Mid-South Highlight: 5 most spectacular performances
Rivals nationwide recruiting analyst Marshall Levenson has lined a number of video games in Mid-South over the previous month, getting further seems at a number of the nation’s finest within the 2025 class and past to 2026, 2027 and, in some circumstances, even 2028.
Here’s a take a look at 5 of the very best stay evaluations from the early portion of the highschool soccer season up to now.
THIS SERIES: Greatest Southeast performances | Midwest
In my first stay analysis of Tradarian Ball, he didn’t disappoint. The Oregon commit was gashing defenses from each the working again and vast receiver place. Ball caught 5 passes at wideout on Friday night time for 183 yards and two touchdowns.
His receiving touchdowns got here on back-to-back drives by way of vast receiver screens of 39 yards and 64 yards, respectively. His third landing got here on a rush out of the backfield of simply over 50 yards, which successfully put the sport out of attain, making the rating 52-35 late within the fourth quarter.
Ball’s capability to navigate visitors and evade tacklers in a brief house was spectacular and he displayed a second gear with the ball in his hand. His imaginative and prescient and phone steadiness additionally permit him to squeeze by defenders and break performs open downfield, even when he will get the ball behind the road of scrimmage.
He’s the right instance of ‘simply get your playmakers the ball’. When his quantity is known as, he does injury.
My most intriguing analysis of the season up to now has include 2027 offensive sort out Donquavieus “Qua” Ford. The sophomore seems like a monster at 6-foot-6, 285 kilos. And never solely does he have the dimensions, however Ford displayed athleticism and suppleness, one of the vital elements of younger offensive linemen at that dimension. What I noticed from Ford was past thrilling and spectacular. He’s little question a premier prospect within the 2027 cycle.
A ridiculously robust decrease half with an athletic stance and set, he was constantly mauling defenders. He carried out effectively in each the run and go recreation, displacing defenders and laying pancake blocks typically. Postgame, a Texas highschool coach informed Ford he had greater than 20 recorded pancakes within the recreation.
Chace Calicut performs not solely on a loaded roster, however particularly in a loaded defensive secondary that features 4 Energy 4 abilities. The most recent star to North Shore, Calicut was enjoying security, however was making performs in any respect three ranges of the protection. At 6-foot-3 and 190 kilos, he can afford to get bodily and pop ball carriers with conviction. Enjoying an aggressive type of protection, Calicut is commonly within the midst of an enormous play. His finest play in my stay analysis of him was a clear strip and steal of a soccer in the midst of the sphere instantly upon an opposing vast receiver making a reception. He then was in a position to make an excellent return in the other way.
His dimension tasks him at security long run, however he does play cornerback and in sure alignments, will even play low within the field near the road.
He performs with robust instincts, physicality and a knack for being in the precise spot. He has a shot to be a top-100 prospect within the 2026 class.
Current Baylor dedication Quinn Murphy began his junior season on a excessive be aware two weeks in the past with a 5 landing efficiency in a blowout win. He then had an enormous take a look at in entrance of him enjoying a much bigger Texas highschool program. Whereas Murphy and Liberty Christian completed with a loss, the 6-foot-3 quarterback shined with 336 yards and 4 touchdowns with zero turnovers.
His 4 scores got here in quite a lot of methods, consisting of a again pylon toss within the crimson zone, a deep crosser from 50-plus yards out, a fast slant on the objective line and a quick-hitting cease route, the place his wideout shook a defender and took it roughly 75 yards. Murphy additionally displayed a powerful and pure creativity when performs break down. He’s adept at extending performs and maneuvering briefly areas whereas retaining his eyes downfield and directing visitors. A number of drives have been saved or prolonged merely with the athleticism and IQ of Murphy understanding what was occurring down the sphere and round him.
Marcus Garcia performs for a routinely robust Denton Ryan program that’s really presently headlined by his personal sort out counterpart, Ty Haywood, who’s dedicated to Alabama. Haywood takes left sort out, leaving proper sort out for Garcia. Within the stay analysis of the pair, Garcia had a cleaner recreation and general efficiency. He’s filling out his body and positively is starting to look the a part of an SEC offensive lineman at 6-foot-5 and north of 270 kilos.
He was spectacular in each areas of blocking, however his go blocking is what I need to spotlight. He was constantly hanging with good hand placement and retaining his ft beneath him. He was not enjoying premium expertise, but it surely was nonetheless spectacular to see the extent of dominance he had over defenders. Late within the recreation, Haywood left with an harm so Garcia jumped over to left sort out, the place he was in a position to showcase a bit on the opposite facet.
I used to be general very happy together with his efficiency and really feel he could also be in line for a rankings bump sooner or later.
