5 Unranked Prospects Off to Hot Start
Here at PrepRedzone, our job is to constantly expand our horizons and find more talent to evaluate and bring to the table. We rank more prospects than anyone else in the country, which is thanks to our team of talented…
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Continue ReadingHere at PrepRedzone, our job is to constantly expand our horizons and find more talent to evaluate and bring to the table. We rank more prospects than anyone else in the country, which is thanks to our team of talented and dedicated scouts. After the first few weeks in Georgia, here are some unranked prospects who are playing their way onto my radar.
Collin O’Hara – 2024 – LB – Harrison
O’Hara is coming off a productive junior season and is off to a hot start in 2023. O’Hara comes in on the smaller side for LBs at 5’10 200, but he plays with a hot motor and has the clear speed and athleticism profile to fly around the field. O’Hara plays with quick instincts and is a reactionary defender. Once he locks in on a target, he quickly shifts his momentum and closes room quickly. He takes good angles to the football and has the speed to chase down defenders downfield when they have leverage. O’Hara plays low to the ground, stalking his prey and striking with good pad level. He can pop pads and take on blockers well, which is impressive for a defender of his size. Thanks to his speed and ability to play in space, he can absolutely drop back into coverage and hover around the middle of the field. On tape, you can see him flying downfield almost like an S, striking with intent and beating ball carriers to a spot. O’Hara is a speedy, productive LB prospect who is worthy of small school attention.
Malik Dryden – 2024 – RB – Flowery Branch
Malik Dryden is an explosive runner who has been the focal point for Flowery Branch on offense through the first two weeks. Dryden is listed at 5’10 202 and carries his weight proportionately. Just by the eye test, he could still add to his frame without sacrificing his ability to move. Dryden is a heads-up runner who can threaten the outside run. He keeps his eyes downfield to spot running lanes as he scampers to the outside, then turns on the jets once he finds an opening. He shows outstanding footwork, chopping up defenders and creating any sort of hesitation that he can exploit. Between the tackles, Dryden isn’t a super-powerful runner. However, he shows outstanding contact balance, pin-balling off defenders and fighting to stay upright as he scampers downfield. Dryden doesn’t pop off the charts when it comes to his measurables and tools, but he is a consistent, reliable runner who plays hard to fight through contact and make his way to the endzone. Dryden is a D1 caliber RB prospect.
Walter Willis Jr – 2024 – WR – Pebblebrook
Walter Willis is one of the state’s biggest breakout players through the first two weeks and is sure to be one of the most productive receivers in Georgia this year at this pace. Willis is a lanky, athletic 6’1 170 with noticeable physical upside. He isn’t even close to being at his peak physically and is still a little raw in the open field, but he is a mismatch with his speed and can create space for himself. Willis is a speedy runner who is more of a strider in the open field. He is able to generate momentum north and south as well as beat defenders to the corner. When given green grass to run, Willis can turn a small gain into a TD on any snap. Downfield, Willis has the unique ability to tighten up his movements and break defenders down with his route running. He is deceptive in his routes, catching defenders leaning and proving capable of breaking to the flat or the middle of the field. Willis’s speed allows him to sell the seam routes, which opens up numerous route concepts underneath. He shows great body control, adjusting to the ball in the air and often snatching back over his head and leaning on the sidelines to reel in receptions. Willis is a unique combination of downfield striding and short-area explosiveness. He holds D1 offers, but he could push for P5 status with continued production this year.
Greg Blanks III – 2024 – DE – Wheeler
Blanks is the state leader in sacks after the first two weeks, totaling 7 so far on the season. Simply put, Blanks is an old-school, aggressive football player. He isn’t your prototypical defensive lineman as he comes in at around 6’0 220. However, he plays with a piping-hot motor and is a bottle of strength and energy. Blanks is explosive off the snap and isn’t afraid to get right up in the grill of blockers. For a prospect that may lack prototype length, he packs a strong punch when he shoots his hands, proving capable of knocking blockers off-balance and getting them off their platform. Blanks does utilize an arm-under move, freeing himself from the grips of the blocker and getting around the edge to get a clear path to the QB. Blanks plays in rapid pursuit of a QB, often flagging down the football from the backside and rising back upfield whenever he gets flushed deeper into the backfield. Blanks will easily top double-digit sacks this year. He might slide back to LB or EDGE, but he would be an underrated addition for some smaller schools looking to add some energy to their defense.
Jackson DeLoach – 2025 – OL – Lambert
DeLoach was an all-region performer last year as a sophomore and is off to another nice start in 2023. DeLoach comes in around 6’3 255 and spends most of his time at the guard spots. While he is still on the smaller side for the guard spot, he has room to fill out and plays with a mean streak, which is usually required for the guys who don’t check all the physical boxes. DeLoach does a great job of washing defenders down the line, showing great flexibility and sturdiness in his ankles as he plants his outside foot and drives defenders east and west. He plays through the whistle, often driving his defender to the turf or getting his eyes up to find another guy to get his hands on. DeLoach goes hunting a lot, roaming downfield and looking for someone to block. He sneaks up on defenders and strikes with a combination of his shoulder and hands, frequently knocking defenders off their feet. Once he is fully grown, DeLoach will be a solid physical presence with a mean streak in the middle of the defense. This year will be critical to his recruitment, and he is off to a great start.