Indiana Recruits On The Verge Of Something Special

We’re looking at recruits today with a ton of upside. The Indiana classes are loaded and the talent is being found like never before. Today, we’re bouncing around looking at some recruits with a ton of raw ability and what they may be able to offer in the future. [player_tooltip player_id="39073" first="Andrew" last="Page"] - Noblesville - OL/DL - 6’4" 320lbs - 2023 Page is an aggressive recruit who likes to play nasty and with an edge. He’s off the ball quick, has powerful hands, and is able to redirect all traffic that comes his way. In the running game, he’s got great leverage and is able to put his guy in the ground. He attacks with a good pad level and won’t be caught too high. He’s got a nice bend at the waist which allows him to keep leverage more often than not. He’s almost always on the end of the line and able to build the wall you’d want him to. In the passing game, he’s a bit rawer. Mechanically, there’s not much defined. Page is able to keep the QB upright and clean and his guy away, but it could be easier and smoother. Whether he’s on the run or sealing the edge, Page is fantastic when he’s got a full head of steam. He’s got an incredibly powerful lower body and is able to drive his guy back. The raw strength is the most obvious and exciting thing with Page. As he gets into a collegiate weight room, he feels like someone who is going to develop into a tank. The weirdest part with watching Page’s tape is seeing a 95 on the OL. Throws me off but at the same time, you can’t miss it when you see the defensive number burying the defensive player. Defensively, Page is good as well. Again, he’s off the ball quick and shows the same raw strength. He’s able to drive his guy back, keep his legs churning, and make the tackle when it comes his way. He’s not the flashiest guy defensively but he’s consistent. Page is someone, no matter the side of the ball he’s on, feels like will become a consistent player. He’s aggressive, physical, has experience on both sides of the ball, and has a nasty edge to him when he steps on the field. I’m really excited to see what he can do this fall because he’s starting to get the eyes he deserves. Cameron Davenport - Ben Davis - OL/DL - 6’5" 335lbs - 2023 Davenport is a wall of a man who is someone every team wants. Wherever you put him, it’s like a mental break knowing he’s got that area. Whether it’s on offense or defense, Davenport is a playmaker. Offensively, he’s off the ball rather quickly and is able to make first contact and drive his guy back. With his size and length, the leverage advantages Davenport has show up on just about every down. He’s so much bigger and stronger than most he comes across he’s able to drive them straight into the ground. In the passing game, he’s able to prevent his guy from winning and getting home. He keeps a wide base and doesn’t stand around on his heels. He’s got a good natural feel and keeps his head on a swivel. Defensively, he’s got similar traits. He’s off the ball, is able to drive his guy back, and can make tackles you wouldn’t think he’d reach. He’s an anchor in the middle of the line and can develop into a true NT if he wants to. If not, he’s got the frame you dream of to be an elite OT. For a guy with his size, he’s got good bend and is a fluid athlete. He’s got no issue sticking his hand in the ground and lining up. Seems minor and obvious, but you’d be surprised. There’s definitely some work to be done physically, but there’s a lot to be excited about just looking at him. Then you see what he’s able to do on the field and you can’t help but get excited. Davenport has recently started to get some attention and eyes, as he should and if he’s able to put it all together again this fall, he’ll have more offers than he ever thought possible. Zack Leighty - East Noble - OL/DL - 6’2" 270lbs - 2024 Leighty is a very nimble lineman who is able to do a lot because of that. He’s great on the run as a lead blocker and is able to clear the way. He’s off the ball really fast and is light on his feet. He’s able to get to the second level and guide the way in the screen game. His hustle and effort are noticeable in that area where some guys can lack. He’s a smooth operator when on the move and understands how to hit his landmarks, doesn’t overshoot them, and is always right where he needs to be when he’s supposed to be there. To keep it simple, Leighty is as reliable as you’d expect him to be. He’s got a knack and an eye for clearing the way. In the passing game, he’s also not bad. Mechanically, you can tell he spends time putting work in and defining the raw mechanics. He’s got a good base, keeps his hands on the inside, and isn’t going to be walked back. He’s almost always able to hold his own in those 1 on 1 situations. Right now, I think he’s a touch light but it’s progressing. He’s been working this offseason and is definitely up from his listed playing weight from last year. If he’s able to keep putting the weight on and getting stronger, it’ll only help him in every phase of the game. He’s bounced around multiple spots on the line and has shown the versatility to play inside and outside. He’s able to play pretty much any spot on the line because of how good of an athlete he is. There’s a lot to like with Leighty and what he can be because of how versatile and nimble he is. It’s likely he gets offers to play inside and offers to play on the outside. If he develops and puts the work in over the next 2 years, he’ll probably have his choice and can pick the best opportunity that fits him and what he’s looking for. [player_tooltip player_id="337946" first="LAYTON" last="MOORE"] - Avon - WR/CB - 6’0" 175lbs - 2023 Moore is a fantastic athlete who can cover a ton of ground in the backend. He plays CB primarily, but he’s someone I think should move to Safety. He’s rangy, fast, and has a knack for finding the ball. His 6’0" frame is likely accurate, but he’s got longer arms than a normal 6’ person. He’s got impeccable reach and is able to make some plays you wouldn’t think he could. His speed and range keep him in every play. He’s got the speed to run down just about anyone as well. My favorite play of the year was a run where the RB was gone. Moore comes off his WR and out of nowhere and runs him down and makes the tackle. Moore is also instinctive and is able to sniff out some junk from time to time. He’s got a handful of interceptions to his credit with at least 1 pick 6. Moore also has no issue coming into the alley and making a tackle when he needs to. In fact, he can dish quite the hit. He’s got some power behind his pads and is able to blow up the ball carrier from time to time. At receiver, he’s got the same twitchy reactionary speed. He’s able to go over the middle and be a reliable slot option with great YAC ability. Moore’s got that second gear you want ball carriers to have. While he primarily plays defense, his flash on offense has been enough to take notice of. He’s great in special teams as well as a gunner. He’s able to get downfield and either make the tackle or set up the block depending if they’re kicking or receiving. Moore is a dynamic athlete who is able to make plays wherever he is when he’s on the field. While I think he’s best on defense, the upside is there offensively. If he continues to develop and has another stellar fall, Moore will have offers and will set himself up with an opportunity to play collegiately. Noah Dubea - West Noble - WR/CB - 5’10" 150lbs - 2023 Dubea is a fun player to watch simply because his mentality never changes from play to play. He’s on the field and he doesn’t give you much to react on if you’re playing against him. With him, you can’t tell if he’s lining up to run a route or go downfield and block. A lot of times, the effort changes and so does the stance at the line. Dubea never switches up and defenders struggle to get a read on him. He’s got very reliable hands and if the ball comes in his area, he’s going to come down with it. He’s listed at 5’10" and sometimes he looks the part and other times, he looks much taller and longer than that. He’s got really long arms and big hands. His catch radius is much larger than you’d think until he gets on the field. He needs some work physically and running routes, but he’s got the frame and ball skills you need to be successful. He’s willing to go through traffic and fight for the ball when he needs to. He’s also decent after the catch and can break some tackles. He’s gotten drastically better each year and heading into year 4, he’s setting himself up nicely. During the final stretch of games last year, the light really clicked and Dubea began to stand out more and more. If he’s able to continue on that trajectory and have another great fall, the offers will come. I’m excited to see what he’s able to do and how far the jump is from year 3 to year 4.