Rankings Update: 2021 Newcomers

As many of you have probably already dove into viewing some of our rankings updates, you may have also noticed that there are plenty of names that were not on there before. These newcomers in our rankings update all earned their spot after a very good showcase in their senior year. Not only did some of these newcomers beat out plenty of prospects that could have been added to the list, but many of them earned their spot and jumped ahead of plenty of players who were either previously ranked, or who fell in the rankings this time around. Regardless, take a look at some of the newcomers we have listed below, as they have definitely worked hard to earn their spot. <strong>Trevin Wallace</strong> (2021 LB) <em>Wayne County</em> Wallace, who had a very strong senior year, is one of our top newcomers of the 2021 class. He does it all. Not only is he an incredible RB that can take it to the house at all times, but he is also a solid LB. To start, his movement skills are incredible, as he is able to turn the corner on a dime, and take any kind of kick, or hand-off to the house. His burst and long speed are ridiculous, and it constantly puts defenders in the dirt. This separates him from the pack, and is what caused us to add him to the list, and bump him all the way up to the 16th spot. With this, Wallace can also be seen to be just as an explosive backer as he is a RB. He not only moves well laterally, but explodes through contact. His fluid hips allow him to dip, turn, and change direction very well. He is very good in pursuit, and makes defensive stops by taking great angles. His quick feet and ability to stay balanced ultimately make him one of the best prospects in the class. Whoever gets his commitment will be a lucky program. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="93912" first="Jake" last="Garcia"]</strong> (2021 QB) <em>Grayson</em> The fact that the Miami commit is a newcomer on our list is only due to the fact that he was a Georgia high school football transfer this past season from California. To say that Garcia had a normal senior year is an understatement. To start, he transferred from La Habra to Valdosta, and was then ruled ineligible. Following this, he found himself at Grayson, where he would continue to face some of the toughest competition in the state, and would then go on to win the state championship. Regardless of the path he took, we have this newcomer ranked 8th in our overall 2021 rankings. On the field, he displays good poise in the pocket, and delivers the ball with a clean release. He shows that he can make intermediate throws decently, and that he can take deep shots down the field as well. We love his ability to drive the football as he shifts weight, and to also put touch on the ball as well. Garcia also squares his shoulders well and has good accuracy. One thing we would like to see him work on is his footwork, but he will certainly be fun to watch at the next level in order to see how he can build on top of his successful senior year. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="93911" first="Thomas" last="Davis"]</strong> (2021 LB) <em>Lowndes</em> Davis, who is a Miami commit just as Garcia is, also earned his way on to our newcomer list with a strong senior season. While we did not give him much attention last time around, we certainly wanted to right our wrong by not only including him in this update, but ranking him in the top 50. Davis comes in at number 34, and this is rightfully so due to his natural ability to play the LB position. Not only does he read the QB well, but he plays at a very fast speed. He makes stops in the backfield regularly, and allows his explosive nature to play football to be the driving force that puts ball carriers in the ground. Davis also is decent at dropping into coverage, as he is able to fill zones well. He utilizes his hands well when engaging those who are trying to block him, and rips well when needed. Expect him to slowly become a great player for the Hurricanes in the coming years. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="93913" first="Jayden" last="Johnson"]</strong> (2021 DB) <em>Cedartown</em> Johnson, who certainly looks the part of a college level DB, happened to miss our list last time. Just like a few others, me managed to get it right this time, as we have noted at 37th overall in our update. Johnson, who is about 6’2, 200 pounds, is a DB coach’s dream. He not only has the height, and length, but he has the fluid movement skills and bend to play the position at a high level. Not only does Johnson flip his hips well, but he is great at eliminating false steps in his movement. Johnson also has great ball skills, in which he can be seen high pointing passes and making big interceptions for his team. With this, he is also a great tackler due to his ability to make open field tackles, and drive his hips and legs through contact. We wouldn’t be surprised if he became a full time starter for the Razorbacks within the coming years. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="93916" first="Cedrick" last="Nicely"]</strong> (2021 OL) <em>Gainesville</em> [player_tooltip player_id="93916" first="Cedrick" last="Nicely"], who measures in at about 6’4 305, is a very large OL prospect. Because his ability to play high level football, he is committed to Ole Miss, and also comes in at number 61 overall on our list. This newcomer can be expected to be a huge component of the Rebels offense in the coming years, as his wide frame, huge lower body, and wide stance make it hard for defenders to make their way past him. Don’t let his size fool you though, because he is able to pull very well, and move defenders downfield efficiently, finishing blocks very well. He is definitely a force to be reckoned with, and has a ton of power in his hands as well, as he extends well when in pass protection. Nicely also has great feet for a OL prospect, and this can be seen to be a key factor to his success on the line. As he goes to play at the next level, look for him to be key in his offense’s running game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="93923" first="Malachi" last="Thomas"]</strong> (2021 RB) <em>Hart County</em> Thomas, who was not on our list before is certainly a strong newcomer to our list, as he comes in at 92 overall in our update. Not only does he have a decent build, but he has an explosive ability to put his foot in the ground and turn a small gain into something positive. He has good long speed and also shows that he can be a key factor in the passing game, as he is a good receiving back with the ability to turn and run. Thomas also shows that he has decent vision and can turn the corner well on a defense if they are caught off balance. His quickness, and elusiveness is what sets him apart, and makes him hard to take down. Due to his talent, it should come as no surprise that he is committed to Virginia Tech, and will look to expand his football career at the next level.