PRZCJ's 2024 Mock Class: Watch List I

<p>At the end of this year, I will be hand-selecting 25-30 prospects to join my "mock class". This mock class will be full of some 2024 prospects that I will stand on the table for. From the small-school ranks to the P5 ranks, numerous players will receive my consideration. The goal here is to provide some exposure and recognition for these guys, as I believe they have something that sets them apart from the pack and will help them contribute on the college level if the stars align. </p>   <p>Here is volume 1 of my watch list. Expect this to be a recurring series over the next several months. </p>   <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='553243' first='KJ' last='Smith']</em></strong> - QB - Roswell</p>   <p>Since taking the helm at QB for the Hornets in 2022, Smith has done nothing but contribute at a high level and set records for the Hornets. In 2023, he is off to another good start as Roswell is proving to be one of the best teams in the state this year. Smith comes in at 5'10 185 and will often be overlooked due to his size. He doesn't have a rocket arm either, but he plays with outstanding awareness, creativity, and a general feel for the game and the position. He plays calm in the pocket and puts outstanding touch on the ball. He puts plenty of trust in his receivers, laying it up to where only his guy can go up and make a play. When things break down, he has outstanding spatial awareness in the pocket and can maneuver away from pressure. He keeps his eyes locked downfield and can quickly pinpoint and trigger to open receivers. Smith holds an offer from Alabama State and is a smooth, disciplined ball distributor to keep an eye on after his HS career. He is one of the most productive and underrated signal-callers in the state. </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/KJSm4th/status/1661016591302279168?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong><em>JaQorian Wiggles</em></strong> - WR - Mays </p>   <p>Wiggles is a raw, intriguing size and speed prospect who has some high upside. Wiggles is already a natural mismatch at 6'4 185 and is still growing into his frame and learning to use his body to his advantage. Wiggles lines up a lot in the slot where he can draw some favorable matchups against nickels and LBs. From there, he does a good job of sitting in a zone and reeling in the football. He also runs some crossers over the middle of the field. Simply put, he is targeted over the middle of the field in timing concepts which gives him the room to run and generate momentum downfield. He is a good athlete who moves well, but is a little clunky in the open field. Regardless, he is not easy to bring down and can move the chains on critical downs. Wiggles occasionally catches the ball in his chest, but he also flashes some really soft and strong hands. He can pluck the ball out of the air away from his body, even if he has to reach over his head or across his frame. Wiggles is raw, but his upside is high and will continue to grow and develop as a prospect. He holds an offer from DII powerhouse Valdosta State and will continue to raise his stock as he develops and hones in on his good habits. </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/CJacksonPRZ/status/1682516604301590535?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='400853' first='Kyle' last='Vaka']</em></strong> - WR - Kell</p>   <p>For the better part of two years, I have been enthralled with Vaka's upside and have remained consistent in my belief that he can turn into a complete WR prospect. Today, he is starting to look the part and is firmly on the P5 radar. Through the first few weeks, Vaka has been one of the most explosive and productive WRs in the state, nearing halfway to 1,000 yards on the year. Vaka has evolved from a YAC threat earlier in his career to a legit vertical receiving threat here in his senior year. He plays much bigger than his 6'0 180 frame as he is well-built and has filled out nicely up to this point in his career. Vaka is a deceptive route runner off the line who has an outstanding understanding of getting DBs off-platform and exploiting any leverage he gets. He isn't a burner, but he is athletic enough to create separation. He doesn't have any wasted movement. In the scramble drill, Vaka shows excellent spatial awareness and vision, quickly pinpointing grass and getting there in a hurry. Vaka shows great focus reeling in the football over his shoulder and has flashed the body control to lay out and finish the catch. In the modern CFB world with vertical choice routes, Vaka's ability to quickly create space and consistently reel in passes in the deep game makes him an intriguing prospect to watch once he enters his college days. </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/KyleVaka/status/1699076316094398628?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='262995' first='Gavin' last='Hall']</em></strong> - RB - Gainesville</p>   <p>Hall has been an extremely explosive and dynamic QB prospect for the last few years and has received plenty of praise from me as a result. Now at Gainesville, Hall is starting to settle into his RB position and absolutely looks the part. Picking out running lanes and dissecting the front is not an easy transition for new RBs. However, Hall shows excellent patience and waits for his blocks to develop before he begins ascending upfield. Hall shows excellent plant strength and change of direction, which allows him to get north and south and shake off defenders in space. As we have seen in previous years from Hall, he is an explosive runner in the open field who runs with eyes in the back of his head and can run away from the defense once he has an opening. His quick acceleration and straight-line speed flash just as much on tape as his lateral mobility. Hall runs with excellent contact balance, proving difficult to bring down. In fact, he welcomes contact and frequently lowers his shoulder to plow through defenders. As a pass catcher, Hall also shows some promise. He can reel in the ball over his shoulder downfield just as easily as he can take a screen and break off a big gain. Hall showcases next-level patience and elusiveness, but he can also create his own yards with the best of them in the state. Hall is committed to Furman and will continue to receive some recruiting buzz this fall at his current pace. </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/Performance_GHS/status/1701210541828575491?s=20 </div></figure>   <p><strong><em>Jerrick Nyantakyi</em></strong> - DB - Pebblebrook</p>   <p>Nyantayki might not check prototype height and weight boxes when it comes to D1 DBs, but I am a huge fan of his playstyle and am impressed with his pesky, aggressive brand of football. Nyantakyi lines up a lot at corner, where he shows excellent mirroring technique and the ability to flip his hips and run. He also has noticeable speed, so when all is tied together, he can run with anyone on the field. He also shows fantastic ball skills and plays with good leverage when he rises up to make a play on the football. This can be credited to the fact that receivers have a rough time creating any sort of separation downfield. He also plays some S and flashes in zone coverage, where he carefully reads the QB and can quickly accelerate to the catch point. He locates the ball well and works through the hands of the receiver to knock the ball to the turf. Nyantakyi isn't necessarily a thumper when he comes downhill, but he relentlessly works off blocks and does a good job of sitting down in a spot, squaring up to the ball carrier, and engaging for a clean tackle. He plays with the intense, pesky playstyle that often translates to the next level for DBs, but he does it in a clean manner and makes frequent plays on the football as a result. </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/jerrickN02/status/1698412705382572228?s=20 </div></figure>

At the end of this year, I will be hand-selecting 25-30 prospects to join my "mock class". This mock class will be full of some 2024 prospects that I will stand on the table for. From the small-school ranks to the P5 ranks, numerous players will receive my consideration. The goal here is to provide some exposure and recognition for these guys, as I believe they have something that sets them apart from the pack and will help them contribute on the college level if the stars align.