After seeing him in-person two weeks ago, my convictions about Alex Neligh have only grown stronger. Alex shined in-person, making good reads and hitting receivers in stride. He’s also a dual-threat with more than 900 yards rushing so far this season. He is setting school records, and defending state champion New Pal will be a tough team to beat in the sectionals.
In a recent interview, Avon HC Mark Bless said he was “blessed to have a great group of receivers.” The best of them is Griffin. He has had a fantastic year, emerging as Brandon Peters’ #1 target and proving to be a guy you have to account for every week. He is also highly productive – if high school had fantasy football, he would be a coveted player to have on your team. He’s a fine route runner with loose hips, sticky hands, and vertical burst to stretch the field.
Two HSE players are in this series, but for good reason. Matio is a total package, a versatile playmaker who shines no matter where he lines up, playing at RB, WR, and also serving as a kick returner. At 6’1”, 210, he is not only a good runner but has also proven to be a very capable dual threat receiver out of the backfield. He runs through contact, is quick to change direction, and has fluid hips and breakaway speed. He also aligns in the slot, where he adjusts back to the ball, exhibits nice hands, and has the ability to work on his own over the middle of the field.
Of the quarterbacks that will appear in this series, Luke Johnston might be the most underrated – and maybe the most physically-gifted. At 6’5”, 190, he exhibits a quick release and flashes a rocket arm, hitting receivers in stride with a nice deep ball and throwing with velocity over the middle of the field. He put up impressive numbers as a junior, throwing for 3,228 yards and 28 TDs, and is coming off a big win over Franklin Central last night – 19/22, 321 yards.
You can’t evaluate a player based only on statistics. You have to see the film, and with quarterbacks, hit the road and watch them in-person. But Poiry’s numbers do paint an accurate picture of his turnaround. Last year he threw for 1,045 yards, seven touchdowns, and eight interceptions through 10 games. Through Week 5, he has thrown for 1,210 yards, nine touchdowns, and only one interception. On tape, and in-person last week, he looks like a different player from last year. He exhibits a quick release, live arm, and makes good decisions with the ball, and exhibits good on-field awareness and confidence. He leads a team that has been on a roll after a dramatic comeback win over in-town rival Fishers a few weeks ago.
Grade: 2
Size: 6’4”, 185.
Based: Sophomore Film, Junior Film, in-person vs. Westfield (9/18/2015)
Attributes: Strong run defender with size, instincts, nose for the ball, and frame to grow in a college program. Used primarily at safety but is also used as a nickel DB who can cover the slot. Plays tight and physical in coverage; can jam, disrupt routes, stay on the hips of receivers and time the ball. Has great closing speed and is fast in pursuit, consistently wrapping up ballcarriers behind the line of scrimmage. Is a big hitter who can dent in the open field but is also fundamentally-sound as a tackler; bends, comes to balance, stays square and wraps up in space. Still growing within the scheme and has not realized full potential yet, according to coaches. Can be caught from behind as a return man; lacks the breakaway speed to stick there in college.
Summary: Brock is coming off a visit to Iowa this past weekend; the Big 10 would be a good fit for him. His coaches love him. They credit his high intangibles, including grades and character. He is a high-impact player whose closing speed, instincts, and size make him a legitimate Division I FBS recruit.
New Palestine QB Alex Neligh is one of the most underrated prospects in the state. He’s a 6’2”, 195 dual-threat quarterback who has been setting school records lately. Yet he has no college offers at this time.
He commands an offense that has scored over 40 points in all but two games over the past two seasons. New Pal won state last year, moved up to 5A this year, and hasn’t missed a beat in their first four games, racking up over 50 points and winning every game. Neligh has thrown for 736 yards, ran for 669, and scored 21 touchdowns so far this season, and has more than 5,000 total yards of offense during his high school career. He exhibits a quick release, strong arm, and accuracy all over the field. He is well-respected by his coaches, who consistently give him high marks for his leadership and winning record over the past two seasons. They will face Pendleton Heights at Lucas Oil this weekend.
Grade: 1
Based: Jr, Sr. film, game film v. Pike, in-person visit vs. Avon (2015)
Strengths: Nationally-ranked as the #1 quarterback in the Class of 2017. Has it all from a physical standpoint – quick release, big arm, and pocket mobility to be a big-time quarterback for the Vols in the future. Consistently hits fades in stride, throws with velocity and accuracy between the hashes, and can thread a needle in the short game. Excellent footwork – can climb the pocket, transfer weight into his pass, and consistently stays in position to pull the trigger. Instinctive – feels and reacts to pressure. Team captain, faces top competition as a 6A school. Good size, height, and strength – can withstand contact under pressure, stay on his feet, and extend the play for the best possible outcome. Is intellectually smart and has high intangibles.
Weaknesses: Can improve by being more accurate when throwing on the move. Primary concern is streaky decision-making – made some bad throws into heavy coverage v. Avon, but has time to improve. Plays with an up-and-down supporting cast, though; easily catchable passes dropped v. Pike, where he was frequently under pressure. Can run but isn’t a dual-threat.
Summary: Hunter has a high ceiling – he has room to improve, but he also has time to do so over the next two years. He can withstand contact in the pocket and exhibits an accurate deep ball. He has a nice arm, quick release, enough mobility, and high intangibles to excel.
Tomorrow’s game between Avon and Brownsburg will be played in front of a national audience. 247Sports’ top-ranked 2017 quarterback Hunter Johnson will face Avon’s Brandon Peters, a University of Michigan commit. The game will be aired on ESPNU.
The game could turn into a shootout. Both teams, despite their 1-2 records, have talent to put points on the board. Johnson, who committed to Tennessee last month, is coming off a much-needed win against Franklin (68-7);. Avon posted 42 points against defending state champion Ben Davis two weeks ago. They have lost two very tight games, including last week’s against Hamilton Southeastern off a sack-fumble in the closing minute. Despite the records, the game is highly-anticipated matchup between two future college quarterbacks.
Tomorrow night’s MIC showdown between Center Grove and Carmel will feature some of the best talent in the state. Both teams are stacked with college talent and rank inside the top 5 in every notable 6A poll. Michael Viktrup, the Carmel dual-threat quarterback, is an Air Force commit. Linebackers Noah Burks and Cameron Hunt, who fly all over the field, are set to play for Wisconsin and North Dakota respectively next fall.
Carmel’s offensive line will have its hands full, though. Center Grove boasts two of the state’s best defensive linemen in Jovan Swann and Cameron Tidd. Tidd is a Vanderbilt commit and Swann has several Big-10 offers. On tape they exhibit Division I explosiveness, twitchy first steps, and strength at the point of attack. Grove’s quarterback, Joey Sidewricz, has only thrown the ball 14 times through the first two weeks, but has a 100% completion rate so far. In the Trojans’ Wing-T offense, that means heavy workloads for Titus McCoy, an outstanding 2017 running back who exhibits tremendous balance and vision in space. The game promises to be a good one with both teams competing at a high level.
Indiana Football Scout 