14 Scouting Notes From Round 2
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The third round of playoffs is coming up. I went back and watched some tape from the second round and made several notes. From a scouting and evaluation standpoint, here are my main takeaways. Lumpkin County vs Oconee County ATH…
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Continue ReadingThe third round of playoffs is coming up. I went back and watched some tape from the second round and made several notes. From a scouting and evaluation standpoint, here are my main takeaways.
Lumpkin County vs Oconee County
ATH Cal Faulkner Cal Faulkner 5'10" | 170 lbs | WR Lumpkin County | 2025 State GA , 2025, Lumpkin County:
Prior to this fall, I had Faulkner on my radar as a WR prospect. He landed a D1 grade at that spot from me and likely still projects to the next level at that spot, but he has stepped up and played QB this fall and did so at a high-level Friday night. With the ball in his hands on every snap, Faulkner is dangerous. He is another runner the defense has to account for as he is capable of outrunning defenders and sliding in and out of running lanes to find green grass. However, he has a surprisingly good arm and threw with the touch and timing to give his WRs a chance at making a play. Regardless of which position he sticks at, his experience at QB should only improve his stock even more.
OL Lane McColman, 2024, Lumpkin County:
At times, the entire Lumpkin County offensive front played at a high level, but I found my eyes drawn to McColman the most. He looks the part at 6’0 275 and held his own physically against an athletic Oconee County front. He played with a good base and kept his eyes up, striking with good placement against defenders and chipping nicely when helping out a teammate. There are several smaller programs out there looking for incoming freshman OL. If you are one of those, McColman might be someone worthy of a watch in the next few weeks. He projects as an IOL.
RB Caiden Wood, 2026, Oconee County:
Wood was the top playmaker on the night for Oconee County, breaking off several explosive runs, and a few for TDs. Wood is a taller, lankier RB prospect, but still shows the ability to run between the tackles. He keeps his eyes up and has a good understanding of when to plant his feet, quickly getting his body north and south and getting vertical. He isn’t super twitchy and won’t break down defenders with his footwork, but he runs with good balance and flexibility, allowing him to weave in and out of running lanes as he kicks off the chase to the endzone. Wood is still young and should garner some recruiting attention at this rate.
Calvary Day vs Thomasville
WR Caden Arnold, 2024, Calvary Day:
Arnold looked to be the top playmaker for Calvary Day in what was an offensive barrage this past weekend. Arnold is a shorter, stouter WR prospect with good speed and is difficult to bring down after the catch. Thanks to his lower center of gravity, he can shrug off defenders and maintain good balance. When represented with even the slightest of openings, he quickly explodes through the lane and climbs to a new level of the field. Arnold made several plays all over the field, showing me he has the ability to make an impact at all levels.
OL Sam Hensley, 2025, Calvary Day:
Hensley was tasked with guarding a long, lanky, and fast Thomasville defender. For the most part, he handled himself nicely. Hensley is listed at 6’4 280 and still appears raw as an athlete, however, he played with a good base and reacted well to the defender, using his width to wash the defender past the QB. Even while raw, Hensley is aware of the length and width that he has. Even if he might not win off the snap, he does a good job of staying patient and recovering to continue flushing the rusher downhill. He is hard to run around and proved it on Friday.
DB Tyreek Williams, 2024, Thomasville:
Williams flashed at safety, flying all over the field and instigating contact all night. He is long, lanky, rangey, and is certainly not afraid to lay his body on the line to deliver some jarring blows on defenders. There are plenty of DBs at the next level that fit this mold. Williams clicks downhill nicely and takes good angles to the football. Upon contact, he is capable of lifting ball carriers off their feet. Thanks to his length, once he gets his arms around playmakers, it’s hard for them to shake themselves loose. Williams is a senior sleeper who turned heads this year.
North Oconee vs Cedartown
North Oconee OL…
The North Oconee offensive front created push all night, but two players caught my eye more than the other, number 70 and number 65. 70 is stout, low to the ground, and plays with good pad level. He often carved open running lanes and drove his defender onto their heels and way out of the play. 65 appears a bit longer than 70 and did a good job of anchoring down and redirecting momentum against his matchup.
ATH Khamauri Brooks, 2026, North Oconee:
Brooks was on my radar earlier this year thanks to his measurables at 6’4 220. He played both ways for North Oconee, but the work he did defensively is what caught my attention. His size/speed combination is enough to overwhelm offensive tackles and he does a good job of setting up the inside move. Against the run, he crashes down aggressively and can cut off angles between the tackles. Brooks has the athleticism to play off the line in coverage too. Don’t be shocked if Brooks starts to generate from P5 recruiting buzz.
WR Demarcus Gardner, 2025, Cedartown:
Gardner was the top playmaker for Cedartown and made plays at all levels. He is speedy and has the suddenness to create hesitation in defensive backs and exploit leverage. He flashed ball-tracking skills and is a natural pass catcher, plucking the ball out of the air away from his body. With the ball in his hands after the catch, he can weave in and out of running lanes, make defenders miss, and kick it into another gear to run away from the defense. Gardner is a legit D1 caliber WR prospect with the playmaking ability to attract numerous targets a game.
DB Astin Turner, 2025, Cedartown:
Turner is an underrated, versatile DB who took some snaps at S and CB. From the eye test, he has plenty of length in his limbs and is a natural mover, coming downhill quickly and staying in phase with receivers downfield. Thanks to his length, he can crunch throwing windows and jar the ball loose more easily when he attacks the catch pocket. He is extremely active as a tackler, frequently flying to the football and showing that he is not afraid to put his head down and get in on the action. As a rising senior, Turner is someone who would be an intriguing eval for some smaller schools.
Woodward Academy vs Houston County
DB RJ Harrison, 2025, Woodward Academy:
Houston County has some talented WRs, but RJ Harrison showed up and showed out, coming away as possibly the defensive MVP in Woodward Academy’s round 2 victory. Harrison isn’t the biggest CB prospect at a thin 5’10 175, but he is extremely quick and plays the football. He does a good job of mirroring the receiver at the line of scrimmage and his quick footedness allows him to adjust downfield as he stays in phase with receivers. Since he is fast enough and able to stick with receivers in coverage, he puts himself in prime position to poke the ball to the turf instead of tugging on the receiver. Harrison is athletic, on time, and played one of his best games in the playoffs. He holds FBS offers and should add more.
DL Christian Bell, 2025, Woodward Academy:
Bell isn’t the ideal size when you think of DL prospects as he checks in at 5’11 220. However, he is very strong and plays with max effort. Those two things combined allow him to sheer off blocks. The Houston County DL is big, but Bell was able to make his mark known in the running game by working the shoulders of his matchup and making direct contact with the RB. Defensive linemen that lack length need to have the motor and strength to work off blocks, Bell has both of those under his belt and is still growing. He could slide back and play LB at the next level, but either way, his experience taking on blockers will help him in the future.
LB Brandon Walden, 2024, Houston County:
Walden is a stout, strong LB prospect who made several impressive tackles against Woodward Academy. Early in the game, Walden exploded through the middle of the line on a blitz and completely leveled the QB for a sack. On that play and several others, Walden showcased next-level explosiveness as he violently closed to the football. He flies around with no regard for his health. He goes for the big hit, but he does a good job of getting his arms around the ball carrier and wrestling him to the ground. Walden is a physical force in the middle of the Houston County defense and could play that same role at the next level.
EDGE Xavier Ryan, 2024, Houston County:
When watching this game, Xavier Ryan was a prospect that immediately drew my eyes, passing the initial “eye test”. He is listed at 6’1 210 and with his thin, long-limbed frame, he appears even bigger than listed. He is super athletic and bendy off the edge, frequently shooting and slipping by blocks to get after the QB. When he closes in on the QB, his long arms give him a large tackle-radius which allows him to fully engulf the ball carrier. On the night, he produced several sacks. Even when he wasn’t immediately getting into the backfield, Ryan did a good job of extending, keeping his eyes up, and fighting off his block to start his pursuit. Ryan holds FBS offers.