Daylyn Upshaw Is Next Up At Central-Phenix City

The second installment of the top 2025 Alabama prep football recruits leads to a recent state championship team and one of its many top-notch prospects.

Helping the Central-Phenix City football team win the 7A Alabama state title is something wide receiver Daylyn Upshaw will likely never forget. Fans of the Red Devils will certainly remind him that he’s one of the prime reasons they won the championship. His football career shall continue at the college level.

The 5-foot-11 and 175-pound receiver has a versatile set of skills that will translate well to the SEC or other Power 4 leagues. Those qualities are why Upshaw has offers from the likes of Auburn, Florida, Texas, Florida State, Georgia Tech, and Penn State among others. Picking his best qualities needs to begin with Upshaw’s in-the-moment playmaking skills.

He adjusts to the football even if it’s an errant pass or the defender is in an advantageous position to make an interception. For instance, if the pass is short and the defender is in front of Upshaw, the 2025 receiver is known to jump up and reach over a defender to take the football away.

He will also twirl around to locate the football when it’s not an on-target throw. Those two points are fantastic, but Upshaw’s wide range of skills are just beginning.

A cornerback pressing him needs to definitively take Upshaw off his route with a jam or his speed will often lead to a completion and a score. He's a deep ball Upshaw caught in the 7A state title game against Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson:

Upshaw has multiple moves to release at the line and that also includes varying the speed he takes off. He’s capable of running numerous routes and not just the basics either.

Double-moves, like a stop-and-go, or pivot route where he runs and out and then changes direction 180 degrees, help Upshaw keep defensive backs off balance.

To help him maximize these routes, Upshaw’s suddenness is tremendous. He leaves many defenders behind when they go for his first move only to see him accelerate by them as the second part of the move comes into play. Once the football is in his hands, the fun begins.

After catching the football, Upshaw's ability to quickly change speeds and directions helps him maneuver through the defense, just as it does when he tracks a pass. Even if Upshaw gets hit, his balance is evident as he regains his stride and rapidly accelerates to top speed again.

To conclude, another noteworthy point is that Upshaw plays in multiple positions. He's accustomed to lining up out wide and in the slot, which provides valuable experience for him to potentially make an instant impact at the college level.

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