MVPs, Observations, and Scouting Notes From NEGA Classic

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This past weekend, dozens of the best 2027 prospects in Georgia gathered at Pinecrest Academy for the first annual NEGA Classic Game, hosted by <a href="https://x.com/NEGARecruits?s=20">@NEGARecruits</a>. Several prospects were putting their talent on display, including numerous future household names on the recruiting trail. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here, I unpack a loaded weekend with a handful of notes and observations. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">PRZCJ's MVPs</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["354909"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Cross was the top QB performer, consistently pushing the ball vertically while keeping the defense accountable with his legs. He has an explosive arm, putting the necessary spin and drive on the ball to fit it into tight windows. During the game, he flashed some touch and precision, placing the ball beautifully over the middle of the field and in the corner of the endzone. In the short and intermediate game, he can sometimes put a little too much power on throws, but you'd rather have to coach that out of a youngster than coach it into him. Cross has some juice in his arm and is a good athlete. He possesses D1 developmental upside and still has plenty of growth ahead of him.rnrnu0026nbsp;rnrn*Cross is playing his HS ball at Grayson*","_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":"Robert Taylor ","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'4u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_weight":"","_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":"Spalding","_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":"Robert Taylor is a walking highlight reel and has the makings of a future P4 WR prospect. He passes the eye test, coming in at a proportional 6'4 165 with long arms and big hands. He plays with some quiet confidence, letting his game and elite athleticism do the talking. He is a true jump ball threat on the outside, doing an excellent job of finding the ball and putting himself in a position to go up and make a play. He gets his long arms through contact and can spear the ball out of the air, all while showcasing the body control needed to fight through contact and adjust his body to the ball. Taylor is a mismatch nightmare and will generate some deserved recruiting buzz in the future.","_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='1226227' first='Khamani' last='Estrada']","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"2027","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_2_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"2495","_player_evaluations_2_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_2_player_details_school":"Alpharetta","_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":"Estrada instantly caught my attention upon my first viewing, and he continued to generate some buzz throughout the event. As far as length is concerned, Estrada is how they're supposed to look. He comes in at 6'0 and his arms go down to his knees. He is an aggressive, vocal corner on the outside that uses his length to mix it up with WRs and disrupt their timing. When the ball is in the air, he fights for leverage and showcased the ability to attack the catch point with his hands. He is only going to grow stronger and develop more good habits as he gets older and more experienced. Regardless, I can confidently say he has the tools, length, and tenacity to eventually generate some P4 recruiting buzz.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1199974"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"There were plenty of noteworthy OL prospects in attendance, but I found myself most intrigued with what [player_tooltip player_id='1199974' first='Brody' last='Craig'] has to offer. He has a mature 6'4 270 frame. He moves well for a bigger guy, and is obviously not done growing. When he got out in space, he looked like the most natural mover in the OL group. There weren't a whole lot of pass-set reps that I saw, but he has the twitchiness and length needed to protect the QB at LT. His hand placement is elite, frequently finding and driving through the chest of defenders. With more experience and a little more development around the edges, Craig looks like someone who could develop into a high-floor FBS OL prospect.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["378402"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Parkview produces elite skill players seemingly every year. [player_tooltip player_id='378402' first='Kevin' last='Caldwell'] has all the tools to eventually add to that list. Coming in at 6'1 170 with elite athleticism, he easily stands out amongst the rest of the pack. He is a versatile member of the secondary, playing mostly safety but also coming down to the LOS to match up in man against receivers. Caldwell plays with good instincts and has striking potential from the secondary. During the game, he came away with 2 physical PBUs, aggressively playing through the receiver and knocking them off their path. He also capped off his night in the fourth quarter with a tip drill pick six, showcasing good focus and the burst needed to outrun everyone else to the endzone.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65e601f422ca7"} /--> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Notes/Observations:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>'27 Collins Hill ATH [player_tooltip player_id='508131' first='Jamel' last='Tuff'] came alive during the game at WR. He was smaller than some of the other playmakers in attendance, but he flashed good footwork at the LOS and at the top of the route, creating more separation than any WR at the event. His ability to make things happen at critical points in the route should continue to translate.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Gainesville had a MASSIVE set of OL prospects performing in [player_tooltip player_id='508696' first='Tyler' last='Ford'] (6'6 317) and [player_tooltip player_id='439058' first='Carter' last='Mathis'] (6'6 275). Ford played at T, while Mathis got reps at C. Both are still raw and developing, but they have the potential to be massive people movers and should start to contribute for Gainesville on varsity. Ford flashed the ability to anchor at the bottom of his pass set. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Griffin CB Kishon Hastings and LB/DB [player_tooltip player_id='810115' first='Paul' last='Robinson'] were some of the more energetic, violent defenders in action. Hastings was vocal during the event and has the speed/tenacity needed to mix it up in man coverage. Robinson flashed during the game, always finding a way to the football and flashing some serious pop in his pads. Both players are intimidating and should pick up recruiting buzz in the future.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Habersham Central WR Jay Feltus flashed mismatch ability on the outside and has some of the highest upside of all the attendees. Feltus is a 6'2 175 multi-sport athlete with the length and athleticism to feast on the outside. He will become more consistent with more reps, but he was able to do a little dancing after the catch and also went up to make a physical grab off his hip in tight coverage. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Collins Hill ATH/DB [player_tooltip player_id='734231' first='Jeremiah' last='Proctor'] will generate P4 buzz on the recruiting trail. He stood out amongst the DBs, coming in at 6'2 175 and playing even bigger. He played some WR, but he really shined at safety, showcasing good vision and discipline in his eyes while taking good angles to the football. The ball skills are there as well, coming away with 3 INTs during the practice segment I saw. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>South Forsyth CB Ollie Stark made one of the more impressive plays of the game. The 5'8 142 youngster matched up with a much bigger WR, but he did a good job of getting in position on the WRs hip and timing his jump perfectly to come away with an impressive INT in the redzone. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>I like North Forsyth WR Ethan Cahill's potential as a slot WR. He has a longer frame and possesses the long speed needed to fire down the seam and get behind safeties. He made an explosive grab doing exactly that during the game. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Parkview ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1201849' first='Julian' last='Elzey'] generated plenty of buzz. He is an active, twitchy second-level defender who can get to the ball in a hurry. He was able to deflect a pass into the hands of his Parkview teammate [player_tooltip player_id='378402' first='Kevin' last='Caldwell'] for a pick-six. He also flipped around on offense, showcasing the speed to eliminate cushion, and also tracked the ball well over his shoulder, making a last-second adjustment to come up with an explosive grab.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Dawson County QB [player_tooltip player_id='886286' first='Cash' last='Watkins'] played calm and collected. He will continue to add more arm strength, but he played in control of the game and found a way to move the ball at times. He bounced back from bad throws nicely and played up to the competition. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Gilmer OLB [player_tooltip player_id='749221' first='Douglas' last='Callihan'] was easily the most active and physical defender in the box. He is a strong, well-built 6'0 205. He took on and shed blocks well, but he also flashed good closing speed and pursuit skills. I saw him flag down the football from across the formation, and I also saw him settle down in an alley with a twitchy playmaker and make the tackle. Callihan will rack up tackles in his HS career. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Creekside OL Kaleb Noel and Jackson County OL [player_tooltip player_id='861529' first='Tyler' last='Smith'] both turned some heads. Noel played with a solid base and good leverage from the C spot. [player_tooltip player_id='861529' first='Tyler' last='Smith'] is still on the thinner side, but he has a tall, athletic frame with plenty of room to fill out. Both will be names you'll hear about in the future. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->