Rising Stars Media Day Quick Notes: Skill Positions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I rolled down to Pontiac on Sunday night to check out Rising Stars Media Day. It was a great event that got me a look at a number of intriguing prospects! The skill guys were solid, with a few new names popping out to me over the course of the night. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1398320"],"_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-69c2970943472"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Antonio is on a pretty crazy trajectory. A couple of years ago, he came out as a thin and athletic LB with raw traits that gave him a high upside. Now, he has packed on A TON of muscle and developed his athleticism a ton. Easily the best LB in the building on Sunday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Broad shoulders and extremely powerful lower half. Explosive first step </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-High football IQ, allowing him to be a leader of the LB group </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Excellent in the agility drills, with great change of direction and acceleration </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1688254"],"_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-69c2970943534"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Elliott has started to separate himself as a top tier 2-way player. With his size and athleticism, the ceiling is as high as anyone in his class. He was one of the most locked in and driven players in the building on Sunday, and it showed with a great performance. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Built incredibly solid, one of the strongest and more explosive athletes in the 2027 class </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Great speed and change of direction allows him to cover ground in a hurry </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Sure hands and great ability to track the ball and high point the ball </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Could legitimately take off on the offensive or defensive side of the ball, or even play both ways at the next level </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1688290"],"_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-69c29709435eb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Julian had a really good night, covering some of the best receivers in the building. Julian is a high ceiling DB with tons of positive traits. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Great change of direction, flips hips quickly and is able to keep his speed up and stay in stride with his man</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Really smart player, understands leverage and how to gain the advantage over his receiver </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Good closing speed allows him to make up any ground he may lose, and play the ball through the receivers hands </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1630822"],"_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-69c297094367e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This was my first time seeing Jayden work, and knew right away he was one of the top DBs. His size and speed was a problem for everyone he was up against. Great showing, with plenty more development to go. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Long and lanky, was able to play the ball no matter where the ball was placed </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Natural athlete with fluid hips and a good backpedal </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Another athlete with good closing speed and long strides, which allowed him to contest everything </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1185143"],"_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-69c2970943712"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It's not often that you see a 6'5 DB that's as smooth and fluid as Mason. I came away very impressed with what he was able to do against some of the twitchy receivers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Great ball skill. Contested everything and was able to gain PBUs more often than just about anyone </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Good change of direction and balance, which allowed him to explode out of his backpedal on the break </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Good football IQ, understands how to win reps in a variety of ways using all of his tools </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1538343"],"_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-69c297094379c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kien was one of the most competitive and locked in guys all night long. His competitive nature was on display from the start, and he never looked back. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Great speed and agility, stood out big-time during the agility drills, and 1 on 1 period </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Strong lower body, which makes him extremely explosive </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Has tremendous upside on either side of the ball. All of his skills translate to either side </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1542243"],"_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-69c297094382e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">What a statement night for Russo. He was practically unguardable at times. His speed and pure athleticism pop on film, and once again popped in person. His stock raised a ton in my eyes in a matter of minutes! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Great route runner, with attention to detail and explosion out of his breaks </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Able to catch in traffic with great ball tracking and ball skill. Came down with an absurd one handed catch that had everybody talking </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>-Could be a really hot commodity on the recruiting trail if he hits the right camps this spring </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->