AYF Nationals Notes: Impressive 12U Midwest Hawks (IL) Prospects

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When it comes to age-based football, as oppose to grade/grad class football, you never know what you're going to get. Teams on this level are typically a mixed bag of ages, development and physical maturation. Playing the in the 12U D3 bracket (D1-D3) the Illinois-based Midwest Hawks were no exception. Below are the prospects that stood out to me while watching them in practice and their Tuesday game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1578259"],"_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-675adfc108c20"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Without question, the most next-level-ready prospect I saw on the field for Midwest Hawks organization in Tuesday's game against the West Dallas Rebels. As of December 2024, he's standing only an inch or two shorter than 6-foot and I'm guessing he weighs around 200 pounds--but he carries the weight well. He carried his weight very proportionally and was in an impressive shape. Coaches tell me his father is 6-foot-8 and he's quickly ascending that way. He can bend, he can move and his frame is ideal. He was the starter at Left Guard for the Hawks, but I can easily see him moving over to play Tackle if he continues to grow and develop.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1578273"],"_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-675adfc108c84"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One of only a handful of 2029 prospects (8th grade as of December 2024) on the 12U Midwest Hawks, his maturity was evident from the second I saw him on the warmup fields. Very cool, calm and collected lined up behind center. Moved well and brought a dual-threat style to the position, despite having a nice stable of backs behind him. In Tuesday's game, he tallied a pair of touchdowns in the 33-0 beat down of the West Dallas Rebels out of Texas.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1578284"],"_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-675adfc108ccd"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Like [player_tooltip player_id='1578273' first='William' last='Estock'] listed above, as of December 2024, Johnson was one of only a few class of 2029 prospects on the field for the Midwest Hawks. However, he played like a man possessed in Tuesday's game against the West Dallas Rebels recording a trio of touchdowns. Physically impressive in comparison to others on the field, he ran over and through the Texas defenders offensively and caused havoc rushing off the edge. Looking at film from the regular season he also took direct snaps, finding similar success to what he found at AYF Nationals on Tuesday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span style="text-decoration: underline">Additional Prospects of Note</span></h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1578404' first='Antonio' last='Taylor'] | Midwest Hawks | Athlete - </em></strong>Speedy and explosive 2030 prospect that can line up at any of the skill positions on the field, on both sides of the ball. Quite undersized (when comparing nationally) but has plenty of time to grow. Scored on a nice pitch and catch from [player_tooltip player_id='1578273' first='William' last='Estock'] and outran the defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1578408' first='Jamarion' last='Tillman'] | Midwest Hawks | Offensive/Defensive Line</em></strong> - Another one of the big boys up front for the Hawks, Tillman started at Left Tackle alongside [player_tooltip player_id='1578259' first='Nehemiah' last='Perkins'], forming a solid left side of the line. Appeared to have really long arms--perfect for the LT position. Has a longer frame and should be able to add a ton of weight as he continues to grow and fill out. Coaches think his upside could be even bigger on the defensive side of the ball, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1578414' first='Jeremiah' last='Randle'] | Midwest Hawks | Linebacker </em></strong>- As is the case with age-based youth football everywhere, there can be kids several grade levels apart on the same team, and that's the case with Randle. He won't graduate high school until 2031 (currently in 6th grade as of December 2024) but based off what I saw, he's a name to know for the future. Physical at the POC and has one of those motors that allow him to never be counted out of a play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->