2023 Players to Know on Offense: Part 1
Now that we are a couple of months into the new year, momentum is already building for the 2023 prospects in New York. With more exposure opportunities for players, we will give an in-depth look at some of the top players in the state on the offensive side of the ball.
Jake Polito Jake Polito 6'3" | 285 lbs | OL Somers | 2023 State NY OL – Somers
Polito makes a strong case as the most violent OL in New York. The athletic OL gets off fast and is a consistent hands-on first player. He is a quick dominant run blocker who seals the edge on any stretch play. Jake dominates DL, and they don’t slip off once engaged. His high motor is evident all through his film, as you will routinely see him 20 plus yards downfield finishing overwhelmed defensive players. Currently, Polito holds offers from Uconn and Stony Brook. I look forward to watching Polito go against some of the top pass-rush specialists in camps coming up in the next couple of months.
Dylan Evans Dylan Evans 6'3" | 185 lbs | WR Orchard Park | 2023 State NY WR – Orchard Park
Evans was the state’s leader in TD receptions this past season for Orchard Park. The big-framed WR is a legit deep threat, and his film and stats prove it. He is not just a jump ball deep threat WR, though Evans shows good awareness and knows where to sit on routes. His in-air adjustments are top-notch, and he is not a double catcher. Evans is a player that you can tell is still getting comfortable in his size as he continues to grow and once everything comes together, then really watch out. He also is a highlight basketball player showcasing his twitch burst and athleticism. The offseason will be significant for Dylan as he is on track to go against some top DBs coming up in the All-Northeast camp that he usually wouldn’t see in the season. Dylan’s recruitment is right on edge from opening up big with interests from Pitt, Rutgers, UConn, Marshall, and an offer from Vanderbilt.
Jeremiah Colclough Jeremiah Colclough 5'9" | 175 lbs | ATH Erasmus Hall | 2023 State NY ATH – Erasmus Hall
Versatility is value, and this is where Colclough steals the show. Jeremiah is a national talent, which applies to every part of his game. I include him in this piece just because of how dangerous he is with the ball in his hands. But we will talk about him on defense as well coming up. For context, he played his best against a top talented Curtis team in the PSAL Championship game. Jeremiah can play RB or take direct snaps in any Wildcat variation, and he will easily take the game over from multiple spots. So far, he holds offers from Bowling Green and Stony Brook, and I expect his recruitment to take off in a significant way once everyone realizes how special he is.
Dante Torres Dante Torres 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB St. Anthony's | 2023 State NY QB – St. Anthony’s
The class of 2023 is loaded for the state’s QB position, and one of the players in the top tier is Torres. He is another player that played at his best against top competition in the ultimate setting. He made play after play against a talented Iona team with multiple D1 talent prospects on the field, and for context, you could not have asked for much better. Dante Torres Dante Torres 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB St. Anthony's | 2023 State NY has a good frame and can make all the throws from a diverse set of angles. Adding to his threat level is his athletic ability to escape or run any read variation where he will make a defense with his feet. He catches and slings it in rhythm, plus he can work through and look off safety help. The strong arm signal-caller has all the tools and should be a priority as a next-level QB prospect.
Jean Louis III Jean Louis III 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR Canarsie | 2023 State NY WR – Canarsie
The playmaking WR is a national talent, and his recruitment is picking up momentum, and rightfully so. He is a do it all WR threat that can beat any type of DB. He is one of the only top WRs that consistently faces top DB competition in the state. Jean gets separation quickly, and he is a master of his craft, knowing how to set DBs up by driving them and parking them where he wants to. He aggressively attacks the ball in the air and can make any catch. He is at the top of the food chain for WRs in the state, and he is proving that he can dominate against national talent on the 7 on 7 circuit and camp settings. He already holds multiple D1 offers, and I am confident this will only keep growing as more eyes get on him.
Messiah Burch Messiah Burch 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Monsignor Farrell | 2023 State NY RB – Monsignor Farrell
Burch is an absolute homerun threat whenever he touches the ball out of the backfield. He does not waste time getting north and getting to the open field. Even though Messiah Burch Messiah Burch 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Monsignor Farrell | 2023 State NY is a potential housecall at any moment, he does run hard behind pads displaying power, and this makes it hard for defenders to bring him down if the fit is off. His vision is top-notch, along with fluid hips, and he shows excellent balance. He can find a small crease and exploit it when he is bottled up. He covers all the bases you would expect from a top RB in any state. Burch also plays against some of the top talents in NY, so he performs against some strong competition. Burch already holds 10 D1 offers, including recent offers from Army and Navy.
Louca Charalambous Louca Charalambous 6'5" | 270 lbs | OL Half Hollows Hills East | 2023 State NY OL – Half Hollow Hills East
Louca is an athletic freak on the OL and was an integral part of the crazy rushing production that helped dynamic RB Dakim Griffin Dakim Griffin 5'7" | 170 lbs | RB Half Hollow Hills East | 2022 State NY for Half Hollow Hills East. Charalambous has the D1 frame already but what separates him is his scary athleticism. He can line up at LB, look the part and make plays. He lined up mainly as RT Hills East and was a road grader when pulling, but his athletic ability would allow him to play anything on the OL. Louca is primed to have a monster senior season, and interest is building. Going against some top edge players in any camp setting could cause a major momentum swing for recruiting. He faced West Virginia commit elite edge player Elias Barrett Elias Barrett 6'4" | 220 lbs | DL Half Hollow Hills East | 2022 State NY every day in practice so he has performed against dominant edge talent.
Kenyon Miles Kenyon Miles 6'2" | 170 lbs | ATH St. Anthony's | 2023 State NY WR– St. Anthony’s
Miles is another big piece of the dynamic St. Anthony’s offensive attack. He has a great blend of size and athleticism that allows him to go over the top or turn a short catch into a massive gain. Kenyon can run anything thrown his way with his diverse capabilities. He is hard to jam, and if you try to play off or catch, he will set you up and make you pay. Kenyon Miles Kenyon Miles 6'2" | 170 lbs | ATH St. Anthony's | 2023 State NY was able to perform at a very high level against Iona so the competition context is there! So far, Miles has 3 D1 offers from LIU, Fordham, and Monmouth.
Carmello Michel Carmello Michel 6'3" | 305 lbs | OL Erasmus Hall | 2023 State NY OL – Erasmus Hall
Michel is a dominant interior OG for one of the best Offensive Lines around. He has a wide powerful base, and he is consistent with his setup, which allows him to dominate when you watch him, you can tell he has good hip, knee, and ankle flexion. Michel overpowers his opponents out the gate and has the lateral quickness to handle any 3 tech disruptor players; he faced some of the most talented DL around in the PSAL. He has been performing against high-level national players in camp settings so far, and he recently picked up a Bowling Green offer.
Ajani Sheppard Ajani Sheppard 6'3" | 225 lbs | QB Iona Prep | 2023 State NY QB – Iona Prep
Shepard is the top guy from the Championship Iona Prep team. Ajani has all the tools you want from a national talent QB prospect. Big strong frame, cannon for an arm, good decision making, team leader, and athletic ability to punish you on the ground or escape any situation. Because of his running ability, Sheppard freezes LBs and Safeties on his run-read variation plays. He puts defenders in constant conflict and is just a high IQ player. Ajani Sheppard Ajani Sheppard 6'3" | 225 lbs | QB Iona Prep | 2023 State NY never seems to panic and is sneaky quick for his size, which opens more opportunities for him once things break down. As you would expect, he can make all the throws displaying touch and velocity when needed. Ajani Sheppard Ajani Sheppard 6'3" | 225 lbs | QB Iona Prep | 2023 State NY currently has offers from UConn, Monmouth and Navy.