Success on the football field and the basketball court – Part III
![Success on the football field and the basketball court – Part III](https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/12/179-Brady-Kittelson-crop-4378x2875-1707444039.jpg?w=800)
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For my final football players who also excel on the basketball court, I close out with a group of long athletes ranging from dual-threat quarterbacks to defensive ends. Duke Richardson MN #WL WR #WL HEIGHT 6'1" WEIGHT 170 POS WR…
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Continue ReadingFor my final football players who also excel on the basketball court, I close out with a group of long athletes ranging from dual-threat quarterbacks to defensive ends.
Ranked 32nd on prephoops.comrnRichardson’s future looks to be on the basketball court, but if he wanted to, football programs would be lining up for this guy. He is one of those guys whose basketball skills translate seamlessly onto the football field. He has good straight-line speed, but his body control and length make him dangerous when he runs deep. He is a nightmare for defenders in the red zone as – again – his length makes him a tough cover, but his basketball instincts make him a great ‘rebounder’ in the red zone. He is not just an outside the hashmarks guy either. Richardson has no problem going over the middle and taking contact if needed. The junior is averaging nearly ten points a game for the 13-3 Skippers.
Ranked 35th on prephoops.comrnThe Tornadoes make another appearance on this list with the addition of Borchers. He must be faster than he appears because he always blows by guys on the outside. Then, he hands to make defensive backs pay for getting caught flat-footed. The junior is not just a deep threat; I like his route running and his ability to make contested catches while taking contact. Like many basketball players who also play wide receiver, his ability to adjust in the air and make contested catches shows he didn’t miss many rebounding drills at basketball practice. Most successful receivers do this, but it stood out for Borchers – he uses his hands so well to catch the ball. He rarely lets the ball get near his body when he makes the catch. The junior is averaging nearly 15 points a game while grabbing over four boards a contest.
Highlights
Ranked 109th on prephoops.comrnEsayas looks like he throws an effortless deep ball; when he can step into the throw, he is accurate and can push the ball downfield. He will not pull the ball down and run when his first read is covered, but he has excellent speed once he decides to tuck the ball or a read option is called, and the read is to use his legs. In the open field, he will put a move on a defender and is not afraid of contact. In the pocket, he moves well and throws a good ball on the run. Esayas makes quick, accurate decisions when getting the ball out quickly and when making the read option read. He is currently averaging six points a game for the Wolfpack basketball team.
Ranked 122nd on prephoops.comrnEven though an injury as a junior hindered him, Riggins is tough to block at defensive end. He simply doesn’t give offensive linemen much to hit. Riggins does a great job staying square with the line of scrimmage, forcing offensive linemen and blocking backs to adjust to him. He comes off the ball quickly and has the speed to run plays down from behind. The junior uses quick hands to keep offensive linemen’s hands off his body.
Ranked 171st on prephoops.comrnKittelson is another big-armed, dual-threat quarterback. He makes his deep throws look smooth and easy. He throws an accurate, catchable deep ball and can throw balls on a rope to the sidelines on deep outs. His long, athletic build gives him an ideal build for a quarterback. His athletic ability makes him a threat on designed runs between the tackles. Once on the second level, Kittelson is not looking to slide. He is strong enough to bounce off tackles and athletic enough to make guys miss. Operating almost exclusively out of the shotgun, Kittelson has excellent balance in the pocket, allowing the junior to slip tackles, move in the pocket and buy time. He also plays some defensive back and sometimes returns punts for the Awesome Blossoms. On the basketball court, he is the second leading scorer – at almost 18 points a game for the 19-2 tenth-ranked 1A school.
Ranked 207th on prephoops.comrnI am going to get this out of the way first. On the football field, Hungerholt accounted for over 4200 total yards and 51 touchdowns during his junior season. Obviously, he is a dual-threat quarterback. The best compliment I can give the junior is when he runs, he doesn’t look like a running quarterback – he looks like a running back. When he throws – he looks nothing like a running back – just like a top quarterback in the state. As a runner, he follows blocks well, has speed, and runs with a low pad level. As a passer, Hungerholt throws a nice deep ball and is willing to hang in the pocket and take a hit to complete a pass. I could only find limited basketball stats for the junior, but what I could find had Hungerholt as the leading scorer at 22 points per game.