On the Rise: Colorado’s Next Wave of Football Talent

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Five of Colorado's Sophomore and Freshmen poised to take the next step:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":"Niall Karriker","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_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":"2411","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Palisade HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-69474c1568724"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Niall Karriker from Palisade HS showed a lot of promise in his FR tape.&nbsp; Standing at 5'10 170, Karriker runs hard with the ball in his hands, getting the edge with ease and finding holes when stretching the defense on outside runs.&nbsp; While he's mainly a RB/WR, Karriker also threw some passes from under center this season, showing a strong arm - more so attributing to show hes got some advanced strength for his age.&nbsp; Defensively, Karriker makes plays on the football, consistently high pointing and attacking the ball in the air for INTs.&nbsp; Certified ball hawk.&nbsp; Kirriker's promise was recognized, and got some time with the varsity squad the second half of the season ending with 6 tkls, multiple on KO coverage.&nbsp; On KO, he was consistently the first man down and made 2 TKLs there.&nbsp; Karriker is one of the next stars for this Palisade team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /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":"Aydin Shaffer","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"120","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Coal Ridge","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-69474c156882c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Aydin Shaffer's film really caught my eye.&nbsp; Manning the Titans' JV Defense at MLB, Shaffer triggers well on runs and isn't afraid to throw his whole body into tackles at full speed.&nbsp; He also consistently pursuits the ball downfield with multiple fumble recoveries due to his hustle.&nbsp; An instinctive player, Shaffer is just a FR and will grow into a valuable player on the Titans 2nd level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /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":"Kaeden Shriver","_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":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"190","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2496","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Cherokee Trail","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-69474c1568911"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">With 90 TKLs, Kaeden made a statement being 2nd on the team as only a Sophomore.&nbsp; Shriver does a great job keeping depth, shuffling square to the LOS, and wrapping up ball carriers, never stopping his feet through the tackle.&nbsp; His stance also shows takes coaching, knees inside his toes very balanced stance.&nbsp; In zone coverage, Shriver excels finding threats - communicating when his threats leave his zones and immediately looks for his next threat, consistently forcing incompletions.&nbsp; He keeps his feet hot, ready to quckly rally and make plays on the ball.&nbsp; In the run game, Shriver keeps himself clean by using his length to keep OL at bay and shed to make the tackle.&nbsp; At 6'1 190, he's got prototype size and length for the position.&nbsp; I expect Shriver to be one of the state leaders in tackles next year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /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":"Liam Contreras","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2029","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"150","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2408","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Palisade HS","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-69474c15689eb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">5'7 150 Liam Contreras is another budding star for the Palisade Bulldogs.  Earning his way reps on varsity at LB, Contreras ended the season with 9 TKLs and 1 TFL.  At LB, Contreras shows good range from his good explosiveness and a quick trigger.  He really covers ground in a hurry on the back end.  On the offensive side, Contreras is a dynamic runner!  He shows great make you miss ability and can change direction and cut at full speed.  I'm excited the ceiling of young Contreras and makes quite the duo in the '29 class with Niall Karriker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1648961"],"_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-69474c1568a64"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">At 6'0 160, Mensah Jr has good size for the cornerback position.&nbsp; Possessing a tall, lanky frame Mensah shows up in the run game getting dirty between the tackles and as the edge of the defense on the outside.&nbsp; Mensah shows good tools in man coverage - push to move, mirror and expand with the WR while maintaining leverage.&nbsp;&nbsp; His play in the half turn is developing as well.&nbsp; What I love is his tenacity and hard work on special teams, working hard as a gunner on punt, recovering 2 fumbles, and running hard on kickoff coverage.&nbsp; To take the next step I want to see Mensah continue to get comfortable in his movements specifically in transitioning, baseball turn, and back pedal.&nbsp; Mensah is a long corner that can run and with continuously developing good tools the sky is the limit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->