Evaluating Prospects Bursting Onto the Recruiting Scene, Part III
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The offers have been flying around this offseason for Georgia prospects. Here at Prep Redzone, we have pinpointed and evaluated several risers that you need to be on your radar. Here are the details. Ashton Moore Ashton Moore 6'1" |…
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Continue ReadingThe offers have been flying around this offseason for Georgia prospects. Here at Prep Redzone, we have pinpointed and evaluated several risers that you need to be on your radar.
Here are the details.
Ashton Moore Ashton Moore 6'1" | 195 lbs | LB Alpharetta | 2026 State GA – 2026 – LB – Alpharetta
After a productive freshman season, Moore has emerged this offseason as one of the more highly sought-after defensive prospects in the state for the 2026 class. The best way to describe Moore would be a “defensive playmaker”. He dissects the play very well and has excellent speed. Simply put, he is a “see ball, get ball” kind of player that can close the gap in a hurry. Regardless of where he lines up, you can expect Moore to make an impact on the football on any given play. He takes good tackling angles and does a great job of playing within his means and not overpursuing the ball carrier. He is tough against the run, showing that he is able to read, react, and evade blockers. With his speed, he can also drop back in coverage and play well in space. At the next level, I believe Moore will play some sort of hybrid position that will allow him to play freely in space. There is elite upside here, and people are starting to take notice.
Kail Ellis Kail Ellis 6'4" | 295 lbs | OL Cass | 2026 State GA – 2026 – OL – Cass
Ellis has been a notable name in Georgia since he hit the high school ranks. However, he is starting to generate some real buzz this offseason. Ellis is a nasty, tenacious offensive lineman that generates some serious push up front. Once he gets his hands on you, it becomes a struggle just to keep your footing and balance. Just by glancing, you would think Ellis is a much older prospect than his age. He has filled out nicely to this point of his career and has a noticeably strong lower body. Ellis is a smooth athlete that can get down the field. His game isn’t “clunky”. In fact, he looks as natural as any 2026 offensive lineman I have evaluated in Georgia. To me, Ellis is perfectly built to be a G or C in an SEC offense, and I have talked to other coaches that agree. This week alone, Ellis has picked up offers from Auburn and Florida State after showing out at camps. I would bet that his offer list eventually grows to include plenty of P5 programs.
Xavier Griffin Xavier Griffin 6'4" | 225 lbs | DL Gainesville | 2026 State GA – 2026 – RB – Sandy Creek
Xavier Griffin Xavier Griffin 6'4" | 225 lbs | DL Gainesville | 2026 State GA popped onto my radar last season. At the time, he was still under the radar despite producing big numbers as a freshman. I saw the clear upside in his game. Today, he has finally broken through as a prospect and holds several offers from D1 programs. I am enthralled with Latimer’s game due to his noticeable similarities to former Auburn RB Kerryon Johnson. Latimer might not possess some of the elite physical traits that other RBs have, but his vision and discipline as a runner are unmatched. This spring, he has started to fill out and is starting to look like a major P5 RB prospect. It is a matter of time before those P5 offers are pouring in left and right. I think he is that good. This is the kind of prospect that has the ability to stay on the field. He can evade tacklers or run through them, hardly ever being physically outmatched. There is still some time before Latimer hits the college ranks, but I can already tell that he could be an instant impact piece at the next level.
Zykie Helton – 2026 – OL/DL – Carrollton
Helton is not at all built like your normal 2026 lineman. Helton is built like an absolute freak. He has an incredibly powerful lower body, broad shoulders, and can squat 650 pounds. Most of his high school tape is on the defensive line, where his 6’3 325 frame acts as an immovable object at the nose tackle spot. However, he likely projects best at G or C. His DL experience will certainly help him as far as his hand-fighting and tenacity are concerned. He has the strength to match up against nose tackles and No. 1 defensive tackles without getting blown off the ball. Helton might still be a little raw, which is normal for his age. Once he can harness some of his energy and start getting more reps on the offensive front, we will start to see his game completely tie together.
Travis Smith Jr – 2025 – WR – Westlake
It was a big spring for Travis Smith. In a matter of a few months, Smith went from a riser to a household name on the trail. A recent offer from Georgia has pushed his stock to another level. There isn’t a whole lot of film out there on Smith at the moment. Still, it’s easy to see why so many P5 programs are betting on his upside. He is 6’4, runs fast, jumps high, you name it. He is simply a freak athlete with a limitless ceiling. In the film he does have, you can tell he has natural hands and has solid body control. So while he is still raw and developing, he shows some promise on film and offers a glimpse of what he can bring once everything comes together.