6A-Region 3 Preview: American Fork

2024 record: 5-7   2025 Key Games:   Friday, August 22- Timpview Friday, August 29- at West Friday, September 5- at Farmington Friday, September 25- at Layton   The Cavemen did not schedule any easy games. The August 22nd home game against Timpview is a game near and dear to my heart, as I played matchmaker when both teams had opposing out-of-state teams back out on them. They'll play a home-and-home. Then they have three consecutive road games that they'll need to show up for. West is always a tough team, and they have some elite players all over the field. Farmington is always a tough opponent, and then going to Layton to end three weeks of games on the road. They should be able to win two of these games with a possibility of a third. 2025 Hardest Games: Friday, September 19- Davis Friday, September 26- Lone Peak Friday, October 3- at Lehi Thursday, October 9- at Corner Canyon Wednesday, October 15- Skyridge   This is a murder's row. I'd argue this is the toughest five-game stretch in all the state. Just brutal.   2025 Outlook: It's a tough schedule, which concludes with a short week. I don't think you could map out a tougher schedule. The five-game stretch to end the season will toughen this team up and make them resilient to anything that comes their way. Key Players:    Manuela is a dual-threat signal caller who opens up an offense with the threat of his legs. An RPO environment would be what he is best at, due to defenses having to have gap integrity. He is a signal caller with a quick delivery. He processes at a good clip, and he does best throwing on the run, as it forces the backer to choose what he has to do, and he can react off that. Manuela throws the ball well and has a nice touch on his intermediate throws. If the offense is stagnant, using his legs will open up the offense and allow the rest of the players the ability to breathe and have a new set of downs to work with.     Childs has good size, and when his footwork and he's in rhythm, he throws a good, accurate ball. His arm talent when everything is in check is good. He can maneuver around the pocket to buy additional time if he needs. He has all the necessary raw tools and will have another year of development.     Matsen is simply elite. He will be the next great signal caller in this state. He possesses great size, has a good frame that he needs to continue to fill out, but his arm talent is exceptional; he makes every throw you could ask for. He has good velocity, knows when to take something off of it, throws his receivers open, has great ball placement, and layers his throws. He'll likely start on Thursday, but he should be dressing on Friday nights, and if the offense struggles and they need a spark, Matsen is the guy. He will be a multi-year Power-Four starter and be a national recruit and a future blue-chipper. Get to know the name.     Afu is the leading returning rusher, and he showcases good physicality and contact balance in his game. He has good hands out of the backfield and becomes a safety valve for his quarterback. He's been part of a committee for the past couple of seasons, but has every right to be the lead back this year.     Taiese is an elite receiver and a dual-sport athlete. He has a great release package, is an excellent route runner, creates separation with ease, is strong at the catch point, and transitions upfield with ease and moves well laterally with good quickness and elusiveness. Taiese has the alpha, my ball mentality you look for in a WR1. He is primed to have an exceptional season and be a playmaker. He will be a multi-year Power-Four starter.     Dean has excellent size and frame. He has a large catch radius and is good at the catch point. He does a good job of shielding the corner on contested catches and will be a red and green zone threat.     Wilkinson is someone who has caught my eye each time I've watched American Fork this offseason. He will be a slot receiver, but he has good twitch, speed, and creates late separation. His ball tracking skills are good, and he is strong at the catch point. He can be used at all three levels and is someone with a bright future.     Hanshaw is an exceptional prospect. He has great size and weight to his frame. It's solid weight and he carries it well. He is an athletic mover, has good lateral movement, is strong at the catch point, and has great awareness of where he is on the field. He is someone who has caught my eye several times this year. He's got all the tools to be elite. He will be a Power-Four starter and a national recruit.     Richards is in the mold of a modern-day move tight end. He is best detached from the line and used as a big slot. He showcases good movement, gets vertical, and has strong hands. He is set up for a big final year.     Behm is a defensive back who's been effective and has been a playmaker. He is a versatile defensive back who can be used as a cornerback but is best as a safety. He has the range to be a deep safety, but he is best as a box safety, where he can use his instincts to attack and press forward. He moves well, does a good job of being physical, and makes plays all over the field. He's an active defensive back.     Rees is a defensive back who has good ball skills, is versatile, and can be a cover corner or move to the safety position. He is a physical player and a ball-hawk; he's part of an aggressive and active secondary group.     Miller has great size and, as a safety, brings physicality that you want for a rovering safety. He's a player who is primed to take the next step. That physicality on the back end is what every defense looks for, and Miller has that in spades.     Afu has a good frame, and he'll continue to grow into it and fill out. He is quick off the line, has the physicality to play inside, and can take on blockers that outweigh him 30-40 lbs, and he has quick hands that will allow him to win. Afu uses leverage to his advantage and has the lateral quickness to be too quick for interior offensive linemen. Afu is also versatile and can be an edge rusher. He does a good job of pressing forward and advancing. He creates pressure and does a good job of creating chaos, and he will need to be double-teamed. which will help the rest of the line.     Na'a has exceptional size and a frame to continue to grow into. He is strong, and he is physical. He does a good job of occupying space and advancing. Na'a has good technique and does well against the run, and is great at creating pressure up the middle.     Palmer is arguably the best pass rusher on the team. He is quick off the line, has good hip bend, and will use his quickness to get past the linemen. He wins with speed but has enough physicality to his game to use a bull rush and catch his lineman off guard. He is best pressing forward and attacking, but with his quickness and footwork, he could be interesting as a backer.    American Fork is likely a year away from making a deep playoff run. If they can keep their core intact, this will be a team to watch for in 2026.    Holmstead's future might be in baseball, but he is a player who can surprise people this season. He's transferred into American Fork and can earn a spot in the receiving rotation and play on Thursday nights as well. He has good size, is a great athlete, moves well, is strong at the catch point, and has a good catch radius. He likely is part of the rotation this year and a name to watch for next year and be a big time baseball player for American Fork.

2024 record: 5-7