2024 Preview: Impact Juniors (Part 1)

<p>As we begin "talkin' season" for the upcoming 2024 football season, there are going to be a plethora of incoming juniors who are ready to make their second year leap in varsity action. This series is aimed at highlighting 2025 recruits who may not be on as many lists as their talents call for.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='401206' first='Nikel' last='Lewis'] | Running Back | Hamburg</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='401206' first='Nikel' last='Lewis'] (5-9, 200) showcases incredible anticipation skills pre-handoff, with an innate ability to quickly react to broken coverage in blocking schemes and avoid backfield tacklers with quick twitch movements. His film highlights impressive quick block reading skills, utilizing quick twitch jump cuts to find lanes and accelerating with remarkable speed (4.43 40) in the open field. A tough runner between the tackles, Lewis often doesn't go down on first contact, this is attributed to his work ethic in the weight room with a 530 squat, 315 bench, and 245 clean measures. He excels at improvising when gaps are congested, making him a standout play-maker and one of the best running backs in Arkansas' 2026 class.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/cedwardsNFL/status/1798790576571289640 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='401181' first='Alec' last='Huie'] | Offensive Lineman | Clinton</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='401181' first='Alec' last='Huie'] (6-3, 305) stands out as one of the more fundamentally sound offensive linemen, showcasing an exceptional ability to dictate the tempo and direction of his matchups. His forceful presence off the snap results in a high number of pancakes, making him a reliable anchor for the running game. Huie excels at sustaining blocks, effectively neutralizing defenders' attempts to break loose or cause holding penalties. His established tendencies and technical prowess set him up for great success at the next level.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/alec_huie/status/1801342932957433986 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='424570' first='Trevion' last='Greer'] | Running Back | Riverview</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='424570' first='Trevion' last='Greer'] (5-8, 165)is an incredible athlete with remarkable vision and an impressive running style. His hard-nosed approach allows him to work through first contact with grit and determination. Greer is an intuitive runner, excelling when plays break down and defenders close in, using his great feel for angles and quick-twitch movements to evade tacklers with impeccable timing. His swift feet and great open-field speed (4.48 40) make him a home run threat. Greer's vision is second to none, enabling him to spot openings effortlessly, leading to explosive plays on the field.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/TreTheTrain7/status/1744508564092191231 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='370546' first='Brayden' last='Erby'] | Defensive Lineman | Nashville</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='370546' first='Brayden' last='Erby'] (6-2, 235) is a dominant defensive lineman who excels at controlling tempos in trench match-ups. Known for his devastating swim move to both sides, he shows a slightly higher comfort level and confidence when going to his right. Erby's patient approach allows him to avoid falling for fake hand-offs or gimmicks, as he consistently tracks the ball and plays towards the flow of the play. His physicality in the backfield, combined with quick and strong hands, makes him a formidable opponent for many offensive linemen. Erby's relentless motor ensures he is involved in the action every single play.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/bray2x3/status/1742672830234263912 </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1216608' first='Gavin' last='Latham'] | Lineman | Lee Academy</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1216608' first='Gavin' last='Latham'] (5-11, 310) is a highly aggressive run blocker with impressive strength, capable of driving defenders back and ultimately putting them on the turf. He is reliable in opening sizable gaps and can completely take defenders out of the play. His aggressiveness is particularly beneficial in pull schemes, where he excels in meeting and exploding through linebackers at the second level, making easy waste of them.</p>   <p>As a defender on the DL, Latham does an excellent job of jamming the middle of the formation, creating traffic and hesitation from ball carriers. He is a high-motor pursuer, constantly working to disrupt plays and make an impact on the field.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/GavinLatham5/status/1803535067416834550 </div></figure>

As we begin "talkin' season" for the upcoming 2024 football season, there are going to be a plethora of incoming juniors who are ready to make their second year leap in varsity action. This series is aimed at highlighting 2025 recruits who may not be on as many lists as their talents call for.