Blitz and Outside the Huddle are counting down who they feel are the top 50 individual players in northeast Indiana heading into the 2024 season.
Today, we continue the march to No. 1 with positions No. 30-26.
No. 30: DB/WR Dee Hogue, junior, Bishop Luers
There are not too many players who play the back end of the defense as well as Hogue. His break on the ball is exceptional, and is film is full of highlights making the unnatural play look normal.
Hogue led the Knights in interceptions a year ago with four. He also blocked a pair of punts. He also is a sure tackler, evidenced by his team-high 103 tackles for the 2A state champions.
When you consider that Hogue was just a sophomore last season, you realize just how immense his potential is for this fall and next year. He is going to continue to grow into his 6-foot, 160-pound frame and, if he can keep his quickness, be a massively disruptive force in the secondary.
Also expect Hogue to raise his profile on offense and as a return man in his junior campaign.
COACH’S QUOTE ON DEE HOGUE
“Dee Hogue is a special athlete with a propensity to make plays from his safety position on both passing and running downs. He possesses incredible speed, strong ball skills, great hop mobility and excellent acceleration. He displayed all of these attributes his sophomore year to lead the team in tackles (103) and INTs (4). He’s as exciting a player as there is defensively with his big hits, his open-field tackling prowess and his overall playmaking abilities. We’re also excited to see him expand his game to the offensive side of the ball, where he has big-play potential wherever he lines up.” – Kyle Lindsay coach Dee Hogue
No. 29: LB/WR Jacob Sharin, senior, Wayne
Every team needs a glue guy. Sharin is that dude for the Generals. He does a little bit of everything, and everything pretty darn well. He lines up in various spots on the offense – in the slot, on the outside and in the backfield. Defenses must account for him because he has deceptive speed and is so good at finding running lanes when he has the ball in his hands.
Sharin was third on the team last year with 237 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. He also hauled in 17 receptions for 197 yards and four scores. He also had a punt return for a score against South Side.
On defense, Sharin had 26 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and an interception.
COACH’S QUOTE ON JACOB SHARIN
“Jacob is a great football player at many positions. He is very football savvy and very dedicated.” – Wayne coach Sherwood Haydock
No. 28: TE Brady Rhoad, senior, Carroll
Rhoad is a problem, pure and simple. At 6-foot-4, he is taller than most defensive backs that try to slow him down, and at 225 pounds he wins a fair amount of physical battles with linebackers he goes against. Carroll utilizes him in tight with the offensive linemen and out in the slot. Either way he is dangerous when attention drifts to the edges and he runs down the seam wide open.
Rhoad finished 2023 with over 30 catches and 400 yards receiving with a couple of touchdowns. His value to the Carroll offense was worth much more, as his constant mismatches force defenses to account for him at all times, leaving single coverage (at best) on someone else on the outside.
Rhoad should feast in his senior season before he heads to Western Michigan for college.
OACH’S QUOTE ON BRADY RHOAD
“Brady Rhoad is a great leader and an outstanding tight end that blocks well and catches the ball extremely well. Brady will be a two-year starter and will attend Western Michigan University next year.” – Carroll coach Doug Dinan
No. 27: DB/WR Jamari Pearson, senior, North Side
Pearson is as versatile of an athlete as you will find in northeast Indiana.
Take last season. Pearson was one of North Side’s leading receivers, but he also played some quarterback for a team that was looking for athleticism at the position. And don’t forget defense, where Pearson has been one of the top cover corners in the area for the last few seasons.
Pearson is also Mr. Reliable. What makes him such a favorite of Coach Ben Johnson is that he can plug in Pearson anywhere and anytime he is needed and he knows he is going to get full effort out of Pearson. That, amongst everything, may be his most coveted attribute of all, with MAC schools taking interest for college.
COACH’S QUOTE ON BEN JOHNSON
“Jamari is a playmaker on both sides of the ball. He is a lock-down corner and a great possession WR that can take the top off of a defense. He has instincts you can’t coach. A very special player.” – North Side coach Ben Johnson
No. 26: WR Keyan Arroyo, junior, Lakeland
Not all of the top receivers reside in Allen County. A breakout sophomore campaign puts Arroyo among the area’s best not only on offense, but also on defense.
Despite being just a junior, Arroyo is the unquestioned leader at his safety position on the back end of the Lakers defense. Offensively, Arroyo is deadly inside and out. He can run any route out of any formation, and his ability to play the ball in traffic is exceptional.
Last season as a 10th grader, Arroyo led Lakeland in receptions (30), receiving yards (675) and receiving touchdowns (six). He is the top returning tackler on defense and notched a pair of fumble recoveries last season.
COACH’S QUOTE ON KEYAN ARROYO
“Keyan is an amazing athlete. He’s very smart, tough and is an excellent leader. His ball skills are outstanding at wide receiver and safety and he has been clutch for us in tough situations. He’s the one who makes our offense go by being able to line him up anywhere on the field and make plays. Then, he will be the one who makes all our defensive calls at safety and create turnovers with his ball hawking abilities.” – Lakeland coach Ryan O’Shea
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