Oregon Top Sophomore WR’s Jared Evans & Keegen Hlad

(Jared Evans 6-3 185 WR Soph. N Medford)

(Keegen Hlad 6-3 170 WR Soph. West Salem)

One of the main reasons that we have been successful/fortunate at NEI and the Barton Football Academy, is because we get to work with the kids first hand. Other media types can watch and evaluate from a distance, but we actually get to train the top kids and get to know them personally.

Between our elite events in the winter, the national 7 on 7 tournament in Vegas, and our camp and combine tour in the spring we have been able to make assessments of these athletes. For that reason we have seen the likes of Jared Evans (6-3 185 So. WR) of North Medford and Keegen Hlad (6-3 170 So. WR) of West Salem, maybe the top two sophomore receivers in the state of Oregon.

Evans is a beast and showed up at our first regional combine in Medford, and was the best receiver in attendance. The kid is big, fast, and expects to get the ball on every throw made his way. Jared was called up to play varsity as a freshman during the playoffs, but the season was kind of a lost cause so things didn’t really materialize.

Playing down a level he dominated everyone and spent much of his time in the end zone (17 Td’s). He will have a top Oregon sophomore QB throwing him the ball over the next 3 years in Troy Fowler, although this year could still be tough as their line is still very inexperienced. Expect Evans to dominate the SWC if they can get time to throw the ball.

"I would like to help rebuild the program for the years to come, and personally would like to earn all conference honors and have 10+ Tds".
Evans is a baller and someone we think very highly of. He could be one of the best players in the entire region for the 2015 class.

Expect Hlad to do much of the same as he too will have an Oregon standout throwing him the ball in Cade Smith. Smith was one of the only freshman QB’s in the nation to receive a full ride scholarship offer (Wyoming) as a 9th grader. His brother Brett, who many of you may remember as Oregon’s Gatorade Player of the year, was a frehsman all american at Wyoming last season.

Hlad was one of the top receivers that we saw in the 6 cities that we hit over the spring. He had a field day with competition his own age within the Central Valley Conference. Other freshman weren’t going to be able to hang, making that very apparent early in the season and finishing with 15 Tds.

Keegen says, " We have a very talented younger group and I think we could have a successful couple of seasons…Coach Stanley is an incredible guy to play for and someone that we all love on and off the field".

Hlad says he will be competing for playing time with seniors Cody Oden and Riley Rediger and looks forward to contributing. Keegen is a three sport athlete that is an outstanding hooper, and also did well at districts for track as a freshman.

We will hear a lot about Evans and Hlad for years to come, and think they both are top of the line character kids that will do great things on and off the field.

Jared Evans Highlights http://www.hudl.com/athlete/810288/highlights/2520070

Keegen Hlad Freshman Highlights… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPq45EzS29Q

http://www.hudl.com/athlete/448377/highlights/7326964