Notes From the Trail: Track and Field 100M Standouts
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The film usually tells the story of what a player is and what he can be. However, there are several measurements and numbers that college personnel departments and coaches look at when trying to figure out the athletic profile of…
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Continue ReadingThe film usually tells the story of what a player is and what he can be. However, there are several measurements and numbers that college personnel departments and coaches look at when trying to figure out the athletic profile of a prospect. One of those being your track and field times. Here, we dive into which prospects in Georgia are flashing elite speed during the track season, and how their elite athletic traits translate to the gridiron.
100M Time: 10.24 (May 2024)
PR 100M Time: 10.14 (May 2023)
Gleaton followed up his record shattering 10.14 time last year with a similar time of 10.24 this year. He stands in a category of his own when it comes to speed, and it certainly translates to the football field. He is listed as a featherweight 5’10 165, but he can still line up on the outside and run by any DB that guards him. In college, his upside as a slot guy that can gun down the seam is intriguing. Gleaton is more of a linear, downhill threat, but his elite speed and quickness off the line gets DBs going north and south, which can open up underneath opportunities. His best football is still ahead of him and he is a clear candidate to be a two-sport athlete in college.
100M Time: 10.65 (May 2024)
PR 100M Time: 10.65 (May 2024)
Carsyn Baker is a scouts dream at RB. Listed at 6’2 200, running a 10.65 at that weight should have P4 coaches lined up for him, and those offers are starting to pour in. He is still growing into his frame and ultimately has his best football ahead of him, but his sophomore tape is a good testament to what he is capable of doing. He effortlessly glides around the football, generating the drive with his knees needed to skate through running lanes. He also has enough suddenness to stick his cleats in the dirt and get vertical. Speed to power potential is often used to describe EDGE guys, but Baker has some of that potential as an RB. He has plenty of room to add weight, and when he does, he will be a downhill machine capable of handling a workload in college. If it were up to me, my 2026 RB board would start with Baker.
Michael Clayton
Michael Clayton
100M Time: 10.44 (April 2024)
PR 100M Time: 10.44 (April 2024)
If you could build a prototype P4 CB in a lab using height, weight, length, and speed, you would build someone similar to Clayton. He hovers around 6’1 180 and plays with the length needed to consistently stress WRs in their breaks and to attack the catch point. He plays with the energy that you can feel through the tape, making several momentum altering plays and showcasing the motor needed to recover. He is still refining his ability to mirror off the line, but staying separated against him is no easy task. Once he finds the ball and gets to his full stride, he can easily eliminate space between himself and his target to put himself in the position to make a play. Clayton will play P4 ball and is someone to watch with a year or two of seasoning at the college level.
100M Time: 10.8 (April 2024)
PR 100M Time: 10.8 (April 2024)
Callen moved to Carrollton from Idaho, where he was one of the more noteworthy prospects in the state. Against stiffer competition in Georgia, he is looking to raise his stock even higher. He is listed at 5’10 175, compensating for his shorter frame with blazing speed and impressive footwork. He is patient against WRs, staying balanced in his back pedal and quickly breaking on routes. From there, he has the speed to slip underneath WRs and have a direct shot at making a play on the football. His speed translates to other parts of the game. On the outside, he can dart past blockers and settle down in an alley to make tackles. He also got chances to make plays with the ball in his hand, weaving away from traffic and finding open running lanes. I expect his speed and active feet to translate to the level of play in Georgia. He holds several FBS offers.
Highlights
100M Time: 10.64 (April 2024)
PR 100M Time: 10.64 (April 2024)
Merriweather is one of the more unique players on this list. He is a stockier 5’7 that runs with a low center of gravity and can stay on his feet through contact. However, it’s his speed and explosiveness that forms the most intrigue around him. He is light lightning in a bottle, playing in fast forward when compared to his competition. He not only can get the ball in space and out angle defenses to the sidelines, but he is capable of searching for gaps and using his feet to position himself in the correct running lanes. He already claims an offer from Arkansas and he will continue to generate FBS attention thanks to his elite speed and athleticism.