The Film Room: #TN2025 Evals (Part IV)
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It’s a deep class this year for the state of Tennessee, so we continue to stay in the lab, breaking down top talent and presenting you w/ in-depth scouting reports! Neo Clifton TN #35 WR #2 HEIGHT 6'2" WEIGHT 185…
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Continue ReadingIt’s a deep class this year for the state of Tennessee, so we continue to stay in the lab, breaking down top talent and presenting you w/ in-depth scouting reports!
Strengths – Sporting great size and a physical body, Clifton is a well put together wideout with tons of traits that translate well to the college game. Even with this Mid-Tennessee talent missing time as a junior, Clifton still sits at the top of charts for his position as someone that has the potential to man the “X” or “Y” roles and develop into a feared deep threat that also provides upside in the red zone. The first things I like about Clifton when turning on his film is his route running and ability to use his body to his advantage. He will use his physicality and big body to lean on defenders to feel them then break off and find open space. Clifton does well at being physical with his opponent while also showing some finesse and soft hands. Those traits alone work well in the red zone where I think he may turn out to be one of the best at his position in that area. For a big guy, the Eagles senior wideout has quick feet that works well when trying to separate from his defender. This is a smart ball player that will only get better with continued field work and overall maturity.
Development – Overall speed and agility are the two main areas I see about Clifton that need continued work. This Williamson Co. product is a football savvy guy, so the brains are there to compete and excel but if Clifton can enhance his agility and speed, then he could turn into a Power Program guy that might be able to take his talents beyond the college game.
Overview – Clifton is a very interesting talent that I could see his best days ahead of him as he gets into a college system and continues to learn about himself and the game. His size alone is intriguing to college coaches but his ability to run routes well, show strong hands while also providing a threat in the red zone, makes this Brentwood Academy wideout a bonafide talent that should find his way into the D1 ranks. Clifton does need a strong off-season and senior year to boost his stock further but I believe he will do so and eventually move his way into consideration as one of the top 10 receivers in the state for the #TN2025 class.
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Strengths – If any college coach is looking for a natural pass catcher that loves the game and gives his all on every snap, Harper is your guy! A multi-year starter for Davidson Academy since his freshman season, this 6 ‘3 tight end has some of the best hands in the state, regardless of position and someone your quarterback can depend on when clutch plays need to happen. Harper is tough, both mentally and physically with a desire to win. You don’t have to worry about this guy showing up game in and game out as Harper loves football and enjoys every moment he gets on the field with his teammates. What college coaches will like about this guy is his ability to flex out wide and run a variety of routes as well as engage with blocking his opponent. Harper is a technician that knows how to get open and find soft spots within a defense. He is an excellent target in the red zone based upon his strong hands and ability to find open space. This guy is a quarterback’s best friend that is reliable, tough and football intelligent and someone that I wouldn’t be surprised to see on the field early in his college career.
Development – Harper won’t be the tallest tight end out there at 6’3 but he more than makes up for it. The place in his game however that I see needing enhancement is his lower base agility and overall speed. The Bears pass catcher does move well but if he can increase those two areas, Harper can see his game go to another level as well as his recruitment.
Overview – There are so many positive traits about this Mid-Tennessee talent that translate well to the college game that I feel Harper will be a steal for whoever signs him. He is a clean and safe prospect. Harper is a great worker with high character that brings value both to the locker room and the playing field. From a talent point of view, you can utilize his abilities in a variety of ways from playing him in the slot to blocking on the line or even lining up in the backfield at H-Back/Fullback as pass catcher and runner. The Bears rising senior has more work to do before he reaches his maximum capabilities but long term, Harper has the upside as an every down tight end that uses his versatility and football smarts to excel on the college level. That level could be D1 if this #TN2025 product continues his development throughout these off-season months.
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Strengths – Hall has some of the biggest upside of any D-linemen in the state from our #TN2025 class but he is also still far from being a finished product as well. The Lions big man could be the most explosive D-linemen we have as he shows a great first step on film as well as the lower base power to speed combo that has enticed D1 college coaches. Hall can get from point A to point B very quickly, providing a pass rush from the interior of the defensive line while also having enough athleticism to work the edge if needed within a 3-4 scheme. His natural power and strength are also top notch traits that translate well to the college game. Hall is a strong dude that will only get stronger as he gets into a college weight room, filling out his body and turning into the player I and others think he can be. This guy screams potential and upside and you can expect his recruitment to continue flourishing as explosive defensive linemen are hard to find.
Development – Over the past two seasons, Hall has shown flashes of excellence but has also disappeared at times. Sporting the kind of explosive, violent power that Hall does, the Lions D-linemen should be dominating opponents on a consistent basis but has yet to do so. Adding more size to the upper body will help as well as continued work watching film and learning the game will go a long way towards this guy becoming the kind of player many think he can be.
Overview – This could be a boom or bust type of prospect, depending on his development over the next few years but if Hall molds himself into the dominating talent his film shows, then you have a potential NFL product on your hands. It is hard to find athletic, explosive D-linemen that have the abilities to be a game changer in the trenches and that’s what Hall can be. He is better suited right now to rush the backfield but sports the physical outlook to develop into a strong run stuffer as well. The Lions’ big man can turn into a force in the trenches on the college level, so you can easily see why schools like Auburn, Georgia Tech Indiana, Louisville, Ole Miss and Tennessee have offered and other Power programs are interested.
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Strengths – Athleticism and versatility are the first two traits that stand out about Hinton when breaking down his film. The Hurricanes utilize those abilities on both sides of the ball where this Chattanooga area talent could develop at receiver but for me, I like his upside in the secondary where Hinton could play multiple roles, including possibly cornerback. A natural athlete with quick feet and strong instincts, Hinton moves well enough to play on the outside in the college but also work just about anywhere in the secondary as well. This is an aggressive ball player that has no problem coming up and hitting people, so he not only provides good coverage but is also willing to tackle. Hinton is a fluid guy with outstanding feet and he can run. Now he isn’t the tallest of defensive backs but his ability to read the pass and hit people makes him valuable on the defensive back end. I like this prospect as I can see Hinton providing snaps at multiple spots in the secondary with the upside to play cover corner as well as contribute in a major way on special teams.
Development – Adding more strength and weight is something I can see Hinton needing to work on this off-season to enhance his game further. Another area for improvement looks to be his hip movements. Hinton is an athletic guy but if he can gain more agility on his lower base, it could turn him closer into that cover corner area that I feel his potential resides in.
Overview – Overall, this is a good prospect that brings several good traits to the playing field that can be used in a variety of areas. Hinton is a well trained prospect that enjoys the work and competition along with learning the game further to enhance his mind and skill set. I think his best days are ahead of him but at what position? That will be the biggest thing to watch this Fall football season to see how Hinton develops and pushes his game to the next level. I can see upside on the outside for this Chattanooga area prospect but at worst, you can definitely use him at nickel or free safety as well as return kicks and cover them on special teams. Hinton could also become a sneaky Mr. Football candidate this season due to his team’s need for him on both sides of the ball.
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Strengths – Another versatile prospect on this “Film Room” addition, Mosley is already viewed as a Top 50 prospect in this state that holds a bevy of Power Program offers with the upside to excel on either side of the ball. Depending on who you talk to, Mosley is wanted for either receiver or safety on the college level and I can see why he is viewed that way. This is an athletic prospect with natural playmaking, game breaking style abilities that show up on both sides of the ball. Mosley has great speed along with big hands that have been very dependable on offense over the last three years. He is a deep threat that can get on top of his opponent while showing great concentration to bring in the pass. All those traits translate to defense as well, where the Eagles rising senior can be a ball hawk, using his athleticism and instincts to be a disruptor on the back end. Mosley is simply a natural football player that can provide excellent game play at just about any skill position. I personally like him at receiver after watching him dominate his position in person but can easily see him excel at safety on the collegiate gridiron as well.
Development – There aren’t too many flaws with Mosley, so you gotta look at the finer details with him and the biggest thing I would see is his competition level as well as his physical strength that may need to be enhanced for the defensive side of the ball. Adding more power and strength to go along with his speed would allow Mosley to become a better tackler in run support.
Overview – If Mosley competed on a higher level here in Tennessee, he would be a safe prospect in my eyes and someone you could bring in and simply develop him on either side of the ball. You could still do that as the Eagles two-way talent has the football intelligence along with his natural athletic abilities to become a game changer on the collegiate level with whoever he eventually signs with. Mosley brings value not just to the skill position but also special teams as this West Tennessee product has the speed to make a difference in the return game or as a gunner. His recruitment has gone well up to this point where you could see Mosley take official visits this summer and possibly make his decision prior to the start of his senior season.