Small school returning players to watch – Class A part II
Part two of my Class A focus on some of the top returning players, including more of the same schools – all section champions or better. Ethan Spanier DL Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa Spanier uses his inside shoulder and arm to keep blockers…
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Continue ReadingPart two of my Class A focus on some of the top returning players, including more of the same schools – all section champions or better.
Ethan Spanier DL Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa
Spanier uses his inside shoulder and arm to keep blockers off him when setting the edge and with his outside pass rush moves, including an effective swim move. He is explosive out of his stance and keeps his pad level low – allowing him to shoot gaps to the inside and split or take on double teams. He not only can take on double teams, but he has the strength to beat two blockers and still make the play.
Zack Fier RB Minneota
Fier has quick feet and can get out of trouble when the blocking isn’t there. He has a good pad level and is tough to arm tackle. A patient runner, he does a great job setting up his blockers and has great vision. While footwork and vision are his strengths, Fier has good speed and can get the corner and beat defenders if they don’t take proper pursuit angles.
Sam Rahier Sam Rahier 5'10" | 175 lbs | QB Deer RIver | 2023 MN QB Deer River
Rahier has a big arm. He can push the ball downfield and get the ball quickly to the outside, even when being hit. He moves well in the pocket and uses subtle footwork to avoid pressure. He throws well under pressure and is accurate when throwing on the run. Running is a big part of his game. Rahier is a true dual-threat quarterback. He has excellent speed and can scramble for yardage and pick up yardage on designed runs. He is a more powerful runner than he looks and runs through arm tackles.
Anthony Rybinski TE Minneota
As a tight end, Rybinski has solid hands and runs good routes. He gives his quarterback a big target in the middle of the field. Used often on crossing routes, he has a large catch radius and can make plays even with throws that are not on target. Rybinski often lines up as a wing – a couple of yards off the line of scrimmage. In this position, he is a threat in the running game, showing speed around the corner and an ability to set up blockers in the open field.