PRZPA Team Preview, Farrell

<p>Farrell was a state contender in 2023, and it's safe to say they will be again this season. The Steelers graduated two key playmakers: Brandon Chambers, who signed with Youngstown State, and Kabron Smith, who signed with Cal U of Pa. Despite losing a lot of veteran talent, Farrell is expected to remain a strong contender in 2024. Coach Pegues led the Steelers to an impressive 11-2 overall record and an undefeated 8-0 league record. With an 85% win percentage in 2023, the Steelers' only losses were to a strong Erie Cathedral Prep squad and eventual state runner-up Westinghouse. The Steelers will open the season against Hickory on August 24 at 7 PM. Now, let's dive into Farrell's returning players for the upcoming season.</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/dannyodem3/status/1801002341048504714?s=46&t=Z9HVsIfxlYpUmBtFJHGC4g </div></figure>   <p>Danny is an effortlessly athletic playmaker with a good frame at 6'2 and 175 lbs. He's shifty against press coverage and possesses elite ball skills, making him dangerous any time he gets the ball. Odem showcases explosive elusiveness on screens and returns of all kinds. Giving him free access off the line of scrimmage is a mistake due to his ability to quickly get in and out of his breaks during routes. Danny's speed in tracking deep throws is a next-level FBS trait. As a versatile defensive back, he continually intercepts the ball at both free safety and cornerback. I counted at least three turnovers he caused by hitting ball carriers in the open field at free safety. Odem's FBS ability hasn't gone unnoticed, as he has fielded offers from Division I programs such as Ole Miss, Robert Morris, UCF, North Carolina, Liberty, and Jacksonville State.</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/pafootballnews/status/1811563360015548797?s=46&t=Z9HVsIfxlYpUmBtFJHGC4g </div></figure>   <p>Phillips is a two-way competitor who will lead Farrell this season. He's an athlete with good body control and strong hands for snagging downfield passes. Julius is a physical corner who tackles and competes in coverage as well as anyone in western Pennsylvania. He takes pride in doing the little things you like to see in a corner: assisting in run pursuit, playing with confidence, and standing out on special teams. He runs crisp routes and has next-level ball skills when competing for receptions. He displays above-average athleticism on reverses and when returning the football as a deep back. His quick break on the football and ability to contest passes make him a formidable defender. Phillips will undoubtedly be one of Farrell's top downfield targets at wide receiver in 2024. Having committed to Youngstown State, he is poised to flourish at the next level.</p>    <p>Aaron is a '27 QB prospect who continually progressed throughout the 2023 season. He's very athletic and able to extend plays with his elusiveness while keeping his eyes downfield. Pegues is the type of QB who can keep defenses honest due to his natural escapability in the pocket. He's a playmaker with a strong enough arm to complete intermediate and five-step passes. Aaron's improvisation with the ball in his hands suggests that QB draws will be a significant part of his game this season. Taking over for former Player of the Year and current Cal U of Pa QB Kabron Smith won't be easy, but he's up for the challenge. With weapons like [player_tooltip player_id='684890' first='Danny' last='Odem'] and [player_tooltip player_id='386139' first='Julius' last='Phillips Jr']. on the outside, I expect a lot of fireworks this year.</p>    <p>JuJu is a versatile two-way prospect who had a productive 2023 season. Offensively, he runs the football with speed, patience, balance, and vision. Johnson's strength allows him to break tackles, while his quickness enables him to make long touchdown runs. He's also a capable receiver out of the backfield, capable of scoring from anywhere. Defensively, he is a physical player who excels in open-field tackling, causing several tackles for loss by triggering off the edge. Johnson's blitzing ability is often too quick for the QB to react in time. He excels at torpedoing into the ball carrier's legs, stopping any chance of breaking his tackle. I saw two interceptions on his film last year where he displayed sharp ball skills by snagging the football. With his tackling ability and speed, he has all the characteristics to be a standout special teams performer again this season. Johnson displayed scholarship-level ability as a punt returner last season, which should only improve 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/carlaolowe__/status/1788622885310844998?s=46&t=Z9HVsIfxlYpUmBtFJHGC4g </div></figure>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1338090' first='Carlao' last='Lowe'] is an enforcer for the Steelers who will help elevate their defense in 2024. He is a strong tackler with a nose for the football in run pursuit. Carlao doesn't give up on plays and has the strength to stop running backs in their tracks. The 6'2, 262-pound defensive end has a good motor and changes directions well when tracking the ball carrier. I saw an intimidating tackle on his film where he suplexes the running back, causing significant impact on the play. With his size and strength, opposing offenses will likely avoid Lowe at all costs. Lowe is a next-level FBS prospect, and programs have begun to take notice. The agile defensive lineman received his first FBS offer in May from the University of Akron.</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/jamaurijones26/status/1820851427289207002?s=46&t=Z9HVsIfxlYpUmBtFJHGC4g </div></figure>   <p>Jones is another explosive athlete at the Farrell Steelers' disposal. He's a gifted WR/DB with the ability to break a game open. I've watched several clips of him from various spring 7-on-7 events, and Jones doesn't disappoint. He exhibits speed, savvy route running, and soft receiving hands. Ja'mauri excels at stemming the DB before swiftly coming out of his breaks, creating separation for the catch. His ability to make all his routes look the same at the beginning makes it difficult for defenders to predict his next move. Ja'mauri has a controlled pedal and breaks on the football with great anticipation. His ability to contest passes and intercept the ball makes him a threat on both sides of the field. Jones was offered his first Division I scholarship yesterday by the RMU Colonials.</p>    <p>Dunbar is a hard-nosed athlete who excels on both sides of the football. He's effective at rerouting wide receivers before dropping into zone coverage at outside linebacker. Dunbar is a versatile Steeler who also doubles as a defensive end. Rhashaud isn't afraid to engage with bigger offensive linemen and is a talented open-field tackler. Whether playing DE or OLB, he doesn't allow plays to spill outside once he sets the edge. He can intercept passes and is disciplined enough to cover the curl before reacting to the flat in zone coverage. Rhashaud's athleticism is evident when he rushes the ball, showcasing decent quickness and the speed to score touchdowns. I believe he's athletic enough to play strong safety or outside linebacker at the collegiate level with his 5'11, 185-pound frame. He's been receiving Division I interest but has not received an offer yet.</p>    <p>Marshall played varsity as a freshman at the DE position. While still developing physically, his heart on the field is as big as any playmaker's. He reads his keys well and is fearless when it comes to tackling. He utilizes his quick get-off in pass rushing, resulting in multiple sacks and hurries in his 2023 film. Aidan plays hard on every snap, constantly being around the football. His relentless motor also allows him to make plays on special teams. With three more years to progress physically, I expect a lot of tackles for loss in his future in 2024. Aidan's swift start at the snap helped him develop a knack for blocking punts last year.</p>    <p>Boatwright has the potential to be a big playmaker for Farrell over the next three years. He started as a freshman at linebacker, taking reps at both outside and middle linebacker. Omario reads and reacts quickly and isn't afraid of contact inside or outside the box. He moves well laterally and has the speed and toughness needed to cause tackles for loss. He's an effective blitzer who uses all his strengths to bring down ball carriers. I expect Boatwright to contribute on various special teams, as he did last season. His football intelligence allows him to trigger quickly to run actions, reliably tackling running backs in the open field. I'm definitely going to watch out for Omario this year as a zone dropper in pass coverage as well. He made second-team all-region as a freshman, which says a lot about his game.</p>    <p>Dey'Mar is a cornerback with good footwork and smooth hips, allowing him to transition seamlessly to stay over the top of wide receivers in zone coverage. Cain is another Farrell defensive back who triggers quickly in run support and is a solid hitter in space. Dey'Mar is competitive and possesses the speed to effectively play man coverage. Although he saw limited time on varsity, he's hoping to change that in 2024. According to his game film, Cain is skilled at contesting passes thrown his way. I expect him to enhance Farrell's special teams units this season as well.</p>    <p>Andrada is a 2026 prospect with valuable game experience. As an underclassman, Dravian had the opportunity to play on a successful Farrell squad that went 11-2 overall last year. He's a tough OL/DL who has two years remaining to develop before his career concludes. Andrada showcased his potential while competing at camps, such as the one at Slippery Rock. He's a strong puller, particularly impressive given his size of 5'9 and 210 lbs.</p>

Farrell was a state contender in 2023, and it's safe to say they will be again this season. The Steelers graduated two key playmakers: Brandon Chambers, who signed with Youngstown State, and Kabron Smith, who signed with Cal U of Pa. Despite losing a lot of veteran talent, Farrell is expected to remain a strong contender in 2024. Coach Pegues led the Steelers to an impressive 11-2 overall record and an undefeated 8-0 league record. With an 85% win percentage in 2023, the Steelers' only losses were to a strong Erie Cathedral Prep squad and eventual state runner-up Westinghouse. The Steelers will open the season against Hickory on August 24 at 7 PM. Now, let's dive into Farrell's returning players for the upcoming season.