Notes From the Trail: 2023 Prospects On the Rise After Spring
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Now that the 2022 class is headed for graduation, it is time for 2023 prospects to take that next step forward in their career. For some, they wasted no time and hit the ground running this spring.
Here, we take a look at which 2023 prospects benefitted from a big spring, and what is in store for them in the future.
<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="327202" first="Darius" last="Cannon"]</strong> - WR - Gainesville
This time a year ago, Cannon was still a prospect that was widely unknown on the trail despite being a super productive player. Last season at White County, Cannon finished with just under 800 receiving yards and found the endzone 8 times. He was also used as a returner and in the run game. Now at Gainesville, Cannon will get the chance to prove what he can do on a bigger scene, and his spring game performance was a good start. Against North Gwinnett, Cannon caught 4 passes for 100 yards and found the endzone on a long run after a screen. The best way to describe Cannon on the field is that he is a touchdown threat every time he touches the ball. He is an extremely fast and shifty player, so staying in front of him is a tall task for any defensive back. After a spring where Cannon saw offers pour in from numerous FCS and GO5 schools, it will be fun to see where his recruitment goes from here.
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<strong>Matthew Traynor</strong> - ATH - Walton
I got eyes on Traynor last year when he was at Sequoyah. There, he was playing QB, and I was extremely impressed with his elite speed and playmaking ability. Now at Walton, it seems like Traynor is set to play a bigger role at a skill position. After watching his spring film, it is clear that Traynor has the tools to become an elite defensive back. For starters, his experience at the QB position allows him to grasp a better understanding of how to attack the offense and just overall improves his football IQ. On top of that, his speed at the safety spot allows him to cover plenty of ground and patrol the field almost like a centerfielder. While he is an incredibly fast and athletic prospect, Traynor doesn’t shy away from contact either. If you watch some of his film over the last few years, you will see him come downfield and make some huge hits on the ball carrier. Traynor has the ability to lineup all over the field, but with his skillset, I project him at safety. Numerous offers have rolled in this spring for Traynor, and I believe he has the potential to be a late-bloomer on the recruiting trail if he can translate his spring success into the summer and fall.
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<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="321284" first="Isaac" last="Hubert"]</strong> - EDGE - Creekview
A couple of months ago, Hubert was another prospect who had been dominant on the field but didn’t have a whole lot to show for it on the recruiting trail. After a spring where it felt like he had offers roll in every day, Hubert has started to fly up boards. From a physicality standpoint, you could argue that Hubert is better than anyone in the state. He has an incredible build paired perfectly with unreal speed and explosiveness. There is nothing fancy to his game, he is just better than everyone else. Whether he has to run through you or around you, it is almost impossible to contain Hubert as he has been dominating the high school game since he was a freshman.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">After a great conversation with <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachReeves_UAB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachReeves_UAB</a>, I am extremely thankful to have been offered a scholarship to The University Of Alabama Birmingham! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ConferenceUSA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ConferenceUSA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/UAB_FB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UAB_FB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachBillClark?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachBillClark</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/RecruitGeorgia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@recruitgeorgia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FtballAtTheView?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ftballattheview</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachWilliams22?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachWilliams22</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TheViewRecruits?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheViewRecruits</a> <a href="https://t.co/Dnkp7uA9zj">pic.twitter.com/Dnkp7uA9zj</a></p>
— [player_tooltip player_id="321284" first="Isaac" last="Hubert"] (@IsaacHubert1) <a href="https://twitter.com/IsaacHubert1/status/1498035299703734274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<strong>Che Ojarikre</strong> - ATH - Denmark
What a week it was for Ojarikre. Last week, I mentioned Ojarikre as someone who could see his recruitment pick up soon. Since then, he has picked up offers from Georgia Tech, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Those three are added to a list of schools that include Missouri, Duke, Yale, Harvard, and numerous others. So why are SEC programs coming after Ojarikre? It is simple, he has great length and is an incredible athlete. His length and ability to tackle in space might be better suited for defense, but he is a weapon with the ball in his hands. He is a fluid route runner that can eat up grass with his long strides. Defensively, he is the true definition of a lockdown corner that can press on the line with his length and turn and run with his speed. Regardless of where he ends up, Ojarikre has one of the highest ceilings in the 2023 class and should see his recruitment take off even more in the coming months.
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<strong>[player_tooltip player_id="327205" first="Jaylen" last="Moson"]</strong> - DB - Kennesaw Mountain
Moson is another prospect that came into the spring as an underrated prospect and will exit with his name on the radar. This spring, Moson has seen numerous FBS offers roll in and has even secured a PO5 offer from Georgia Tech. In a matter of just a few weeks, Moson has turned into one of the more noteworthy defensive back prospects in the state. What really stands out to me about Moson is his versatility. He is physical and long enough to press receivers at the line, but he really excels when he backs off the line of scrimmage and breaks on the ball. He has extremely quick feet and does a great job of playing under control. While he plays mostly CB, I would not be shocked if he slides back to safety long-term. His ability to read the QB and break on the ball as well as his ability to tackle in space would translate beautifully to the safety position.
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