Buckeye State Blitz 18U First Team

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What a great weekend in Lebanon! I have combed over all of the top performers I got the chance to see over the weekend and have put together a team of the very top players on both sides of the ball! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">QB </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Keeanu Darji</em></strong>- HARM (NJ) had an unreal weekend, and Darji was the catalyst. Great arm, great leadership and a knack for hitting the big throw at the right time. Super impressive weekend for Keeanu. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1157439' first='Duke' last='Banta']</em></strong>- Legacy's [player_tooltip player_id='1157439' first='Duke' last='Banta'] showed me exactly what I wanted to see, and I left questioning why he doesn't have a number of P4 opportunities. Hit every throw to every part of the field with accuracy and velocity. I don't think I saw a bad ball from Duke all weekend long. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1185155' first='Hunter' last='McLaughlin']</em></strong>- Once I got to see a couple of throws from Hunter, I understood what all the hype was about him. Live arm, hitting windows and driving the ball downfield. Undoubtedly one of the best QBs on site this weekend for his Ohio Players. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">WR</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='2154932' first='Avery' last='Bastian']</em></strong>- In my opinion, the breakout performer of the weekend. Incredible speed, great hands and a knack for getting open. The Ohio native was a consistent playmaker on both sides of the ball. Someone will get a steal if they give him a shot at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1814286' first='Ke'lahn' last='Thorns']</em></strong>- The size, speed and athleticism to make any defensive back struggle. The Bredwinners (MI) receiver started off with a bang and never looked back. Huge breakout performer in my eyes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Semaj Robinson</em></strong>- His coaches told me they expected a lot out of him, and I got to see it firsthand. Gifted athlete with the explosive traits you love to see out of your wideout. Great hands, tremendous change of direction and a super competitive mindset. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1218397' first='Aiden' last='Graham']</em></strong>-St. X receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1218397' first='Aiden' last='Graham'] was nearly unstoppable this weekend. Insane catch radius. Multiple examples of the QB just tossing it up for him to go get it. An absolutely problem for even the best DBs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Omari Shirriel</strong></em>- Freaky quick slot with great acceleration and reliable hands. Extremely competitive. The PA native has insane upside and put on a clinic in Ohio. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Kane Bell-Pointer</em></strong>- Great performance out of Kane. The Kentucky native was a YAC monster, making guys miss and turning good plays into explosives. Really impressed me and the other scouts and coaches on site. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Jamel Hammary</em></strong>- Another really impressive NJ athlete. Great size at 6'3 200+lbs. Moved well, created separation and used his huge catch radius to come down with some insane catches. Nearly impossible to guard. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Defense </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Andrew Kratee</em></strong>- Great length, fluid hips and great change of direction. Led the entire weekend in DB play. Super impressed with what he can do, the sky is truly the limit for HARM's Andrew Kratee. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1290771' first='Deonte' last='Ellington']</em></strong>- This dude can do everything. Love his rangy ability defensively. His recognition of concepts allows him to be one step ahead always. Great showing from the Detroit native! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='2153861' first='Antwan' last='Williams']</em></strong>- Just a 2029! The Ohio native has already received D1 attention, and it's easy to see why. Athletic frame with the potential to be a prototype. Great athleticism, play recognition and ball skills. Love his potential! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Benji Carter Jr.</em></strong>- The big bad LB out of New Jersey didn't allow anything easy coming across the middle. Great mobility, long arms and the ability to contest everything. Absolutely a P4 guy. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1652566' first='Seth' last='Bernock']</em></strong>- Really impressive performance from Seth in the secondary. The Michigan native was playing sideline to sideline and contesting everything. Love his ball skill and closing speed. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Jess Officer</em></strong>- Another really impressive LB in the middle. Built well, great skill and athleticism for his size. I don't think enough people recognized how impactful he was on the game, as the KY native patrolled the middle. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Deonte Ward</em></strong>- The Tennessee DB was all over the field. Really impressed with how fluid he was. Great hip flip and backpedal, and when he turns to run with the receiver, he's all over the route. QBs had trouble throwing at him all weekend long. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->