Film Room: Midseason Edition

Somehow, the high school football season has already reached the halfway point in Georgia. This gives coaches and scouts a good chance to look at the first half of the 2023 season and make their evaluations. Here, we take a look at some film submissions and provide some analysis on what we see.   Revis McClairen III - 2025 - DB - River Ridge   McClairen has broken onto the varsity scene this year and does some impressive things on tape. First off, it's essential to make note of his measurables. McClairen is a thin 6'1 165, supporting plenty of room to grow and add muscle. From the looks of it, his arms are extremely long and he certainly checks the initial boxes when it comes to his frame. Athletically, McClairen looks plenty fluid at the corner spot. He has a smooth backpedal and can translate from his backpedal to downhill on a dime. When he needs to turn and run, he does a good job of getting his hips around and hitting his stride quickly to carry routes downfield. McClairen is more of a soft coverage, bail type of corner on the outside. As of right now, he might not have the physicality to completely disrupt route combinations and timing at the line. However, he puts himself in good position to make a play on the football and uses his length to attack the catch point for receivers and poke the ball to the turf. While running with receivers, he does a good job of squeezing them to the sidelines, which makes the throw for the QB all the more difficult when you factor in McClairen's length. When coming downhill, McClairen is both willing and capable of making plays on the football. He has forced a few fumbles this year, showing disruptive hands and poking away at the ball. He sheds blocks nicely for a thinner prospect, largely due to the fact that he can get a lot of separation at extension. When approaching for the tackle, McClairen does a good job of squatting down and soaking in the tackle, there isn't much fly-by and miss when he is flying to the football. McClairen was someone who popped into my radar this off-season. I was waiting to see his tape, and after my first watch, it's safe to say his length, fluidity, and proven production against the football is a solid basis of intrigue.   <a href="https://x.com/RevisMcClairen/status/1703080405035794706?s=20">https://x.com/RevisMcClairen/status/1703080405035794706?s=20</a>   Jamarcus Hester - 2025 - LB - Winder-Barrow   Hester is a stout LB prospect who is capable of playing at multiple different spots in the front 7. He can line up attached to the line as an edge rusher or can slide back to a traditional LB spot. Regardless of his placement, Hester is a pursuer of the football and delivers quite a punch at impact. He is a stout 6'1 220, well-built for his age. He can take on blockers without getting flushed downfield or down the line. When he meets ball carriers, he has the pop to completely stop players in their tracks and get them to the turf. Hester plays with a really good base, always staying squared to the football and gliding around the grass. With his athletic base, he does a good job of maintaining good pad level when he strikes, dropping his shoulder into the midsection of ball carriers, showing good tackling technique. Hester is frequently sent after the passer, whether that means coming off the edge or coming in as a blitzer. When given 1 v 1s against offensive linemen, Hester does a good job of quickly deceiving blockers and getting them to reach. After that, he showcases the athleticism and flexibility to bend his way around the block and get after the football. When engaged with blockers in the run game, Hester does a good job of creating extension, staying planted, and getting eyes on the RB. Hester will definitely play closer to the line of scrimmage, where he can consistently provide a stout force against the football. However, he does frequently drop back into space and play coverage. So while most of his game might be see ball get ball, he does have experience defending the pass and doing it well. Hester is a stout, firmly-built prospect who can impact the football all over the field. For that reason, there is D1 recruitment potential here.   <a href="https://x.com/hester_jamarcus/status/1703578375447601286?s=20">https://x.com/hester_jamarcus/status/1703578375447601286?s=20</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='815944' first='Xavier' last='Griffin'] - 2026 - DE/OLB - Gainesville   Griffin is a versatile, see-ball get-ball defender who can play attached to the line with a 3-point stance, 4-point stance, or standing up off the edge. He also drops back and takes plenty of reps as a traditional mike-LB. On any given snap, regardless of where he is lined up, Griffin can get to the football in a hurry. Listed at around 6'4 210, Griffin's length projects nicely at the edge spot. When rushing, he does a good job of bending around the block and is capable of deceiving blockers into reaching. He strikes with enough power and extension to drive blockers on their heels. He then gets his eyes up and is capable of shedding to present himself in a lane. At the traditional LB spot, Griffin plays more naturally than one would think. He is certainly more of run and chase defender, but he does a good job of run fitting and is capable of shooting gaps to attack ball carriers. When the ball bounces to the outside, he has the speed to pursue and flag down the football. Griffin has obvious coverage upside. When lined up off the ball, Griffin's length and speed squeeze windows over the middle of the field for the QB. He is a natural runner and has range, so he is surely capable of catching and carrying routes out of the backfield. When Griffin meets defenders in the gap, you would like him to strike more consistently and play through the football. However, he does a great job of slowing down and squatting to make the tackle instead of overpursuing and missing his target. His length offers a wide tackling radius, and he uses it to his advantage by snagging the ball carrier and slinging them to the ground. Griffin is reaching blue-chip recruit status, and it's because he has the athleticism and length profile to get after the QB and play off the ball. He is still young and has shown noticeable growth. I am expecting Griffin to receive a plethora of P5 offers over the next year or so.   <a href="https://x.com/zay_social/status/1703561414462279943?s=20">https://x.com/zay_social/status/1703561414462279943?s=20</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='682106' first='Chad' last='Fairchild'] - 2026 - LB - Lovejoy   Fairchild is a young LB with good size and instincts. Already at 6'1 215, he is built out nicely for his age and will add to his frame, especially in his arms and legs, over the next few years. He carries his weight well and looks like he could carry at least 230 pounds without sacrificing much burst and acceleration. By the looks of it, Fairchild is a patient, smooth operator at the LB position. He plays hard and has good athleticism, but he is definitely more of a read-and-react defender than a thumper. He does an outstanding job of mirroring the ball carrier in the backfield, squaring up to the runner, and flashing the ability to shuffle, which keeps the action as linear as possible. Fairchild does a good job of clicking and closing, engaging the ball carrier once he is free of blockers, and absorbing the tackle. He isn't much of a pad popper right now, playing a more passive brand of defense. However, he engages blocks well and is capable of working his way through and around blocks to present himself to the ball carrier. He also absorbs contact well, rarely getting blown back by the RB and sticking strong in the gaps. Fairchild appears to be more than adequate in pass coverage. He plays with good discipline with his eyes, locating receivers coming in and out of his zone and maintaining integrity in his area. He shows the long speed to stick with RBs out of the backfield, which allows the defense to man up across the board if needed. Fairchild recently picked up an offer from Georgia Tech. He is still developing that violent edge of football, but he plays with good instincts and has good size. He looks the part of a productive tackler in the future.   <a href="https://x.com/ChadFair01/status/1685442463920500737?s=20">https://x.com/ChadFair01/status/1685442463920500737?s=20</a>

Somehow, the high school football season has already reached the halfway point in Georgia. This gives coaches and scouts a good chance to look at the first half of the 2023 season and make their evaluations. Here, we take a look at some film submissions and provide some analysis on what we see.