On3 standout recruits from week 11 of high school football
Things are heating up in high school football with the playoffs nearing or already underway in most states. This week, featured a big rivalry game in Texas, saw several top 2022 quarterbacks have big games and watched a top 2023 quarterback in a playoff contest.
Please note that while extensive, this is not a comprehensive list of every top performer in high school football.
Klubnik & Co. roll in rivalry game
Clemson quarterback commit Cade Klubnik and his Austin (Texas) Westlake squad took on their cross-town rivals Lake Travis on Friday. The game marked Klubnik’s return after missing the prior three games with an injured shoulder. Over 10,000 fans showed up to watch the rivals play for the first time in two years.
Westlake looked all of one of the top five teams in the country, racing out to a 42-14 lead at halftime, before ultimately winning 63-21. The Chaps are riding a 34-game win streak.
Klubnik was efficient in leading the potent Westlake offense on quick scoring drives. The 6-foot-3, `186-pounder showed his long-striding rushing ability on a zone read keeper that went for a 22-yard touchdown on the first drive. He wasn’t shy as a runner and didn’t appear to be favoring his shoulder after the injury. Klubnik hit a deep ball to 2023 On300 receiver Jaden Greathouse for the second score. He finished 11 for 15 for 219 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 31 yards and two more scores on six attempts.
Overall, Klubnik looked like his typical self. He’s an accurate, efficient passer with very good mobility who is running one of the best offenses in high school football. The arm talent is not to the level of several other highly-rated quarterbacks in this cycle. With that said, the previously mentioned traits and his pedigree in playing against tough competition points to a high floor. Klubnik ranks as the No. 22 prospect in the 2022 cycle according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
Klubnik plays behind one of the best offensive lines in the nation, which touts Texas commit Connor Robertson, Indiana commit Bray Lynch and 2023 interior offensive lineman T.J. Shanahan. Robertson showed mobility as a puller and teamed with Lynch for a combo block that sprung a long touchdown run before the half.
Westlake EDGE Ethan Burke is a senior riser, adding recent offers from Baylor and Utah. The 6-foot-7, 230-pounder sticks out with his considerable stature. Burke made a number of disruptive plays, sacking Bo Edmundson and batting several passes. He has 10 tackles for loss and seven sacks on the season.
Ohio State On300 wide receiver commit Caleb Burton is the big name for Lake Travis. The 6-foot, 165-pounder got Lake Travis on the board in the first half, taking advantage of a blown coverage. Bo Edmundson found Burton streaking up the seam. Burton has not been a high volume target for Lake Travis so far this season, entering the week with 23 receptions in nine games. He’s a savvy, technical route runner. We’d like to see him continue to improve his play strength.
Top QB’s shine in wins
We saw several more top 2022 quarterbacks come up big for their teams on Friday
Florida commit Nick Evers and his Flower Mound (Texas) High team had a de facto play-in game against Coppell (Texas) High, with the winner making the playoffs. The 6-foot-3, 187-pounder came up huge, accounting for six touchdowns in the win. Evers completed 21 of 28 passes for 227 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He rushed for 145 yards and four touchdowns on 10 carries.
The performance in a pressure-packed situation was certainly eye-catching. The Gator commit has one of the better combinations of arm talent and mobility in the cycle and continued to show those skills. Evers does not play on a team that is loaded with talent. He’s had to create on his own this year, which bodes well for long-term development. Flower Mound takes on powerhouse Denton Guyer in the first round this week.
LSU quarterback commit Walker Howard was 28 of 43 for 509 yards and six touchdowns in leading his Lafayette (La.) St. Thomas More team to a 62-60 win over LaPlace (La.) East St. John. The game marked Howard’s return after missing the previous five weeks with a fractured fibula.
You wouldn’t know Howard was coming back from an injury based on how he moved and played. The top 100 passer made several off-platform throws, including one across his body that went for a touchdown in the first half. Howard’s recruitment remains in flux with the coaching change at LSU. He took an official visit to Notre Dame in October and is scheduled to be at Ole Miss this week.
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USC commit Devin Brown had one of his best games of the season, completing 27 of 36 passes for 347 yards and five touchdowns along with another rushing score in a quarterfinal win. Brown is one of the top arm talents in the 2022 cycle in our opinion and continued to look worthy of that praise on Friday. The top 100 prospect has considerable velocity on his throws and is capable of ripping the football into small windows downfield.
Like Howard, Brown’s recruitment is up in the air due to the coaching change at USC. He’s already taken an official visit to Ole Miss this fall and is slated to be at Texas this weekend.
Moore continues productive season
We were able to watch 2023 quarterback Dante Moore lead his Detroit Martin Luther King team to a 33-12 playoff win over River Rouge (Mich.) High on Friday night. This was our first chance to see Moore play live this fall.
The No. 29 2023 prospect in the On3 Consensus entered the game having a strong season, completing over 70 percent of his passes for 31 touchdowns and just one interception.
Moore showed off a quick release and some natural passing skills. He was accurate and showed nice touch on two fade throws that both went for touchdowns. Moore also excels in the quick passing game with his ability to get the football out of his hand in a flash. He didn’t take too many downfield shots and finished the game 13 of 17 for 207 yards and three touchdowns along with another short rushing touchdown.
The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder looks to be more of a pocket passer at the next level. He doesn’t appear to be as strong of an athlete as several of his highly-rated contemporaries in the 2023 cycle.
2023 wide receiver Nick Marsh made some plays for River Rouge. He had a nice spin after the catch to convert on a 3rd and 11 and had a few other grabs on comeback routes. Marsh has a large catch radius but can continue improving his fluidity and burst after the catch.
On300 juniors with big games
Two more members of the 2023 On300 had big games on Friday.
Orlando Edgewater running back Cedric Baxter Jr. had 32 carries for 255 yards and two touchdowns in a win over rival Boone. Baxter has emerged as a bell cow back this fall while putting up some big numbers in Florida’s highest classification. The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder pairs size, power and speed. He’s rushed for 1,450 yards and 17 touchdowns on 170 carries this fall. Baxter ranks as the No. 45 overall prospect and No. 1 running back in the 2023 cycle according to On3.
Havelock (N.C.) High tight end Javonte Vereen‘s big junior season continued with four catches for 146 yards and two touchdowns in a first round playoff win. The 6-foot-4, 210-pounder showed some rare after catch ability in taking making several defenders miss on a 43-yard catch-and-run touchdown. He also made a fantastic high-point, contested grab down the sideline before scoring a 60-yard touchdown on a vertical route.
Vereen’s high-level ability as a pass catcher was fully on display. Georgia offered after the game, becoming his second Power Five offer after NC State. Look for several more offers to come. Vereen is having a huge season with 985 yards and 12 touchdowns on just 31 receptions. He ranks as the No. 116 overall prospect in the 2023 cycle according to On3.