Final Recruiting Impressions

Da’Quan Gonzales – DB, 5’11”, 185 lbs., Jensen Beach (East Stuart, FL)

Gonzales is a 3-star prospect who racked up a whopping 28 offers from big-time programs such as Arkansas and Boston College. He is physical corner who can disrupt receivers at the line of scrimmage. Gonzales is an absolute ballhawk with great hands and a natural ability to recognize routes. He’s a big hitter and not afraid to lend support against the rushing attack. As an added bonus, he’s very slippery as a punt returner.

Nico Brown – WR, 6’0”, 185 lbs., Edison (Huntington Beach, CA)

Brown is another 3-star prospect who had 13 offers mainly from FCS programs. He shows a superior ability to hang onto catches after contact and once in the open field, he is dynamic with great vision. Brown’s strong balance makes him very difficult to bring down after the catch. His ability to make tough grabs in traffic could be his greatest strength.

Joshua Tarver – WR, 6’3”, 205 lbs., IMG Academy (Richmond, TX)

Tarver is a large target at receiver who is deceptively fast with long strides. He is a true team player displaying the skills to block, run the ball as a wildcat QB, dominate on defense and impact the special teams. Opposing Ivy cornerbacks will have difficulty matching up with Tarver’s size and speed in years to come.

Aidan Stephens – WR, 6’1”, 185 lbs., Labrae (Braceville, OH)

Stephens is a tremendous all-around athlete who played QB and safety at the high school level. His transition to receiver should be a smooth one considering his solid speed, agility and moves in the open field. He’s surprisingly powerful with the ball in his hands effortlessly running through arm tackles.

Cameron Price – WR, 5’9”, 195 lbs., St. Thomas (Houston, TX)

Price is a technician who does all the little things right at receiver. He has great awareness to catch a pass and tap his feet before going out of bounds. His superb body control and power allows him to run over larger defenders. Price was extremely productive at the high school level and offers a huge upside as a slot receiver for the Bulldogs.

Nick Conforti – K/P, 5’9”, 180 lbs., Seton Hall (Livingston, NJ)

Yale seems to favor specialists with balanced kicking and punting skills and Conforti fits this mold. In the kicking game, Conforti displays clean footwork and fundamentals on field goals and good power on kickoffs. In the punting game, Conforti’s high arcing punts help to negate opponent’s punt return abilities. He’s also not afraid to make a game-saving tackle if need be.

Wilhelm Daal – RB, 6’1”, 215 lbs., Taft (Amityville, NY)

Daal is a bruising back who accelerates through defenders on contact. He can be patient waiting for blocks to develop in the open field before turning on the jets. Daal is also a threat out of the backfield on passing plays with good hands and awareness. He could be a great complement to McElwain when Yale decides to utilize a power back as a change of pace to Alston.

Joshua Pitsenberger – RB, 6’0”, 205 lbs., The Avalon School (Bethesda, MD)

Pitsenberger is an all-purpose back with good speed, great cutback abilities, and the versatility to line up at RB or as a slot receiver. He constantly drags defenders for additional yards and is difficult to bring down one-on-one. In the open field, Pitsenberger is as elusive as any member of this class.

Melik Williams – LB, 6’2”, 210 lbs., Lincoln (Ypsilanti, MI)

Williams is an outside linebacker with a knack for blowing up plays in the backfield. He has quick and powerful hands to shed blockers and relentlessly pursues ball carriers. Williams can establish solid edge containment to force rushers into the meat of the defense.

Andre Thomas – LB, 6’1”, 215 lbs., Peach County (Fort Valley, GA)

Thomas played outside linebacker at the high school level and would occasionally have his hand down as a defensive end. He’s quick enough to simply blow by would-be blockers and when he is engaged, his long arms keep offensive linemen at bay. Thomas does not over pursue plays as he stays in position to wreck counters, reverses, and play-action passes.

Micaiah Shaber – DL, 6’6”, 265 lbs., Starr’s Mill (Peachtree, GA)

Shaber has a massive frame that makes defensive line coaches salivate. He’s stout at the point of attack in the run game and utilizes a deadly swim move when rushing the passer. Shaber played both ways in high school and was equally as impressive as an offensive lineman mauling smaller defenders.

Ejiroghene Egodogbare – DL, 6’3”, 260 lbs., Roxbury Latin (Milton, MA)

Egodogbare has one of the most impressive tapes of any recruit on defense in this class. He has a very quick first step allowing him to punch a hole in the line of scrimmage and disrupt plays in the backfield. Ejiro is fast enough to run down backs and delivers a crushing blow on contact.

Leo Bluhm – OL, 6’4”, 275 lbs., St. Thomas (St. Paul, MN)

Bluhm’s tape is very entertaining to analyze as he launches defenders when pulling from his tackle position.  He displays great leg drive on run blocks and loves to pancake defenders. In pass protection, Bloom is quick to set-up with a powerful punch to keep opponents off balance.

Cameron Charron – OL, 6’3”, 295 lbs., Noble and Greenough (Wellesley, MA)

Charron offers the versatility to play guard or tackle and most importantly, has a nasty streak when run blocking. He plays through whistle and prefers to bury defenders. Charron showcases solid footwork when making adjustments in pass protection to keep defenders in front of him.

Lucas Prichard – OL, 6’5”, 275 lbs., Bath (Lima, OH)

Prichard could be the most athletic offensive lineman in this recruiting class. He’s a physical lineman that can bully defenders both at the line of scrimmage and downfield. Prichard played both ways in high school and was dominant as a defensive end.

Michael Bennett – OL, 6’5”, 265 lbs., Holy Innocents (Atlanta, GA)

Bennett plays with an extremely low center of gravity which makes him deadly on down blocks. He’s a great athlete that locks onto defenders downfield to spring big plays. Bennett is yet another recruit with a prototypical development frame.

Scott Truninger – TE, 6’6”, 240 lbs., Corona Del Mar (Newport Beach, CA)

Truninger is another steal at tight end for Reno. He’s the complete package with the size, hands, route running and blocking abilities to excel at the next level. Truninger could develop into the next Jaeden Graham for Yale.

Joseph Nash – DL, 6’2”, 285 lbs., Taft (Dallas, TX)

Nash is a powerful defensive tackle with ideal size. He seems to have a natural ability to recognize plays before they develop. Nash never gives up on a play as he chases down opponents far beyond the typical range for a defensive tackle.

Dylan Yang – DL, 6’3”, 250 lbs., Suffern (Airmont, NY)

Yang is a twitchy defensive end that is very fast off the edge. He constantly disrupts throwing lanes with his long arms. Yang can shed blockers with ease and uses his superior speed to chase down ball carriers from the backside of a play.