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Prospect Report: Royce Archer
Stars: ★★★★
Class: 2031
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 165 lbs
Division: 12U
Team: Holy Family Middle School
State: Ohio
Position: TE / OLB
Instagram: @19roycearcher
Royce Archer is a young playmaker out of Ohio who currently suits up for Holy Family Middle School, and he’s quickly becoming one of the most talked-about prospects in the Class of 2031. Standing at an impressive 5’11” and 165 pounds as a seventh grader, Royce already has the frame of a future high-school standout, with plenty of room to pack on even more muscle as he matures.
What immediately jumps off the screen is his elite speed and acceleration. Royce is the type of athlete who can turn a simple out route into a house call—one move, one missed tackle, and he’s hitting the jets for six. He’s like a Rolls Royce with a Hemi in it—smooth, powerful, and flat-out fast.
A deeper look into his background makes his on-field explosiveness make perfect sense. Royce is a decorated youth track athlete, earning championship honors in the 100m, 200m, and 4×100 relay. He holds a confirmed laser-timed 4.78 and a 12.1 PR in the 100m, which is blazing speed for a seventh grader. That track pedigree shows every time he touches the field.
Offensively, he’s listed as a tight end, but he’s truly an X-factor. Royce lines up all over the formation—out wide, in the slot, and even in the backfield as a running back. His rare combination of size and elite track speed allows him to effortlessly outrun contain, erase pursuit angles, and punish defenses when he finds a seam.
Defensively, Royce is just as dominant. As an outside linebacker, he’s a high-motor tackling machine who diagnoses plays quickly and closes space violently. He delivers clean, explosive collisions and has an uncanny knack for creating turnovers. Whether he’s chasing down a runner from behind or meeting the ball carrier head-on, Royce consistently finds ways to get his hands on the ball. His awareness and ability to attack poor ball security make him a constant threat to force fumbles.
With his dedication to training, natural athletic gifts, and relentless drive to improve, Royce Archer is a rising national prospect—not just one to watch in Ohio, but a name that will be buzzing on the national scene for years to come.
Keep your eyes on Royce. His ceiling is sky-high, and he’s just getting started.
Michael Frye
Stars: 3.5
Class of: 2031
Height: 5’5”
Weight: 150 lbs
Division: MS
Team: John Adams Middle School Falcons
State: WV
Position: OT / DT
IG: @michaelfrye2031
Michael Frye is a four-year RNR alumni, and throughout that time we’ve had the opportunity to watch his development firsthand. From the moment he stepped onto the field at our NC Combine, it was clear he was different. Despite being undersized even back then, Michael consistently overpowered bigger and older linemen using advanced technique and a level of preparation that stood out.
He embodies the definition of a blue-collar athlete—one who leans on hard work, fundamentals, and relentlessness to shape his game. Michael spent years anchoring the offensive line at center, where he was tasked with being the quarterback of the trenches. His football IQ was always evident. Recently, he’s transitioned to offensive tackle, and the move has allowed his athleticism and technique to shine even brighter.
His footwork is arguably his greatest asset. He stays square, recovers quickly when a defender gets an early step, and uses efficient steps to maintain leverage and positioning. Combine that with his growing strength—fueled by consistent time in the gym—and he’s become a difficult matchup for most edge rushers. Once Michael gets his hands locked in, defenders struggle to disengage.
The one challenge he continues to face is his size. Standing at 5’5” and 150 pounds, he holds his own against typical middle-school defenders, but the much larger athletes can give him problems. This past summer at the Top Dog Showcase at Syracuse University, his hand placement and footwork were on full display, but some of the bigger defensive linemen made things tougher for him.
Still, Michael’s commitment to the grind sets him apart. His work ethic, technique, and drive to improve are unquestioned. And if he’s blessed with a growth spurt in the coming years, he has the potential to become a serious problem for anyone lining up across from him.
Michael Frye is what every coach wants in a lineman—disciplined, tough, coachable, and relentless. His future is bright.
Ethan Richardson
Stars: 3 Star
Class of: 2037
Height: 3’10
Weight: 50 lbs
Division: 6U
Team: MBK Montgomery Tigers
State: AL
Position: CB
IG: @ethanisland_7
Ethan Richardson, better known as Ethan Island, is a young cornerback out of Alabama who is already flashing elite instincts at an early age. Suiting up for the MBK Tigers, Ethan has quickly earned a reputation as a true lockdown presence on the edge.
At the 6U level, teams don’t air it out often, so a cornerback’s job becomes containment—and Ethan executes his responsibilities extremely well. His play recognition is advanced for his age, reacting quickly to backfield action and shutting down perimeter runs before they even develop. Offenses are noticeably hesitant to run to his side, and when they do, the result is often a loss of yardage.
While defense is clearly his main focus right now, Ethan shows plenty of upside with the ball in his hands as well. On offense, he displays flashes of strong vision, patience, and acceleration through the hole. Once he sees daylight, he hits the gas and has the kind of burst that turns small plays into touchdowns.
Ethan is a natural athlete with boundless potential. As he continues to grow, learn, and refine his technique, expect him to emerge as one of Alabama’s premier young talents. Keep your eyes on Ethan Island—he’s only getting started.
Carter Fortier
Stars: 3.5
Class of: 2034
Height: 4’9
Weight: 92 lbs
Division: 9U
Team: Simi Valley Bulldogs
State: CA
Position: QB / MLB
IG: @fortywata
Carter Fortier is a young gunslinger out of California who is quickly making his name known on the West Coast. As the younger brother of 4.5-star standout Sean Fortier Jr., Carter comes from a high-caliber football pedigree—and he’s already proving he’s cut from the same cloth.
While his brother is known for calculated precision, Carter brings a more aggressive, risk-taking style to the field. The impressive part? The gamble usually pays off. He has a natural knack for threading the ball into tight windows, and when he gives his receivers a chance, he puts it up with confidence and accuracy. For his age, he already displays a “big play” mindset and is unafraid to seize momentum.
When the pocket breaks down or the coverage locks up, Carter shows he’s more than just a thrower. He’ll tuck it and go, picking up first downs with deceptive shiftiness and a willingness to run behind his pads. He’s not afraid of contact and will make a defender pay if they square up wrong.
The biggest question around him right now is the level of competition he consistently faces. But even with that caveat, his decision-making and timing already compare favorably to some of the better quarterbacks in his class.
Carter is a young prospect with major upside, and his growth curve is trending straight upward. I can’t wait to see this young man in person at the 2026 RNR Super Showcase—expect him to turn heads.
