Churchland Middle School Standouts - Hampton Roads, VA

The Churchland Truckers Middle School Team beat Portsmouth rival Waters Middle School 70-6 on Thursday evening. They showcased aggression, athleticism, and good execution on both sides of the ball. Churchland has always been a very talented district at both the middle and high school levels. Below are a list of standout players who caught my eye and were statistically productive that evening.    Grayson was flying around and making tackles in the Truckers 70-6 victory over Waters Middle. He is a man among boys who shows great length and pursuit. He makes violent tackles that are loud, and can single handedly disrupt an offensive game plan. He shows relentless pursuit, as he is always tracking the ball carrier and finishing the play. He plays with an attitude and edge that are noticeable. His athletic ability is impressive, as he also plays RB in different situations. He had 3 2-pt conversions, in which he was running over tacklers at the goal line. Grayson is a 2030 who should absolutely be on the radar of D1/FBS college programs and is worthy of camp invites after freshman season. He needs to improve his use of hands at the LOS, but he has size/speed/aggression that you can't teach.     Chance is a DT with good size and frame. He flashes gap discipline, power, leverage, and hand usage. He shows range and pursues QB. He also stays at home and defends inside run, making garbage tackles. He can be a prototypical college recruit in 2 years, as he is solid and checks multiple boxes. His fundamentals are good for a young player and will continue to improve. As his processing speed improves, so will his game speed. He can anchor A-gaps, and chase QBs out of the pocket. He can be a Division 1 offer talent.     Steven is Churchland's featured back and most polished runner. He is the go to option in the offense and shows skills beyond his years at the positon. He does a great job of pressing the holes with both urgency and patience. He shows footwork, balance, and bend as he runs between the tackles. He is always following his blocks looking for daylight. He has both burst and long speed for an 8th grader. Not a huge kid, but is a north/south runner who is quick and sudden. He scored 3 TDs on Thursday's game and is an integral part of their success.     Long corner who looks like he will grow, long arms and legs. Had 2 ints, 1 of which was a pick 6. Smooth strider, very good long speed. Shows good burst and transitions well. Flashes a back pedal at CB, shows hip fluidity and COD, definitely not stiff. Believe he is an ATH, who will wind up recruited as a CB. Everything about him is smooth, natural, and effortless. Doesn't look like he is trying hard, but moves fast. Shows good ball skills, hand eye coordination, and soft hands. Also plays basketball, looks like a 2 guard, dribbles well. Video of him dunking. If he grows, will definitely hit football recruiting radar.     Mike did a fantastic job of facilitating the offense on Thursday. There were very few penalties and the offense was smooth and efficient. Mike had 2 TD passes and 2 2-pt conversions as part of the truckers 70 pt. performance. Mike is patient in the pocket and does not rush. He has great command and a calming presence on the field. He is consistent on screen throws and accurate on deep passes. He makes the game look simple, easy, and like a game of pitch and catch. I like his style as a signal caller as he shows patience, timing, and poise at the position. He is not built like a QB, but he is tall enough to see over linemen and throw downfield. He has good instincts and understands offense. He can be a varsity QB with continued progression and training.     Rashad has great length and frame for his age. He shows athletic ability and range at the DE position. He flashes aggression and tackling ability, but needs to have a more consistent motor. He projects well as a DE or TE. He needs to get lower and be more physical at the LOS. He shows discipline as a DE, and is rarely out of position. He flashes upside, and as he learns to trust his instincts, he will become more aggressive. I like how he reacts, his length, and ability to play in space. Aggression will be the main point of focus in the next 2 years, but if it comes together he can be a high level prospect. TE or Offensive Tackle are also possibilities, as he has great size and patience.

The Churchland Truckers Middle School Team beat Portsmouth rival Waters Middle School 70-6 on Thursday evening. They showcased aggression, athleticism, and good execution on both sides of the ball. Churchland has always been a very talented district at both the middle and high school levels. Below are a list of standout players who caught my eye and were statistically productive that evening.