September Scouting Notebook: Section III

Our monthly scouting notebooks on each area/league of New York are meant to spotlight some of the guys who are amongst the top performers each month. Some are based on film evaluation and live scouting at games, and some are based on statistical performance. It will be clearly indicated if the film has been evaluated, players have been live scouted, or they have had a statistical month worth noting based on their expectation, and those players I have flagged in my database to get some film evaluated as soon as it is available. Players performing at expectation will not often be featured in these monthly breakdowns. Players performing above expectations or playing strong football after not being involved on the varsity teams or starting lineups will do well. Also, this article is rooted in each player's potential and ability as a college prospect from the Division One to the Division Three level, and film/performance will be analyzed with that top of mind.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Player of the Month</h2>    Ademola-Sadipe had a good Junior film, but this season, his play has been at another level for Carthage—through four games, he has 1,465 yards and 20 touchdowns, which I believe he leads NYS in both categories. Ademola-Sadipe has film out of each game and there is clearly some great stuff on tape.   A bigger RB prospect at nearly 6'2 and pushing 200lbs, he runs a little high at times, but he shows good contact balance and really good vision. He continuously produces explosive plays because he can find open space and take really good running angles toward space.   Pretty crazy star game log through four games for Ademola-Sadipe   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-02-at-5.27.34-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-1516169" /></figure>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Nine Additional Rising Prospects</h2>    Last season, Ferguson was amongst the state's top playmakers while playing second fiddle to Dartmouth signee Kyle Meier. This year, he has been all Ferguson for Whitesboro as he slotted into the quarterback spot.   Ferguson doesn't have updated film, but what he has been able to do so far with 250 yards and 7 TDs on the ground while showing some efficiency as a passer with 700+ yards and 10 TDs with no INTs so far. As a recruit, the biggest difference is not Ferguson's performance which you almost expected based on his Junior year tape but how he has continued to add weight and strength to his game - heading into his Junior season, he was closer to 170 and now around the 200 pound mark could play either RB or Safety at the next level.     This is a two for one here because I saw Saddler Jr terrorize East HS a little bit in CBA's first game of the season and his first three games of tape just verifies what I saw live. Saddler is one of the premier defensive tackle prospects in New York this season - he is very strong at the point of attack and has really long arms which he uses well to really keep OL hands off his chest plate. Compared to last season there is a noticeable difference in his quickness and burst off the snap - a big reason why he was able to play so well against the wide OL splits of Fayetteville-Manlius.     Higdon Jr is a do-it-all type of prospect for Corcoran, playing two-ways at LB and RB - offensively, he has been a part of a RB rotation of up to 480 yards and 8 TDs on 42 carries and has impacted the game by catching the ball out of the backfield. He has the athleticism to stay at RB, but I love what he does defensively. Size will probably have to play safety or nickel at the next level, which I think he can, but Corcoran plays LB, and he plays the game faster than anyone on the field.     Johnson had some solid Junior tape, and I saw him live play some 7v7 (mostly LB_), and there is some good athleticism in his game. This breakout was a little expected because of that, but with a much bigger role offensively, Johnson has been one of the top RB prospects in Syracuse this fall.   Johnson has been the offense for Cicero-North Syracuse - three games over 150 yards with the only game he struggled coming against a CBA-Syracuse defense that looks like the best in NYS. Johnson has had a lot of success playing both ways - the tape shows a great motor, and he is a willing pass protector on tape, which I like. He holds a PWO from Syracuse and has taken full advantage of a bigger role so far this season.     Spack is listed as an LB but could more properly be described as a football player because of his impact all three ways - I was J-D live on a Thursday night, and glad I did because Spack plays with an elite motor and really stood out how physically he played the game. He flashes some long speed, granted the opponents were not the fastest group but he is definitely a Junior to know about. He's probably an LB at the next level because of how physical he is, but he is the type of player to transcend your team's core 4 special team units.     Sindoni has been both the most aggressive and arguably the most productive quarterback in Section III so far - in what has been a down year for several of the top 2026 quarterbacks so far Sindoni has taken a step forward in his efficiency and limiting turnovers - two things I pointed out preseason would be important to Liverpool's success. And he has done it all without their top TE target, which is one of the best 2027 prospects in the state.   He has a full game of tape against Rome Free Academy, and I was impressed with the timing and accuracy he displayed on film. He has cooled off a little bit the last two weeks, but production-wise is the clear top QB in Section III.     Smith, whom I saw live against East, has a three-game tape out, and he has built off a promising Sophomore season - he plays OLB but replaces some of that athleticism and burst off the edge that Boston College signee Syair Torrence had.   On tape, I like Smith's discipline off the edge, where he is patient to attack the ball - once he locates and reads whats going on in front of him, he is quicker to the ball than all the CBA LBs and DBs - he has some promise as a pass rusher and blitzer but his best trait is how he attacks blocker with physicality. There are multiple reps on tape and reps I saw live where he knocks back guys who have at least 60+ pounds and a few inches on him.     Shawcross had only 1 carry last season, and for good reason - Indian River had a large group of seniors responsible for 4,395 yards on the season - Shawcross has no film from this season. The Indian River program, including Shawcross, does not have much social media or public information available, but his performance may force me to get to a game.   Through four games, Shawcross is up to 991 yards with 13 touchdowns on only 69 carries - including back-to-back 300+ yard games, one of which he outperformed player of the month Ademola-Sadipe. He also is a two-way player for Indian River as a contributor from the safety position.     There is no film out yet on Hawkins, but I should be able to get my hands on some soon. Not many freshman are playing in Section III right now, and none have done what Hawkins has. There are a few guys in WR rotations or garbage time contributors, but Hawkins has over 200 yards, 14 receptions, and 2 touchdowns to start the year—a lot of which he got in a big game against PSLA Fowler. Hawkins is another freshman contributor to add to your radar in the 2028 class.

Our monthly scouting notebooks on each area/league of New York are meant to spotlight some of the guys who are amongst the top performers each month. Some are based on film evaluation and live scouting at games, and some are based on statistical performance. It will be clearly indicated if the film has been evaluated, players have been live scouted, or they have had a statistical month worth noting based on their expectation, and those players I have flagged in my database to get some film evaluated as soon as it is available. Players performing at expectation will not often be featured in these monthly breakdowns. Players performing above expectations or playing strong football after not being involved on the varsity teams or starting lineups will do well. Also, this article is rooted in each player's potential and ability as a college prospect from the Division One to the Division Three level, and film/performance will be analyzed with that top of mind.