Multi-Sport Monsters Proving One Sport Was Never Enough

For years now, there's been this push in youth sports that the best way to get good at football is to focus only on football. Train year‑round, specialize early, and pour every rep into one sport. But talk to just about any coach who's been around the game for a while, and you'll hear a different story. Some of the best football players they've ever coached were multi‑sport athletes.    The footwork from soccer, the body control from basketball, the different skills required to compete in different environments — it all carries over. And when you watch the film on these guys, that connection becomes pretty obvious. Whether it's a receiver with basketball‑style body control, a route runner whose footwork clearly comes from years on the soccer pitch, or a kicker whose comfort striking the ball started somewhere else entirely, the crossover shows up everywhere. The players below are proof that being a multi‑sport athlete isn't a distraction from football — in a lot of ways, it's one of the best things you can do to get better at it. Each one of them earned all‑region recognition in football and in a winter sport as well, and when you watch their film, it's pretty easy to see how those other sports show up in the way they play.     Daryl Little plays receiver like a hooper who got tired of people tackling him — and that's meant as a compliment. The burst, the stop‑start, the way he can eat cushion in two steps and then snap you at the top of the route… it all screams basketball footwork and body control. He's got that natural looseness in his movements where he can throttle down, change direction, and get back up to speed without looking like he's working very hard. But he's not just quick — he's also got the size and length that makes DBs uncomfortable when the ball's in the air, because he can extend and play above defenders in ways smaller receivers simply can't. The production backs it up too. Over 1,400 yards, 24 yards per reception, 15 touchdowns through the air, another four scores from either taking handoffs or returning interceptions. And it's really not surprising he's all‑region in basketball, even earning region defensive player of the year, because that defensive intensity and awareness show up on the football field too. As a defensive back he's instinctive, active with his hands, and always seems to have a good feel for where the ball is headed. Once he gets possession, he's tough to bring down in space, and the funny thing is it never really looks like he's moving that fast. He just glides, and suddenly he's ten yards past you.     Austin Raths is a separator, and it's the footwork that really makes everything else in his game work. You can see the soccer background immediately in the way he moves through routes — the way he sinks his hips, plants, and snaps out of breaks with clean, controlled steps. Nothing looks wasted. Every movement has a purpose, and that's why he's able to create space even when defensive backs are playing him tight. The production backs that up too. He's been a high‑volume receiver who consistently moves the chains and finds the end zone. One thing that really stands out on tape is his ability to track the ball over his shoulder. That's a skill that separates true pass catchers from guys who only win when they're wide open, and Raths looks comfortable locating it and adjusting to it even when he's running at full speed. He's also tough through contact and doesn't panic when defenders are draped on him, which makes him a really reliable option working out of the slot. When you combine the route running, the ball skills, and the soccer‑driven footwork, you end up with a receiver who just looks very controlled and aware of his body at all times — the type of player who always seems to know exactly where his feet need to be, even when everything around him is chaotic.     Skyler Lawrence has that “quarterback's best friend” feel as a receiver because he understands space and pacing, not just running fast in a straight line. He gets off the line quickly, runs clean, crisp routes, and looks comfortable working out of the slot where receivers have to process coverage on the fly and settle into the right window. There's a patience to the way he moves through his routes too — he's not just sprinting everywhere, he understands how to throttle down, widen throwing lanes, and give his quarterback an easy target. The encouraging part is that his skill set doesn't feel locked into the slot either. The route detail and spatial awareness translate well enough that he could line up outside if needed and still win reps. The basketball background shows up in the way he moves as well. His changes of direction are controlled, he understands body positioning, and he plays with that natural sense for spacing that good hoopers tend to have.     Israel Carmona gives coaches options as a kicker — not just “kick it,” but how you want to kick it based on the situation. Some guys are just leg strength, some guys are just technique, but he's got a nice blend of both and it shows up across his tape. The mechanics are clean, the contact point is consistent, and he looks comfortable repeating the same motion over and over without things looking rushed. Where he really stands out though is in the punting game. The fun part is how developed he is mechanically — directional punts, little situational kicks, onside kicks, all those small special teams details that can quietly steal field position or even an extra possession if they're executed right. That stuff only works if the kicker is precise, and Carmona looks like someone who takes real pride in the craft. The soccer background ties into that too. Being an all‑region forward shows up in how comfortable he is manipulating the ball with his foot and staying calm under pressure. If you're projecting where the ceiling goes from here, it probably comes down to adding more strength and pop in the weight room. If that extra power shows up, you're looking at a pretty complete kicking game that can genuinely change how teams think about field position once they cross midfield.     As a receiver, Hunter Thompson is a real vertical problem because he can beat you in a couple different ways. If a corner gets lazy with leverage he can flat-out run by him on the outside, but even when a defender stays in phase he's still dangerous because he's comfortable going up and getting the ball in the air. The hands are reliable, the timing is good, and there's a competitiveness at the catch point where he treats those 50‑50 balls like they're his. What makes his game even more interesting is that the same traits show up when he flips to defense. He's not just a one-way receiver — he's also a first‑team all‑region defensive back in football, which makes sense once you watch how naturally he tracks the ball and reacts to it in the air. Those receiver instincts translate directly to the defensive side, letting him read routes, stay in phase, and attack the football instead of just trying to survive the rep. And then you add the fact he's also first‑team all‑region in soccer as a defender, which honestly explains a lot about the movement skills. The balance, the body control, the ability to stay composed while competing for balls in the air — it all shows up in the little moments on tape. When you watch him move, jump, and adjust to the ball, it just looks like a legit two‑sport athlete who understands how to compete for space and win it.     Austen Honsa is the kind of specialist who changes how a game feels, because the ball just sounds different coming off his foot — and the production backs that up pretty quickly once you start looking at the results. What really jumps out is the motion. It's smooth, calm, and repeatable, the kind of swing where every kick looks almost identical, whether it's a short chip shot or something from real distance. Even when he gets into a longer attempt, it doesn't suddenly turn into a violent or rushed swing — it's basically the same motion with just a slightly bigger follow‑through, which is exactly what coaches want to see from a young kicker. That consistency is a big reason he's been trusted to handle plenty of punting duties as well, being a guy you can rely on to give your defense some breathing room. Being all‑region in soccer and having the goalie mindset shows up in the way he strikes through the ball and stays composed in pressure moments. Kicking is always a mental battle as much as a mechanical one, and Honsa looks like someone who's comfortable in those moments.     Dane Hartnett is the definition of “don't put him in a box,” because he's one of those rare high school athletes who can legitimately affect the game at a bunch of spots without looking out of place. On offense, he's shown he can carry a rushing load like a true runner — he had a night where he ripped off 120 yards and four touchdowns on just 14 carries — and he's also got enough arm talent to push the ball downfield and extend plays behind the line to buy more time. What stands out most though is the feel he plays with. He just seems to naturally understand where space is about to open up, how to angle a run, or when to slow things down and let the play develop. That kind of spatial awareness is tough to teach, and you see it show up whether he's handling the ball or moving around without it. On the defensive side, the same versatility pops up again. He can stay in phase with receivers, compete at the catch point, and go up and win those jump‑ball moments that can swing a possession. It's the kind of all-around athletic profile you tend to see with multi-sport guys who are comfortable reacting when the play breaks down instead of panicking.     Erik Benjamin is one of those kickers where the first thing you notice isn't “pretty,” it's “power,” because the ball explodes off his foot on kickoffs and carries like it's got somewhere to be. It jumps off the tee and climbs in a hurry, the kind of kick that makes returners start drifting backward right away just to get underneath it. Mechanically, it isn't always textbook-smooth, but the raw leg talent is obvious and that's the stuff you simply can't teach — the rest is reps and tightening the same motion over time until it becomes second nature. What stands out from the tape though, is that he doesn't need everything to be perfect to get a clean strike. If the timing is off a little or the rush gets there quicker than anticipated, he still finds a way to get solid contact on the ball. That ability to adjust on the fly is a really underrated trait for young kickers, and it's usually what separates a kid who simply has a strong leg from someone who has what it takes to develop into a true weapon.

For years now, there's been this push in youth sports that the best way to get good at football is to focus only on football. Train year‑round, specialize early, and pour every rep into one sport. But talk to just about any coach who's been around the game for a while, and you'll hear a different story. Some of the best football players they've ever coached were multi‑sport athletes.

Daryl Little II

ATH

HEIGHT 6'2"

WEIGHT 185

POS ATH

CLASS 2028

View Player

Daryl Little II

State: Arizona

School: Thunderbird

Highlights

Austin Raths

POS WR

CLASS 2027

Austin Raths

School: Coconino

Skyler Lawrence

POS WR

CLASS 2027

Skyler Lawrence

School: Combs

Israel Carmona

POS K

CLASS 2028

Israel Carmona

School: Queen Creek

Hunter Thompson

POS ATH

CLASS 2027

Hunter Thompson

School: Rio Rico

Austen Honsa

POS K

CLASS 2027

Austen Honsa

School: Canyon View

Dane Hartnett

POS ATH

CLASS 2028

Dane Hartnett

School: Sahuarita

Erik Benjamin

POS K

CLASS 2027

Erik Benjamin

School: Mountain View - Marana

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Multi-Sport Monsters Proving One Sport Was Never Enough

In this article:

Daryl Little II

Daryl Little II

Highlights

Austin Raths

Austin Raths

Skyler Lawrence

Skyler Lawrence

Israel Carmona

Israel Carmona

Hunter Thompson

Hunter Thompson

Austen Honsa

Austen Honsa

Dane Hartnett

Dane Hartnett

Erik Benjamin

Erik Benjamin

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