2029 Rankings Debut: The Top 40

Get 30% Off Your Subscription with Code PRZWV30 at Checkout!   The release of our inaugural 2029 Top 100 rankings provides an early look at some of the top young talent across West Virginia. With most of these prospects just beginning their high school careers, evaluations are based on a combination of freshman film, camp performances, live exposures, athletic traits, and long-term upside. At this stage, projection plays a large role, but there is already plenty of talent emerging throughout the state. These rankings are far from final and will continue to evolve as players gain experience, develop physically, and put more film out for evaluation. For now, this serves as our first look at the names we believe have positioned themselves among the top prospects in the Class of 2029.    2029 Huntington QB [player_tooltip player_id='1581941' first='Marek' last='Midkiff'] is in line to become the next starting quarterback for one of the state's premier programs after a promising freshman season. Midkiff showed encouraging flashes on the JV team and handled his opportunities in spot varsity action well, giving Huntington confidence as he prepares to take over behind center. I also got to see him compete this spring at a 7v7 event, where he stood out against quality competition. While his current size may ultimately affect his long-term college ceiling pending further growth, his ability as a quarterback is evident on film and in person. Midkiff has the tools to keep the Highlanders playing at a high level over the next few seasons, and enters the rankings as the early #2 QB in the class.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/h7EqPk_KuU8?si=rvzWA_7dW9BpfEym </div></figure>     Don't let the small-school label fool you because 2029 Tyler Consolidated QB [player_tooltip player_id='1971724' first='Ashton' last='Morris'] can become one of the better quarterbacks in the state. Morris put together impressive freshman film that had him firmly in the conversation for the #2 quarterback spot in the rankings. Highlight tapes never tell the complete story of a player, but his tape shows a quarterback with encouraging traits and plenty of long-term potential. Morris may be flying under the radar now, but that shouldn't last much longer if his development continues on its current path. I expect Morris to put together a strong four-year career at Tyler Consolidated as more people get the chance to see his game.      2029 Huntington RB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='2136600' first='Tyler' last='Long'] debuts as the early #3 running back after an impressive JV/varsity freshman season that showcased his athletic upside. Long's film stood out because of his burst, speed, and ability to create explosive plays with the ball in his hands. We also had the opportunity to see him compete this offseason at both a 7v7 event and the Exposure Series, where he continued to validate what showed up on tape. His athleticism gives Huntington plenty of flexibility, as he can contribute at multiple skill positions if needed. Long is the type of player who can impact an offense in a variety of ways, making him a valuable piece moving forward. As he continues to develop physically and gain varsity experience, expect his role to keep expanding over the next few seasons.      2029 Princeton OL [player_tooltip player_id='1675743' first='Aiden' last='Robinson'] has carried plenty of buzz dating back to his middle school days, and that early excitement continues to look justified. Robinson is expected to step into a starting role this season for the defending Class AAA state champions after seeing spot varsity action and performing well on the JV team as a freshman. Robinson has also been active on the camp circuit this offseason, where he earned his first college offer from Concord. His early recruiting attention and ability, combined with the opportunity to start for one of the state's top programs, make him one of the top young offensive linemen to watch closely. Expect Robinson to remain near the top of the OL rankings as he continues developing over the next three seasons.      2029 Philip Barbour K [player_tooltip player_id='1719305' first='Ayden' last='Thorne'] debuts as the #1 kicker in the class after a strong freshman season for the Colts. Thorne made an immediate impact as a specialist, showing the consistency and confidence that coaches value from their kicking game. He converted 55/61 of his PAT attempts while also connecting on 4/6 field goals, proving he could be counted on. His early leg strength was encouraging, allowing him to drive kickoffs deep at times while also handling punting duties when called upon. If Thorne continues building on the success of his freshman season, he has the potential to become a sought-after specialist prospect by his senior year.      2029 South Charleston WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='1716380' first='Amari' last='Valentine'] is another young playmaker who highlights the bright future of the Black Eagles' program. Valentine earned a varsity starting role as a freshman, which speaks to his early ability and the confidence his coaches had in him. His game translates well to either side of the ball, giving South Charleston valuable versatility as he continues to develop. Valentine is a well-rounded athlete who has the tools to impact the game in multiple ways. With three years of varsity football still ahead of him, he has the opportunity to become a key piece as the Black Eagles work toward returning to their traditional level of success. His athleticism and two-way ability make him a player worth following closely over the next few seasons.      There may not be a player in this ranking range with more positional versatility than 2029 Wheeling Park WR/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1736010' first='Cailiek' last='Demello']. Demello spent his freshman season making plays at receiver and linebacker after primarily playing running back in middle school, but his best long-term projection could ultimately be LB. His 6'1 190 build gives him plenty of flexibility as he continues to grow and develop, allowing him to fit several different roles depending on how his game evolves. That athletic profile is a major reason for his high ranking, as there are multiple paths for him to become a productive varsity player. His versatility and long-term upside make him a player worth following closely over the next few seasons.      2029 Independence WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='1716429' first='Konner' last='James'] is a player with one of the higher ceilings in the class, thanks to his combination of length and athleticism. At 6'3 170, James has a lanky but athletic frame that should continue filling out as he develops over the next few years. Most of his freshman season was spent at the JV level, but the expectation is that he will begin emerging on Friday nights as a sophomore. His coaches are excited about his future as a part of a talented 2029 group that can help keep Independence among the state's top AA programs. James has the physical traits to contribute on either side of the ball, giving the Patriots plenty of flexibility as his role expands. With more varsity opportunities and a larger body of work ahead, he is a player whose ranking could continue trending upward over the next few years.     2029 Oak Glen RB/LB [player_tooltip player_id='2079510' first='Jacob' last='Everett'] already looks like one of the top linebackers in the class, even though most of his available film comes from the offensive side of the ball. Everett had a tremendous freshman season, recording 75 tackles and 5 tackles for loss as Oak Glen's second-leading tackler while adding 715 rushing yards and five touchdowns offensively. His 6'0 210 build, physical style of play, and athleticism for his size and age make linebacker the position I believe gives him the highest long-term ceiling. With key graduation losses ahead of him, he is in line for an even bigger role on both sides of the ball this fall. The production is already there, and if Everett continues building on that foundation, he has the potential to become one of the top defensive prospects in the state over the next three years.      Limited film makes 2029 Independence DL/TE [player_tooltip player_id='2112695' first='Jacob' last='Fleaming'] one of the more difficult players to place in the rankings, but his long-term upside is easy to see. Fleaming checks plenty of boxes from a physical standpoint, bringing a big frame along with the athleticism to develop into a difference-maker on either side of the ball. His current ranking is more a reflection of the limited body of work available than his overall potential, but expect that to change as he takes on a much larger varsity role during his sophomore season. Fleaming has the tools to become a standout two-way contributor for the Patriots over the next three years. As more film becomes available, don't be surprised to see him make a significant climb in future updates.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/jayfleam/status/2065464334277382500 </div></figure>

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