Signing Day Recap: My 5 Favorite Valdosta State Signees

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With Signing Day in the rearview, the big-name schools and big-name prospects will snag the headlines as usual. However, here at Prep Redzone, we try to bring some attention to players at all levels who also accomplished a dream. I scanned through Valdosta State's February signing day additions and found a few prospects that jumped off the tape. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Josh Anderson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"180","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"East Coweta ","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Anderson is a well-built, active S prospect with good size and versatility. At 6'0 180, he is more than equipped to hold up physically at the next level. Anderson presents some downhill striking ability from his S spot, violently closing in on crossing receivers and flying to the sidelines to catch ball carriers trying to catch the edge of the defense. He can slide down and line up in and around the box, where he is a good run supporter. He does a good job of settling down and tackling from a firm base when lined up closer to the LOS. Anderson should be seen more as a downhill striker with run support capabilities, but he has a good enough back pedal and takes good enough angles to the football to stay competitive in coverage. Anderson has a D1 grade from me and picked up D1 offers throughout the recruiting process, making this a good value addition for Valdosta State.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Marc Essley","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_weight":"150","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Milton","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Marc Essley is a smaller slot WR who carved out a prolific role in a Milton WR/TE room chalked full of P4 WR talent. Essley's size at 5'9 150 might've been what prevented some bigger schools from getting involved, but he compensates for his stature with elite route running ability and focus. Essley flashes excellent hands on tape, frequently snagging balls in crowds and showing the ability to catch passes thrown around his feet and above his head. When the ball is in the air, he does a fantastic job of adjusting to the ball path and accelerating to a spot. Essley is a route running technician. His speed alone allows him to create separation, but he does a fantastic job of stepping on toes at the top of his route and springing off DBs to run to grass. His junior tape showcased plenty of success running out routes and whip routes, while his senior tape showcased more of his ability to impact the game on and between the hashes. When you mix in slippery YAC ability, you have yourself a multi-level playmaker with an advanced feel for the position. Essley projects as a multi-year contributor at Valdosta State.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"Ty Brown","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_weight":"315","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2405","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Thomas County Central","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_2_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Brown is a stout OL prospect with position versatility and immediate impact potential. He holds his weight well at 6'3 315 and plays with outstanding play strength. He split time pretty evenly between LT and RT as a senior, but should settle in at RT or potentially slide inside. Against the run, he can be a road grater and displace defenders out of running lanes. He isn't super quick into his pass set, but he plays with a good base and anchors down against seemingly any defender. He survives the bull rush and can even work momentum back through his hands, toying around with defenders and violently finishing plays through the grass.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Jaqorian Wiggles ","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_weight":"185","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Mays","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Mays is a high upside addition at WR with elite measurables and experience playing both inside and out at WR. He isn't a super twitchy route runner, but he looks to understand the concept of settling down in soft spots and protecting the catch point. Thanks to his ability to play above the room, he can compensate on plays where he doesn't create a lot of separation. After the catch, Wiggles can be a factor, and it stems from his contact balance and refusal to go down. Once he opens up his long strides, he can gradually work up momentum and build away from defenses. On tape, he showcases that he can be more than a willing blocker. In fact, it looks to be a strength at this point of his development. At his peak, Mays could be an mismatch problem for defenses at the next level.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"Brayden Autenrieth","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"6'3u0022","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_4_player_details_weight":"220","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"2407","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"North Paulding ","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_4_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_4_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Autenrieth is a steady TE prospect with a high floor and more physical development left in the tank. Most of his tape is flashing his blocking ability, but he does show some pass catching upside. He can be sent down the seam and made several catches away from his body in tight coverage, showcasing his ball skills. After the catch, he looks to physically impose his will, dropping his shoulder and adding a few extra yards. His physicality translates to his blocking ability as well. He plays with good hand placement and can help drive defenders downfield on combo blocks. He can easily get above 240, which would only raise his floor as a blocker. Like Brown, Autenrieth is a prospect who could see the field pretty early at Valdosta State.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65c64724533ae"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->