Small School Offensive Rising Stars
Smaller school players never seem to get enough exposure, but they very much deserve it. Here are a few 1A-4A RB Denim Cook Denim Cook 5'9" | 200 lbs | RB St. Teresa | 2022 State IL , JR. –…
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Continue ReadingSmaller school players never seem to get enough exposure, but they very much deserve it. Here are a few 1A-4A
RB Denim Cook Denim Cook 5'9" | 200 lbs | RB St. Teresa | 2022 State IL , JR. – St. Teresa (2A)
Cook is a smaller back, but in height only as he checks in at 5-foot-9-inches but weights 200-pounds. What he lacks for in height, Cook makes up for with balance and strength. Arm tackles will not bring the young man down. Vision is another good attribute to Cooks game, as he takes good angles on zone running plays which helps make up for lack of elite speed. A punishing runner, Cook loves to create contact and makes defenders pay the price for trying to tackle him. A knack for getting over the goal line is another positive to his game as Cook ran into the endzone 28 times during his sophomore year. In St. Teresa’s only 2 losses last year, the dimunitive back was held to under 100 yards, with an average of just 3.3 yards per carry. Compare that to his 8.2 YPC season average and you see why Cook is so important to his team. Cook’s game will remind many of UCLA great Maurice Jones-Drew bowling ball running style.
WR Kuron Parchmon, JR – Civic Memorial High (4A)
Parchmon uses his 6-foot-1-inch frame to leap over defenders and high point balls and has the hand strength to fight with defensive backs for catches. It’s not just his size that Parchmon uses to his advantage, there is a speed element to his game as well. The Civic offense is a bit gimmicky, but they do one thing that all great offenses do, get the ball into their playmaker’s hands. Last year Parchmon had four games with over 100 yards of total offense, two others in the 90’s to go along with 8 total touchdowns. End arounds, hook and ladders, and getting the ball as a running back and just a few of the ways the do it all receiver impacts the game. Expect the rising junior to have a huge season.
QB Hunter Hoffman, JR – Pecatonica (3A)
The first-year quarterback put up some impressive numbers last year with 1,684 yards through the air with 20 touchdowns to just 6 interceptions. Hoffman posses a strong arm but it’s not just about zipping balls to his wide receivers. There is a very solid touch element to his pass acumen, as Hoffman puts the ball in spaces best suited for his receivers to add on yards after the catch. Although he is not an elite athlete that doesn’t mean he’s a statue as a quarterback, he uses good instincts to scramble and by time for his teammates to get open. Hoffman’s footwork is solid, never really standing flat-footed in the pocket. If improves his ball positioning, his throwing motion would be much cleaner, and the ball would come out of his hands quicker. The 6-foot and 160-pound rising junior should see his number improve in his second year as a starter.
RB Kaden Feagin, SO – Arthur-Lovington (1A)
This young man is a matchup nightmare for class 1A opponents as he seemingly looks bigger than everyone else on the field. Feagin stands 6-foot-3-inches while weighing 203-pounds as a rising sophomore. At this point in time his size clearly stands out, but he has solid speed to go along with the big body. Feagin shows solid hands while his route running will need some work. He does play defense as well, lining up as a safety and outside linebacker, but his future is on the offensive side. Feagin’s reported 11.4 100-meter dash isn’t blazing, but as he fills out, a move to tight end at the next level is not out of the question. Feagin should enjoy a very good second year at the Varsity level and if he continues his current trajectory, you could see him being a major player in the future.