Scouting Notebook: Who’s “Next Up” In 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The off season is here, the 7v7 on season is winding down and camp season is right around the corner. The talent in the show- me - state and Sooner Oklahoma has been on full display all year long. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These 5 players have really shined bright when it matters most. They're all young and looking forward to playing high school football soon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2141329"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2180420,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","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-69eb78de32977"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Every year [player_tooltip player_id='2141330' first='Elijah' last='Schultz'] improved his game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Schultz is one of the most athletic young athletes in Missouri. Boasting a 4.65 forty yard dash, and a 325 Bench press in the 8th grade is almost unheard of. Elijah plays the Quarterback position with great poise and always plays under control. As a passer he has become better and better each year I watched him play. His field awareness is quite impressive, while also leading his team in rushing and passing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While playing 7v7 for his Southwest7 squad he was very decisive with his decision making, while showing a live arm that had plenty of zip on his passes. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700"> </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":2180471,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"TJ Pagan","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2030","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"150","_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":"Rockwood South ","_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-69eb78de32abb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">TJ Pagan has really started to turn some heads with his play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I finally received the privilege to watch Pagan play in 7v7. He did not disappoint by scoring multiple touchdowns, and making very impressive catches. Pagan has had a very productive off season being named MVP in the Elite middle school combine, but I loved what i saw out of him playing in a competitive football game setting. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pagan is a true gamer that loves the game and loves winning even more. Highly competitive and talented Pagan is on the right track of being something special. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=1ad31557ded088d8&amp;rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS1179US1195&amp;q=privilege&amp;si=AL3DRZGSvjzKqriRqgxv6yxzzpqqb-jtSlQp0SuHgtKzsvKjNvgePtTOvDhDILy2j9khAudQZBJ0nzZcDKU8e7YGFtVObrwu0veFT_q14L9VCojdOF8VyP4j1JNnArgQk5awnuRXpGWq-UzqKDljbUR7adDlG1cHCA%3D%3D&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjkz-Lhv4aUAxXFmCsGHTv9ANkQyNoBKAB6BAgYEAA&amp;ictx=1"></a></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":2180427,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='2161339' first='Kaleb' last='Tran']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2030","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'10u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"140","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2411","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Willard High School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"Checktape7","_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-69eb78de32bbe"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Tran is very athletic, and just scratching the surface of his potential. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2161339' first='Kaleb' last='Tran'] has all the necessary tools to become a force when its time for him to play high school football. He has good size and great speed at any position he's inserted on either side of the football. Tran plays in the backfield for his school and performed great, but for his checktape7 7v7 squad he played out wide and defensive back, and had a fantastic 7v7 season. Showing his versatility he possesses, he ran good crisp routes, with soft hands to pluck the ball out of the air. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I can't wait to see his development going into high school football next year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS1179US1195&amp;sca_esv=1ad31557ded088d8&amp;biw=1280&amp;bih=631&amp;q=necessary&amp;si=AL3DRZGSvjzKqriRqgxv6yxzzpqqb-jtSlQp0SuHgtKzsvKjNs02YCC-3PV9qTGj4K8ahT8IyU9L_SQMeSphGkB7bufPR1FZnuhbliLSC3ug2H8acKExp9Z6G2-duDHhlHHLf2Ln9GJYYekBLMikcOgQpcKBMsmO6Q%3D%3D&amp;sa=X&amp;sqi=2&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjbqaD3woaUAxXVNIYAHejyESEQyNoBKAB6BAgYEAA&amp;ictx=1"></a> </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":2180429,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Amare Harrison","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2031","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'7u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"120","_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":"Atoka Middle School ","_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-69eb78de32cd0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The young man from the Sooner state had himself a fantastic 7v7 season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harrison already posses the size at about 5'7 120 as only a 7th grade athlete with the frame to handle plenty growth to spare. I had the pleasure of watching him basically dominate every game he played in at the Oklahoma open 7v7 tournament. At times he was just too watch for the opposing defense, he can take the top off of the defense in seconds, displaying good speed and the ability to high point the ball over corners. </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":2180431,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Brodes Evans","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2032","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'5u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"115","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2409","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Oaxhale Middle School ","_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-69eb78de32dc2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Evans is the youngest of the group and he shows the poise of a player much older. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brodes Evans at the Oklahoma Open seemed like he was always in control, which is very advanced for a player at his age. He always knew where to go with the football and kept his Edmond Dawgs offense humming and super efficient. Evans comes equipped with a live arm and above average football IQ. He has great throwing mechanics, and great ball placement. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I think Evans is going to be a great high school football player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->