Smoky Hill Buffaloes: Evaluating the 2027 Rising Senior Class

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smoky Hill Juniors that caught my eye on film</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1112996"],"_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-694f4e8206869"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A steady presence in the middle of the Smoky Hill OL, [player_tooltip player_id='1112996' first='Flynn' last='Latta'] is all too familiar with pancakes blocks with 26 as a JR.  To start, Latta snaps a strong and accurate ball back to the QB.  In pass pro to the slide side, Latta gets good leverage to lift DTs off the ground when coming to help his guards.  In the run game, he maintains a good base and will run his feet for pancakes.  Defensively, Latta has a good get off at his DT spot.  His hands create a lot of shock and knock back creating havoc in the run game quickly.  Against the pass, not many OL can handle his bull rush and he shows an ability to create interior pressure.  Latta ended the year with 28 TKLs and 5 TFLs.  He comes from a rugby background.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1352707"],"_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-694f4e82068ee"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1352707' first='Shaun' last='Lanre-Ahmed'] handled quite the offensive load this season for the Buffaloes with 103 carries!  Leading the team with 486 rushing yards, he also chipped in 3 TDs and showed some ability to be a receiving threat out the backfield with 12 catches.  Lanre-Ahmed does a good job pressing his aiming point and has the vision to find lanes and bounce to open holes after threatening primary holes.  He runs hard and does a good job making cuts and slicing into angles that limit his surface area and limit him taking big hits against head up defenders.  Look for Shaun to be the bell-cow back next season after the 2 other used backs graduated.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1611851"],"_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-694f4e8206944"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Listed at 6'1 285, Acquah is strong and stout at the POA.  Shows flashes of a great get off, at Nose there werent many centers that can handle him when he's at this best.  Acquah does a good job getting extension and locking out in the run game to blow up plays early in the backfield.  He pursuits hard downfield and picked up multiple tackles 15+ beyond the LOS due to tracking back.  Finishing the season with 19 TKLs, with more consistency Acquah could push himself into the conversation of a Top 15 IDL next season.</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":"Malachi Pacheco","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"160","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Smoky Hill","_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-694f4e8206a19"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Malachi Pacheco was 2nd on the team with 113 yards this season averaging 12.6 YPC with a long of 49.  He shows some good hips, flipping with good balance and no false steps.  When the play breaks down in scramble drills situations, he finds open grass in QB friendly windows.  With the Buffaloes leading reciever graduating, Pacheco should take a bigger role in the offense next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1644894"],"_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-694f4e8206a77"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">At 5'11 265, I love the way [player_tooltip player_id='1644894' first='Ty' last='Benedict'] blocks in the run game.  On pulls he wraps tightly and consistently latches on in the open space.  Benedict is a monster on DBL teams, he stays square and bumps the defensive lineman into his partner OL's favorable position and climbs to his assigned backer very smoothly.  Just really well executed double teams littered in this film.  In his pass sets he is calm with the slide to him and finds work.  On both sides of the ball, he runs his feet after contact and refits his hands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->