2024 Recap: Emerging Impact Players

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players using the 2024 season as a spring board into the busy recruiting season. Plan on these guys being state-wide names in 2025.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='401206' first='Nikel' last='Lewis'] | Running Back | Hamburg | 2026</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='401206' first='Nikel' last='Lewis'] (5-9, 200) is an impressive all-around runner who combines strength, speed, and agility to consistently create yardage. His powerful lower body allows him to churn through hard contact, making him a reliable option in short-yardage situations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On inside run schemes, Lewis demonstrates excellent burst and vision, anticipating holes and attacking them with purpose. In outside zone and long-developing plays, he shows patience, allowing his blockers to engage while reading the defensive alignment at the line of scrimmage. His ability to time his bursts through gaps leads to explosive gains, making him a versatile and impactful back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1134117' first='Noah' last='Wendel'] | EDGE | Valley View | 2026</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1134117' first='Noah' last='Wendel'] (6-2, 235) is an exceptional edge rusher with elite potential, combining raw power and quickness to dominate at the line of scrimmage. His strength allows him to overpower tackles with ease, while his quickness and foot speed make him a consistent disruptor off the edge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wendel is a relentless finisher in the backfield, showcasing impressive explosiveness and closing speed in open-field situations. On the interior, his quickness makes him a dangerous gap shooter, and his intensity allows him to fight through double teams to secure tackles for loss. A dynamic player with the versatility and motor to excel in any defensive scheme.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1157296' first='Titus' last='Cramer'] | ATH | Springdale Har-Ber | 2026</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1157296' first='Titus' last='Cramer'] (5-10, 185) is a game-breaking offensive weapon with elite speed, clocking in at sub-4.5. His vision and change of direction make him a dynamic threat, whether in the backfield or lined up as a receiver.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cramer hits cutback lanes with intent and accelerates through them to create explosive plays. His jump cuts and agility allow him to navigate tight spaces and make defenders miss at the second level. With his impressive speed and field awareness, he is a dual-threat player capable of excelling at both running back and wide receiver, providing big-play potential every snap.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='527845' first='Joseph' last='JoJo Accelus'] | Running Back | Monticello | 2027</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joseph “JoJo” Accelus, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound running back, exhibits remarkable athleticism and field awareness for his age. His patience and anticipation on developing plays allow him to effectively read blocks and exploit openings with explosive acceleration, often resulting in significant gains. In interior running schemes, Accelus demonstrates a quick burst through gaps, swiftly advancing to the second level of defense. His agility and vision are complemented by a natural instinct for the game, suggesting a high ceiling for future development. Despite his sophomore status, Accelus possesses intangibles typically seen in more seasoned players, indicating his potential as a standout athlete in the coming years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1035451' first='Emmanuel' last='Hudson'] | Defensive Lineman | Pine Bluff | 2026</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1035451' first='Emmanuel' last='Hudson'], a 5-foot-11, 275-pound defensive tackle, is recognized for his formidable presence on the interior defensive line. His low pad level, combined with a powerful rip move, enables him to penetrate offensive lines effectively. Hudson's quick hands facilitate an inside cross move, allowing him to disrupt interior running lanes and halt plays at the line of scrimmage. His substantial strength grants him the ability to control matchups, directing opponents either inside or outside as the situation demands. As an intimidating force on the defensive front, Hudson's blend of power and agility allows him to dominate the interior, consistently imposing his will against offensive schemes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1399393' first='Shawn' last='Swinson'] | Wide Receiver | West Fork | 2026</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1399393' first='Shawn' last='Swinson'] (6-0, 165) is an elite talent with high football IQ on both sides of the ball. As a defensive back, his reaction time is incredibly quick, and his timing at the point of the catch highlights his exceptional instincts. Swinson's hip swivels and awareness allow him to excel in coverage, making him a tough matchup for receivers downfield. Offensively, he's a dynamic playmaker with explosive sticks and a knack for selling his routes with patient hesitations, using misdirection to create separation. His ability to change direction fluidly, coupled with his upper body composure, makes him a versatile threat on both offense and defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='893510' first='Keagan' last='Sanderson'] | EDGE | Salem | 2026</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='893510' first='Keagan' last='Sanderson'] (5-9, 215) is a dominant edge rusher and the state leader in sacks this season, consistently excelling despite facing frequent double and triple teams. His quickness off the edge is elite, with explosive burst that makes him a constant threat to disrupt plays in an instant. Sanderson's rip move to the outside shoulder, combined with his low pad level, is devastating for offensive tackles. His snap anticipation and first step are exceptional, allowing him to immediately gain an advantage. He showcases high football IQ, maintaining disciplined rush depth to contain quarterbacks and prevent scrambling opportunities. An unstoppable force with relentless motor and technique.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1152120' first='Bryce' last='Smith'] | Offensive Line | Batesville | 2027</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1152120' first='Bryce' last='Smith'] (6-4, 315) is an elite offensive lineman with a rare combination of strength, quickness, and footwork. He excels in the run game, consistently generating 2-3 yards of push off the snap with explosive intensity. His awareness on pulling assignments is outstanding, delivering powerful kick-out blocks on defensive ends to create clear running lanes. Smith's engagement technique is textbook, using his size and strength to drive through defenders with precision. In pass protection, he showcases excellent vision and anticipation, effectively identifying and neutralizing blitz packages. A dominant force up front, Smith is a cornerstone for any offensive scheme.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='731120' first='Jackson' last='Elam'] | Kicker | Batesville | 2026</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='731120' first='Jackson' last='Elam'], a 6-foot, 170-pound kicker, has demonstrated exceptional prowess in his junior season. He successfully converted 9 of 11 field goal attempts, including a school-record 51-yarder, and showcased his leg strength by hitting a 60-yard field goal during summer practice. As a punter, Elam averaged 42.3 yards on 31 attempts and consistently delivered touchbacks on kickoffs. His performance has earned him recognition from Kohl's Professional Camps, where he competed at the 2023 Texas Winter Showcase, displaying good ball rotation and achieving 7 out of 15 points on field goal charting. Multiple notable specialist organizations also acknowledge Elam as an excellent high school kicking prospect, noting his athleticism and live leg, with a field goal range of over 50 yards. Elam's impressive statistics and evaluations highlight his elite potential as a Class of 2026 kicker.<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->