Prep Redzone WI Showcase: Best of the Pass Catchers

The wide receiver group and tight end group brought out some monsters from across Wisconsin. We saw student athletes with unfair size, exceptional speed, balance and agility to run sharp routes. There was a bit of everything flying around the field making impressive catches at every level of the field. We had an impressive group of DBs for these kids to battle, and the pass catchers were ready to go at it. If you want to take a look at our WR MVP [player_tooltip player_id='1570914' first='Kaden' last='Yaeger'] or TE MVP [player_tooltip player_id='1570888' first='Hayden' last='Anderson'] then go to our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/12/prep-redzone-wi-winter-showcase-mvps/">MVP article</a>. For the rest of the standouts, continue reading and enjoy!    One of the best overall performances from the Showcase was what junior ATH/WR [player_tooltip player_id='1570907' first='Jensen' last='Rice'] did. The 5'9" 170 lbs athlete was easily one of the most explosive athletes in attendance. He hit back to back 37.6" vertical jumps. Jensen also ran an elite 4.53 40 yard dash, broad jumped 10'2", and ran a 7.13 L-Drill. Those elite numbers were just the tip of the iceberg for his day.   It is hard to believe it, but this day was Jensen's first time doing WR reps. He could have fooled me because the junior is such an explosive athlete with outstanding body control that he is able to step right in and do difficult things with ease. His route running was so sudden along with his release off the line. It was easy for him to get deep and track the ball. Plus he has natural ball skills and soft hands. The 5'9" 170 lbs junior has a surprisingly large catch radius too thanks to his 10.5" hands and 6'2" wingspan. Big things area ahead for this impressive athlete.     Johnny absolutely crushed the day. He ended up spending time at WR and DB and could have made the top performer article for either position. I elected to go with WR because Johnny made so many plays out wide and truly looked like a mismatch. Mathews was an elite tester to start the day. He ran 4.62, broad jumped 10'2", and had a blazing 4.12 L-Drill. Mathews ability to change direction and accelerate with explosive power made him so hard to cover in the 1 on 1 battles.   Mathews has lightning quick feet and the ability to stay square over his feet and overall balanced. Those traits also allowed him to play tight man coverage. I loved the way that Johnny attacked the ball in the air too. He wouldn't give the opponent a chance to make a play because of his aggressiveness at the catch point. Johnny was an RB MVP in the spring. Now he was shining at WR/DB. The 2026 is a quality athlete to recruit that can help in a lot of ways.     Another WR who earned a rep in the Best vs Best battles to end camp was [player_tooltip player_id='1570938' first='Mickell' last='Massey']. The junior out of Milwaukee Lutheran checked in at 5'11" 157 lbs with a massive 6'4" wingspan with 9" hands. That length shined over and over as he was able to secure the ball away from his body where the DB couldn't make a play on the ball. Overall, Mickell did a fantastic job of using his body to box out and create separation. I would put Massey in the possession receiver category. He understands how to use smart route running to create separation over just running past everyone. Massey put together a great showing.     Another impressive athlete with a budding frame is sophomore WR Will Williams Jr. Will checked in at 5'7" 145 lbs with elite 10.5" hands. Those big, strong hands had Will snagging passes all over the field, at the high point, or through contact. Those big mitts and his overall ball skills made him a trustworthy target all day long. Will demonstrated a quick release that made DBs miss their jam. Once he got stacked on the DB Will had the speed to get down the field while staying in front of the corner. I also liked the way he could easily track the ball downfield. I'm excited to watch Will develop over the coming seasons.     I was excited to watch Landon in person. I have been a fan of his tape since his freshman season, and came away even more excited about his future potential. Kibbe has been recovering from a knee issue that cost him some games this season, but he had worked himself back to competition shape. The numbers were strong for the sophomore. 6'1" 182 lbs, 6'3" wingspan, just over 10" hands. Measurements that help highlight how big he is and how large his catch radius is.   The big WR surprised me with his savvy route running. He didn't just rely on his size to win, but when he wanted to he was able to. Instead, the sophomore demonstrated some head fakes and other ways of setting up DBs to get them to bite and put themselves out of position. The sophomore WR did a very good job of finding ways to get over the top of his CB and from there was able to track down the ball and make the catch. The sophomore is a sure-handed target with size and understanding of route running. Keep an eye on this kid.     We are big fans of Zach's and he showed why there should be a lot of people interested in him with his performance at the Showcase. As a sophomore, Hewitt already looks the part of a go-to WR. 6'3" 178 lbs, 6'4" wingspan, massive 11" hands, 4.81 40 speed, and elite 6.93 L-Drill. The big WR not only has size, but elite short area agility and body control. Pair those together and you get a serious mismatch problem. Zach has the strong frame to be able to muscle his way off the line if needed. He attacks the ball at the high point with those massive, strong hands. Plus he looked like he is getting very comfortable as a route runner in the reps that I saw. Zach is becoming a special WR talent. Get him on your radars.     Austin has the talent and versatility to be recruited on either side of the ball. He came to the Showcase as a WR and he certainly looked like he could play there at the next level. 6'3.5" frame with a 6'5.5" wingspan. Plus he has just over 9.5" hands that pluck the ball out of the air. His 9'2" broad jump and 739 L-Drill also show him short area burst, balance, and agility. Austin did a great job of playing fast, but under control so that he could open up separation for his QB to target in 1 on 1 battles. It was awesome to see Austin in a pass catching role. He looked comfortable out wide.     Teams still looking to bolster their WR room with the Class of 2025 should look into [player_tooltip player_id='1570840' first='Bryce' last='Plzak']. The 5'10" 177 lbs athlete has a nearly 6' wingspan and almost 10'5" hands. Those hands were an attention grabber all day. That includes the best catch of the entire day. Bryce ran a deep in route, was falling to the ground while in contact with the DB, and still managed to snag the ball with one hand while falling. His concentration in those tough catch situations showed up over and over. Bryce was strong through contact, and once he got those strong hands on passes he was not letting them get away. Come get your steal!     Junior WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='1570826' first='Aziz' last='Ashour'] was not on my radar before this event, but he capitalized on the opportunity and impressed plenty of people. Aziz is a 5'10.5" 167 lbs DB/WR with an elite 6'4" wingspan and over 10'5" hands. Aziz may have taken reps on both sides, but he caught my eyes at WR. His 4.81 speed allowed him to easily get downfield or pull away across the field out of breaks. The junior also proved to be a twitchy athlete with his 7.03 L-Drill and then locked in that thought with his route running in 1 on 1 battles. I really enjoyed watching Aziz work. The Nicolet product is one to keep an eye on and get on campus this year.     When I saw the freshman WR out of Franklin had registered for the Showcase I was very excited. You don't often see freshmen making plays on varsity at Franklin HS in Week 1, but Gavin did. The '28 checked in at 6' 177 lbs with a nearly 6'2" wingspan and just shy of 11" hands. The numbers support what you see on tape. A well built WR with excellent hands. A kid that can make the catch in traffic. Gavin also has shown that he can win with his speed out wide. He did that on Sunday as he stretched the field. The freshman ran a 4.83 40, but plays even faster. I'm very excited to watch what he does this offseason and going forward. Big things ahead.     [player_tooltip player_id='1570969' first='Xander' last='Collier'] is quickly becoming one of the best WRs in WI. The sophomore has a well built frame. 6' 185 lbs, nearly 6'5" wingspan, and just over 10.5" hands. The 2027 is built like a senior already and has also developed the athleticism of an established veteran. He ran 4.88, broad jumped 9'1", and put up a 4.12 L-Drill. Xander is exceptionally comfortable on the field. He has quickly grown into his frame, allowing him to be a sudden route runner, burst out of breaks, and show body control to make catches on the sideline. Xander also proved he could play tough vs physical competition and still get off the line and get open. Collier has big things ahead of him.     The Regis HS TE was new to my radar coming into the event. There are definitely things worth checking out when it comes to George. He is 6'3" 190 lbs with over 10" hands. The junior spent the past season playing defense for Regis, but came into the event as a TE. Despite being newer to the position, George did well using his size to create separation and also showed that his hands are strong, allowing him to protect the ball by catching it away from his body. George was very productive on defense in 2024, and offers versatility at TE too.     Brady is coming off an impressive sophomore season on the JV Team. We are seeing him grow and fill out into a TE to keep your eyes on. He is currently 6'2" 185 lbs with an elite 6'6" wingspan and almost 11" hands. Those last two numbers suggest that Brady isn't done growing yet. I went to the '27's tape to see what the budding TE prospect did this season. Brady always seems to be wide open on tape and made a lot of big plays after the catch. Plus he shows the reliable hands that pluck the ball out of the air that we saw at camp on Sunday. I'm looking forward to the breakout of Brady as he continues to grow and develop.     Another senior WR that could be a solid, final addition to a recruiting class is Germantown's [player_tooltip player_id='1570885' first='Griffin' last='Stein']. Stein is coming off a 33 reception season with 499 total yards. The 5'11" 180 lbs WR has a 6'2" wingspan and 9.5" hands. The senior also ran a 7.12 L-Drill. That short area quickness is what stood out during the 1 on 1s and drills. Griffin is able to get off the line quickly and fight off press, plus he was effective on short routes where that agility and burst again could give him an advantage. Check out the senior.

The wide receiver group and tight end group brought out some monsters from across Wisconsin. We saw student athletes with unfair size, exceptional speed, balance and agility to run sharp routes. There was a bit of everything flying around the field making impressive catches at every level of the field. We had an impressive group of DBs for these kids to battle, and the pass catchers were ready to go at it. If you want to take a look at our WR MVP Kaden Yaeger or TE MVP Hayden Anderson then go to our MVP article. For the rest of the standouts, continue reading and enjoy!