2024 Rankings: Top 50-100 New Additions Pt. 1
In this article:
Tons of 2024 Juniors performed well throughout the season, and many caught our eye. We have a ton of new additions to our rankings which almost tripled in size when you include our Watchlist but doubled in size in terms…
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Continue ReadingTons of 2024 Juniors performed well throughout the season, and many caught our eye. We have a ton of new additions to our rankings which almost tripled in size when you include our Watchlist but doubled in size in terms of ranked players. With so many new additions ranked between 50-100, we will showcase these talented players in three parts.
If you want to check out the 2024 rankings, click here.
To see the new additions to the top 50, click here.
Lathan Hudson Lathan Hudson 6’7″ | 310 lbs | OL Christ The King | 2025 New E is one of the most physically gifted offensive lineman in this class. Hudson has elite length 6’7, 310lbs and has such a long reach that defenders struggle to win at the point of engagement vs. Hudson. Hudson moves really well and has a strong base that can move laterally in pass protection. Hudson does a good job of winning reps both against bull rushes or against speed rushers on the outside using his lateral movement. Overall, Hudson has one of the highest ceiling of any offensive lineman in this class due to his incredible athletic abilities and size.
John Tully John Tully 5’11” | 170 lbs | RB Chaminade | 2024 State NY burst onto the scene this year as the lead back for Chaminade and the physical runner had a fantastic season. Tully was a physical runner who has a really well rounded game that can be utilized as both a running back on the ground or as a weapon out of the backfield in the passing game. Tully had over 1,000 all-purpose yards and 7 touchdowns this season to create a 1-2 offensive duo between him and wideout Gavin Creo Gavin Creo 5’8″ | 170 lbs | WR Chaminade | 2023 NY . With Creo graduating Tully will have the opportunity to be the main offensive playmaker for Chaminade and build of his extremely strong season.
Aqil Meredith-Smith Aqil Meredith-Smith 6’4″ | 285 lbs | OL Moore Catholic | 2024 State NY is a really strong guard for a talented Moore Catholic offensive line group. Meredith-Smith is really explosive and does a good of being physical and violent with his hands. Meredith-Smith was also a factor defensively as a defensive tackle where his explosiveness is evident. The Junior guard is powerful and quick which creates a lot of trouble for opponents on both sides of the ball. I do think Meredith-Smith’s best work came on offense where he can showcase his strong lateral movement skills and ability to block and move in space.
Highlights
Arinze Maijeh Arinze Maijeh 6’1″ | 260 lbs | DL Canarsie Highschool | 2024 State NY was a really solid defensive tackle for Christ The King all season. His ability to eat up double teams and win 1v1 quickly with effective pass rush moves is impressive. Maijeh has a really quick burst off the snap and his ability to win through first contact and get alongside offensive lineman so quickly make him a mainstay in opponents backfields. Maijeh has some of the most developed pass rush moves for an interior defensive lineman in this class and on tape has put out really solid reps as both a pass rusher or run defender.
Highlights
Kahmari Cook Kahmari Cook 6’2″ | 220 lbs | LB Bennett | 2024 State NY was a really effective defender for AA state champions Bennett. Cook has elite size and athleticism for the position and his instincts in coverage are incredible. Cook is really solid in coverage and does a great job of using his explosiveness to make plays on the ball in front of him. Cook also has the speed skills to spy or close down athletic quarterbacks who try and take advantage of the running lanes created on deeper coverages. Cook is a really solid tackler and is one of the most effective overall linebackers in this class.
Highlights
Tamel Morgan Tamel Morgan 6’3″ | 275 lbs | OL James Madison | 2024 State NY had another strong year for James Madison but he showed a massive improvement as a blocker in both the run game and in the pass protection. Morgan is really strong had has a really solid motor where he can push guys for yards down the field with ease. Morgan does a good job of finding defenders in space and has had great success being utilized as a pulling lead blocker. Morgan has the power and strength to block bigger defensive tackles but has the athleticism to really contain speed rushers around the edge. Overall Morgan has become one of the best well rounded blockers in this class.
Giovanni Downer Giovanni Downer 6’1″ | 195 lbs | DB Cardinal Hayes | 2024 State NY is one of the most athletic defensive backs in this class. Downers has great strength for a defensive back and his positional versatility comes from his ability to compete with any style of athlete across the LOS. Downer is a physical presence who offers a strong ability to impact the run game using really solid instincts and ability to contain the edge. In coverage, Downer is solid and does a really good job of staying in stride with receivers. Downer is also really physical at the LOS and does a good job in press coverage of disrupting the receivers release off the snap.
Highlights
Desmond Leonard Desmond Leonard 5’10” | 165 lbs | DB Williamsville North | 2024 State NY is one of the smoothest defensive backs in this class. Leonard does a fantastic job of making plays on the ball by keeping his eyes in the backfield as plays develop. Leonard also has some of the best after the INT skills of any defensive back in this class and is dangerous to make a return from any position on the field. Leonard also shows these skills as a returner using his speed, quickness, and vision to make plays. What Leonard does best is his diagnosis of the play and route concepts in front of him. Leonard is really quick to react and will consistently make the right reads as a cornerback.
Montrice Webster Montrice Webster 6’4″ | 240 lbs | DL Maritime Health Sciences | 2024 State NY is one of the most physically dominant defensive lineman in New York. Webster has a great motor and never quits on plays. Webster can take on multiple blockers at once and still find ways to make plays in the backfield. As a pass rusher Webster has extremely underrated speed from his two-point stance. Overall, there are not many defenders who have the impact Webster has from the edge. Webster’s ability to not only impact plays in the backfield but to make tackles 1-2 yards past the LOS after being double teams just shows how physically dominant he is. Webster also played QB where he showed off a solid arm talent and ability to be patient in the pocket.
Ryan Cole Ryan Cole 6’2″ | 220 lbs | DL Somers | 2024 State NY is one of the most accomplished players in this class already and the edge rusher had a great season which included 30 TFL and 22 Sacks. Cole has incredible burst off the snap and his ability to win as a speed rusher with really strong rip move around the outside or just win with power makes him a diverse pass rusher. Cole does a great job of containing the edge and his ability to make tackles in 1v1 situations against smaller quicker plays is one of his best traits. Cole showed he can rush the passer from both sides of the line but what is more impressive than his 22 sack season is how most of his TFL come 3+ yards behind the LOS. Cole is quick, strong, and explosive making plays that not many other players can make in New York.