PRZPA Team Preview, Sun Valley Vanguards

<p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1133974' first='Elijah' last='Jones'] comes in as the highest-ranking Sun Valley prospect, narrowly missing the FCS mark I provide prospects who rank inside the Top 200-220. Jones is one of the easiest sells to PSAC schools in need of speed and burst off the edge. Jones boasts tape that showcases he can produce with his hand on or off the dirt, in a traditional DE alignment, or at OLB (2pt stance). Jones' measurables are going to be a deciding factor among collegiate suitors when determining where he has the best chance of succeeding inside the front-seven. If Jones is a true 6'1, 210 pounds, questions can be alleviated, anything less or more could provide early indication of his future position at the next level. Jones' tape has me confident enough to send to FCS coaches in need of a speed rusher, although I can sell Jones to practically any D2 recruiting Eastern PA football. One of the better get-offs I've come across out of 2025 DL. Closing speed to the ball carrier is phenomenal. Finishes with attitude and brings all of his weight with each tackle. Glad I came around to understanding how good of a player this young man is. He will set the tone of defense for Sun Valley. </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/coachsteinmetz/status/1810661400169054682 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='819711' first='Aiden' last='Cook'] is a tricky rank for me, I often feel like he's better than the rank I assign. Cook has average linebacker measurables that college coaches would and should be comfortable with, yet you can make the case that Cook is a much better weapon to deploy on offense, specifically at TE. Then you have to answer the question "Is Cook a college TE?". I might answer no because of measurables despite Cook coming away with 300+ receiving yards as a junior. Is he a WR? Is Cook a TE or a LB? Measurables have me leaning toward LB yet the best reps on tape don't come from this alignment.</p>   <p>Either way you slice it, for Sun Valley, [player_tooltip player_id='819711' first='Aiden' last='Cook']'s value is immeasurable. Three scores on 22 receptions, QB [player_tooltip player_id='1155808' first='RJ' last='Scharrer'] has a vacuum to throw into at least 3-4 times a game. Soft hands, a natural pass catcher who can transition from route runner to ball carrier smoother than you might imagine. Can get in a three-point stance and align in-line beside tackles. Can provide quality reps in an H-back role. Can of course be a better blocker, always room to improve here but the young man is willing. Backer reps are present on tape too. I'm likely to change Cook back to ATH after plugging on his tape once more, although I bounce between LB to TE to ATH when it pertains to Cook. </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/ACook1219/status/1735442128380010522 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">Elephant in the room. Yes, the recently ranked Sun Valley junior is tiny, yet I could hardly tell when plugging in the tape for the first time. Jones, Digan, and Cook are all viable answers to man any of the four LB spots Sun Valley likes to deploy. The program has a serious fourth option in [player_tooltip player_id='1156139' first='Ryder' last='Strickland']. 5'7, 170 pounds soaking wet, Strickland begins his tape proving to those questioning that he can take blocks head-on, win at the point of attack, shed, and get to ball carriers. His first rep has him blowing back a OG four-five yards into the backfield, a rep that led to a TFL. Strickland has a bit of a mean streak to him, I can tell by the way he wants to end reps. You're going to feel this kid, he's going to hit you with everything he's got, albeit not much. You can pretend he's an easy tackle-break between the trenches, that is until he squares up and hit you like he weighs 220 pounds. Strickland is yet another piece of what is a great front-seven.</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/Ryderstrick_/status/1722424011647262970 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">Here's a name that might've slipped through the cracks when I was searching for 2025s to add to our ranks. [player_tooltip player_id='1520417' first='Danny' last='Digan'], standing at 6'2, 180 pounds, can be relied on to set edge and pressure tackles off the edge opposite or adjacent to [player_tooltip player_id='1133974' first='Elijah' last='Jones']. Digan's tape has the senior primarily with his hand off the dirt in a traditional 3-4 OLB alignment. There's a ton of refinement to be unlocked, Digan looks to utilize brute strength and upfield burst to out-leverage opponents. Still room to develop, yet this is a nice body to throw at opposing offenses. Expecting more production from this OLB spot this coming Fall.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">34th best Quarterback might not sound like much of a compliment, that is until you realize [player_tooltip player_id='1155808' first='RJ' last='Scharrer'] is embedded inside of of the best quarterback classes I've evaluated during my time at PRZ. Scharrer could easily be a top 20 passer if ranked parallel to another class, these numbers we assign are often arbitrary. What matters is, Sun Valley will have an underclassman turned upper stationed behind center, one who outplays his rank and measurables. Scharrer proves comfortable working out of an offense that likes to blend sets. Scharrer works out of gun almost exclusively, yet Sun Valley has no problem calling two-to-three tight end sets. Sun Valley likes to utilize an H-Back at times, SV also has no problem working a traditional spread, often keeping a TE in to chip and/or release. Scharrer looks comfortable manning the myriad of sets called from the sideline. Scharrer can uncork balls 45-50 yards downfield, albeit with a hitch. Consistent base and throwing motion, although in need of tuning to sure up release timing. Unafraid and confident passer, has reps attacking deep, intermediate and short areas of the field. The deep balls, the splash plays are great, yet I feel Scharrer is in his comfort zone when working meshes, when utilizing his feet to open up passing lanes and attacking moving targets inside of 15 yards. He's decisive and in rhythm in these situations. I'd feel comfortable going into each Friday night with RJ at the helm. </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/rj_scharrer/status/1809970786314186943 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">Ben Romanoski looks like an interesting piece to the puzzle. I will admit, I'm out of the loop on Romanoski's role in previous years, same goes for this coming Fall. Romanoski looks to flash some athleticism from the pocket, something SV could possibly utilize to their advantage. Scharrer is a good improviser in his own right, yet Romanoski might be able to provide exotic sets coaches can work with where both Romanoski and Scharrer share the field. I'm not an OC, far from it, but I'll have my eye out for this kid moving forward. Working with limited tape on Hudl, I might add. </p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Sun Valley's big-play threat is senior [player_tooltip player_id='598915' first='Josh' last='Yanonis']. 6'3, 165 pounds that glide, you can find Yanonis aligned at inside slot, where he's almost guaranteed to attack the middle of the field. You can find Yanonis align outside the numbers as well, where he can stretch the field for Scharrer and serve as a vertical threat downfield. The majority of the plays that get the crowd on their feet come after a Yanonis catch downfield. Has a tendency to let balls hit his chest as opposed to catching with his hands, small nitpick. Yanonis moves off the LOS better than you'd expect. This isn't a lumbering big body on the turf, Yanonis does a good job getting to his spot, does a good job eating up cushion in front of him after the snap. Look for Yanonis to lead the team in receiving yards, likely carrying a good chunk per catch (YPC). </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/JoshYanonis/status/1723064816825246064 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">I've been left in the dark on all things [player_tooltip player_id='953524' first='Jhamil' last='Smith'] because of a lack of tape on Hudl. All I've had to work with is hearsay from coaches at Sun Valley, coaches whose input I trust enough to rank Smith among some of the better names among the class of 2027. Now, I have some clips via Twitter to work with. [player_tooltip player_id='953524' first='Jhamil' last='Smith'] hurt his hamstring as a freshman, this derailing the majority of the season. The 6'3, 150-pound sophomore has now provided some clips that will likely justify keeping him on our ranks after this next update. Smith shows off scores for TDs, both of which were high in difficulty. An easy target to call sets for inside of 20 yards. A fantastic stider, this reveals itself when Smith aligns at corner and runs with targets downfield. The book is still yet to be written on [player_tooltip player_id='953524' first='Jhamil' last='Smith'], yet the potential of he, Cook, and Yanonis running free for Scharrer to hit downfield has me potentially attending a game in the future. Smith has serious potential at corner or safety, wideout, or TE. I wouldn't be surprised to see Smith occupy a spot at EDGE/OLB so long as he can bulk up a bit. The sky truly is the limit. Expect a move to ATH after the 2027 rankings update comes through.</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/JhamilSmith7/status/1775742711737311235 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='819731' first='Jack' last='Penzone'] ranks as an "ATH" thanks to his skillset that allows him to contribute on both sides of the ball at Sun Valley. Penzone's value is likely at one of the corner spots. Yes, he's a bit smaller than your average/standard college corner, yet I can tell he's relying on more than athleticism out there. This is a smart DB who I've witnessed utilizing leverage to his advantage. You don't have to be 6'1 to get wideouts off of their paths, you don't have to be 6'1 to flip your hips and run while remaining on the hip of targets downfield. On the receiving end of plenty of misdirection sets behind the LOS. Yanonis, Cook, and Smith aren't exactly burners out on the turf, Penzone can provide some spark in the form of burst and acceleration that the offense would naturally lack. Can provide I/O slot reps, there's so much you can do with an athlete like this. Stationing Penzone and using his skills at the right time and place could flip the momentum of a game, he holds that kind of impact on both sides of the ball. Tough to pinpoint where his future position at the next level could be if he chooses to pursue college ball.</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/JackPenzone/status/1726418225095688528 </div></figure>     <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='647372' first='JP' last='Griswold'] remains on WL because of a lack of seasonal tape. I don't have any offensive linemen to speak on in this piece, which is slightly worrisome. Griswold provided freshman tape about two years back, but not much since. Sun Valley has studs on both sides of the ball, but is obviously going to need guards and tackles to make sure Scharrer can run the offense accordingly. I'll have my eyes peeled for future OL prospects out of the program.</p>