Players already standing out before Week 1

<p>While many states had their first game of the season last night, the majority of Virginia is still in scrimmage mode. Week 1 in the commonwealth is less than 6 days away but that hasn't stopped a number of players from showing out already.</p>    <p class="text-gray-700">I had to get [player_tooltip player_id='853819' first='Keon' last='Maestas'] evaluation up first as I was excited to see him back healthy and making plays. For those not up to speed Maestas suffered a season ending injury ending his sophomore campaign after only three games. In case you forgot he was one of the most dynamic playmakers in Prince William County.</p>   <p>It took me one clip his catch below to know [player_tooltip player_id='853819' first='Keon' last='Maestas'] and the Osbourn Eagles are back.</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/TheKeonMaestas/status/1827424861108474058 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">I only caught a few series of Battlefield's scrimmage against James Madison, but I saw enough to know [player_tooltip player_id='1231367' first='Bryce' last='Banning'] is in for a big year. Thought he looked really comfortable at receiver, you could see the timing him and [player_tooltip player_id='853820' first='Calum' last='O'Shea'] have down already. </p>   <p>He was physical and stout at corner and nearly had a pick six. On a team full of FCS level players it is not easy to standout when many of them do, Banning made sure to make his name remembered.</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/brycebanning1/status/1824951465921716686 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">Tell you what do not let [player_tooltip player_id='1402756' first='Naamon' last='Eller'] know about Unity Reed's rebuild he looks ready to win now. Eller made some big time hits at linebacker for the Lions and offensively he pulled away from defenders for a long touchdown run. </p>   <p>Eller racked up 87 tackles as a junior and with a number of departures due to transfer he is poised for an All region selection in 2024. </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/NaamonEller/status/1827394136724664641 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">Seeing and hearing really good things about Skyline star [player_tooltip player_id='1231589' first='Isaiah' last='Maxwell'] and consider me not surprised. The kid makes plays with the ball in his hands I saw a few times make defenders miss, get him the football early.</p>   <p>Defensively he is physical at corner I could see him playing their at the next level too. He has been grinding all off-season and it appears to be rewarded.</p>   <p><a href="[player_tooltip player_id='1231589' first='Isaiah' last='Maxwell'] HUDL">[player_tooltip player_id='1231589' first='Isaiah' last='Maxwell'] HUDL</a></p>     <p class="text-gray-700">I haven't seen the tape yet but from what I am hearing, [player_tooltip player_id='1230178' first='Herman' last='Jackson'] picked up where he left off last fall. Gar-Field by all accounts had a spirited/competitive scrimmage against Lake Braddock and Jackson made an impact.</p>   <p>Breaking a 30 yard touchdown run against a perennial state power, yeah I would say he is right where he needs to be. </p>   <p></p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Looks like my analysis about Johnson in my team preview was correct, he looks relentlessly off the edge of the Pioneers defense. </p>   <p>Very fast right off the snap he keeps his base low making it very difficult for linemen to block him. I am telling you he could have 10 plus sacks as a Junior this year.</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/johnsontj2026/status/1827374451681378805 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">Sayfalden Hamad is continuing his final season push and he had a really good scrimmage against Briar Woods. Very athletic at tackle for the Pioneers this dude is going to turn some heads in 2024.</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/Sayfaldeen94832/status/1825233825397453033 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">Went over to watch the first half of Hayfield's scrimmage against Dunbar yesterday as like many I was curious to see how Coach Overton's new squad was looking. One player in particular was St. Johns transfer quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='372517' first='Isaiah' last='French'].</p>   <p>The 4th ranked quarterback out of Maryland is legit and he threw some bombs against a good Dunbar team. What really impressed me is how comfortable he seemed to be as the game went along. It cannot be easy learning a new offense in a short amount of time, if yesterday was any indication, Hawks fans are going to have fun watching him sling the pigskin.</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/Isaiahfrench12/status/1827338965277425996 </div></figure>

While many states had their first game of the season last night, the majority of Virginia is still in scrimmage mode. Week 1 in the commonwealth is less than 6 days away but that hasn't stopped a number of players from showing out already.