NY 2025 Rankings: Biggest Risers Pt. 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 Rankings are out - you can find those under the rankings tab in the top left. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There were a good number of good adds and based of my grading system a lot of guys will naturally move down because they keep the same grade - while others move up because they were bumped up a grade. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This will be the first of 3-parts, basically a rundown of who is making the biggest jumps in the rankings. Criteria was guys who jumped at least 15 spots forward, there are less changes in the 3-5 spot range and more drastic changes as I bump guys grades up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last update was last spring so since then we have had a whole camp season and fall season - pretty much most of these guys I have gotten to see live at least once, live evaluation is a big part of the top 100-150 guys in the 2025 class. I have seen most of guys in that area, live evals are important to confirm what we see on tape but also get a good body typing on the player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1283675"],"_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-676358c475a7d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1283675' first='Lucius' last='Anderson'] missed a lot of last season due to injury but looking back on the tape I will be the first to admit I was probably way to low on him even with a smaller body of work. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This season Anderson supplanted himself as one of the New York's best athletes as he dominated camp season and the fall season being a big reason CBA-Albany made a run to the State Championship. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Anderson athletically is very impressive, his short area quickness, twitch, and long speed all stand out. Dynamic with the ball in his hands he is an offensive weapon who shows positional versatility all over an offense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1205418"],"_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-676358c475b05"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Merrill is listed as an athlete her while playing the quarterback position and being one of the nations top Lacrosse recruits. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Merrill has a better arm than I gave him credit for in the past, I was impressed with his patience and poise in the pocket when I saw him play this year. Although he certainly has some of the most gaudy running stats he is not just a one-read and run type of quarterback. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Merrill really stands out athletically - not sure if he will also play football in college for UNC like his LI Counterpart Filardi will at Syracuse but I am very confident he is capable in doing so. Without Spring football involvement due to Lacrosse would be hard to see him playing the QB position but easily an athlete worthy of being on a FBS football team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["514951"],"_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":"","_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-676358c475b87"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Catoggio is a player that live evaluations have really helped me round out my evaluation of - his measurables don't jump off the screen but outside of the #1 player in NY [player_tooltip player_id='286675' first='Rowan' last='Byrne'] - I don't thing there is a more fundamentally sound blocker in this class. Catoggio plays with a strong base, good leverage, and is very consistent with his hands. There was a good 8-play sequence when I saw Chaminade play this year where my eyes were only on Catoggio and every rep you saw the same movements and execution. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1257857"],"_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-676358c475bf3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Albright was new to New York this season and when he came from NJ I thought his Junior tape was just okay - fast forward a live evaluation and season late and I think Wagner is getting a steal here in Albright. Physically, he is every bit of 6'6 300+ his body type is ready to compete at the next level. I was much more impressed with his balance, and movement skills than his Jr tape suggested I should be and his Sr tape is a big improvement. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["737950"],"_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-676358c475c5c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Singleton is a player whose physical build sets him apart from others - there was a lot of great RB play this year in New York but nobody is physically as built for the next level as Singleton is. Muscular and defined Singleton has the ideal RB build a lot of coaches I talk to are looking for - on tape he is productive, a three down back, and seeing him at a camp confirmed he was a quick explosive mover in open space. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["390760"],"_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-676358c475cbf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Battle has continued to produce at a high level in Rochester for two seasons at Aquinas and even before that when he was at Irondequoit. I really like Battle's movement skills - think he is a smooth efficient back who doesn't waste steps or make poor reads. His vision and efficiency are really big standouts - he dominates camps as well. I saw him a couple of times and any RB Drill, WR Drill, 1v1 situation Battle consistently stands out. Battle may not wow you with any single trait but he one of the better football players in New York. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1235840"],"_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-676358c475d25"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Smith is the most versatile defensive back in the top 5 guys in this class - I wish there were some track times or verified speed but he looks great in person in the fall - I saw Hayes twice and he was really good both times. He has really solid football instincts and is an aggressive finisher </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["450424"],"_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-676358c475d8d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It was not until recently that I started seeing Messina as more of a potential safety at the next level and it is part of the reason he jumps so high in these rankings - for a while he has been one of the more productive players from Long Island. However, the competition level isn't great, a lot of his running back play is very impressive but an athlete of his caliber makes those plays fairly easily. It is his instincts and ball skills defensively that have really helped shape my evaluation of Messina. He is athletic enough to play either way but defensively he lives around the ball and sees things very well - without him at Safety Sayville doesn't win the some of the close meaningful games they had this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["648976"],"_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-676358c475df4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ali is a top 5 EDGE prospect for me and he is a guy I've seen at camps before but never truly live. He has been on varsity since his Freshman year and I have gone back and forth on this eval over the course of three season - went back watched all the tape, camp clips, really took into account his development over HS career and where he can go and I really like his outlook as an EDGE prospect. His competition level won't wow you but he does a lot of simple things well consistently. Consistent use of hands, consistent shed, consistent finish. Continuing to develop athletically will keep him on a strong developmental path, but I thought his senior tape show a lot of consistency and execution. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["742741"],"_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-676358c475e57"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Johnson probably won't play quarterback at the next level but I wouldn't close the door on it - he played about every position at some point for Baldwin and at 6'4 180 he is a very impressive athlete. Johnson is a player that I haven't seen live but the tape says enough, and I really don't know what position is his best at the next level. What I do know is on tape, he looks like one of the most athletic football prospects in New York this class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->