Uncovered Gems #4 - Capital Area Blue pt. 4

Six more players from the Capital Area Blue! This is my second-to-last article covering the Blue for at least a few months. Here are quick evaluations of six total prospects! (Dewitt - 2) (Grand Ledge - 1) (Holt - 1) (Okemos - 2)    Luke was a huge 8-minute highlight tape filled with good block after good block, plus some solid DT highlights.   It's obvious that Luke was a major part of DeWitt's semifinal run. His first highlight shows a trap play where Luke absolutely lays out the unsuspecting defender. The second highlight shows a decent pass block, but Luke does need to work on his footwork. Skipping all the way to 3:18 (DT rep), Luke quickly sheds a block before chasing down the ballcarrier. Lastly, at 6:42. Luke sits back in his pass set and absorbs a big hit, allowing his QB to compete a 35-yard TD.      People mover!   Will has solid highlights. The first handful of highlights show Will executing a variety of base blocks, most of which he's manhandling a smaller defender. I like how physical Will is, and how he drives through his blocks. Really good foundation here.   Some things I'd like to see corrected, though. For one, Will's stance is sometimes a bit unbalanced. His feet aren't always set correctly (not straight), and he's not extremely agile. Still, with his size, Will could 1000% develop into a great prospect in a year's time.      Mikah has some solid highlights! He's a receiver who can line up just about anywhere.   His tape begins with a solid reception on a 10-yard comeback. Mikah high-points the football, then goes down. Throughout the rest of his tape, Mikah demonstrates solid athleticism and, at times, great route running. Like most WRs, I think Mikah could be a lot more consistent and detailed with his routes. Other than that, I'll always praise working hard in the weight room.      Jeremiah had a solid year at Okemos. Considering his listed height, Jeremiah has the potential to be a true breakout player.   He made some great plays during the 2024 season. The #1 thing that stands out to me is effort. Most of the time, Jeremiah doesn't win immediately but keeps at it long enough to pressure the QB, earn a sack, or a tackle on the RB. With a super good offseason, a lot of time in the weight room, and more, Jeremiah could be a much-improved player in 2025.      I like what Everett put on tape!   His first highlight is very impressive- a good getoff, active hands, and forces an interception. In fact, Everett's most impressive highlights come during pass rush reps. Look at the highlight at 0:48- explosive getoff, decent bend, gets around the slow tackle, and earns a QB hit. This and his size make me very optimistic for Everett's offseason. Offseason camps for D-Linemen are built on how well you can rush the passer. If Everett can "rush the passer" well at offseason camps, he may be able to earn a few offers, probably from D3 schools.      Hidden Gem???   Man, I like [player_tooltip player_id='1577145' first='Xavier' last='Ford']'s tape! Just watch a minute, and you'll see why. It starts with a great 50/50 catch, showcasing his catch radius and a bit of vertical. The second play includes a good post route that he takes for an explosive 45-yard gain. At 0:50, Xavier runs a pretty nice 10-yard out (not sure if it was a comeback or out, but still solid). At 0:58, Xavier runs a nice corner route in the redzone.   Good route running, athleticism, and top speed. Just based off this tape, I could see Xavier earn offers this offseason.

Six more players from the Capital Area Blue! This is my second-to-last article covering the Blue for at least a few months. Here are quick evaluations of six total prospects! (Dewitt - 2) (Grand Ledge - 1) (Holt - 1) (Okemos - 2)