PRZCJ’s Notebook: Evaluations For New Commitments, II
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As the high school and college football seasons approach, numerous prospects across the country are ready to tie the knot on their recruitment and focus on the season ahead. In Alabama, several prospects have announced their commitments to play college…
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Continue ReadingAs the high school and college football seasons approach, numerous prospects across the country are ready to tie the knot on their recruitment and focus on the season ahead. In Alabama, several prospects have announced their commitments to play college ball across numerous levels. Here are 5 that caught my attention, plus a quick scouting report. You can expect this for several high-profile commitments in Alabama this year.
Red Morgan – 2024 – DB – Central
Red Morgan will provide Alabama with a relentless pursuer of the football. Morgan is listed around 6’0, but he is noticeably long and lanky. He is not anywhere close to being at his top playing weight, which means he has plenty of physical upside ahead of him. Simply put, Morgan has a nose for the football and will do anything in his power to make the tackle. He is capable of fighting off blocks with his long arms and is also capable of completely blowing up blockers as well. Once Morgan is locked on a target, he quickly explodes to the football, quickly hitting his top speed and closing space. Morgan is more of a wrecking ball-type tackler, flying directly to the football instead of sizing up the ball carrier and launching. However, he mostly tends to take good angles to the football, which puts him in prime position to make plays. Morgan’s motor is on another level. You will oftentimes see him flying from the backside of the play to chase down ball carriers way downfield. As I mentioned earlier, you will also see him relentlessly fight off blocks to free himself. At this point, Morgan is certainly more threatening coming downhill than he is in coverage. However, he has sideline-to-sideline speed and often flashes impressive range. Morgan has the ability to rack up tackles at the next level once he is fully developed.
Projection: P5 role-specific player
HUDL: https://www.hudl.com/video/3/16435840/637cfa68ab938b0b3ca0d44f
Dre Kirkpatrick Jr – 2024 – DB – Gadsen City
Kirkpatrick, an Alabama legacy, recently committed to the Crimson Tide and will provide Nick Saban and Co. with a high-upside DB prospect. The physical framework is there for Kirkpatrick to develop into a contributor at the SEC level. For starters, he is a burner with the speed to hang with anyone on the field. With the ball in his hand, you get to see his speed on full display as he pulls away from defenders. He also possesses elite acceleration, building up to his top speed in a hurry and maintaining that speed for long distances downfield. Kirkpatrick plays with excellent instincts and awareness. From his S spot, he shows the ability to stalk his prey and quickly break on the football. This allows him to jump routes and quickly get to the receiver and attack the catch point. In the open field, he mirrors the ball carrier well and is capable of eviscerating any outside leverage that the ball carrier may have. At the point of contact, Kirkpatrick tends to either go for the big hit or sling defenders to the ground. However, he is also extremely feisty and actively attempts to pry the ball loose, and sometimes succeeds. Kirkpatrick can run with anyone in man coverage and has the ball skills to go up and rip the ball away from receivers. However, he might be best at safety where he is able to read and react based on the QB’s decision-making. Kirkpatrick is a speedy, reactionary defender who could develop into a difference-maker at the SEC level if he can fill out and become a more physically demanding prospect.
Projection: P5 role-specific player
HUDL: https://www.hudl.com/profile/14414560/DAndre-Kirkpatrick-Jr
Jordan Ross Jordan Ross 6'5" | 215 lbs | DL Vestavia Hills | 2024 State AL – 2024 – EDGE – Vestavia Hills
Jordan Ross Jordan Ross 6'5" | 215 lbs | DL Vestavia Hills | 2024 State AL is committed to Tennessee and will provide the Volunteers with much-needed size and speed off the edge. Ross is an athletic anomaly at the EDGE spot, coming in at 6’5 225 with long arms and room to grow. He could easily carry another 20-plus pounds on his frame. Ross has reportedly clocked in 4.4 speed. If accurate, he will instantly be one of the speediest edge rushers in the country once he hits the college level. It is clear that Ross is lined up where he can get a clear run-way to the football. He spends plenty of time lined up as an EDGE, 7 tech, and even takes snaps as a traditional LB, where he can come downhill. He has the first step quickness to run right past blockers. He has a high motor as a pass rusher, frequently flushing the QB out of the pocket and continuing his chase across the field. As of now, Ross is dependent on his speed to win in the pass rush. However, he does show the ability to strike and rip blockers and has enough shimmy in his shoulders at the top of his rush to begin his pursuit of the QB. When coming downhill and rushing from his LB spot, he generates enough velocity and momentum to pop blockers and fold them backward. Against the run, Ross can slip between tacklers and attack the mesh point. He does a good job of locating the football and can completely scale across the field to maintain outside leverage. Ross will need to get bigger and add some pass-rushing moves to fully adjust to SEC offensive tackles. Regardless, he is one of the most physically impressive prospects in the country and has major upside.
Projection: P5 with early-round NFL upside
HUDL: https://www.hudl.com/profile/14816744/Jordan-Ross
Jakaleb Faulk Jakaleb Faulk 6'2" | 200 lbs | LB Highland Home | 2025 State AL – 2025 – LB – Highland Home
Auburn scored a huge commitment from Jakaleb Faulk Jakaleb Faulk 6'2" | 200 lbs | LB Highland Home | 2025 State AL recently. Faulk will provide Auburn with a strong presence in their front 7 who plays well in space. At 6’3 225, Faulk is already an impressive specimen who can still get bigger and faster. For his size, Faulk has the unique ability to play in space. At times, he will even slide to the outside and line up in man-to-man coverage with WRs. He looks both natural and comfortable coming downhill and striking ball carriers, showing the strength to lift ball carriers off their feet and absorb contact well in short areas. Faulk will also line up on offense, where he again flashes his aggressiveness and physicality with an impact-oriented blocking attack. Faulk’s long arms allow him to tangle up ball carriers as well. He can finish tackles by striking with force, but he can also finish tackles by wrapping up the ball carrier and bringing him to the turf. Faulk will slide down to the EDGE spot at times, where some people think he may project long-term. There, his speed and athleticism allow him to beat most blockers at his current level of football. However, he looks the most comfortable in a more traditional LB role where he can roam more freely. Already at 6’3 225 and showing signs of playing a lot bigger by the end of his senior season, there is a very good chance that Faulk could grow into an EDGE-type player. Regardless of where he ends up, he is a unique blend of size and athleticism and could contribute early on the plains.
Projection: P5 starter
HUDL: https://www.hudl.com/profile/16475553/Jakaleb-Faulk
Landon Duckworth Landon Duckworth 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB Jackson | 2026 State AL – 2026 – QB – Jackson
Duckworth is one of the premier QB prospects in the 2026 class and has already made headlines with his commitment to South Carolina earlier this month. Duckworth is a super projectable, fluid athlete who can push for 5-star status by the time he is a senior. Duckworth stands tall in the pocket at around 6’3 190. He moves exceptionally well and doesn’t overcomplicate things as a runner. He can make one or two quick moves to make defenders miss, but he mostly gets north and south once he finds room to run and relies on his speed to stay ahead of the chains. He isn’t afraid of contact and has the chance to be a physically imposing runner once he is fully grown. In the pocket, Duckworth is twitchy and can easily evade pressure. His footwork can be a little choppy at times, but he does a good job of setting his feet before he throws and is capable of working his progressions across the field, syncing his eyes, hips, and feet together. Duckworth is a hardball thrower who possesses rare arm strength. He has a long, wiry, whipping-style release. The ball booms off his hand on the deep ball and gets behind deep coverage fairly easily. He is able to tighten his release and attack tight windows in the short area of the field as well. Duckworth appears comfortable throwing on the run and is often schemed to do so. He has extremely loose and active hips which allows him to rotate and square his shoulder to the defender. When off-platform, Duckworth shows excellent improvisational skills and can still fire the ball while off-balanced. His fluid arm and hips help him a lot in this category as he can play detached from his lower body when needed. Duckworth is still raw, which is expected out of younger QBs. However, he is one of the most physically gifted players in the 2026 class and will generate plenty of buzz over the next few years.
Projection: P5 starter
HUDL: https://www.hudl.com/profile/17623161/Landon-Duckworth