10 under-the-radar high school football players to watch in 2015, presented by Eastbay

Everyone is looking for a winning lottery ticket ... a diamond in the rough … the next big thing.

You won't find these 10 on Top 100 national football recruit lists to start the 2015 season, but there are countless reasons, yards, touchdowns and other traits to keep on eye on all of them.

These athletes have one thought: win. By putting in the work off the field they reap the benefits on it, and that has led to individual as well as team success.


CB Treyjohn Butler, Etiwanda (Calif.) Photos / Video
The 6-foot, 190-pound incoming senior had seven interceptions as a sophomore, so quarterbacks threw away from him last year. The Stanford commit has been in on 85 tackles during his two-year prep career. If on a higher profile Southern California team — Etiwanda is a combined 10-10-1 the last two seasons — Butler might be on everyone's blue-chip list.

RB Kierre Crossley, Everman (Texas) Photos / Video
The incoming senior rushed for a 3,153 yards and 36 touchdowns as a junior, which ranked sixth nationally and first in Texas. But, at only 5-foot-8, 156 pounds, his recruitment has been minimal. Only Louisiana-Monroe has shown much interest. Last season he averaged 10.2 yards per carry, had a run of 90 yards and scored six touchdowns in a 61-12 win over Southwest.

DT Raekwon Davis, Meridian (Miss.) Photos / Video
The 6-7, 314-pound defensive tackle moved from a 3-star to a 4-star recruit and from the nation's No. 367 prospect according to 247Sports to No. 154 with his performance at The Opening national combine in Beaverton, Ore. last month. Davis has already committed to the University of Alabama.

DE Mark Evanchick Darien (Conn.)
The 6-foot, 228-pound first-team All-State selection is the leading returning sacker in the country after recording 25 as a junior. Evanchick recorded 80 tackles overall and had sacks in 12 of his team's 13 games (12 wins), including four during a 41-0 win over Bassick.

DE Kwanzi Jackson, Manatee (Bradenton, Fla.) Photos / Video
The 6-3, 240-pounder also recorded 25 sacks last season as a junior and 84 tackles. He had 5.5 of those sacks in a season-opening 37-20 win over Seminole. Jackson, a 3-star recruit according to 247Sports, has committed to Tulane.

WR Jason Pirtle, Locust Grove (Okla.) Photos / Video
The 6-1, 191-pound receiver amassed 2,096 receiving yards — second in the nation — last season as a junior on 99 catches with 29 touchdowns. He averaged 21.2 yards per catch for the 13-1 Pirates, who lost in the state 3A semifinals to eventual champion Heritage Hall.

RB Cody Reece Mount Pleasant (Mt. Pleasant, N.C.)
The 5-9, 184-pound senior ranked second in North Carolina — seventh nationally — with 3,141 rushing yards to go along with 37 touchdowns. He led the country in attempts — a remarkable 457 in 15 games (30.4 per game). Despite a 4.64-second time in the 40-yard dash and able to squat 450 pounds and bench press 275, Reece is seeking his first college offer.

RB Chris Schwarz, River Ridge (New Port Richey, Fla.) Photos / Video
Florida is known for its great running backs — Emmitt Smith, Frank Gore, Fred Taylor and Derrick Henry to name a few — and Schwarz is the leading returning rusher from the Sunshine State after going for 2,689 yards and 27 touchdowns last season. The 5-10, 190-pound senior also had 48 tackles from his middle linebacker spot.

WR J.P. Shohfi, San Marino (Calif.)
The 6-foot, 185-pound senior caught 81 passes for 1,821 yards last season, making him the fifth-leading returning receiver in the country. Shohfi caught 25 touchdowns last season, including four each against Monrovia and Temple City. Also a defensive back, Shohfi had three interceptions and 30 tackles last season for the 9-3 Titans.

RB Hunter Yeargan, Willard (Mo.)
The leading returning rusher from the Show Me State, the 5-10, 215-pound senior rushed for 326 yards per game last season — 2,608 overall — while scoring 50 touchdowns for the 9-2 Tigers. With the ability to bench press 390 pounds, squat 570 more and run the 40 in 4.52 seconds, Yeargan is tough to bring down. His No. 1 sport may be wrestling. He's Missouri's reigning Class 3 195-pound state champion.