De La Salle Scouting Report (vs. Davison)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This past Thursday, De La Salle took the field in what was my #1 most anticipated week 1 matchup. Both teams are considered in high contention for a State Championship, and both teams have a combined record of 45-7 since 2022. Needless to say, this was going to be a tough matchup, no matter what. At halftime, Davison led 3-0, but thanks to a couple of personnel and gameplan changes, De La Salle was able to score 21 unanswered for the W. In this article, I'll share my detailed analysis of five De La Salle players that I took notes on. <br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["566976"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d4ab8d1158d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I've been waiting for Anthony's breakout game for a while- and here it is. Anthony ended up being subbed in as a replacement for the starting quarterback. Very quickly, the De La Salle offense started to find a lot more success.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nothing Anthony did was super complex- he ran the ball, and he ran it very well. Watching back the tape, Davison did a pretty poor job at outside contain, and the De La Salle receivers did a good job at blocking. Anthony did a great job of following the structure of the plays and used his demonstrated athleticism to score. On other plays, Anthony demonstrated great contact balance through arm tackles, and he has a knack for falling forward, always gaining the maximum number of yards. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anthony also had an incredible heads-up play as the punter. There was a bad snap, and it was impossible to get the ball off (Other publications report it was a fake punt, but I thought it was 100% a botched play turned successful- if it was fake, you have me fooled!)<br> So, Anthony made a few guys miss and turned what would be a change in possession into De La Salle's first touchdown of the game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lastly, Anthony started at Linebacker. I honestly didn't come away super impressed by his play, but I'm not disappointed either. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm not sure where Anthony fits on a college roster (safety? linebacker? QB?) all I know is that he deserves opportunities at the next level- a fringe D2 guy in my opinion.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1290459"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1415627,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d4ab8d1160a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">DeWayne keeps on showing up in big games. During the 2023 state championship, I loved his performance against an elite Muskegon offensive line. Against Davison, he showed a lot of that same great D-Line play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He's one of the most explosive pass rushers I've ever seen. Right when the ball is snapped, DeWayne EXPLODES out of his stance and can blow by nearly any tackle and cause immediate pressure. Time and time again, this is exactly what happened. Especially with little to no blocking from the Davison backfield, DeWayne had a few clear paths to the QB. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'll admit, DeWayne is a bit one-dimensional as a lineman, and most colleges will be very turned off by his size. However, I know that someone with his size profile can make it at the Division 1 level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2016 Seaholm Grad Troy Hairston II was 5'11" 220 coming out of high school. He walked onto Central Michigan (zero offers) and was MAC defensive player of the year by his senior season (playing DE). In college, Troy had the same playing style that I see from DeWayne. Now, Troy is the starting fullback for the Houston Texans (undrafted). I'm not saying that DeWayne will make it in the NFL, but I am saying that I've seen someone with the same size profile get constantly overlooked but still make it big. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1217538"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1415623,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d4ab8d1166b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I don't understand why Jacob doesn't have more MAC offers, let alone B1G 10 offers. Maybe it's a size issue (arm length?? I don't know), but Jacob is one of my favorite defensive linemen in the entire state. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Again, not too fancy of an evaluation- Jacob wins with power, and he wins very consistently. Right off the snap, Jacob explodes out of his stance as well as any defensive lineman I've watched. Then, Jacob uses a good variety of violent moves to win the block (bull rush, swipe, etc). Heck, I saw him win a few reps against a highly coveted B1G 10 / SEC prospect. On top of that, Jacob has one of the best motors that I've ever seen from a interior D-Lineman. He's a complete package. Maybe colleges know something I don't (I'd assume not)- but based on Jacob's play on the field, he's a B1G 10 prospect. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["566974"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1415621,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d4ab8d116c5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gattine may not have lit up the stat sheet, but I was impressed with many aspects of his game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First and foremost- blocking. Isaac is an excellent blocker. Whether he was helping in pass pro or being utilized as a lead blocker, Isaac was absolutely relentless. During one play in particular (one of Bitonti's TD runs), Isaac lays out the Davison safety and provides a clear path for the TD. Most other backs completely miss that block and risk forcing a TFL- not Isaac. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In terms of his actual running- it was hit or miss. I don't have his actual stats, but from what I saw, Isaac had a handful of carries for a handful of yards. More specifically, Isaac's vision was a little inconsistent. Sometimes, he'd run right into the defense, and he wouldn't fall forward. At other times, he'd hit the correct hole but struggle to get much more than what was given to him from blocking. My take- Isaac is a very powerful back and should consider leaning into being a power RB. Focus on north-south running, and getting as much out of every carry without trying to do anything too fancy. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1415630,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1467708' first='Phoenix' last='Glassnor']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"De La Salle","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d4ab8d11798"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Phoenix is a pure athlete. I know that he may be more of a basketball guy (at least that's what his recruitment says)- but he can play at a very high level on the gridiron too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He was De La Salle's most reliable target on Thursday night. Utilized as a speed-in-space player, Phoenix racked up about 6 catches for roughly 50 yards. The stats aren't eye-popping, but what he did after the catch is. On nearly every grab, Pheonix made a man miss and flashed very impressive twitchiness. In terms of route-running, he ran a few good hitches and some flat routes- nothing too noteworthy, but I know he has the athleticism and speed to make plays downfield.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lastly, I was impressed with a few blocks that Phoenix made. Credit pretty much all of De La Salle for being a great blocking team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I don't know if Phoenix has interest in playing football at the next level, but knowing what I know about him, it's hard to think he doesn't have GLIAC talent at the very least.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->