5 More 2029s on the Road to Being Ranked

Awhile back I did an article about some guys in the class of 2029 that were well on their way to being ranked. I have watched a good bit of film since then, and uncovered some more prospects that deserve a mention. In this piece, we're looking at 5 more athletes in that class that have a strong case at making a jump into the rankings!    Merrick had an extremely productive season, with a very versatile role for the Sharks in 2025. Offensively, he played the fullback position to perfection. Great run blocking and examples of springing the ball carrier free with a key block. He also took a handful of screen reps, and was able to gash the defense. As expected, he also was great between the tackles. In short yardage situations, he bullied his way through the line behind his pads. Defensively, Brock came off the edge with a solid first step and bad intentions. He projects as a gap controlling DT by the end of his high school career, but as he currently stands, he's a high level EDGE/FB.     Westley has a number of impressive runs on his film. The thing that pops off the screen first is his burst. He reaches top speed quickly, and can stop and go at will. On top of that, his vision is far beyond most in his class at this time. He sees creases and is able to exploit them. Defensively, he shows prowess in the run game, coming up and making some physical plays in space. The film is good, and he has continued to put in work in the offseason, giving me plenty to be confident in heading into rankings.     Here's another RB that has set himself up nicely. The Lake Orion RB got plenty of JV reps, plus some varsity experience sprinkled in. He's a speed demon with great burst and elusiveness. His contact balance is impressive. Many highlights show him keeping his legs churning upon contact, and able to regain balance when he's tripped up. Another offseason of work could make Rainer an absolute superstar in the OAA before long.     Dax has the size and athletic upside to be a stud at South Christian, a program that's used to producing talent. He's extremely balanced, allowing him to break quickly without any wasted movement. He's able to line up outside and work in space, posing a major mismatch for defenders. When the ball comes his way, he demonstrates great concentration, hauling in over the shoulder, back shoulders and more. He high points the ball and uses strong hands to pluck the ball out of the air. Once he makes the grab, he rumbles on, requiring multiple DBs to bring him down. I am really excited about his super high ceiling, and am looking forward to seeing him work in person!     I haven't seen a ton from Davis as far as film goes, but I trust our guy Alan Popadines from Prep Redzone Next who sung his praises after evaluating him back in 2024. At that time, Davis was using his size and good technique at the center position to win rep after rep. Davis is currently at Brother Rice, who has a major youth movement coming through. I trust Coach Marshall and that Warriors staff to develop D'Khari into a highly coveted prospect very soon. Can't wait to see him work in person.

Awhile back I did an article about some guys in the class of 2029 that were well on their way to being ranked. I have watched a good bit of film since then, and uncovered some more prospects that deserve a mention. In this piece, we're looking at 5 more athletes in that class that have a strong case at making a jump into the rankings!