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Phoenix

Yates DL/LB

Class

2027

Height

6'3"

Weight

218

HS

Springfield Central

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New E

Phoenix Yates

Yates possesses an intriguing frame with room to add good weight without sacrificing his natural length and quickness....

Written by Amal Scott

Read more at PrepRedzone.com

Amal Scott | Prep Redzone Scout

Amal Scott

Prep Redzone Scout

Yates possesses an intriguing frame with room to add good weight without sacrificing his natural length and quickness. He showed well in combine testing, posting impressive metrics that underscore his athletic upside. His length allows him to play bigger than his current weight suggests, and his quickness off the line was evident in drills. This combination makes him a prototypical EDGE build for modern defenses that prioritize speed and bend over pure bulk. Yates’ get-off is a standout trait—he explodes out of his stance with impressive burst, allowing him to challenge offensive tackles early in the rep. He demonstrates solid hip flexibility and bend around the edge, which helps him dip under blocks and maintain leverage when turning the corner.

When Yates commits to a physical approach, he can handle blockers. He secured a couple of reps by getting his hands inside and driving through contact, showing flashes of the bully mentality that could develop into a reliable power rush. His combine performance highlighted his long, quick frame, suggesting he has the raw tools to develop into a multi-faceted pass rusher. While he won a few reps through sheer physicality, his attempts to bully blockers frequently fell short due to insufficient play strength. Yates doesn’t have a deep bag of moves yet—he relies heavily on speed and initial burst but lacks counters or secondary techniques to win when his first step is neutralized. This made him predictable in extended reps. His hand usage is underdeveloped; hands come up slowly, reducing his ability to shed blocks efficiently. He often tries to initiate with a bull rush but lacks the current strength to consistently overpower stronger linemen, leading to stalemates or losses at the point of attack. Another good player that couldn’t breakthrough to top 5, but was a certain honorable mention.

My junior season highlights‼️‼️@CoachMartinESA @ESAofNewEngland @CentralFB413 @Csf9393Ferrara @NE6FB_Recruits @ScoutingNE @Watson_718 @ESAofMass @CDenson99 @ValdamarTBrower https://t.co/YXeTz6vOCb

— Phoenix Yates (@PhoenixY2027) December 3, 2025

Written 21 hours ago

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