Gateway to the West 14U: Best WRs

The Gateway to the West 7v7 Tournament brought elite talent from across the Midwest to compete in a high-intensity, two-day showcase of speed, skill, and football IQ. With dozens of teams clashing, the wide receivers quickly stood out as game-changers—stretching the field, breaking ankles on routes, and making highlight-reel catches look routine. This evaluation focuses on the top wideouts who dominated, consistently creating separation and making their quarterbacks' lives easier.    Trace Hansen is a wide receiver with a solid frame and impressive physical tools, making him a reliable target at any level of the field. He brings good size to the position, allowing him to shield defenders and win in contested catch situations. Hansen's hands are a major asset—strong, consistent, and dependable, making him a quarterback's best friend in tight coverage. His release off the line is smooth and quick, allowing him to create early separation and set up defensive backs for routes downfield. With his combination of physicality, reliable hands, and technical polish at the line, Hansen projects as a high-upside receiver with the tools to contribute early and often.     Davon Taylor is a wide receiver with strong physical tools and natural athleticism that make him a consistent threat on the outside. He possesses good size, which allows him to shield defenders and work through contact effectively. Taylor's release off the line is smooth and decisive, helping him create early separation in his routes. He also showcases a strong vertical, making him a reliable red-zone target and a deep-ball option against smaller defensive backs. With continued refinement in route precision and catch consistency, Taylor has the tools to be a high-impact receiver at the next level.     Alex Hood is a physically gifted wide receiver with standout traits that make him a reliable target in any offensive scheme. His ability to haul in back-shoulder throws with consistency showcases his body control and awareness near the sideline, making him a quarterback's best friend on timing routes. With a great catch radius and strong hands, Hood can pluck the ball out of the air even when defenders are draped over him. He uses his great size to box out defenders and win in contested catch situations, giving him a clear edge in red zone and third-down scenarios. Hood is a matchup problem for smaller DBs and has the physical tools to continue developing into a dominant outside threat.     Brett Thruebenbach stood out as a red zone threat during pool play, showcasing elite body control and timing in the back of the end zone. His ability to high-point the football and stay in bounds makes him a go-to target in tight scoring situations. Thruebenbach also boasts a fantastic catch radius, consistently extending plays and bailing out quarterbacks on off-target throws. Whether it's contested jump balls or quick fades, he makes difficult grabs look routine. His presence forces defenses to account for him at all times inside the 20, and he has all the tools to be a reliable big-play receiver at the next level.     Tyson Hartman is a dynamic wide receiver for the Sioux Falls Sharks who stands out thanks to his elite vertical and reliable hands. During pool play, Hartman made one of the most impressive plays of the day with a leaping touchdown grab, showcasing not only his athleticism but also his ability to track and secure the football in midair. He consistently high-points the ball and displays strong, confident hands in contested catch situations. Hartman is a red zone threat who can elevate over defenders and come down with the tough grabs, making him a valuable asset in critical scoring situations.

The Gateway to the West 7v7 Tournament brought elite talent from across the Midwest to compete in a high-intensity, two-day showcase of speed, skill, and football IQ. With dozens of teams clashing, the wide receivers quickly stood out as game-changers—stretching the field, breaking ankles on routes, and making highlight-reel catches look routine. This evaluation focuses on the top wideouts who dominated, consistently creating separation and making their quarterbacks' lives easier.