Top return specialists from Class of 2022 in Colorado
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The Class of 2022 is leaving an impressive mark in Colorado. From the recruiting trail to their performance on the field this past fall, many players are standing out. One area that the class stood out the most is on…
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Continue ReadingThe Class of 2022 is leaving an impressive mark in Colorado.
From the recruiting trail to their performance on the field this past fall, many players are standing out. One area that the class stood out the most is on special teams, primarily returning kicks. From kickoffs to punts, there were many players that dazzled with the ball in their hands and made big plays there for their respective teams.
Here is a look at the top returners from the Class of 2022 from this past fall.
Rand Butler, 2022, 6’0, 185, WR/DB, Rampart
A master in the open field, Butler is a creative runner who will make defenders miss and sets up running lanes well. He will go north to south, but he will also get away from defenders going east to west and then turn up field for yards. Butler broke a number of big returns throughout the season, finishing with 218 kickoff return yards and 184 punt return yards. He was effective doing both and scored two touchdowns on punt returns. His longest returns were 72 yards in kickoff and 70 in punt. Those returns added to a steady offensive season with four other touchdowns scored on the ground and through the air from his wide receiver position.
Dallas Macias Dallas Macias 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH Regis Jesuit | 2022 State CO , 2022, 6’0, 175, WR, Regis Jesuit
A player not afraid to lower the shoulder and deliver a hit on defense and in special teams, Macias was also utilized well as a returner for a talented Regis Jesuit program last fall. He took the majority of returns with seven on kickoff return and 11 on punt return. His strength was on punt return, where he averaged 16.5 yards per return and hit a long of 58 yards while scoring a touchdown on one run back. It was his first season as the team’s leading returner and he did not disappoint, and he excelled in coverage units as well to be a bright spot on special teams.
Blaine Peebles, 2022, 6’1, WR/DB, Hotchkiss
Peebles flashes quickness, speed and the ability to stop on the dime and change direction. He showed all those skills on offense with 407 total yards and eight touchdowns as Hotchkiss got him the ball in a variety of ways. Those skills translated well in the return game as well. He got five kickoff returns for 143 yards, but it was in the punt return game he saw a bigger workload in 2020 with seven returns for 216. Those big runs resulted in an average of 30.9 yards per return, and three of those returns resulted in a touchdown. The athleticism and vision makes him a threat with just a sliver of running room to work with, and it you do not contain him, he will hit the seam and break the long run steadily.
Eli Hubert Eli Hubert 5'11" | ATH Silver Creek | 2022 State CO , 2022, 5’11, 165, WR/DB, Silver Creek
Hubert is an all-around natural athlete who looks like he could play any position if you asked him to. The 5-foot-11 wide receiver caught 30 passes for Silver Creek and showed he could help in the short and deep passing game. His skills transitioned to him being one of the top returners in the state as well. Hubert broke his first kickoff return for 95 yards versus Erie and would finish the season with 250 kickoff return yards and a 31.3 yards per return average. While he had fewer attempts this season (14 total returns), he made the most of them. Look for Hubert to possibly get some more chances in the special teams game in 2021.
Evan Johnson, 2022, 5’10, WR/DB, Grandview
One of the busier return men in Colorado last fall was Johnson. He recorded 21 total returns on the season, including 12 punt returns and nine kickoff returns. His specialty was on kickoff return and doing a great job of allowing his blocks to get set and then find the lane to run through. Grandview did many directional returns with him, and he could get to the edge and then turn on the jets and take off up the field for big runs. He would finish with 283 return yards and took one 60 yards for a touchdown. Grandview used his speed in a multitude of ways on offense this year to go with his return specialty.
Jace Perez, 2022, 6’0, 155, WR/DB, Elizabeth
Perez continues the theme of being a player that his team would get the ball in his hands in a variety of ways to try and find some big plays. The 6-foot junior had 264 rushing yards and 211 receiving yards in 2020, and another part of his game was being a top returner for Elizabeth. After just eight kickoff returns in his first two seasons, Perez returned nine kickoffs and seven punts. In the kickoff return game, he got 220 yards and averaged 24.4 yards per return as he runs straight up and gains as much yardage as he can to set up good field position. It was the punt return game where he broke out in the second half of the season with four returns of 10 yards or more. A goal for 2021 will be to break a return for a touchdown as he did not score despite some solid returns.
Angel Servin, 2022, 5’7, 130, WR/DB, Arickaree/Woodlin
6-man football gives returners plenty of space to work with, and Servin was able to capitalize on that space. At his size at 5-foot-7 and 130 pounds, he is quick, shifty and shows great speed on the field. Servin had 18 kickoff returns and went for 463 yards and scored two touchdowns on the season. His skills were just as good on punt return where he had six returns for 95 yards and a touchdown. For his efforts, Servin led the entire state in any classification in return yardage in 2020.
Kelton Gartrell, 2022, 5’11, 180, RB/LB, Sanford
Gartrell found the field early for Sanford in his career, and a spot that he contributed in a big way was in special teams. His early success continued last fall as he got 11 kickoff return and two punt return attempts. While limited compared to other returners, Gartrell was able to average 23.5 yards per kickoff return. And while he only had two returns in one game, he managed to go for 102 yards and a touchdown in the win over Sorocco. Look for Gartrell to be a key player in 8-man football to watch in 2021 after helping Sanford reach the state championship game last month.