Five Players Who Can Take A Leap This Season - Prep Redzone (2024)

In the limited amount of time he got, King flashed some promising playmaking ability. The rising senior was perhaps lost in a crowded receiver room but will look to take the next step this fall. His route-running ability from the slot is efficient as he finds the openings within zones and makes life easier for his QB. He also possesses the speed and acceleration to beat defenders across the middle and down the seam. He shows sure hands, toughness, and the willingness to go up and attack the ball in the air. He also can create separation. King can be a very productive weapon for the Dragons this year if given the opportunity. Let him polish up his route-running and he can surely be primed as one of their top targets.

Cason rotated between Varsity and JV last season but ultimately showed he can be of value. He may not be the biggest but he has some length that plays a factor. He shows good technique in his pedal by keeping leverage and not allowing defenders to get on his toes. He is smooth in his transitions and reactive out of his breaks. He is aggressive when triggering on routes and knows how to play through the receiver’s hands when out of phase. Given the chance to get more valuable playing time, Cason can prove to be a sound defender in the secondary.

Parker Taylor

Parker Taylor

Taylor played both safety and corner this past season, showing off his versatility. While he made plays at both, one can see that a future at safety is evident. He knows how to bait QBs as two of his interceptions came from when he was lined up there. He sees the field clearly and understands how to help out his corners in zone. When reading the mesh he triggers well and takes effective tackle angles. When playing corner he played a lot more off coverage but was still productive in what he did. He reads the 3 step drop well and breaks efficiently on short and intermediate routes. Nonetheless, he still defends the deep ball well and sticks hip-to-hip with receivers. If Taylor can work on his press ability and polish up his off man, he’ll be a more consistent playmaker.

Barnes is a big, physical receiver who wins at the catch point. He puts his 6’4 frame to good use as he uses long strides to beat defenders and stretch the field vertically. He knows how to box out defenders to catch contested catches but also just simply out-jumps them as well. His ball skills are second to none as he knows how to put himself in a position to make tough catches. While he may lack top speed he still moves well for his size and can get in and out of breaks quick enough to create some separation. It goes without saying but he is a mismatch in the redzone and is very productive in that area. Barnes future will either be a downfield mismatch threat out wide or he may have a future at tight end creating even more of a problem for linebackers and safeties. All in all, if he can gain some speed and become a crisp route runner, he’ll easily be one of the more highly regarded prospects in the state.

Bailey Shetterly

Bailey Shetterly

Productive on both sides of the ball, the rising senior has the athletic ability to excel wherever he is needed. However, the aggression, motor, and physicality he plays with may have him finding a home on the defensive side. Shetterly played strong safety this past season however he fits some more of a hybrid/outside linebacker role. He made a lot of tackles close to the line of scrimmage showing how he isn’t afraid to stick his nose in the trenches. He is quick to trigger when reading the run and can smoothly defend tight ends when lined up on them. He knows how to maneuver his way through blocks and still be effective in the play even if he doesn’t necessarily make it. His speed helps him move from sideline to sideline to chase down ball carriers and not let anything explosive happen. Let Shetterly sharpen his tools and he can be a very disruptive defender not only this season but at the next level as well.