Worth the Wait: Watchlist Prospects that Waxed the Rankings, Pt 4

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is tough to tell exactly how long certain prospects reside on our watch list between rankings updates. However, make no mistake about it: there are numerous prospects that make tremendous jumps from just names in a database to a name with serious game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Below are a handful of prospects that have emerged from the watchlist and subsequently shot up the rankings during this most recent update.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1281466"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67d8e97f0cc66"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1281466' first='Nicholas' last='Medina'] is a linebacking prospect that has been amongst the state's leading tacklers on a week-to-week basis for what seems like forever. Medina is strong and explosive enough to bust through the line of scrimmage when initially contacted. A low-attacking tackler, Medina finds a way to square dance ball carriers more than anything, assuring he can execute textbook form-fitting tacklers as he wraps extremely well. Medina times his blitzes well and adjusts his angles of pursuit with ease, especially when the quarterback is on the move. Medina is a bit of a throwback-type linebacker who has had an outstanding prep career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1513519"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67d8e97f0ccc1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">After a stellar season [player_tooltip player_id='1513519' first='Nick' last='Cardone'] prepares to graduate and go on to the next level. The senior quarterback seems to have a throwing motion varies and is dependent on the type of throw he is trying to execute. Providing a good deal of loft on the deep ball, Cardone puts the ball in spots where only his target can get it - even in double coverage. Setting up his playmakers, he generally hits his targets in stride where they can run after the catch. Cardone is one of those prospects whose best football may still be ahead of him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1185931"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67d8e97f0cd0a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Another defensive line prospect that shot up the rankings after idling on the watch list was Elizabeth's [player_tooltip player_id='1185931' first='Nico' last='Abreu']. Abreu found success playing the nose last season, and was particularly apt at bear crawling. On more than one occasion we see him effectively work centers' backwards by shooting through their legs. The center's backwards movement often clipped pulling backside guards and sniffers alike. This occurred on more than one instance. Furthermore, on one play Abreu showed his agility where he accomplished this same goal, but managed to get up and make the tackle for loss too. Abreu will work to extend his arms and create separation, while slanting hard when asked to do so. His height provides him better-than-average leverage when cross-facing and penetrating his adjacent gap. I felt as though Abreu was best over the ball in a 0 or a shade of center. Finally, Abreu has shown on film that he can recognize, fight, and spin back against pressure.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1522351"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67d8e97f0cd4f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">There are watch listers who jump in the rankings, and then there are watch listers who claim the #1 ranking at their position. [player_tooltip player_id='1522351' first='Ryder' last='Kusch'] is the latter. A threat in the passing game, Kusch runs very well and uses his hands to receive the ball. He is big and strong enough to shrug off wannabe tacklers, while also possessing the balance to stay on his feet through contact or get his toes down near the boundary. Part of what leads to Kusch's success is that he has a burst off the line in his release. Better than most tight ends, we see that he is creative and has the ability to make people miss in open space with the ball in his hands. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class of 2025 Final Rankings Coverage</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/film-evaluation-notes-for-2025s-new-additions-part-i">Film Evaluation Ranking Notes, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/rankings-risers-ranked-prospects-whose-stock-shot-up-part-i">Ranking Risers, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/rankings-risers-ranked-prospects-whose-stock-shot-up-part-ii">Ranking Risers, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/rankings-risers-ranked-prospects-whose-stock-shot-up-part-iii">Ranking Risers, Part III</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/worth-the-wait-watchlist-prospects-that-waxed-the-rankings-pt-1">Watchlist Risers, Part 1</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/worth-the-wait-watchlist-prospects-that-waxed-the-rankings-pt-2">Watchlist Risers, Part 2</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/worth-the-wait-watchlist-prospects-that-waxed-the-rankings-pt-3">Watchlist Risers, Part 3</a><br>Watchlist Risers, Part 4<br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/must-see-athletes-prospects-with-film-that-popped-part-i">Must-See Film: Athletes, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/must-see-athletes-prospects-with-film-that-popped-part-ii">Must-See Film: Athletes, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/must-see-dbs-prospects-with-film-that-popped-part-i">Must-See Film: Defensive Backs, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/must-see-dbs-prospects-with-film-that-popped-part-ii">Must-See Film: Defensive Backs, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/must-see-d-linemen-prospects-with-film-that-popped-part-i">Must-See Film: Defensive Linemen, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/must-see-d-linemen-prospects-with-film-that-popped-part-ii">Must-See Film: Defensive Linemen, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/must-see-d-linemen-prospects-with-film-that-popped-part-iii">Must-See Film: Defensive Linemen, Part III</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/must-see-d-linemen-prospects-with-film-that-popped-part-iv">Must-See Film: Defensive Linemen, Part IV</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/must-see-lbs-prospects-with-film-that-popped-part-i">Must-See Film: Linebackers, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/must-see-lbs-prospects-with-film-that-popped-part-ii">Must-See Film: Linebackers, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/must-see-lbs-prospects-with-film-that-popped-part-iii">Must-See Film: Linebackers, Part III</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/must-see-o-linemen-prospects-with-film-that-popped-part-i">Must-See Film: Offensive Linemen, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/must-see-o-linemen-prospects-with-film-that-popped-part-ii">Must-See Film: Offensive Linemen, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/must-see-qbs-prospects-with-film-that-popped-part-i/%E2%86%97">Must-See Film: Quarterbacks, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/must-see-qbs-prospects-with-film-that-popped-part-ii">Must-See Film: Quarterbacks, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/must-see-rbs-prospects-with-film-that-popped-part-i">Must-See Film: Running Backs, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/must-see-rbs-prospects-with-film-that-popped-part-ii">Must-See Film: Running Backs, Part II</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/must-see-tes-prospects-with-film-that-popped">Must-See Film: Tight Ends</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/must-see-wrs-prospects-with-film-that-popped-part-i">Must-See Film: Wide Receivers, Part I</a><br><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/03/must-see-wrs-prospects-with-film-that-popped-part-ii">Must-See Film: Wide Receivers, Part II</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->