5 Must Watch Prospects in Week 1

The high school football season has arrived. In Georgia, there are several high-profile games with high-profile players. Here are the 5 prospects I am watching closely during week 1.    Prince Avenue will have its hands full in replacing record-shattering QB Aaron Philo, but [player_tooltip player_id='438058' first='Ben' last='Musser'] has generated some buzz early in his career. Musser will likely share time with senior Jake Bobo, but his athleticism and playmaking ability is too much to leave off the field. Musser's mechanics are well-developed and he has solid arm strength at this stage of development. His legs are what will help him find the field early and often. He is an 11.13 100M runner and uses it to his advantage by evading pressure and keeping plays alive amid chaos. Musser will have to help lead his squad to a win over a higher-classification team, which should be a solid measuring stick for him.     Similar to Musser, Blake Harrington will be tested in week 1 against a talented and experienced Cass defense. Harrington made an impression last week in an exhibition against Bowdon and finished with 3 total TDs. He has a baseball background, which will translate in the form of arm talent and strength. His toughness is what sticks out to me at this stage. On his sophomore tape, he showed the willingness to hang back in the pocket an extra second and take on contact as he was struck. As a runner, he isn't afraid to drop his shoulder and tack on a few extra yards at the end of each run. Cass will be a strong test for Harrington and the Callaway offense.     Taz Smith will help spearhead what looks to be one of the most prolific receiving rooms in the state. Smith is a multi-level playmaker, flashing the patience in his route to get behind safeties and the playmaking ability to weave around tacklers after the catch. With a young QB starting for Gainesville, I expect several rhythm throws early and often to Smith, where he can utilize his physical gifts to break off big gains when given space. In Gainesville's wide-open scheme, Smith's playmaking skills should be fully displayed this fall.     [player_tooltip player_id='348275' first='TJ' last='Wilcox'] has had to battle Milton several times in his HS career, but this time, he is set to lead Buford into battle. Wilcox has plenty of options at his disposal, but Milton has a pair of Tennessee commits on the outside at corner and several other D1-caliber defenders littered across the field. Wilcox has always possessed the requisite physical tools. He is a good athlete and rips through the ball with his long frame, allowing him to drive it into tight windows. Wilcox now needs to harness his physical tools and get the ball to his playmakers.     Ray Dixon is a prospect I will be tracking throughout his senior season. The Army commit is stout, explosive, and plays with his hair on fire. He is a prolific pass rusher, and I am eyeing a potential matchup against [player_tooltip player_id='1318501' first='Rain' last='Banick'], a future Division 1 offensive tackle. Dixon doesn't have the length and height that other pass rushers possess, but his closing speed to the football and explosiveness make up for it. When clear of blockers, he will immediately get in the face of QBs and flush them. I expect Dixon to produce at a high level this fall, and week 1 might be his biggest test.

The high school football season has arrived. In Georgia, there are several high-profile games with high-profile players. Here are the 5 prospects I am watching closely during week 1.