Top Prospects Who Don’t Get Enough Attention
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Because Georgia happens to be one of the deeper pots of talent in the entire country, plenty of players, including top prospects, do not get as much attention as they deserve. Besides their local attention, or the offers that they…
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Continue ReadingBecause Georgia happens to be one of the deeper pots of talent in the entire country, plenty of players, including top prospects, do not get as much attention as they deserve. Besides their local attention, or the offers that they may get, they do not receive nearly as much statewide attention for their skills compared to the top prospects at their positions. Even though this is understandable, we here at Prep Redzone also like to recognize additional players who a large consensus of high school football fans would say are top 10 in their position group, regardless of the graduating class they are in. Below, we have listed a few of the top prospects in the state of Georgia who fall in this category, and who we think warrant more appreciation.
Debron Gatling Debron Gatling 6'2" | 180 lbs | WR Milton | 2024 State GA (WR) Milton / 2024
Even though Gatling is a young 2024 prospect, we still believe he is good enough to be in the top 10 in his position group going into the 2021 season. Perhaps, due to his youth, he has not received the attention that his talent deserves. As a young player, Gatling already does a good job of looking the ball into his hands, catching cleanly, and even high pointing the ball when the opportunity presents itself. He competes well for contested passes, and he does a good job of tracking the ball when forced to make plays from various angles. His length, and developmental frame allow him to compete against some of the best players in the state, while also being able to play with good balance, and the ability to separate well. On routes, he has no problem getting open, and his footwork out of his breaks is already very impressive. This, paired with his burst, speed, and decent route running ability make him a force to be reckoned with at his age. The way he makes and finishes plays easily sets him apart from others as well, and can be seen as another reason in which he should be given more attention than he has.
Isaiah Bond Isaiah Bond 5'10" | 160 lbs | DB Buford | 2022 State GA (DB) Buford / 2022
Bond, who is one of the most versatile players in the entire state, is already committed to the University of Florida. Even though this is the case, he does not seem to get nearly as much appreciation as he deserves when compared to other players of the same mold, such as Travis Hunter Travis Hunter 6'1" | 165 lbs | ATH Collins Hill | 2022 State GA . Even though Bond has a bit of a smaller frame, and is a bit shorter, he looks as if he can develop well into his body. Regardless, he plays with great balance, and burst out of his breaks and after the catch. This big play ability results in big plays, as well as touchdowns. Bond plays with very fluid movement skills, and the way he is able to change direction on a dime is what separates him from other competition, making him worthy of going to Florida, even despite the difference in his frame compared to other prospects.
Thomas Castellanos Thomas Castellanos 5'11" | 190 lbs | QB Ware County | 2022 State GA (QB) Ware / 2022
For Castellanos, there is a ton that he still has to learn about playing the QB position, which may be one of the reasons he is not given as much attention as he deserves. All in all, even though his release can be inconsistent at times, he can get the ball out quickly, on target, and to the right WR. His vision of the field is very impressive, and the way he is able to step up in the pocket under pressure is another strength that we want to see him continue to use. When throwing the ball, Castellanos also throws with good velocity, but proves to be able to throw with good touch as well. He is also pretty consistent with how he squares his shoulders on the run, and as he steps into his throws. In doing so, he is able to fit the ball into tight windows. All of this would not be possible if it was not for the fact that Castellanos plays with good awareness of the game around him, and is able to use good footwork, and processing skills to get the ball out in a timely manner. Next year, look for him to have another big year, only proving why he is worthy of more love than he has gotten to this point.
Stevie Bracey (LB) Lovett / 2022
To start, Bracey is a very instinctive football player, and the fact that he has found himself in a position in which he is going to be playing for the University of Virginia is no shocker to us. Not only does he react well to the football, but he rips off of blocks well, uses his hands and arms, and creates separation from opposing players so he can position himself to make tackles. Bracey’s speed, as well as his burst, always puts him in place to make plays behind the line of scrimmage, or at the line of scrimmage in pursuit. His fluid movement skills are very important when it comes to his game because it helps him to be able to limit wasted movement, and time. His footwork helps him to be able to make proper drop steps, and his hips also help him to be able to turn the corner and change direction on a dime. Expect this season to be another strong season for Bracey, only solidifying the fact that Virginia managed to snag a heck of a prospect.