2027 Prospects Due for Big Recruiting Jumps

<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2061128"],"_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-69a0e68a64039"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">At 6'3 180, [player_tooltip player_id='2061128' first='Tommy' last='Bauer'] has a good stature to play WR, CB, or Safety at the next level.  He shows long arms and high hips and solid hips to make agile moves at full speed and change directions at the top of routes.  Averaging 16.5 YPC this season, Bauer runs good routes and consistently attacks 50/50 balls at their highest point utilizing his length and frame.  At CB, Bauer is great in zone coverage, quickly adjusting to routes and utilizes his ball skills at WR as a CB as well.  Excited to see Bauer's expanded role next season and see more film!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1970758"],"_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-69a0e68a6413f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1970758' first='Matthew' last='Merilatt'] has good size at 6'1 190.  He's got a short, compact action, doing a great job aligning his shoulder to his target.  Merilatt possesses a strong arm being able to hit hole shots 30+ yards down the field outside the opposite hash.  He can throw a good deep ball with minimal load up.  He has the confidence and poise to look off safeties and has the confidence and rapport with his WRs to throw with anticipation.  His anticipation also comes from a deep understanding of his offense.</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":"Dane Cunningham","_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":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"263","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Fleming","_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-69a0e68a6430c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">An early South Dakota St commit, Dane Cunningham has a great bend of size and athlecitism.  Playing 8 man football, the best players are tend to be the most versatile and Cunningham definetly checks that box playing OL, DL, TE, and Kicker.  At 6'3 265, Cunningham rarely lets opponents get to his chest, using a quick strike to give opponets no chance to control him in the trenches. At OL he consistently has good hand placement and tight elbows and runs his feet through contact.  He finished the season with 33 TKLs and 11 TFLs and offensively 19 catches for 186 yds and 3 TDs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1641412"],"_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-69a0e68a643da"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1641412' first='Brayden' last='Higgins'] is a top threat for Fossil Ridge.  Higgins does a good job of quickly getting vertical after the catch to get instant YAC.  He is strong with the ball in his hands and consistently sheds oncoming tacklers that don't take good angles and runs through arm tackles.  He shows good route running to consistently break into open space against off coverage and zone defenses. Higgins finished the season with 25 catches for 278 yds and 3 TDs, 11.1 YPC.  With most of their weapons returning this season outside of  their WR1 graduating, the Fossil Ridge offense and Higgins should align for a big jump in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1330911"],"_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-69a0e68a6449e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1330911' first='Boomer' last='Herrera'] holds down the blind spot at Mullen Hs standing at a big 6'3 290. What stood out to me first was his tremendous grip strength - if Herrera gets his mitts on you, he's not letting you get to the QB.  He also shows good blocking in space, making sure he's protecting the inside gap first.  In pass pro he does a great job keep square to the LOS as long as he can and gets awarded with the ability to handle stunts and games very very well.  Defensively, Herrera is a wrecking ball, splitting DBL teams and penetrating gaps with havoc off the snap. Herrera is a promising two-way prospect and I'm excited to see him dominate in his senior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->