Film Room: High-Ceiling Seniors Heading into 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Get 30% off your first billing cycle with code:&nbsp;howe30&nbsp;in the coupon code area</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The recruiting clock is all over the place these days. With so much roster movement within college programs, high schoolers are forced to be patient at times. No need to panic if you're still on the board with your senior season beginning. There's still opportunity to impress scouts that will end up with openings on the next level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a group of guys that can raise their stock during the 2025 campaign:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1844903"],"_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-68a8b0f9070aa"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Griffith rushed for 824 yards (8.4 YPC) and four touchdowns as a Lynx junior in 2024, adding two receptions for 38 yards and a score. On defense, he racked up 56.5 tackles (39 solo, 5.5 TFL) and intercepted a pair of passes. On top of that, he averaged 23.5 yards on 20 kick returns, taking one back to the house, and handled punt returns. Griffith's <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/23167729/678a7b3b3111e3f99906a10f">11th-grade highlight video </a>captures his skills as a downhill linebacker that is noticeably fast to the football. His pursuits start with him keenly diagnosing plays and quickly reacting to them. Griffith looks prepared for what the offense is doing, which is a great sign of commitment to the craft.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1847510"],"_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-68a9c824ce929"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Woods was a factor on both sides of the ball for the Knights as a junior in 2024. He rushed for 164 yards, caught four passes for 41 yards, had 15.0 tackles, 12 of which were solo, and returned four kicks. Opportunities should increase for Woods this season. He looks ready for that challenge when watching highlights on his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/profile/21808036/graham-woods/highlights">Hudl page</a>. In these clips from a game against Mount Vernon, Woods shows he can pick up chunk plays with vision, patience and speed, and also deliver between the tackles. Against Solon, we see him as an active linebacker that gets downhill in a hurry. It's a skill set that also works at hybrid or safety.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1847522"],"_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-68a9cb12e91bc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Simons missed two games last season with an injury but still managed to catch nine passes for 165 yards and three touchdowns. The junior added a pair of solo tackles on defense. Simons should see his role increase in 2025 with good health and opportunities created by graduation losses. He appears ready for the added workload when watching his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18606275/67202601ad50f07e8530491a">11th-grade highlight video</a>. On the first clip, Simons shows off his speed by blowing by the defense for a long touchdown reception. He then lines up in the slot and does work on a short route between two defenders in zone coverage. It looks like a well-rounded skill set, and Simons has a chance to break out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1644037"],"_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-68a9d71638202"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Merkle operated as the Stormin' Pointers starting signal caller in 2024, completing 61.3 percent of his passes for 713 yards and six touchdowns against just two interceptions. The junior added a two-point conversion. During his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18054234/6765a1f3ef39127a9ab8e6e3">11th-grade highlight video</a>, Merkle looks comfortable operating out of the shotgun. He works through his progressions and shows a knack for leading his receivers with accurate tosses. Merkle throws well on the move and keeps plays alive off schedule using his legs in avoiding the rush. He does well in selling play fakes, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1848628"],"_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-68aa1f56dcf59"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Covington brought it on both sides of the ball as a junior last season. On defense, he recorded 38 tackles (25 solo, 4.0 TFL), 3.0 sacks and an interception. Offensively, he hauled in nine balls for 161 yards and added 16 yards on the ground. Covington shines during his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/18054200/675272839e346fa2b9e65fb9">11th-grade highlight video</a>. He's an impressive combination of power and speed coming off of the edge. Offensive linemen find it difficult squaring him up as a result of those gifts and technically sound pass-rush moves. Covington reports benching 235 pounds, squatting 335, deadlifting 450 and cleaning 225. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1848856"],"_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-68aa342b3d5d0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Harr hauled in 11 balls for 78 yards and two touchdowns in 2024. He delivered on defense as well with 13.5 tackles (5 solo, 5.5 TFL), a sack, a fumble recovery and an interception. Harr is a very intriguing prospect with a large frame and a bunch of athleticism. The first clip on his <a href="https://www.hudl.com/video/3/17951217/687027717643be8a361ccda7">junior highlight video </a>shows him catching a pass in the flat, eluding a defender and turning it up field for a nice gain. The second clip has him batting town a pass coming off of the edge before grabbing it for a pick. Harr should be receiving more attention on the recruiting trail as a high-ceiling prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->