Small on paper but huge on the field – part II

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Back from the high school wrestling tournament, here is part two of my focus on some of the best football players who might be – ahem – vertically challenged.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["234788"],"_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_0_evaluation":"Quickness and speed – literally and physically – separates Brooks from the competition. He has great speed and exceptional quickness coming out of his breaks as a wide receiver. Once he gets the ball in space, good luck with getting your hands on him. That vision in the open field makes him one of the most dangerous punt returners coming back in 2024. He makes up for his lack of length by adjusting well to deep balls. Brooks will line up wide and in the slot. He will occasionally take a jet sweep handoff, taking advantage of his speed to the corner.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["551299"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Briggs does a great job trailing a receiver across the middle, staying right in the receiver's hip pocket. He accelerates well once the ball is thrown to get a hand in front of the receiver. He closes so well because he also has great straight-line speed. He has solid hips and quick feet, which allow him to get in and out of his breaks efficiently. Despite his size, Briggs does a solid job defending the run on the outside. He is an effective tackler and will use his hands well to get off blocks.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["945347"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Sheehan is a physical, athletic defender for the Spartans. He is listed as a defensive back but can be found near the line of scrimmage in the box as often as in a traditional defensive back position. The junior is one of the more versatile defenders in the state. He can lineup over, cover the tight end, and man a receiver up on the outside. His quickness makes it tough for outside blockers to lock him down, and his strength helps him take on blockers when they do lock him up. He transitions well from a pass drop to attacking the run. He tackles more like a linebacker than a defensive back – almost like he is a good wrestler or something (he took third in the 145AAA bracket last weekend at the state wrestling tournament).","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["945918"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"As a defensive back, Douglas breaks on the ball quickly and explodes into ball carriers with bad intentions. His speed and vision make him a top kickoff returner. That speed made for one of the best special teams plays of the year. Douglas was punting out of his own end zone on fourth and long. I don't know if it was by design or if he freelanced it, but he found a gap and housed a 95-yard touchdown run. Obviously, he is a beast in the open field. He would be tough to bring down if they were playing two-hand touch. He is a better-than-adequate blocker. He will even line up as a wing and throw a block to secure the edge. The junior will also play quarterback and not just as a runner. He has a 55-yard touchdown pass on his resume – and the run after catch was only about ten yards.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["234776"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Bunke has great anticipation when attacking the line of scrimmage from his linebacker position. Sometimes, it looks like he was in the offensive huddle and already knows the snap count. His quickness often allows him to beat linemen to the punch and get an angle on them – making him tough to square up. When he gets to a ball carrier, he tackles ball carriers with plenty of aggression. Although he looks out of control because of his aggression, Bunke can break down immediately and get in position to make solid tackles. Like he plays on defense, as a running back, Bunke is best when he can make one cut and explode upfield. Mainly a threat in the running game, the junior can also catch out of the backfield.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65ebe7b6abc85"} /-->