Monroe was initially ranked in November because of his ability as a kick and punt returner. Then we had the chance to dive into his film earlier this offseason when he made both the Wake County WRs and Triangle Athletes Top 10 lists in March. It was there that we realized that not only does he have the early production we like to see, but he has the athletic profile to stay near the top of the rankings.

Just a freshman, Monroe first made an impact on special teams with a punt return touchdown in his varsity debut. As the season went on, he began to contribute as a receiver and defensive back, finishing the year with just under 400 yards and two interceptions. He comes from a football family, and we expect him to have a huge career.

Monroe has turned heads this season as one of the state’s best young returnmen, but he has excellent upside as a true X receiver. He already has excellent size and length, and he’s shown the ability to make people miss after the catch as a freshman. He’s running a limited route tree this season, but he has easy ball skills, and his athleticism has made him a budding star on both sides of the ball. Expect more from him as he gets older.

Monroe has energized a budding Green Level team with explosive traits and the ability to flip a game with one play. In his first career game, Monroe had a crucial 77-yard punt return that ended up being the key play. He’s big, fast, and has the ability to play both sides of the ball. We really like his upside.