Under the Radar - Part VI

Continuing my focus on putting the spotlight on guys who don't get the recognition they deserve, I highlight five more athletes from around the state. These guys don't receive statewide press and haven't gotten coverage from us yet, either. Today, the focus is mainly on athletes on the outside, offensive linemen, and guys in the Twin Cities metro area.    Heath has great speed and is a deep ball threat any time he runs a deep route. While his speed stands out, he utilizes it effectively in terms of deception. Because corners have to respect that speed, his best route might be the comeback route. He comes out of his breaks well and comes back to the ball well. The Raiders' outside receiver has a solid catch radius and does a good job tracking the ball when he runs deep routes.     As a cornerback, Mugisa has a great catch radius. Some of his interceptions were catches a receiver would be impressed with. He plays physically on the outside as well. Mugisa gets off blocks well and is a solid tackler. He plays the run well in space – not getting out of position. In coverage, he plays the ball well and does a good job in contested ball situations.     The Wildcats' offense does not require their offensive linemen to pass block very often. If you don't get many chances to showcase your pass pro, you better be an elite run blocker. As a run blocker, Bierly is everything you want out of an interior offensive lineman. He comes off the ball with explosion and a low pad level. One-on-one, he has the ability to drive defenders off the line or into the ground. The senior-to-be impressed me with his ability to chip on the defensive tackle and then get to the second level and pick up a linebacker. He has the straight-line speed to reach the second level when not tasked with chipping a lineman. He works well laterally with solid footwork when moving down the line of scrimmage or pulling across the formation. To top it off, Bierly can play all three interior line positions.     While Hall – whose first name is actually spelled Daji - primarily plays corner, he also has the hands to play wide receiver. His one-handed catch on offense makes that very clear. Coming out of the backfield, he has explosive acceleration once he finds space. As a defensive back, the Grand Forks athlete anticipates throws and routes well. Hall has excellent change of direction on the defensive side of the ball, allowing him to cover any route on the route tree. His speed enables him to play sideline-to-sideline and play vertical routes both with ease.     Chelgren mauls people in the running game. He comes off the ball with the explosiveness of a smaller athlete. The Rangers' big man keeps his hips low, which obviously helps him get under the defender's pads but also allows him to move effectively laterally. Chelgren has a good initial punch when making initial contact with defenders. When Chelgren squares a defensive lineman up, the defender usually stops in his tracks. While run blocking is his strength, he possesses solid footwork, and his run-blocking power translates well into pass protection.

Continuing my focus on putting the spotlight on guys who don't get the recognition they deserve, I highlight five more athletes from around the state. These guys don't receive statewide press and haven't gotten coverage from us yet, either. Today, the focus is mainly on athletes on the outside, offensive linemen, and guys in the Twin Cities metro area.