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Zone Read: NFL Draft – The Five in ’25

Arizona Sports News online

While the wait for the upcoming Arizona high school football season inches ever closer, NFL camps have already ramped up with the pre-season schedule now officially underway.

“Zone Read” thought late-July would be the perfect time to highlight our former AZHS prep stars who are now trying to make an indelible
impact at the highest level.

We caught up with all five head coaches of the players who were drafted to get their scouting report on what these five NFL teams are getting both on, and off, the field.

Denzel Burke – Saguaro High School, Ohio State – drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the 5th round (174th overall)

“Denzel is an elite competitor and extremely mature and driven,” former Sabercats’ head coach, now ASU tight ends coach, Jason Mohns said.“He was a back-to-back 1,000-yard receiver and his ball skills and body control translated really well to the defensive side of the ball.

He’s physically savvy and has incredible confidence in his abilities.

“He’s an unbelievable kid from a great family. He’s smart, kind, humble,and dedicated.

“He’s been that way since the first day I met him.”

Benjamin Morrison – Brophy College Prep, Notre Dame – drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2nd round (53rd overall)

“People often call good corners, “cover corners.” Ben is not a cover corner; he is a football player. He is physical, smart, tough, instinctive,determined and competitive.

“I told everyone when he was coming out, the thing that separated and was going to enable Ben to play early at Notre Dame was his
physicality and willingness to tackle.

“To be a 2nd round draft pick, he obviously has a tremendous skill set. He’s long, fast and was very productive at Notre Dame. But what I think is going to allow Ben to contribute early for the Bucs is he is never going to let the moment be too big for him. He grew up in an NFL household with multiple big-time athletes.

“He was born for this.

Lathan Ransom – Tucson Salpointe Catholic, Ohio State – drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the 4th round (122nd overall)

“Lathan was a highly competitive, very physical player who worked as hard as anyone I have ever coached,” Dennis Bene explained. He loved to play the game.

“He was a very confident player, especially as he got older. His toughness, confidence and work ethic definitely had a huge effect on his teammates and our program.

“He backs up his swagger on the field and with his play. He was always a relentless defender.”

“In his four years at Salpointe and during his [time] at Ohio State he improved greatly every year.

“His competitive nature, football I.Q., toughness and work ethic will serve him well in the NFL.  He is used to winning…he expects to win,and for an organization like Carolina, having players who carry high expectations for themselves, and the team is very valuable.

Ty Robinson – Higley High School, Nebraska – drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 4th round (111th overall)

“Ty was a very hard worker and was super competitive,” Higley head coach Eddy Zubey explained. “He always worked very hard no matter
what we were doing and held others to that standard, as well.

“Ty was big and fast and didn’t really know what he was capable of and always amazed us at what he did. For someone with his size and speed to see him play was a treat.

“He was dominant.. He was a leader for our team.”

“His overall blue collar work hard mentality will make him pop in Eagles’ camp. He will bring that intensity and desire each and every day.”

Tyler Shough – Hamilton High School, Louisville – drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the 2nd round (40th overall)

“Tyler throws the best long ball that I personally believe I have ever seen in the 30+ years I was a football coach,” Dick Baniszewski noted. The deceiving part about Tyler is how fast he is and how well he can run.

“He has a unique ability to bring people together just by his nature. He makes those around him better. He is definitely an old soul, and his behavior is more mature than most of the high school football players around him.

“Tyler has developed the ability to make all the throws at all the angles. If you saw the touchdown pass he threw against Notre Dame last year, you’ll see just one of those examples.

“So, his ability to throw on the run, I think, will help him immensely. He has grit and a great work ethic. He has experienced numerous setbacks and continues to persevere. I think he’s got a great opportunity in front of him.”

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