RISE Football Academy - Offensive Players to Watch
Rivals.com has attended several practices for RISE Football Academy over the past three weeks to watch and evaluate several up and coming prospects for the class of 2018 and 2019. In addition to the practices Rivals has reviewed sophomore and junior game film from RISE prospects as well.
2019 Graham (Wash.) Graham-Kapowsin quarterback Dylan Morris - offers from Nebraska, Washington and Washington State
Game Film Review: Morris' tape regressed from his freshman to sophomore year, but there remains room for improvement. The Graham-Kapowsin quarterback struggled to utilize the check-down option, instead choosing to force other throws and make poor decisions.
Again Sumner the sophomore threw two interceptions, both poor reads. But what makes Morris one of the most talented quarterbacks in the country for the 2019 class is his ability to make a quick read, get the ball out with velocity while also being able to throw a near perfect deep ball to either side of the field.
RISE Review: Morris is the top quarterback for Rise and has taken a leadership role in the offense, another strong part of his overall makeup. What makes him an elite quarterback is his ability to learn quickly from his mistakes, make an adjustment and also take lessons learned from his sophomore season and make changes in the off-season. Morris will certainly be a high four-star prospect, if not a five-star, when all is said and done. To continue on that course the GK signal caller will look to improve his overall ability to read a defense and make quicker and better decisions with the ball.
2018 Lake Stevens (Wash.) quarterback Conor Bardue - schools of interest include Boise State, Utah State, Washington and Washington State
Game Film Review: Following the Jacob Eason era at Lake Stevens is quarterback Conor Bardue, a quarterback who might not appear the most ideal replace with the eye test, but one who makes every throw asked of him which matters far and above all else. At 6'1, 190, Bardue adapts his game and his throws to fit any play call. Whether it be a baseball-style throw out wide for a quick screen to avoid the ball being batted down or throwing a perfectly placed ball down the sideline to hit his receiver in stride, Bardue has the talent and ability to make an offense go.
When evaluating his tape there is only nit-picking to knock his game, a sign of a good quarterback. His lack of height does not appear on his game film and he still has room to grow more into his frame as he matures on the field.
RISE Review: Bardue is right behind Morris in the pecking order but has just as much of a command for the offense. Bardue's ability to take his 7on7 ability and translate it to his Lake Stevens game prep and execute both at a high level makes him an appealing prospect, because he's not the product of a system. He isn't the most athletic quarterback and a change in workout routine to get his body to pass the eye test would certainly help his recruitment, there isn't a doubt he belongs at the FBS level, potentially at a Mountain West or Pac-12 level program depending on the offense run.
2019 Sumner (Wash.) pro-style quarterback Austin Grondahl
RISE Review: Grondahl did not start for Sumner this season but he has shown well during Rise practices on a consistent basis. He's a lefty, and his touch and spiral are almost always perfect and right where the ball needs to be when it comes to the deep ball. Where he struggles is the over the middle and intermediate passes with preferentially more velocity on his shorter throws. There is no question his down-field passing ability is where it needs to be and will only get better as he progresses and becomes the starter for Sumner HS.
2020 Seattle (Wash.) Garfield TE/LB Sav'ell Smalls - offer from Washington
Rise Review: Washington coach Chris Petersen extended a rare offer to a 2020 recruit recently and that prospect is Sav'ell Smalls, a defensive end/linebacker for Garfield High School in Seattle, Washington. Smalls, who is truly anything but at 6'4, 230 already with room to grow, plays tight end predominantly for Rise with his unique size and true pass-catching ability. He's had a few drops no doubt but his frame is similar to a young Austin Seferian-Jenkins, who some schools viewed as an offensive tackle instead of a tight end coming out of Washington several years ago. Petersen offered Smalls as a DE/LB in the Huskies defense, but with his unique size for a 7on7 team, he has shown the ability to play at a high level as a tight end for Rise.