Buckeye State Blitz 18U: Top Skill Performers-Championship Sunday

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Championship Sunday is when players have to elevate their play the most. Especially in the competitive 18U division with over 40 teams, it takes special performances to survive and advance. Below are just a few of the many standout performers on Sunday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1562565"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69cacfb4cf8a4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jeremiah looked good on both days of the event, but he absolutely took his game to a different level on Sunday. He came out firing early and often, including an unreal catch down the sideline between defenders that had people wondering how he was able to look it in. His ability to snap in and out of his routes and create separation. He caught the ball away from his body with strong hands, and was a YAC monster if he had enough space to put the moves on. He helped his team win it all thanks to his clutch performances when it mattered most! </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1814286"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69cacfb4cf98d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Thorns came out firing early and often. The first 2 snaps for the Bredwinners offense were deep ball touchdowns to Ke'lahn. His size and frame make him a physically gifted receiver that defensive backs struggle to deal with. When running a post or other deep route, he gets behind the defense quickly and is able to use some tremendous concentration to look the ball in through traffic. I absolutely love his upside and think he could be a major stock riser in our rankings soon. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1290771"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69cacfb4cfa4b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Deonte was doing his thing once again on Sunday. Touchdowns, interceptions, you name it and he was doing it. His rare speed make him such a versatile 2-way player. Defensively, he has great closing speed and fluid hips, so even when receivers seem open, they're not. He baited QBs into throwing at “open” receivers, and then accelerated to the ball. Offensively, he could take a short check down for a big chunk play thanks to his elusiveness. An all-around day for Ellington, that was nothing short of impressive. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1971000"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69cacfb4cfaff"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Isaiah was one of the top defensive players of the whole weekend, but it was all summed up in one play, where the ball was tipped and he was able to use his tremendous reaction time to come away with the diving interception. Throughout the weekend he used solid technique and hip fluidity to cover a variety of receivers and make their job difficult. I love how rangy he is, as he can cover sideline to sideline with no issue. Great overall performance, that was upped even more once bracket play started. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Jake Marita ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"190","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2407","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Sayre School","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69cacfb4cfcb2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jake stood out pretty early. He passes the eye test, as he's a big and physical player on both sides of the ball. Defensively, he uses his long arms and long strides to patrol the middle, taking away a number of crossing routes and challenging routine checkdowns. Offensively he fires off with a good first step, and uses his body to gain position, especially on smaller defenders, and essentially box them out for the ball. Jake is a really impressive redzone target that you can just toss the ball up to and let him go get it. I was extremely impressed with what I saw, and have no doubt he has room to continue improving and boosting his stock. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2098516"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69cacfb4cfd7d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">TJ had a lot of defenses scratching their heads and trying to figure out how to attack him. His athleticism was superior to most, as he was able to jump up and go get the ball any time it came his way. He had a few fades thrown his way where he just plucked the ball through traffic. His size and long limbs presented a legitimate problem for defenses, which allowed his team to make a deep run to the championship game. Really impressive stuff on both days, but Sunday was particularly impressive. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1648181"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69cacfb4cfe34"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Semaj is a route technician. I saw it multiple times on Saturday, but Sunday he absolutely came to play. He fires off with a sweet release, and is able to hit his top end speed quickly. At the top of his route, he changes direction quickly and puts the defender on his back side, allowing him to give his QB an easy target. His catch radius is huge, and when he goes up for it, he's able to pluck it out of the air and come down with it. He was an extremely important piece to his teams deep run on Sunday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->