Preseason All-4A Team: Skill Positions
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Today we talk about the playmakers in the 4A region! KJ Jackson AL #17 QB #1 HEIGHT 6'3" WEIGHT 210 POS QB CLASS 2024 View Profile KJ Jackson Twitter State: Alabama School: Saint James School Jackson blazed the recruiting trail…
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Continue ReadingToday we talk about the playmakers in the 4A region!
Jackson blazed the recruiting trail this summer and established himself as a household name around the state with invites to impressive camps. Georgia, Penn State, Oklahoma, and Florida all lined up to see his talent, and he emerged as one of the better QBs in his class. Jackson has prototypical size, is mechanically sound in the pocket, and can make all the throws. Jackson has one of the pretties deep balls in the state and consistently drops the ball in the bucket with accuracy. He shows touch and ball placement on intermediate routes and can get velocity on the ball to work the quick game effectively. Though he’s primarily a dominant force in the pocket, Jackson is athletic enough to keep defenses honest, buy time/ create out of the pocket, or pick up some yardage and make the next down more manageable. As QB1 of the 4A region, look for Jackson to be one of the more dynamic QBs in the state.
Mason Cartee
Mason Cartee
With running for over 2000 yards last season, Cartee earned his way to this selection. As a workhorse back, he carried the load of the offense and led Priceville to a second-round appearance. Cartee can slice up defenses by beating guys to the gap and exposing running lanes with excellent lateral quickness, burst, and vision. He also is adept at allowing his blockers to make the play and then reacting to what’s in front of him. Once he gets to the second level, he has the speed to hit his head on the goal post and consistently break off long yardage gains. Though he’s more of a scat back, Cartee does have solid contact balance and break tackles to be effective in power run schemes.
Highlights
Strong’s appearance on this list is impressive, considering he splits snaps between wideout and runningback; however, his versatility and dexterity as a receiver earned him a spot on the team. With being a running back by trade, his natural instinct, elusiveness, and burst are used when finding yardage after the catch. This makes him ultra effective with screens, quick game routes, and jet sweeps. Strong can also take the top of defenses with straight-line speed, smooth route running, and the ability to make contested catches. In a Debo Samuels-type role, Strong is a complete offensive weapon that defenses must account for and is one of the best playmakers in the region.
At 6’5, Palmer is figuratively and literally one of the biggest playmakers in the state. His next-level size, in addition to his athleticism and receiver-like skills, makes him a can’t-miss prospect. With an expansive catch radius, Palmer is open even when he’s covered. He can high point the ball, get full extension for catches, and is crafty when making sideline catches- making him a very QB-friendly target. Plamer is also an elite red zone threat and adept at adjusting to back shoulder fades. Palmer shows solid burst in space and can gain yards after the catch; however, if he does break loose, he has enough straight-line speed to finish plays in the endzone. With offers from Louisville, Minnesota, Coastal Carolina, and South Alabama, among others, look for Palmer to continue to gain offers through the season and be one of the biggest mismatches in the state.