5 Early-Season Sophomore Breakouts in Vegas

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Breaking down the film for some of the early-season breakouts from Las Vegas' talented group of sophomores.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1617109"],"_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-68ba062700555"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McCullah broke out in his varsity debut recording 8 catches for 159 yards and a TD and has two TDs as a returner through two games. The sophomore wideout is quickly establishing himself as one of the most explosive playmakers in his class with the D-I level speed and athleticism he's shown early on. He packs elite traits in his WR skillset with his balance, burst/acceleration, and body control. McCullah is one of the top sophomore playmakers to watch the rest of this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/gfor6ix/status/1959802567594242208","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/gfor6ix/status/1959802567594242208 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Carter Christensen","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"170","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Liberty","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68ba0627006c8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Christensen has been an early-season standout in the Liberty secondary. The sophomore safety leads the team in tackles (10 total, 8 solo) and interceptions (2) through the Patriots' first two games of 2025. He's a physical defender in coverage that punishes receivers up the seams and is a strong open-field tackler. He plays with anticipation and drives hard downhill to close on ball carriers. Christensen is quickly putting his name among the top DBs in Nevada's 2028 class with his early showings. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/CarterC7_/status/1959321241833324737","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CarterC7_/status/1959321241833324737 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1856477"],"_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-68ba062700760"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kahalewai broke out in his first varsity action with a massive 265 receiving yards and 4 TDs on 8 catches in Spring Valley's opening game. He's a smooth, fluid athlete that showed his playmaking ability after the catch taking multiple screens the distance and did a good job attacking the seams for explosive plays. Has soft, natural hands as a pass catcher and has flashed some instincts finding voids against zone coverage. Kahalewai is a playmaker on the rise early into his sophomore season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/KingKahalewai/status/1960327724201058337","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/KingKahalewai/status/1960327724201058337 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1855145"],"_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-68ba06270080f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Dobbs has flashed some promising upside as a passer through Foothill's first three games of the season. The rising sophomore has earned time early on and played well in the Falcons' week 2 victory over Mojave completing 10/15 passes for 161 yards and 3 TDs. He has good size and mobility at 6'3"/180, has shown great pocket toughness and awareness, and delivers an accurate ball on the move. Dobbs is putting his name on the 2028 QB radar early into his sophomore campaign.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/23780170/68b7c2e4170858ab3c5136fb' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68ba062700b86"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1675012"],"_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-68ba062700c12"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McZeal is putting his name on the radar as one of Nevada's rising two-way skill guys in the state's 2028 class. The sophomore WR/DB has 8 catches for 236 yards and 4 TDs through Palo Verde's first two games of the season including a 3-TD performance in his varsity debut. He's a lean, twitchy athlete that can create separation with his ability to change speeds and come out of his breaks with noticeable burst and acceleration. He's raw at CB but has flashed some promising physicality and open-field tackling. McZeal is showing great upside in his playmaking ability and athleticism early into his varsity career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/XMczeal1/status/1956831115383382337","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/XMczeal1/status/1956831115383382337 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->