PRZCJ's Notebook: Notes From Milton vs Collins Hill

On Thursday, two of the most recognizable brands in Georgia high school football collided in the Freedom Bowl. After three quarters of a defensive battle, Milton pulled away late to secure the win. As usual at Prep Redzone, we put on our scout hats and analyze what we saw from a scouting perspective.   Milton Standouts   [player_tooltip player_id='283915' first='Tristan' last='Lester'] - 2026 - DB   [player_tooltip player_id='283915' first='Tristan' last='Lester'] may have heard his name called more than any other player on the field. This 2026 DB made a name for himself, frequently finding the football and impacting the game on any given snap. Lester showed the ability to range across the entire field to make tackles. He plays low to the ground, showing the ability to get tackling leverage on ball carriers. Lester played mostly at S and flashed his range and ability to come downhill. However, he did flash some man coverage upside as he carried some routes downfield. There's a lot to like about Lester as an athlete. He isn't physically overwhelming at 5'11 175, but he has good speed and a nose for the football. Lester is still young, but he played like a seasoned vet on Thursday and is en route to being an incredibly productive player this fall if he can play up to his week 1 level.   Marc Essley - 2024 - WR   Essley doesn't have the same recruiting love as some of his WR counterparts, but on Thursday, he proved to be a go-to option for [player_tooltip player_id='338659' first='Luke' last='Nickel']. Essley is a multi-level playmaker that plays a fluid brand of football. He is smooth after the catch, showcasing the horizontal agility to make numerous defenders miss and weave in and out of running lanes. For a receiver smaller in stature, his ability to impact the downfield passing game and track the football is impressive, and he did that yet again Thursday night. He made a huge TD grab towards the end of the first half by baiting the DB to the inside and slipping off his outside shoulder to prance towards the pylon, where he ulimtately made an impressive grab in tight coverage. Even with a loaded WR room, it's clear that Essley is still a huge part of this offense and is on track for another huge season.   [player_tooltip player_id='896582' first='Jacorey' last='Stewart'] - 2024 - LB   It's been well documented at this point, but [player_tooltip player_id='896582' first='Jacorey' last='Stewart'] proved to be an elite player in space on Thursday night. He checks the size, speed, and length boxes to play LB at the next level, but his pursuit to the football and hsi range makes him an extremely difficult player to gameplan against. Stewart spent a lot of time firing off the edge where he showed outstanding first-step explosiveness and back side chase ability. He consistently flushed the QB out of the pocket and frequently made contact on ball carriers a few yards in the backfield. As a rusher, he plays with a high motor and doesn't let up until the tackle is made or whistle is blown. Stewart would drop back to his traditional LB spot or even play as a big nickel at times. There, he had the freedom to play in space and took some impressive angles to the football. Stewart is as athletic and versatile of a LB prospect that you will find in Georgia. He looked even bigger Thursday than he did last year, which shows me that there is still plenty of ceiling for this Kansas commit to reach.   Collins Hill   Deuce Geralds - 2026 - DE   Last season, Deuce Geralds broke onto the scene as a freshman for Collins Hill and cemented himself as one of the most highly touted 2026 prospect in Georgia. This year, it's clear he will be the engine for the Collins Hill football team, and maybe on both sides of the ball. Geralds is an obvious physical prescence on the DL for Collins Hill. He has the strength to dent the pocket and drive blockers back. In the run game, he can clog up running lanes and re-direct the football with ease. However, he also plays well in space and has some finesse which brings his game to another level. He was able to slip blockers to rush the QB, get his hand up to bat the ball away, and was also able to chase the football to make tackles downfield. Geralds made an impact on offense as well, taking handoffs from the backfield, putting his head down, and moving the pile. He punched in a TD on the night. Geralds certainly validated some of the hype on Thursday night.   [player_tooltip player_id='339666' first='CJ' last='Hector'] - 2025 - DB   Hector was a Collins Hill prospect on my radar coming into Thursday, and I thought he was an impressive blend of athleticism and power from the S spot. He made a few tackles on the night, showing the ability to come downhill and impact the ball carrier. When locked in on a target and coming downhill, Hector puts his cleats in the ground and strikes the ball carrier by dropping his shoulder into the midsection of his opponent. Hector plays with a physical edge, showing the abilty to fight off blockers by either blowing up the block or by working relentlessly to free himself. Hector played with little to no hesitation in his game, transitioning from a centerfield S to a downhill striker with ease. Hector holds FBS offers and still has his best football ahead of him.   Nick Igbeare - 2024 - DL   The Collins Hill DL was disruptive, especially in the 1st half. Igbeare, who plays on the interior, was a major reason why. He is a physical, demanding force at 6'4 260 who can make plays in the backfield. He showed the impressive ability to shed blocks and shoot gaps for his size. He does a good job at the snap of playing off the shoulders of the blocker, occasionally getting into the backfield while hardly being touched. He has active hands and attacks with good timing, swatting at the blocker to prevent himself from getting tied up. Igbeare has a nose for the football, keeping his eyes up and didn't get lost in the backfield. At the point of contact, he met the ball carrier with force and used his length to wrap him up and bring him to the ground. Igbeare has numerous FBS offers, but he looks the part of a P5 prospect and he will certainly be someone on my radar that I'll be tracking.   Other Prospects of Note   '25 Milton QB [player_tooltip player_id='338659' first='Luke' last='Nickel']   '25 Milton LB Hayden Tumminia   '25 Milton OL/DL [player_tooltip player_id='338661' first='Caleb' last='Ellis']   '25 Milton DB [player_tooltip player_id='338656' first='Dylan' last='Lewis']   '24 Collins Hill DB Braylon Carstarphen   '25 Collins Hill QB [player_tooltip player_id='348275' first='TJ' last='Wilcox']   '25 Collins Hill DB Ethan Campbell   What's next?   Aug. 24 - Milton at Western (Fl.)   Sep. 1 - Collins Hill at Brookwood

On Thursday, two of the most recognizable brands in Georgia high school football collided in the Freedom Bowl. After three quarters of a defensive battle, Milton pulled away late to secure the win. As usual at Prep Redzone, we put on our scout hats and analyze what we saw from a scouting perspective.