2025 Prospects New to the Top 200 (Pt. 1)

For a discounted subscription to view all of our content, use Code PRZWV30 at checkout for 30% off!   The 2025 rankings have grown by 50 since our Spring Update as 200 of the best prospects in West Virginia are now represented on our site. Here are the new prospects who made their debut in the 2025 summer rankings update inside of the Top 200.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">NEW TO THE TOP 200</h2>    An under-the-radar running back prospect to know this season is Parkersburg's [player_tooltip player_id='1125967' first='Jakel' last='Shelton']. Making his debut in the 2025 rankings as a Top 20 RB in the class, Shelton is ready for a breakout senior year after splitting time last season for the Big Reds. The 5'8 190 rising senior rushed for just over 400 yards and 7 touchdowns as a junior in 2023 while being utilized in the passing game some with 20 catches for 170 yards and another score. Shelton also has defensive back versatility where he totaled 40 tackles and 4 TFLs with the potential to play on that side of the ball in college as well. Shelton has quality athleticism with a quick burst and high top-end speed as a scat-back type of RB. He can be a home run hitter for the Big Reds during his senior season as they'll need some guys to step up after graduating a talented senior class.   If Shelton can take a step forward in his development and secure the main option at running back, he has the potential to make a nice climb in the final rankings update with a big year.      2025 Preston linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='897606' first='Ethan' last='Likens'] is an underrated and under-the-radar LB prospect from an often overlooked program who is deserving of more recognition heading into his senior year. While he's a touch undersized for the position, Likens has a fun junior tape worthy of checking out. The first clip of his junior film showcases his style of play perfectly with a blitz through the A gap finished with a thunderous hit through the ball carrier as soon as he takes the handoff. That one play personifies Likens as a high-effort, physical hard-nosed player which is apparent throughout his 2023 film. While he has some physical limitations compared to other linebacker prospects, Likens is the type of player you'd want in your program and a team leader who will make everyone around him better.   Likens will be a steal if he ends up at the D3 level but it wouldn't be a surprise if a D2 program takes a chance on him depending on his measurables.      While the Princeton Tigers had a load of talent to know last season during their state championship appearance run, 2025 DB [player_tooltip player_id='1228134' first='Amarvion' last='Howard'] was a bit overshadowed by some other talented players. He's a quality athlete who likely translates best as a free safety at the next level but has experience playing strong as well. Howard has the athleticism to play in space with the ability to make tackles in the open field. He has quality pursuit speed and showed flashes of coming downhill with physicality on a runner or creating a PBU. We'd like to see more film of him in pass coverage and playing the ball in the air, but Howard has the speed and quickness to further develop in that area moving forward.   He'll debut as a Top 20 DB in the 2025 class and could move up in the final rankings update with more evidence of what we're looking for from him.      We're looking for 2025 Hurricane DB [player_tooltip player_id='1228131' first='Deuce' last='McClain'] to have a bigger role on defense in 2024 for his senior year after showing flashes as a junior. McClain is a free safety prospect who's a bit undersized but a quality overall athlete who has the speed and quickness to play at the next level. Game film is limited right now as more opportunities are sure to come for McClain as a senior to give us a better idea of his talent and ability. For now, he'll make his debut as a Top 20 DB and inside of the Top 200 on potential alone with the ability to make a big move up with more film available this season. McClain also has returner ability where he scored a touchdown as a junior and can help on special teams as a whole.   We'll be eagerly waiting for more film from McClain this season to breakdown his game better, but the potential is there for him to develop into a serious college prospect.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/deuce_mcclain/status/1750915012590260426 </div></figure>     2025 Wayne WR [player_tooltip player_id='1126320' first='Kade' last='Estep'] is a prospect we've touched on a lot over the off-season and college programs are beginning to take notice. Estep has been a very busy man this summer getting out to prospect camps including our own combine back in May where we got to see him up close in person. He picked up his first two offers from D3 Denison and Mount St. Joseph in June and is a potential D2-level prospect who is right on that D2/D3 border like many prospects ranked in the 150-200 range. Estep is a long athlete with quality athleticism who should have more opportunities to show what he can do as a senior even in an offense that doesn't spread the ball out a ton. If he's able to show more on film this season he'll have the opportunity to increase his stock as a college prospect and in our rankings.   Estep is capable of big things if he can put it all together for his senior season and is actively putting in the work to get there.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/EstepKade/status/1802040103818109029 </div></figure>     One of the leading rushers in the state in 2023 will be returning for his senior season for the Williamstown Yellowjackets with 2025 RB [player_tooltip player_id='1015094' first='Lynken' last='Joy']. Joy rushed for just under 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns while adding 84 tackles and 7 TFLs on defense at linebacker. That was good enough for a WVSWA Class A First Team All-State defense selection where he should repeat those honors in 2024. Joy could take over at quarterback where he has some experience in the past in Williamstown's heavy QB run offense but likely translates best as a RB or LB at the next level. He has a good combination of size, speed, and power as a running back which makes him tough to defend against at the small school level.   With a move up to the new Class AA, Williamstown should face some stiffer competition which will give us a better gauge of Joy's talent level and see if he can continue to produce big numbers at that level which could result in a rankings boost.      One of the most under-the-radar offensive linemen in the state that you need to know heading into the 2024 season is Man's [player_tooltip player_id='908982' first='Levi' last='Rakes']. Rakes is a big athlete in the 6'4 285 range with apparent athleticism to pair with it. Although he's very raw in a lot of areas, the potential with Rakes is exciting if he can develop over time. We think he has D2 potential as a developmental prospect who you'll need to take your time and be patient with, but the end results could pay huge dividends. Rakes can move well for his size with pulling ability from his right tackle spot and showed he has the willing physicality to match it.   Rakes' ceiling is much higher than his current ranking, and if he takes the next step in his development this season, he could be a big-time stock riser in our final rankings with some college opportunities.      An underrated 2025 specialist to know this season is Nitro's [player_tooltip player_id='909093' first='Maddox' last='Cole'] who quietly had a very good year for the Wildcats in 2023. Cole was a consistent PAT kicker last season converting on 54/59 extra points while doubling as their kickoff man with a 46-yard average with a long of 60 and 7 touchbacks. He has a long frame at 6'0 with the potential to add considerable weight to it which will greatly benefit his already quality leg strength even more in the future. Cole's mechanics are still a bit raw at this point, but his power and athleticism were apparent in the limited film available to us. Although no evidence of in-game field goals to gauge his range, Cole likely has the ability to hit from 40+ judging by his pop on PATs and kickoffs. He also gets a nice arc on his kicks without danger of getting them blocked which also translates well to his field goal potential.   A 4-sport athlete with a 4.3 GPA, Cole has a lot of potential as a college football prospect and could make a big jump in the final rankings with more game film available and another quality season.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/maddoxcole0/status/1750919872194711709 </div></figure>     Tyler Consolidated's [player_tooltip player_id='1052861' first='Brady' last='Strode'] is a small-school quarterback prospect to know this season after producing a solid junior campaign for the Knights. The 6'1 180 rising senior is a two-sport standout with the potential to play basketball at the next level if he chooses to. Strode can play quarterback at the small college level as well with the possibility of moving around to WR or DB depending on where colleges see him fit best. His athleticism from the basketball court shows up on the football field with his ability to extend plays and avoid pressure in the pocket. His rushing numbers won't tell you the full story of his threat to run, and you could possibly see more QB run this season as the Knights look to replace nearly 2,000 yards of rushing from their graduating running back. Strode is also a very capable passer where he threw for 1,500 yards and 13 touchdowns last season with apparent velocity and accuracy when throwing on the run on designed rollouts.   A big senior season could allow Strode to climb up the rankings a bit more and create some football opportunities for himself at the next level.      Another Williamstown Yellowjacket to know this season is 2025 DL [player_tooltip player_id='1226820' first='Danner' last='Hooper'] who could end up being a big stock riser in the rankings after this season. Hooper is a long and athletic 6'3 215 who produced a solid junior campaign with 61 tackles, 7 TFLs, and 3 sacks at defensive end. Hooper is quick off the line with good short-area quickness and the physicality to bull rush. He can continue to develop pass-rush moves to become a complete defensive end, but Hooper's length and athleticism give him a great foundation to build on in that regard. Hooper has good pursuit speed and a high motor who plays until the whistle and tracks down ball carriers well.   While he faced mostly small school offensive linemen last season, Hooper flashed the potential to develop into a scholarship-level prospect if he takes a step forward this season.

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