10 Players in Montgomery County Who Raised Their Stock Last Week
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Week 2 featured the first game action and a lot of players boosted their stock. These 10 players stood out this weekend. Brian Nichols Northwest Nichols is a defensive weapon for Northwest. He can put his hand in the dirt…
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Continue ReadingWeek 2 featured the first game action and a lot of players boosted their stock. These 10 players stood out this weekend.
Brian Nichols Northwest
Nichols is a defensive weapon for Northwest. He can put his hand in the dirt and he can also play off-ball. Nichols had a huge game Friday. Nichols was making plays in the backfield all game and was doing it in both the pass and run game. Nichols’s versatility makes him a real stud on the defensive side of the ball.
BJ Howard BJ Howard 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB Northwest | 2021 State MD Northwest
BJ Howard BJ Howard 5'11" | 175 lbs | DB Northwest | 2021 State MD was explosive. He was playing quarterback which is new for him but he was still making plays. Northwest’s offense struggled however they were at their best when Howard was able to use his legs. Howard showed athleticism that will translate well at the next level.
Marcus Pedone Richard Montgomery
Pedone was on JV last season, despite that he still made a name for himself. He was the best JV player in the county but the question remained could he be productive on varsity? Well, he had a big kickoff return TD against Paint Branch so that should answer those questions. No matter what level he plays at Pedone continues to produce.
Daryl Harper Richard Montgomery
Harper was a player many expected to make a big jump. Harper has seemed to make that jump. He is contributing on all 3 sides off the ball offense, defense, and even special teams. Harper has grown into an all-around stud that can do it all. Expect him to receive a lot of calls this offseason.
Octavian Smith Octavian Smith 5'10" | 170 lbs | ATH Paint Branch | 2022 State MD Paint Branch
Smith’s not only starting at Quarterback for the Panthers but he’s also starting at corner. Smith had a real good game at corner. Smith showed that he can make an impact not only offensively but defensively as well. Smith can play anywhere on the field and he proved that Friday.
Xavier Ricks Xavier Ricks 6'3" | 280 lbs | OL Good Counsel | 2021 State MD Richard Montgomery
Ricks was arguably the best player on the field in the game against Paint Branch. That means a lot because both teams have a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. Ricks again was making an impact on the game in any way he can. He was making plays at receiver and defense. Ricks just solidified himself as one of the top players in the county.
Sean Yamada Sherwood
Sherwood’s offense looked really good against Damascus and Yamada was a big reason why. Yamada was able to take the top off the defense multiple times and that really opened up the offense for Sherwood. Yamada showed great touch on his deep ball. He also showed mobility and the ability to move out of the pocket. He has had a strong season so far and has shown a lot of improvement. His performances this season have definitely put himself on people’s radar.
Diego Mendez Diego Mendez 6'3" | 205 lbs | QB Damascus | 2021 MD Damascus
Mendez has had a lot of buzz around him for some time now but he has never had the opportunity to start. Mendez showed real arm talent with his velocity and arm strength. Mendez also showed a willingness to tuck and run when he needs to. He still has some work to do but the talent is undeniable and he finally has the opportunity to showcase it.
Antonio Cruz Blair
The first thing that jumps out at you when watching Cruz is his size. Cruz has the size of a college offensive tackle. He not only has the size but he has the ability to move as well. Cruz can play at tackle but he can also play inside at guard. With his size ability to move, and his motor to always finish the play and finish his blocks, he is exactly what college coaches look for in an offensive lineman.
Luke Hill Rockville
Hill is a staple of Rockville’s defense. He is an edge rusher that always seems to make a big play at the right time. Hill also has great instincts that every coach looks for. Hill is a playmaker off the edge and he made big plays last week against Blair. Hill is a real defensive impact player and he showed why last Friday.