Freshman Friday: Episode 5

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Happy Friday, and welcome back to one of my favorite weekly series. Every Friday, we take a look at some of the youngest players in the state. Freshmen are making an impact this season all across the state, and we want to highlight them. We've already highlighted 20 freshmen this season; here's our fifth episode of Freshman Friday. Enjoy!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Freshman Friday: Five Class of 2029 Players To Watch</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["865972"],"_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-68d696025c829"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">We've seen Jenkins at multiple Prep Redzone North Carolina camps, but as the season started, we missed that he's starting at center at Northern Nash. He already has great size and can fire off the ball, but he's snapping the ball well, too. He's not just starting on varsity, but playing well, and he's putting himself in position to play his way into the rankings. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1426916"],"_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-68d696025c8b1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Cuthbertson is doing a great job of getting Nkemberg on the field and playing to his strengths, even at a position he's unlikely to play long-term. Because of his length and get off, Nkemberg is likely destined to be an edge rusher. But at his current size, he's playing off-ball linebacker, and he's at his best while moving towards the line of scrimmage. He's making a huge impact already, and we're excited to see how he develops.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1870841"],"_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-68d696025c923"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Caesar is in the top three in North Carolina in receiving yards, racking up 300 through the first five games of the year. Caesar has had a ton of success over the middle of the field, and his hands, ball skills, and concentration have been on full display. Caesar is a different type of receiver than most freshmen, as he's not getting his yards on manufactured touches or deep balls, but he's showing great route-running and the ability to win where most players don't. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1163065"],"_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-68d696025c98b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Allen is making an enormous impact on junior varsity as a freshman and is a candidate to be a late-season call-up to the varsity. His ball skills are excellent, and he's able to use his length to get his hands on the ball when it's in the air. He's a former PRZ Camp MVP and a guy on our radar, and we're excited to see him progress.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1909457"],"_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-68d696025c9f3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Havelock is used to moving up and down the field on offense, but has struggled to find consistency on offense this season. But Jones may be changing that. Primarily a running back, he's had a bigger impact as a receiver this season, as he had 59 yards and two touchdown catches last time out in a win. He's a bigger freshman, and we could see him becoming either the next great Havelock back or a crafty receiver.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Which other freshmen need to be on our radar? Let me know on Twitter (@<a href="https://x.com/whelms21">whelms21</a>). Want to send this to someone who isn't a subscriber? Promo code Helms30 will take 30% off the first billing cycle of any subscription.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->