Thrust Into the Spotlight: Players Set to Shine in Expanded Roles

Every new season brings a handful of guys who suddenly find themselves in much bigger roles than they've ever had before. Maybe it's because a star graduated, maybe it's because of a transfer, or maybe they just put in the work all offseason and earned their shot. Whatever the reason, these are the players who went from filling a role to being right in the center of the frame, and the way they handle it will shape not just their own year, but their team's too.   They're not just filling spots on a roster — they're inheriting responsibility, pressure, and opportunity all at once. Here's a closer look at the guys who are about to find out exactly what it means to have the spotlight on them.    [player_tooltip player_id='992814' first='Jude' last='Stevens'] is stepping into a whole new spotlight this season, and it feels like everyone in the building knows it. Coming off a year where he hauled in 20 passes for 351 yards and three touchdowns, plus another 273 yards in kick returns for 624 all-purpose yards, he's shown he can make an impact in a bunch of different ways. The thing that jumps out right away is just how explosive he is off the line — defenders basically have two choices: give him some cushion and hope to close the gap later, or get cooked right out of the gate, especially when he's lined up in the slot. He's got the kind of top-end speed that can flat-out erase pursuit angles, and his quick feet make every break in his routes sharp enough to turn heads. With Corona del Sol graduating their two leading receivers, there's no safety net for him anymore — he's not just part of the offense, he's a central piece. This is the year he goes from being “that fast kid who can hurt you” to the guy defenses spend all week trying to game plan for.     Jake Giraud feels like one of those guys who's right on the edge of blowing up, and the timing couldn't be better for him. Last season, he quietly put together 29 catches for 253 yards and a touchdown, averaging 8.7 yards per grab, and now he's staring at a Horizon depth chart that just lost its top three pass-catchers in terms of yardage. He's got those long strides that let him eat up ground without looking like he's sprinting, and he plays with a pace that feels under control but still threatening. He's tough as nails too — the type to take a hit, hang onto the ball, and bounce right back up like nothing happened. His footwork really stood out, whether it was getting off the line clean, navigating the sideline, or working through traffic in the middle of the field. There's a lot to like about how complete his game is becoming, and with the door wide open for someone to become the guy in this offense, all signs point to Giraud grabbing that role and running with it.     Orlando Lozoya is set up to be the heart and soul of Valley Vista's defense this season, and it's not hard to see why. In just seven games last year, he stacked up 37 total tackles, including four tackles for loss, three sacks, a forced fumble, and a QB hurry, and he did it with a style that jumps off the tape. He takes smart, efficient angles in pursuit, makes quick decisions, and has the length to disrupt plays even when he's not right on top of the ball carrier. When he's hunting quarterbacks, he's got the strength to fight through bigger linemen and still finish the play. He's one of those rare guys who can legitimately do it all — rush the passer, set the edge, drop into coverage — and for a program that just lost four of its top five tacklers and half of last year's sacks, they're going to be leaning on him for a lot of answers. The way he plays, he looks more than ready to shoulder that load.     Quinn Nichols is walking into a season where the passing game is basically getting a full reset, and he's one of the only familiar faces left for Willow Canyon. The Wildcats graduated — and this is no exaggeration — over 85% of last year's receiving yards, so there's a massive hole to fill and it pretty much has to start with him. Last year he played in 10 games, pulled in 12 catches for 155 yards and a score, averaging 12.9 yards a grab, and he even handled punting duties. He's not going to wow you with super crisp route-running yet, but his hands are the real deal — natural, strong, and reliable — and he's shown a knack for making himself available when the quarterback needs an outlet. That combination of versatility and toughness makes him exactly the kind of player coaches lean on when the roster's been gutted, and you can bet he'll be a much bigger part of the plan this fall.     Eli Allen is built like the kind of tight end you want pulling double duty — long frame, solid build, and enough speed to make linebackers sweat in coverage. As a sophomore last season, he put up 21 catches for 220 yards, averaging 10.5 yards a grab. He's already proven he can haul in tough, contested catches through contact, and when he's got the ball, he does a great job of securing it no matter how hard the hit. He's not going to single-handedly carry the offense from the tight end spot, but with Prescott losing more than half of their receiving production and all but one of their receiving touchdowns from last year, Allen's role as a pass catcher is about to grow in a big way. Expect to see him especially active in the red zone, where his size, hands, and willingness to battle for position can turn him into a serious matchup problem for defenses.

Every new season brings a handful of guys who suddenly find themselves in much bigger roles than they've ever had before. Maybe it's because a star graduated, maybe it's because of a transfer, or maybe they just put in the work all offseason and earned their shot. Whatever the reason, these are the players who went from filling a role to being right in the center of the frame, and the way they handle it will shape not just their own year, but their team's too.