Monthly Check-In on Top Prospects Across Eastern/Mid-Penn

<!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1282115"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab159f465517"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Currently ranked as a top 100 prospect and firmly in the discussion for the top quarterback spot in Pennsylvania's 2027 class. The PA 2027 quarterback class has been heavily underrecruited for reasons I won't get into. Drakeley, in my opinion, has felt the brunt of that lack of acknowledgement, although I've been preaching patience with his recruitment for more than 18 months.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Through four games, he has averaged more than 200 passing yards per game in an offense that has also showcased a dominant rushing attack. Nine passing touchdowns through four games. He recently posted a four game highlight tape that fully showcases why I believe he should be looked at fondly by a handful of Group of Five FBS programs, despite currently being unoffered.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first rep on tape has Drakeley launching a ball roughly 50 yards through the air with a standard, unexaggerated hitch, seamlessly connecting for a score against an impressive defensive back group. I applaud him for putting this rep first. That throw alone immediately puts him among the best quarterbacks in his class and further validates what I've seen from him as a sophomore, junior and now senior. I watch tape all day. There are probably fewer than 10 quarterbacks in his class who can make and complete a throw like the first one on his tape.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is a lefty and a legitimate 6'3. Depth perception and downfield accuracy are both pluses. Mental processing is probably his calling card. Here's hoping college coaches realize just how far along he is mentally.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is a ton of production and a ton of experience here. Drakeley is about as seasoned as a high school quarterback prospect can and should be. He operates an offense with a lot of moving parts both presnap and postsnap. This is not a cookie cutter offense. There are a ton of creative passing concepts that demand correct footwork, processing and timing. College coaches should applaud Drakeley for operating so seamlessly within an offense as creative as this one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I stand firm on my FBS grade, yet I'm still surprised FCS programs aren't clamoring for him. Further proof of just how brutal the quarterback recruiting landscape can be. No excuse, in my opinion. I'll be actively pushing his name on social media and directly to coaches even harder than I have in the past.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1266006"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab159f46555f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ranked as a top 10 tight end among Pennsylvania's 2028 juniors and just 15 spots away from cracking the top 100. I've had a chance to see him twice through four weeks of travel and will likely see him again before the season ends.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He posted about a minute and a half of quality reps. The first rep showcases him in line in a traditional tight end alignment, presnap in a three point stance. He makes an impact as a blocker, delivering a kickout block that springs open a first down. More in line, hand in the dirt tight end reps show up later in the tape, with him again down blocking to spring pullers or fullbacks, all of which lead to positive plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A tough kid whose skill set could easily transition to edge or outside linebacker, in my opinion. He gets his backside into the correct hole off the snap and gives his ball carrier a great guide to work behind. He is an offerable prospect based on the blocking reps, developmental potential and size alone. I'm sure college coaches would love to see more route running and pass catching reps, if not defensive reps as well, but we also have to remember how loaded Malvern Prep is at just about every position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He can block at the second level. I want to see him showcase a little better agility and lateral movement when approaching defenders in space, but the power, locating skills and upper body strength are all there for him to become a prominent second level blocker. Excited to see him again at some point this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1369464"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab159f4655a3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A current junior talented enough to earn offers today. Waking up and seeing Johnson announce FBS offers wouldn't surprise me. He still has to earn everything, but in terms of checking off boxes, Johnson does just that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I had a chance to see him up close and personal this past offseason. His Week 4 performance caught my attention and made me want to include him in this piece. Johnson recorded two sacks and five tackles for loss and was an absolute monster on the defensive side of the ball. Earlier in the season, he recorded 70 receiving yards and eight touchdowns on six receptions, further proving the point that this is an all around athletic phenom.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the same game where he registered two sacks, Johnson also accounted for more than 50 offensive yards and another touchdown, contributing wherever he was needed. His presence was felt throughout a recent 35 point victory over Spring Grove High School.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I previously ranked Johnson as a Division I caliber player. More two way reps like what I've seen from him in Weeks 2 and 4 make me feel validated in the preseason grade I gave him. I was late on his older brother, [player_tooltip player_id='1709818' first='Legend' last='Johnson']. I won't make that mistake again when it comes to promoting this young man a little earlier. Johnson will be an easy sell to Division I coaches, so long as he continues working hard in the classroom</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1644504"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab159f4656a5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A top 15 junior out of Pennsylvania who is currently ranked as the third best edge rusher in the entire class. High praise for a cemented Power Four recruit who recently picked up an offer from Vanderbilt University.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I had the opportunity to see Victor live in full pads for what, surprisingly, was the first time since his transfer to Roman Catholic. Dominant showing. I saw number 16 flashing every two or three plays. He was up against an elite running back on a team that wants to run the football, and some of the edge setting and gap control I saw out of Victor was that of a Power Four recruit. I also saw his frame up close, and it becomes pretty obvious why he is coveted the way he is, even if you take the tape and production out of the equation.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I had the chance to see him operate in space a little more than I expected. I like to think of Victor as a line of scrimmage, speed and length pass rusher, yet seeing him blow up a screen outside the hash marks makes me even more excited about his recruiting potential and future. There is serious speed off the edge, and I don't even think he has fully unlocked his speed rush repertoire yet. The raw stride and length were on full display. His closing speed is elite.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When fringe Division I edge rushers think they have legitimate speed off the edge, I recommend watching Victor's tape to see if they can match it. He sets the standard. He had a phenomenal weak side chase down of an outside zone run going away from him, which again flashed why he sets the standard for athleticism and speed off the edge among Pennsylvania's 2028 recruits. It was a pleasure watching him work live.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["302362"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab159f465733"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The reclassification to the class of 2029 will certainly help his recruiting. That being said, I think Kern would be receiving the recruiting attention he is getting right now whether he was a 2028 or a 2029. There has always been one caveat with his projection and potential: putting production on tape.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kern passes the eye test. I hear nothing but good things about his grades and his work ethic in the weight room. This is the type of player my grandmother could scout, and of course I mean that as a positive. The only caveat has always been, “Let's see it on tape.” Thankfully, he has been tagging me throughout his games this season. I thought this was a good time to finally dig deeper into what I'm seeing, especially with recent offers from NC State, UConn and Tulane.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kern penned a first four game tape consisting of more than 200 seconds of quality reps at left tackle. One of my biggest questions surrounding his projection was his ability to get out of his stance, show us a kickback move and move fluidly and athletically. I think he is quickly answering several of those questions based on tape alone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I particularly love his reps as a run blocker. Of course, I'm going to value pass protection over run blocking when evaluating a left tackle, but when identifying Kern's movement skills early in this tape, what immediately catches my eye is his ability to get his backside into the correct hole, move his feet, move his hips and strike with his helmet inside the defender. In doing so, he paves the way for his teammates and ball carriers to read and react behind him. Low pad level, a ton of intent, moving with a purpose and playing with a sense of urgency. This is the Kern that I have been waiting to see.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Again, I'm going to value the pass protection reps more than the run blocking reps at left tackle, but seeing him shuffle while maintaining his balance and low pad level is a huge green flag. I also love seeing him play through the whistle. The best offensive linemen in the Northeast play through the whistle and play with a violent temperament. I'm starting to see flashes of that out of Kern. We want opposing defenses to dread lining up across from him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Through the first month of the season, I can see that presence beginning to build. I'm happy to see the recruiting attention catching up. This is a Power Four offensive line prospect with the potential to leap back inside the top 20. We simply needed the recruiting to match the grade. He is already ranked within our Power Four threshold and sits just 10 to 15 spots outside of a certified Power Four grade. His early season tape is proving that he deserves a slight boost.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2264685"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab159f465777"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An unranked sophomore prospect who recently tagged me in his first four game tape. Granger is firmly on my radar now as a District 1 defensive line prospect. He posted two minutes worth of reps, with the tape also showcasing him aligned at center, a position that fits his current height and weight combination well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Granger plays with a low center of gravity and a great base, perfect for a center capable of combo blocking and pushing the pile after the snap. He is a powerful ball of mass. On one rep, a would be tackler and linebacker attempts to enter his personal space, only for Granger to step, strike with his hands and flatten a defender roughly 70 to 80 pounds lighter than he is.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The upper body strikes show up throughout his offensive reps, while his lower body strength and ability to maintain blocks are also evident. Defensively, he can align shaded to either side of a guard and even work across from offensive tackles when playing along the interior defensive line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Granger might ultimately end up ranked on our site as a center. He does a great job steering defenders away from desired gaps and already shows some encouraging power at the position. Good first impression.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1700913"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab159f4657d3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I saw him work live in a scrimmage prior to the season beginning. He has since moved from Penn Charter to St. Joseph's Prep and posted his first three game tape on Hudl the same day this article is being released, giving me about 80 seconds of reps to evaluate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first rep has him serving in a spy role postsnap, eventually leading to a sack during a crucial part of last week's game. The second rep is a good one. He reads the flat, keeps everything in front of him, feels an incoming block and does a good job shedding it with his hands before cleaning up a one on one tackle in open space behind the line of scrimmage. He is contributing well on special teams, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He is a current sophomore ranked inside the top 15 of his class regardless of position. I'm excited to finally put some tape to the name and glad to see him contributing defensively rather than strictly on special teams. To maintain this rank, he is going to have to keep up the level of production he displayed against Malvern Prep.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'll be checking in on him weekly to see if he is progressing the way I expect him to. Potential elite player here.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2238218"],"_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"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab159f465831"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He recently tagged me in his junior varsity highlights. He is a top 20 freshman on a nationally recognized team in Roman Catholic, so playing JV football is not something I consider a detriment to his stock on our site. He is going to have to prove himself and work for playing time in a varsity secondary loaded with Division I talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Several clips on Twitter showcase impressive ball skills downfield and a willingness to help in run support despite his frail frame. All of this came against a premier JV program representing Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey. The players he competed against in this game will arguably become, and in some cases already are, every bit as talented as he is.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a player I've become fond of through the 7 on 7 circuit, as well as last year's Rise Showcase featuring some of the best middle school prospects in the area. Great first impression finally getting to see him in pads.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->