either RG or LG spot as well.
Wes Sturrup
Wes Sturrup
The speedy Wes Sturrup is a 6’0”, 175-pound WR for Brighton High School that had a very impressive tape this past season as a junior. Sturrup’s pure ability to take off in the middle of the field with defenders all around him was a true separating factor in his game. Being utilized on returns in kickoffs really helped set his offense in great field position on many occasions. When it came to the WR position, Sturrup could be lined up in the slot or out at the boundary and was impactful for the Brighton offense. Once Sturrup caught the ball, his YAC ability was very explosive, as he could make multiple defenders miss on his way into the end zone. The ability to make diving catches in traffic and produce impactful blocks to set up a big play for his teammates were also a big part of Sturrup’s game. Brighton will continue to utilize Sturrup anyway they can, including key sweeps or on the field goal block team as Sturrup was able to successfully block a field goal this past year. A huge player to watch this coming year.
Eric Young
Eric Young
This is the 5’9”, 152-pound CB Eric Young that just finished his freshman season at Victor High School had a big-time season to remember. In addition to the CB position, Young also has playing experience at the WR position. When it comes to the said WR position, Young utilized a heavy amount in the slot on jet sweeps and crossing routes. Young was also very successful at being able to separate from defenders in the intermediate parts of the field and in the red zone on WR screens because of his quickness. For the CB spot, being able to come up and be aggressive on WRs in all parts of the field was shown. Young showed a high amount of volume when it came to tackling defenders in space. When a said ball carrier would catch a short pass behind the sticks, Young had great tackling form and showed extreme pursuit. Young will be a player that Victor will build around on both sides of the ball in the coming years.