Elite Football Combine: Top 2025 Skill Performers

<figure class="wp-block-image"><img alt="" /></figure>   I took a look at the top performers overall and by position in the class of 2024 from the 2023 Elite Football combine following it. Now I will be breaking down the top performers from the Elite Football combine in the 2025, 2026 and 2027 classes. I start with the top skill performers who stood out at the combine.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />     [player_tooltip player_id='1117607' first='Hoyt' last='Gregory'] | QB | Wentzville North Point The 6'3" 210-pound Gregory had a great sophomore year as his teams leading passer and rusher. He came into the combine and showed his athleticism and skill that led to that. Hoyt has great size, a strong accurate arm, and very good athleticism. He has been regularly hitting in the 9'9"-9'10" range with his broad jump and has been running under a 5.0 in the laser forty. He is has impressive escapability and run skills. He can make plays both on a scramble or a designed run. He's strong. physical and can avoid tacklers or move the pile with his legs. He recently picked up his first D1 offer from Florida Atlantic.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   [player_tooltip player_id='263502' first='Ryver' last='Peppers'] | RB | Ft. Osage The speedy running back had one of the top laser forty times at the combine. Ryvers ran a 4.68 laser forty, had a 32" vertical and 9'5" broad jump at the combine. Besides possessing very good running back skills, Ryver is also very impressive in the passing game. He has the ability to play in the slot and runs nice routes and displays very good hands. He would be a dual threat in any college offense, as well as in the return game. Peppers showed that ability in drills and one on ones, showing good separation and ability to open and make grabs in a total mismatch against linebackers. He recently landed his first D1 offer from Missouri State.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   [player_tooltip player_id='299403' first='Justin' last='Thurman'] | RB | Tampa Jesuit Although he plays at Tampa Jesuit in Florida now, the former De Smet Spartans is a return attended to the combine after training at Elite for the past few years before moving to the Sunshine State. He deserves a mention due to his outstanding showing at the 2023 combine. It's no surprise that Justin has become a national caliber recruit heading into his junior season. His 4.41 laser forty time was tops at the combine. He also had a 9'8" broad jump and 34" vertical jump. He is a talented return man already, and is ready to have a breakout season running the ball and as a receiver. Justin has always been fast but has elevated his skill set as a running back and is also a potential threat in the passing game.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   Gabe Cunningham | Wentzville Holt Cunningham is a name to remember heading into the 2023 season. The 6'5"216 pound WR/TE had a solid sophomore year for his Holt Indians and has continued to elevate his game in the spring with 5P Academy 7v7 and really had a great combine catching the ball, showing his athletic ability and was created tough match up problems for defenders in one on ones. Gabriel has great hands, is deceptively fast and does a great job using his size to position himself against defenders, and can go up and snatch the ball in traffic or with a defender on him. He ran a .o laser forty and had a 29" vertical.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   [player_tooltip player_id='326611' first='Preston' last='Brown'] | QB | Hillsboro One of the best and rising quarterbacks that is part of a monster QB class in the state of Missouri. Brown is a super athletic quarterback with good speed, agility and explosiveness at 6'2". He ran a 4.65 laser forty, broad jumped 9'5' and jumped over 30" in the vertical. On top of that he does a great job spinning the ball and has really nice accuracy and velocity on his passes. Preston can really place the ball in a tight window or throw it deep on the money. He's a hidden gem playing at Hillsboro, but I guarantee he'd already be getting big looks for colleges if he played at a large school in the St. Louis area. Keep an eye on his continued development.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   [player_tooltip player_id='179190' first='Colin' last='Griffin'] | WR/TE | De Smet The versatile Griffin has shown flashes of what is possible with his talent and ability since he was a freshman. He appears to be really coming into his own as a receiver and has grown to 6'4" 212 and did a great job with his route running, getting open, and then making the catch. Colin ran a 4.8 laser forty and you used his combination of size and speed exceptionally well in one on ones. He continues to get better and looks ready for a breakout season. College will definitely take notice if he continues his play this spring and early summer into the season.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   [player_tooltip player_id='1124869' first='Nathan' last='Hatcher'] | WR | De Smet | I've been very impressed with what I has seen from Hatcher this off-season with his combine performance as well as his 7v7 work. Not the biggest receiver at 5'10" 160, but he plays with the biggest heart, and has big skills, speed and athleticism to back it up as a slot receiver. All Nathan does is get open, catch the ball and make plays. He ran a nice 4.67 laser forty at the combine and had a 30'+ vertical jump. You can tell he works hard on his receiving skills, and what impresses me most besides his speed and quickness is his determination and concentration I see running routes and to make the catch. I saw him make several highlight catches all spring. He has the ability to be a top weapon for the Spartans this season.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   Avery Edwards | RB | Festus | One of the top surprises of the combine was the athletic running back Edwards, who tested extremely well, and looks as if he can be an added weapon for his Tigers in 2023. I wasn't familiar with Edwards play on varsity in 2022, but based on his Elite Combine performance, he should be able to contribute nicely after running a 4.65 laser forty, broad jumping 9'8" and hitting 31" in his vertical jump. He has all the tools that make him a player that should be watched for in the coming season.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   Za'Aire Thomas | RB | Cape Central One of the fastest players in his class in the state of Missouri. Za'Aire has been impressing me with his speed since he was an 8th grade. He had a monster combine running a 4.57 laser forty and vertical jumping 35", along with a 9'4" broad jump. He's not the tallest running back at 5'4' but he plays big, and if you can hit, tackle or catch him, then his height doesn't matter. He was also impressive in drills and one on ones and is a nice receiver along with showcasing his running skills. He was a major weapon in Cape Central's offense last season and will be again in 2023.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />       OTHERS WHO IMPRESSED   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />   [player_tooltip player_id='345108' first='Carson' last='Topping'] QB Francis Howell - Big, accurate arm with good placement. Good athlete with 5.0 laser 40 and 27" vert.   [player_tooltip player_id='326603' first='Henry' last='Allebach'] QB North County - Big 6'3" 205 pound QB with a strong arm and good overall athleticism. 5.0 laser 40   [player_tooltip player_id='284616' first='Essien' last='Smith'] QB Festus - Talented dual threat QB prospect with breakaway speed and playmaking ability. Good arm.   Riley Decaro WR Wentzville Liberty -Tall 6'3" athletic receiver who runs well, gets open and makes grabs.   [player_tooltip player_id='1305798' first='Alex' last='Morris'] RB CBC - Elusive running back with good speed, quickness and ability to catch the ball.   Richard Rankin RB Francis Howell - Very quick back ran a sub 4.8 laser forty and a 29" vertical.   Landon Taylor RB Ft Zumwalt East - Another talented 2025 running back who had good speed and athleticism.

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Elite Football Combine: Top 2025 Skill Performers

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