2023 Breakout Candidates in 5A
In this article:
The 2023 season is on the horizon. Here, we continue to take a look at which prospects in GA are due for breakout seasons. Up next, the 5A regions. Gabe Daniels – 2025 – WR – Greater Atlanta Christian Track…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe 2023 season is on the horizon. Here, we continue to take a look at which prospects in GA are due for breakout seasons. Up next, the 5A regions.
Gabe Daniels – 2025 – WR – Greater Atlanta Christian
Track speed is a tool that college coaches and personnel staff use to spot speedy playmakers. Daniels has run 10.6 in the 100M and made some noise this off-season as a result. There are absolutely some P5 programs waiting to pull the trigger here, and a productive junior season may be what opens up the floodgates. As you could imagine, Daniels is an intriguing size-speed prospect at 6’2 180. He naturally creates separation with his speed and footwork, and will only get better at creating space as he continues to develop his football-specific movements. Daniels has natural hands and good ball skills, frequently showing the ability to pluck the ball away from defenders and reel in passes in tight coverage. Daniels is still developing, but he has the upside to be a productive player at the P5 level. With the bulk of his WR development ahead of him, I would keep an eye on him this fall.
Ayden Cain Ayden Cain 6'2" | 250 lbs | DL Dutchtown | 2026 State GA – 2026 – DE – Dutchtown
Cain is a competitive, athletic prospect on the Dutchtown defensive front that made quite a name for himself this offseason. With offers in from UAB and Western Kentucky, he has solidified himself as one of the more noteworthy DL recruits in Georgia’s 2026 class. After watching his tape and seeing Cain compete in person, it’s clear that his athleticism is too much to handle for most OL prospects. He is light on his feet and does an excellent job of attacking the inside and outside shoulder. Against the run, he plays with a high motor and works hard to shed off blocks and get involved in the run game. Cain has good spatial awareness at this point of his development, showing that he can flag down ball carriers downfield and drop back in coverage if needed. If Cain can adjust to the timing part of the game this fall, he can unlock another element of his game and potentially see P5 attention come his way.
Brayden Rouse Brayden Rouse 6'0" | 140 lbs | ATH GA – 2026 – WR – Kell
Kell has one of the best WR rooms in Georgia. They are loaded with playmakers at the position, but Rouse might have the highest upside on the team. At 6’2 165, he is a long, lanky prospect with the majority of his physical development still ahead of him. Rouse’s freshman year tape showed us that he was versatile and did a good job of using his body to fend off defenders. After watching him this offseason and watching his spring tape, Rouse has made noticeable physical jumps and is starting to become an even more fluid athlete. Rouse is a long strider who can gradually create separation downfield. He tracks the ball well in the air and is naturally able to reach over defenders to make a play. Rouse does show some YAC ability, but I believe he will settle in on the outside where he can be a major threat in the downfield passing game. Rouse has shown growth every time I’ve evaluated him, and a big season will firmly put him on the radar as a prospect.
Nate Russell Nate Russell 6'2" | 175 lbs | QB Cartersville | 2026 GA – 2026 – QB – Cartersville
Russell showed some impressive grit and toughness last year as a freshman, getting thrust into the action and answering the call. While Russell is still young and developing, he looks the part at QB and is capable of producing at a high level on varsity. What impressed me the most about Russell’s tape was that he showed he was capable of making numerous different throws. He is a near 90 MPH pitcher on the diamond, and the arm strength translates to football where he is able to drive the ball and attack the middle of the field. However, he showed the ability to put some touch on the ball and give his receivers chances to make plays, both in the screen and downfield passing game. It will be interesting to see what physical strides Russell takes this year. Either way, I think he will play himself onto the radar this year.