Up Next: 2028’s and 2029‘s to Watch

Jace Dunegan

January 10, 2025 @ 01:09 PM

<p>Here's a look at the young guns that are sure to rise through the ranks as they progress through the high school circuit.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Jeremiah Johnson | 2028 | ATH | Lake Hamilton</h2>   <p>Jeremiah Johnson, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound running back and cornerback from Lake Hamilton is a dynamic athlete with exceptional cutback ability and elusiveness. His quick, twitchy running style allows him to navigate through traffic effortlessly, showcasing impressive footwork and vision through controlled jump-cuts. Johnson exhibits patience behind the line of scrimmage, waiting for blocks to develop, and then utilizes his explosive acceleration and top-end speed to outrun defensive backs in open space.</p>   <p>In his freshman season, Johnson amassed over 1,200 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, along with 89 receiving yards and 2 receiving touchdowns, highlighting his versatility and impact on the field.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1305567' first='Tony' last='Bradley'] | 2028 | Defensive Back | Pine Bluff</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1305567' first='Tony' last='Bradley'] (5-9, 120) is a prospect with quick feet and a well-refined back pedal, providing a strong foundation for his development. His hip transitions are swift and seamless, allowing him to change direction with ease. Bradley exhibits all the foundational skills necessary to grow into a shutdown corner as he matures. He's a good on-ball player with solid instincts and delivers impressive physicality for his size, showing promise as a reliable defensive presence in the future.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1195593' first='Jakareyon' last='Burton'] | 2028 | Defensive Lineman | Lakeside</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1195593' first='Jakareyon' last='Burton'] (5-11, 300) is an intriguing prospect with impressive size and strength that stands out on film. In the running game, his explosiveness off the snap is evident, consistently creating opportunities for his offense. His solid snap punch establishes a strong frame, effectively opening holes and dominating matchups. Burton's overwhelming strength makes him a challenging assignment for most defensive linemen at this stage of his development, highlighting his potential to excel further as he continues to refine his technique.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1662659' first='Cayden' last='Kelly'] | 2028 | Running Back | Gosnell</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1662659' first='Cayden' last='Kelly'] (5-8, 195) is a highly intelligent and instinctive runner, as showcased by his ability to quickly identify blitzes and make snap reads. His film highlights his impressive IQ, with an early example of a blitz read followed by a smooth jump cut to the outside for a significant gain. Kelly excels against stacked boxes, using his blitz anticipation and incredible footwork to create yardage. He combines a physical running style with the speed to win battles on the perimeter, making him a dynamic and productive back.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1474526' first='Dadrien' last='Love'] | 2029 | ATH | Marion</h2>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1474526' first='Dadrien' last='Love'] (5-8, 160) is an explosive athlete with exceptional quickness and fluidity in his jump cuts, allowing him to capitalize on cutback opportunities effortlessly. His supreme agility and ability to change direction make him a dynamic runner, and his burner speed is undeniable in the open field. As a linebacker, Love demonstrates impressive awareness and reaction speed, making him nearly impossible for offensive linemen to handle in run defense or blitz packages. He incorporates hesitations into his game to disrupt timing, showcasing his quickness and football IQ.</p>

Here's a look at the young guns that are sure to rise through the ranks as they progress through the high school circuit.