So just wanted to break down some kids who might not have a ton of early offers so far but who could wind up being a nice addition to programs. I can see several of these names being able to draw early offers sooner rather than later......have a few of your own? By all means let me know who they are.
Class of 2024 10 Undervalued Names to Watch Offense: (in no particular order):
Class of 2024 10 Undervalued Names to Watch Defense (in no particular order):
OLB/S Gary Rutherford Peoria 6-foot-3, 200 pounds- Love this kids overall motor, length, physical ability and his overall upside for the higher college level. Rutherford, who has just recently started to draw more recruiting interest and a handful of offers from in-state FCS ISU and WIU....yet I truly feel Rutherford is way under valued. Rutherford has impressive speed and also great closing speed, I love his overall football IQ and he has the ability yo play corner, safety or outside linebacker at the high college level. In my eyes Rutherford has high D1 tools and upside and sooner rather than later schools will figure that out as well.
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LB Grady Catanzano Prospect 6-foot-1, 230 pounds - Grady is just a terrific overall player who has some real upside to play at the next level and he was impressive in 2022 on a few different levels. Catanzano is strictly an inside linebacker type who makes very good reads and seems very instinctive at all times. I like how well Grady plays the run, can and will go sideline to sideline and is also a HEAVY hitter and a strong closer. Catanzano no question will need to run this spring and summer for college coaches and if that goes well his stock could get a big time boost. I remember guys named Edwards and Sanborn who not too long ago has similar questions from college coaches about their game....and it worked out fine for those guys.
DE Carlos Hazelwood Tinley Park 6-foot-5, 260 pounds Hazelwood is a big, physical and athletic player who is still somewhat raw and a player who hasn't played a ton of football so far. Yet Hazelwood has eye opening length and physical tools who no question will get bigger and much stronger down the line. Hazelwood this off-season is working with former Michigan State/NFL DL Demetrius Cooper and Coach Tristan Stovall who have worked with and have gotten several raw kids with upside playing at the very high college level. Hazelwood still has a lot of work to do but I love his overall potential here.
DL Maverick Ohle Naperville Central 6-foot-2, 230 pounds Maverick is a weight room monster who is always getting bigger and stronger and he won't be outworked. Ohle played a little bit of tackle and end last season and did well at both spots. Ohle's speed and quickness is noticeable along with his technique and ability to just get to the football and finish off his tackles. From a recruiting perspective the biggest question I see here is what position? Does he have the ability to stay inside at the higher level or does he get moved to defensive end? Can he play say nose? His overall size makes him a bit of a tweener positionally, and this spring and summer will be huge for Ohle's overall recruiting stock. I can see this kid really benefit from padded camps this summer.
DB Dev'ion Reynolds Carmel Catholic 6-foot-2, 175 pounds Reynolds caught my attention at a camp last year and was one of a handful of underclassmen defensive backs and skill kids from Carmel who opened up some eyes. Reynolds has the size and length to play safety yet also has the quickness and cover skills to play as a big corner as well. His ability to read and react to the football is impressive along with having just a very natural and fluid back peddle while also being able to change speeds and get up to full speed in a few quick steps. Reynolds has the physical tools and attributes that should be getting much close looks this early spring from high level schools.
DB Harlan May Carmel Catholic 6-foot-1, 180 pounds May was another name at the Underclassmen Showcase camp who just was able to make play after play against older varsity players. May is a very physical corner who shines in run support and a a plus tackler and finisher in my eyes. I also was impressed with May's cover skills in one on ones along with his overall instincts and reads.....I seldom saw May get beat and/or find himself out of position. May also has good size and length plus very good overall speed.
DL Nick Cairo Lake Park 6-foot-3, 260 pounds Cairo hails from a program in Lake Park that unfortinately just doesn't seem to get a lot of shine, but the Lancers program always has a handful of kids who can play. Nick Cairo's film was impressive. He plays both ways and he's vert capable on either side of the football....yet in my opinion he sines on defense. Cairo has impressive feet and quickness and just seems at times to explode out his stance. Cairo has really good hands and strength, causes havoc with his speed and quickness and once he gets to the football knows how to lay the wood. Cairo has really good size and I feel his home will be on the interior defensive line in college. Ialso couldn't help but notice his hustle on literally every play and this is a kid who's motor truly runs 100 percent at all times. I'm very interested to see how Cairo does this summer in pads and he has a real chance at boosting his recruiting stock no question.
DL Tavon Rice Chicago Mount Carmel 6-foot-0, 275 pounds It seems like I've been watching Ravon Rice for ever....and Rice is a multi-year starter for the state champion Caravan who has been a mainstay on the defensive line. Rice is a bit undersized at the high level of football, but his overall strength, bend, understanding of low Man wins and his impressive overall motor will no question get some colleges looking harder at him this spring and summer. Rice also hustles at all times, always seems to find a way to the football and makes plays.
DB Dajhir Gordon Warren Township 5-foot-9, 150 pounds- Year in and tear out Warren Township just always seems to have tremendous defensive backs and they have another one in Dajhir Gordon. Gordon. listed at 5-foot-9, 150 pounds doesn't have ideal D1 type of pedigree, but his overall game is no question very high level. Gordon is a high twitch athlete with impressive quickness, burst and explosiveness. Yet the fun really begins watching Gordon in coverage. Gordon can run with anyone, has very good overall instincts and will outfight all comers for the football in traffic. Gordon is also a big time hitter and finisher who brings some swagger and attitude to his game on the field. Again I'm not sure where Gordon winds up from a school/level standpoint...byt all I know he's a baller and more schools better put the video on one more time.
OLB/S Peace Bumba St. Thomas More 6-foot-1, 190 pounds Peace Bumba plays for 8 Man downstate St Thomas More, so he's already fighting just getting noticed by schools> I've seen Bumba a handful of times and he has a ton to offer schools on either side of the football. Bumba has impressive higher level overall physical tools , can play any number of positions on both sides of the football and his game will just continue to get better and better. I feel Bumba will end up playing as an outside backer because of his size and frame (which still has room to grow and I can see him getting to say 210 pounds in college) while also keeping his very good overall speed and quickness. I definitely get the fact that college coaches will want to see Bumba in camps this summer and in pads....and from my experience Peace Bumba will do just fine in testing and live drills in pads. Has a chance to really become a nice sleeper type for sure.
Class of 2024 10 Undervalued Names to Watch Offense: (in no particular order):
Class of 2024 10 Undervalued Names to Watch Defense (in no particular order):
OLB/S Gary Rutherford Peoria 6-foot-3, 200 pounds- Love this kids overall motor, length, physical ability and his overall upside for the higher college level. Rutherford, who has just recently started to draw more recruiting interest and a handful of offers from in-state FCS ISU and WIU....yet I truly feel Rutherford is way under valued. Rutherford has impressive speed and also great closing speed, I love his overall football IQ and he has the ability yo play corner, safety or outside linebacker at the high college level. In my eyes Rutherford has high D1 tools and upside and sooner rather than later schools will figure that out as well.
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LB Grady Catanzano Prospect 6-foot-1, 230 pounds - Grady is just a terrific overall player who has some real upside to play at the next level and he was impressive in 2022 on a few different levels. Catanzano is strictly an inside linebacker type who makes very good reads and seems very instinctive at all times. I like how well Grady plays the run, can and will go sideline to sideline and is also a HEAVY hitter and a strong closer. Catanzano no question will need to run this spring and summer for college coaches and if that goes well his stock could get a big time boost. I remember guys named Edwards and Sanborn who not too long ago has similar questions from college coaches about their game....and it worked out fine for those guys.
DE Carlos Hazelwood Tinley Park 6-foot-5, 260 pounds Hazelwood is a big, physical and athletic player who is still somewhat raw and a player who hasn't played a ton of football so far. Yet Hazelwood has eye opening length and physical tools who no question will get bigger and much stronger down the line. Hazelwood this off-season is working with former Michigan State/NFL DL Demetrius Cooper and Coach Tristan Stovall who have worked with and have gotten several raw kids with upside playing at the very high college level. Hazelwood still has a lot of work to do but I love his overall potential here.
DL Maverick Ohle Naperville Central 6-foot-2, 230 pounds Maverick is a weight room monster who is always getting bigger and stronger and he won't be outworked. Ohle played a little bit of tackle and end last season and did well at both spots. Ohle's speed and quickness is noticeable along with his technique and ability to just get to the football and finish off his tackles. From a recruiting perspective the biggest question I see here is what position? Does he have the ability to stay inside at the higher level or does he get moved to defensive end? Can he play say nose? His overall size makes him a bit of a tweener positionally, and this spring and summer will be huge for Ohle's overall recruiting stock. I can see this kid really benefit from padded camps this summer.
DB Dev'ion Reynolds Carmel Catholic 6-foot-2, 175 pounds Reynolds caught my attention at a camp last year and was one of a handful of underclassmen defensive backs and skill kids from Carmel who opened up some eyes. Reynolds has the size and length to play safety yet also has the quickness and cover skills to play as a big corner as well. His ability to read and react to the football is impressive along with having just a very natural and fluid back peddle while also being able to change speeds and get up to full speed in a few quick steps. Reynolds has the physical tools and attributes that should be getting much close looks this early spring from high level schools.
DB Harlan May Carmel Catholic 6-foot-1, 180 pounds May was another name at the Underclassmen Showcase camp who just was able to make play after play against older varsity players. May is a very physical corner who shines in run support and a a plus tackler and finisher in my eyes. I also was impressed with May's cover skills in one on ones along with his overall instincts and reads.....I seldom saw May get beat and/or find himself out of position. May also has good size and length plus very good overall speed.
DL Nick Cairo Lake Park 6-foot-3, 260 pounds Cairo hails from a program in Lake Park that unfortinately just doesn't seem to get a lot of shine, but the Lancers program always has a handful of kids who can play. Nick Cairo's film was impressive. He plays both ways and he's vert capable on either side of the football....yet in my opinion he sines on defense. Cairo has impressive feet and quickness and just seems at times to explode out his stance. Cairo has really good hands and strength, causes havoc with his speed and quickness and once he gets to the football knows how to lay the wood. Cairo has really good size and I feel his home will be on the interior defensive line in college. Ialso couldn't help but notice his hustle on literally every play and this is a kid who's motor truly runs 100 percent at all times. I'm very interested to see how Cairo does this summer in pads and he has a real chance at boosting his recruiting stock no question.
DL Tavon Rice Chicago Mount Carmel 6-foot-0, 275 pounds It seems like I've been watching Ravon Rice for ever....and Rice is a multi-year starter for the state champion Caravan who has been a mainstay on the defensive line. Rice is a bit undersized at the high level of football, but his overall strength, bend, understanding of low Man wins and his impressive overall motor will no question get some colleges looking harder at him this spring and summer. Rice also hustles at all times, always seems to find a way to the football and makes plays.
DB Dajhir Gordon Warren Township 5-foot-9, 150 pounds- Year in and tear out Warren Township just always seems to have tremendous defensive backs and they have another one in Dajhir Gordon. Gordon. listed at 5-foot-9, 150 pounds doesn't have ideal D1 type of pedigree, but his overall game is no question very high level. Gordon is a high twitch athlete with impressive quickness, burst and explosiveness. Yet the fun really begins watching Gordon in coverage. Gordon can run with anyone, has very good overall instincts and will outfight all comers for the football in traffic. Gordon is also a big time hitter and finisher who brings some swagger and attitude to his game on the field. Again I'm not sure where Gordon winds up from a school/level standpoint...byt all I know he's a baller and more schools better put the video on one more time.
OLB/S Peace Bumba St. Thomas More 6-foot-1, 190 pounds Peace Bumba plays for 8 Man downstate St Thomas More, so he's already fighting just getting noticed by schools> I've seen Bumba a handful of times and he has a ton to offer schools on either side of the football. Bumba has impressive higher level overall physical tools , can play any number of positions on both sides of the football and his game will just continue to get better and better. I feel Bumba will end up playing as an outside backer because of his size and frame (which still has room to grow and I can see him getting to say 210 pounds in college) while also keeping his very good overall speed and quickness. I definitely get the fact that college coaches will want to see Bumba in camps this summer and in pads....and from my experience Peace Bumba will do just fine in testing and live drills in pads. Has a chance to really become a nice sleeper type for sure.
