Players in the Midst of a Breakout Season
While we are at the halfway point for the 2020 Football Season I want to take time to look at several student athletes who have used this season to breakout and make us here at Prep Redzone Wisconsin take notice…
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Continue ReadingWhile we are at the halfway point for the 2020 Football Season I want to take time to look at several student athletes who have used this season to breakout and make us here at Prep Redzone Wisconsin take notice of them. We have a great collection of kids here who all look to have extremely bright futures and the talent to continue playing at the next level. The path to their breakout is always fun to track also. Some of the kids in this article are freshmen that are ready to dominate for three more seasons, some are seniors that finally have the chance to show what they have to offer and are capitalizing on it, and everything in between. Don’t forget to check out these guys’ film as well!
Cade Palkowski- Freshman QB- Oak Creek
Midseason Stats: 27/54, 260 Yards, 2 TDs, 46 Carries, 160 Yards, 4 TDs (3 Games)
Cade wasted no time making his presence felt. From game one, when our scout Oliver West attended the game, Cade has led his team with his talent, execution, and leadership. He is doing it while playing some of the best competition in the state. As a freshman, Cade is already proving that he has the traits you want to check off when scouting high school QBs. Size, athleticism, versatility, accuracy in the pocket and on the move, arm strength. It is all present in his film. He has so much time to develop and he is so raw right now. This kid needs to be on everyone’s radar because he is just starting to take off. Cade vs Kenosha Bradford
Marko Rajkovic Marko Rajkovic 6'5" | 220 lbs | TE Franklin | 2021 State WI – Senior TE- Franklin
Midseason Stats: 18 Receptions, 185 Yards, 1 TD (3 Games)
Earlier this summer I wrote that I expected Marko to be one of the TEs to breakout this fall. That is what he has spent this fall doing. He has worked his way into being one of Burkett’s most reliable targets. His 6’5″ frame has plenty of room to fill out and even with his big frame he’s an impressive athlete. Once he gets the ball in his hands he is a surprisingly elusive runner and uses his length to keep defenders at bay. I really love his blocking ability too. His aggressiveness, strength, and playing through the whistle gives us some impressive blocking highlights. He is moving up my rankings. Marko vs Indian Trail
Chase Spellman Chase Spellman 6'4" | 230 lbs | QB Kettle Moraine | 2024 WI – Sophomore QB- Kettle Moraine
Midseason Stats: 42/69, 504 Yards, 8 TDs, 25 Carries, 137 Yards, 3 TDs (3 Games)
My expectations were high for Chase entering this season. He has come out and matched them, and he has shown even more than I expected. Chase has a live arm. The ball jumps out of his hand and he can put it right where he needs to with excellent accuracy. He checks off the boxes. Arm talent, size, athleticism, throwing off platform. Add in the fact that he can kill a defense with his legs and you get a kid that is ready to really take off. He is doing all of this just three games into his sophomore season too. You will remember this name. I don’t think he is going to give you a choice.
Keany Parks- Sophomore RB- Kenosha Bradford
Midseason Stats: 27 Carries, 181 Yards, 2 TDs, 16 Receptions, 161 Yards, 1 TD (4 Games)
Coming into the season, I could tell that Bradford was going to need some younger skill position players to step up to help take this offense to the next level. Parks has taken that step up and been a huge part behind the success of this Bradford team. He is electric with the ball in his hands. Any touch can go the distance thanks to the initial burst and long speed that he plays with. If he gets a crease he is gone because I haven’t found many that can catch him from behind. Keany is so versatile too. One play he is in the backfield and taking it 60+ yards to the house and the next he is flying down the sideline and hauling in a deep pass. He has the potential to be a special skill player over the next couple seasons. Keep track of this guy! Keany Weeks 1-4
Ben Peterson- Senior WR- Brookfield Central
Midseason Stats: 17 Receptions, 177 Yards, 4 TDs (4 Games)
Ben broke onto the scene for me back in week one when I attended their game vs Menomonee Falls. They weren’t able to get the victory, but I was able to find some athletes that I didn’t know about when I got there. Ben was one of them. Since that game, he has continued to show what I saw live. He has a nice frame to work with at the position at 6’2″, and he controls it really well. It’s especially impressive along the sideline making catches. I really the like the way he catches the ball. Ben always catches it with his soft hands instead of letting it into his chest. He spends a lot of his time in the slot and he has gotten really good at creating separation with his route running while attacking the seam or using out/corner routes. Ben’s Midseason Highlights
Jake Rockweiler Jake Rockweiler 5'10" | 185 lbs | RB Elkhorn | 2021 State WI – Senior RB- Elkhorn
Midseason Stats: 64 Carries, 651 Yards, 6 TDs (4 Games)
Jake has taken off this year, and I don’t think there is any stopping him. The first four defenses he has faced haven’t been able to at least. I’m a big fan of Jake’s style of play. He has the speed to make plays with and the agility to make defenders miss, but he has no problem with lowering the shoulder and using his contact balance to make plays as well. It has made it so he rarely has to leave the field on offense because he can do it all. Jake has really come into his own this fall and it is fun to watch. He is a college level athlete without a doubt. Jake vs Westosha Central
Hayden VanCamp- Senior DL- Freedom High School
Midseason Stats: 19 Total Tackles, 9 TFLs, 5 Sacks (3 Games)
Hayden has been a big breakout player for me. He has an impressive motor that doesn’t seem to ever stop. Even while playing in the trenches on both sides of the ball. At the next level I think his home is on the defensive line. Hayden is one of the leading sackers in the state at the halfway point of the season and he has done it with consistent production. Not just one good outing. My favorite part of his game is his hand usage. Hayden doesn’t just lean up against his opponent and hope to slide off. He is constantly working to get separation with his hands and then uses then to disengage and either make the tackle in the run game or get pressure on the QB. Hayden Top Plays
Nate Kollath- Sophomore QB- Hamilton Sussex
Midseason Stats: 62/118, 728 Yards, 9 TDs, 42 Carries, 95 Yards (4 Games)
The 2023 QB class is shaping up to be a very talented and deep group here in Wisconsin as we have our second breakout player from the group. I have been watching him close this season and have been impressed with what he has shown. You have to love his already 6’3″ 205 lbs frame. Also, the fact that he is holding his own against top competition already is great to watch. Nate is such a natural passer too. He the ball snaps out of his hand quickly and he can put it on a dot while in the pocket or on the run. As his experience and confidence increases I believe the sky is the limit. There is a lot to work with here. Nate vs Brookfield Central
Jackson Hunter Jackson Hunter 6'6" | 270 lbs | OL Oconomowoc | 2021 State WI – Senior OL- Oconomowoc
Midseason Stats: Blindside blocker for offense that has put up 576 Passing Yards, 695 Rushing Yards (4 Games)
Jackson has taken that next step that I was hoping he would here in his senior year. He is huge at 6’6” 270 lbs, but he is athletic. So many times in his film you see him out in space leading screens and doing it with relative ease. The strength has taken another step up too. He has really mauled and finished defenders in the run game this season and it has shown in the team results as they have been strong in the run game along with the pass game. Possibly the best part is that Jackson is still raw and has a few technique adjustments that could make him even better, but he brings to the table a lot of traits that you can’t simply teach. He is moving up my rankings. Jackson Mid-season Highlights