Scouting Reports: Pop-Up Prospects at Back 2 Ballin

It's a term more commonly used in minor league baseball. The pop-up prospect is un-hyped before breaking out. Part of the dynamic is created by the numbers. There are 5,500 players, too many to accurately evaluate.   It's the same idea with high school football student-athletes working to play in college. There aren't enough hours in the day to see them all. Live evaluations are limited.   That's one reason I enjoyed watching last weekend's Back 2 Ballin 7-on-7 tournament in Cedar Falls. It allowed for scouting a lot of guys in one place.   It's a lot easier than driving from stadium to stadium on a Friday night. Yes, they're different forms of football. Both take talent and athleticism.   Here are some pop-up prospects from the event:    Playing in one of the state's top programs, Solberg served a role for the 2024 Cougars. The tight end has the size and athleticism to be a focal point of the Kennedy attack next season, however. It's not easy for bigger guys to thrive in 7-on-7 football. They need to get skinny and run crisp routes. Solberg does those things. After the catch, he accelerates well through space. Solberg is a member of the basketball and track teams, too, illustrating his agility and strong footwork.     Woodring waited his turn behind a multi-year standout and hopes to take the controls in 2025. The physical tools are there for success. Woodring can spin it. His strong right arm fits the ball into tight windows. I saw him against a team with sticky defenders, and he still usually delivered the rock to his receivers. Woodring can get stuck on targets. He'd benefit from reading his guys quicker and locating the advantage. Woodring moves well and shows accuracy throwing on the run.     Honore is a known recruit. It's just now he's reaching the upside he's shown for awhile. And it feels like there's more in the tank before he hits his ceiling. Honore is a long athlete that appears comfortable lining up as an outside receiver or sticking on pass catchers in coverage. He runs well and has long arms. Honore's frame looks capable of taking on mass without the loss of athleticism. That means the door can remain open to multiple positional possibilities.     Spotts gets overshadowed with the talent on his high school roster. He's a prospect deserving of more attention from colleges, though. Spotts contributed on offense last season but shined as a linebacker adept at stopping the run or sticking with receivers. He could fit at linebacker for some schools on the next level. Speed and athleticism make him capable of playing safety, too. While defense seems like his probable home, he displays receiving skills during 7-on-7.     Swayzer may have to decide between football and basketball at some point. The potential he shows to remain a prospect in both sports bears watching. On the field, Swayzer is a long-limbed cornerback with upside. He runs well, has a smooth back-pedal and changes directions quickly. The explosiveness he needs for hoops success plays up even more on the gridiron. All of his characteristics could also play at receiver.     Cedar Rapids Jefferson is producing intriguing prospects under coach Ed Miles. Ranard is one of the newest additions. He works hard and loves competition, which will aid his development. Ranard's frame has plenty of room to fill out without him losing his speed and athleticism. He looks comfortable running routes and owns reliable hands. Ranard uses his gifts well as a defensive back, too. He takes advantage of long strides and quick reactions. A contributor as a J-Hawk returner last season, Ranard is a great breakout candidate for this coming season.

It's a term more commonly used in minor league baseball. The pop-up prospect is un-hyped before breaking out. Part of the dynamic is created by the numbers. There are 5,500 players, too many to accurately evaluate.