Film Room: 2024 Prospects With Elite Upside

There have been a lot of talks in recent months about the 2023 and 2025 classes in Georgia, but the 2024 class has flown under the radar. Still, there are hundreds of D1-level players in the 2024 class, and some have the upside to become an elite player beyond the high school ranks. Here, we take a look at which prospects have the highest ceiling and what makes them special. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="332440" first="Judd" last="Anderson"]</strong> - QB - Jones County There is a good chance that you have heard [player_tooltip player_id="332440" first="Judd" last="Anderson"]’s name before. After all, he has offers from schools like Ole Miss and Pitt, and has visited schools like Georgia and Florida. It’s clear that Anderson has the potential to become one of the nation’s elite QBs in the 2024 class, and a big junior season is where he could get that extra push on the trail. First off, Anderson stands at a very impressive 6’6 and weighs in around 210 pounds. His tall stature allows him to read passing lanes well and get a good view of the entire field. He also happens to be a great athlete at his size that navigates the pocket extremely well. On top of that, he has a smooth release and can spin the ball extremely well. The most impressive thing I saw when watching his film was the fact that he can throw off-balance and off-platform without sacrificing any arm strength. As he continues to grow into his frame over the next year, Anderson should put himself in contention to be one of the best QBs in the entire 2024 class if he can get it done on the field. <iframe src="https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14187056/627a807a5caa5b0320e84f94" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="335441" first="Bryce" last="Hicks"]</strong> - RB - Carrollton Hicks might not have the notoriety on the recruiting trail that some other RBs in the 2024 class have, but I am willing to bet that some of those other RBs are nowhere near as productive and prolific as Hicks. At 5’9 and sitting at about 170 pounds, Hicks isn’t the biggest back, but he still excels at bouncing off tacklers and isn’t afraid to run into the teeth of the defense. He is a very elusive and patient runner that uses his quick footwork and elite speed to make defenders miss and break into the open field. Where Hicks really differentiates himself from others is his ability to catch the football. Last season, Hicks finished with 351 receiving yards and found the endzone 5 times. In total, Hicks finished with over 1200 total yards. Hicks is an incredibly gifted athlete that has multiple years of varsity production to back that up. With his kind of production, athletic ability, and versatility, it is only a matter of time before he breaks out in a big way on the recruiting trail. Hicks has added recent offers from Liberty and Coastal Carolina, and I wouldn’t be shocked at all if multiple PO5 programs followed suit by the time his recruitment is said and done. <iframe src="https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14725807/613533b8a681770624a3be0a" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>Kyle Vaka</strong> - WR - Johns Creek Vaka hasn’t made a huge splash at the varsity level yet, but I believe that’s coming in 2022. Why? Speed. Vaka is without a doubt one of the fastest receivers in the 2024 class that I have seen on tape, and he also has a great frame at 6’1 170. Vaka has enough burst and acceleration to get past any defender he wishes to get past. His ability to create separation and find soft spots in the defense makes him a touchdown threat on any given play. A lot of receivers with elite speed are just limited to their speed, but not Vaka. He also has great footwork which allows him to get in and out of his breaks fluidly and efficiently. While he isn’t necessarily known for his ability to make plays in tight coverage, he shows the potential on film to go up and get it if needed. Vaka has yet to see his recruitment get started, but colleges would be foolish to pass up on his elite speed and playmaking ability. <iframe src="https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14494539/61b3b2172aa6a902209fe348" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="334929" first="Chase" last="Morrison"]</strong> - DL - Roswell Morrison might not be the most athletic or prolific defensive lineman in the 2024 class, but he is instinctive and productive. He also has a great frame at 6’4 240, so it is hard to not be excited about his upside. Morrison can play all over the defensive line but spends the majority of his time on the interior. Morrison has great pursuit skills and uses his hands well to fight off blockers and get into the backfield, which is evident after a season in which he finished with 11 TFLs and 2 sacks. He is a player that is always well-controlled and plays within himself. Rarely do you see him go for a huge hit and overpursue. Instead, he is confident in his instincts and uses them to be in the right place at the right time. If Morrison can fill out some over the next year, he will be a hot commodity for anyone looking for a force to be reckoned with in the middle of their defense. <iframe src="https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/9719527/61ae612f9a92690af8eaee2e" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="330508" first="Tyjai" last="Hopper"]</strong> - CB - Alpharetta Even with offers and interests from SEC programs, Hopper is still a prospect that has flown under the radar. As we know, the combination of elite size and speed in defensive backs makes for a very intriguing prospect, and Hopper fits that description. At 6’1 with a 6’7 wingspan, Hopper can use his length to press defenders at the line and be disruptive when fighting for the ball. He has extremely active hands and can be seen knocking the ball away from receivers with ease. To go along with his elite man coverage skills, Hopper is also a physical player who is a great tackler in the open field. Hopper is the complete package, and it is only a matter od time before he receives the respect he deserves on the recruiting trail. <iframe src="https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13320929/6120df670dc02a09e0c5e64f" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>