Spring Practice Report: Warren Central (Pt. 1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the next couple of weeks we will be pounding the pavement in Indiana, checking out some top prospects in the entire state, starting with the central Indianapolis region. Yesterday, we visited Warren Central High School in Indianapolis, where the Warriors kicked off spring ball. Here is Part 1 of our two-part article on who stood out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2127818"],"_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-69d52992d05a3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Team is fired up about [player_tooltip player_id='2127818' first='Antonio' last='Niles'], a 6-foot-6, 260-pound Class of 2028 recruit with immense upside. Big, lean and strong, loves the gym, flashed great first-step quickness during the individual period. Still very raw and just needs to learn to play the game, but the sky is the limit. What struck me the most about him, in-person at practice, was how much he takes coaching; very good listener who does exactly what they tell him to do every time. He is definitely a name college coaches will want to see at the team's college day workout in May.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2141808"],"_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-69d52992d0609"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Darryl Gates is the next big thing to come out of Warren Central and I think he will be one of the top 2028 prospects in the state sooner rather than later. Really reminds me of New Palestine TE [player_tooltip player_id='1180305' first='Mason' last='Oglesby']: a great receiver with soft hands, creates separation well as a route runner. High-points the ball well with great body adjustment high and low. Can leap over defenders and be a legit threat over the MOF. High academic prospect and multi-sport athlete.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1867076"],"_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-69d52992d0657"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1867076' first='Dexter' last='Smith'] is a tackling machine. The 6-foot-0, 215-pound linebacker is a great downhill hitter with strong straight-line speed and top-shelf instincts. Smith is very, very twitchy, displays quickness to read and react, and is a great open-field tackler. He recorded 138 total tackles, ranked No. 4 in 6A in 2025, and added 4.5 sacks on defense; expect big things in 2026.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1280907"],"_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-69d52992d06a3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1280907' first='Zechariah' last='Wallace'] is very good and it's surprising a Power 4 team hasn't pulled the trigger yet. Wallace has the size and frame for the position. Tall, long arms, wide catch radius, great at beating press and creating separation. Good downfield speed, burst, take-off at the line-of-scrimmage. Good route runner and speed for his size, legit downfield threat with great adjustment to the ball. Holds multiple Group of 5 offers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->