New Metro Atlanta Prospects On My Radar, Part II

<p>I have spent some time recently really digging into my evaluation and discovery of prospects to bring some new prospects to the table. Here are a few that have caught my attention as of late, and they're all from the Metro Atlanta area.</p>   <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1077534' first='Lakhi' last='Roland']</em></strong> - 2024 - CB - Cedar Grove</p>   <p>Despite his commitment to Maryland, Roland is a new prospect on my radar who impresses on tape. At 6'1 175, he fits the prototypical length to play CB at the P5 level. He also has room to fill out and become more physical, which is likely where the largest area of improvement is for him. He is an exceptionally light-footed and quick defender who does an excellent job of mirroring WRs off the line. He has active, fluid hips and is able to turn and run with anyone. When he needs to recover, he has top-end straight-line speed to make up ground in a hurry and he does a good job of playing through the hands of the receiver. As of now, Roland is perhaps best suited to play off-man coverage. He has a smooth backpedal and is able to change his momentum on a dime. He has the speed and reactionary skills to close space in a hurry and play the underneath routes, sometimes even jumping the route for a pick. Roland is a thinner prospect, but he does show solid tackling upside as he aims lower on bigger players. On kickoff duty, he can fly down the field and make contact with no hesitation. Given time in a P5 weight room, Roland has the skills to break through. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/Khii4six/status/1646189680960962560?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong><em>Dylan Manuel</em></strong> - 2024 - DL - Stockbridge</p>   <p>At 6'1 275, P5 schools might be hesitant to pull the trigger on Manuel due to a lack of prototypical length. However, if anyone has the chance to outplay that stigma, it's him. Manuel was a game-breaker for Stockbridge last year, showing the ability to defend the run exceptionally well and dent the pocket from the interior of the defensive front. He has an incredibly explosive first step and launches right into the midsection of the offensive lineman. He has the power and hand placement to fold blockers and knock them backward. He is able to shoot gaps and get to the football in a hurry, often meeting the RB right around the mesh point. In the passing game, he plays with outstanding pursuit skills and is often too quick for most interior linemen to contain. Where Manuel really stands out is his spatial awareness. He shows on tape the ability to play screens, chase down the football, and completely redirect his body at the line of scrimmage. Manuel has a super intriguing combination of explosiveness and strength that has him firmly on the radar for numerous D1 schools. If Manuel was 6'4 instead of 6'1, we would be talking about a bonafide P5 DL prospect. Regardless, he is worthy of attention from P5 schools and will draw many eyes this fall with another productive season. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/DylanManuel99_/status/1653074471673053186?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong><em>Daniel Turpin</em></strong> - 2024 - LB - Arabia Mountain</p>   <p>Turpin is a productive LB prospect that has the tools and playstyle to contribute early at the next level. He has a projectable frame at 6'1 215. He has some room to fill out, but it looks like he will hover around his current size. He is a good athlete in the middle of the defense and could project as an OLB/N type hybrid. Turpin is a physical prospect who is able to handle himself in the gaps and take on blockers. Almost like a defensive lineman, Turpin does a good job of keeping his arms extended to create separation against blockers. He keeps his shoulders squared to the ball carrier and gives himself a solid foundation to launch on. His experience on kickoff duty shows that he has the ability to chase after the football. Turpin is a good athlete that plays with a physical edge. However, he's also fundamentally sound and well-developed for his age. For that reason, I think Turpin could contribute early on the FCS or possibly FBS level. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/danielturpin35/status/1663350084984254466?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong><em>Keyawn Spencer</em></strong> - 2025 - ATH - Pebblebrook</p>   <p>Athletically, Spencer is a major P5-caliber prospect who could play all over the field at the next level. His 10.6 speed immediately catches your eye. That kind of speed alone puts him on the recruiting radar. However, his speed translates to the football field as well. On the offensive side of the ball, he spends most of his time lined up at WR, but he also took some direct snaps at QB. Simply put, he will line up wherever he has the best chance of making plays. With the ball in his hands, he is a clear touchdown threat. His speed obviously allows him to separate, but he also has some twitchiness to his game and is able to do some damage horizontally. Downfield, he shows good ball-tracking skills and has the obvious build to pose a real threat in the deep passing game. Spencer also looks the part at DB. He can run with anyone, proving to be a sticky defender. He plays with an edge and shows good tackling mechanics, which is one of the more surprising parts of his game as he is a thinner prospect. He shows the reactionary skills to break on the ball and make plays on underneath routes. When you add together the fact that he is a rather polished prospect on both sides of the ball, his elite speed, and his upside on special teams, you get a major P5-caliber prospect in exchange. Spencer holds several FBS offers, but I wouldn't be shocked to see his offer list grow exponentially in the next year. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/sliideekey/status/1656671724891701250?s=20 </div></figure>

I have spent some time recently really digging into my evaluation and discovery of prospects to bring some new prospects to the table. Here are a few that have caught my attention as of late, and they're all from the Metro Atlanta area.