Region IDs: 7 of my Favorite South Atlanta Area Prospects

The South Atlanta region might not get the love that the northern part of the city does, but it is still littered with D1-caliber prospects. After scanning the area, here are 7 prospects that intrigue me.    Since this spring, [player_tooltip player_id='1672723' first='Jerimia' last='Collier'] has become one of my favorite evaluations in the 2026 class. Here is my eval from May:   "[player_tooltip player_id='1672723' first='Jerimia' last='Collier'] is a highly athletic LB prospect with the ability to impact the game all over the field. He is an athletic 6'2 190 and still has plenty of room left to add more muscle. Might not have the play strength to consistently play on the edge, but he plays with plenty of finesse and bend as a pass rusher. He attacks both shoulders of the tackle, jumping across their face to shoot into the backfield. From the second level, he plays with outstanding pursuit skills, making energetic plays on the ball carrier. In coverage, he has comparable range to that of a safety. With his length and range, he clouds passing lanes over the MOF and is difficult to layer over. I am a massive fan of Collier, who has picked up several FBS offers this spring. In my eyes, this is an obvious P4 LB evaluation."     After watching some tape, Demaron Strong is a new prospect on my radar that has instantly caught my attention. He is a gadget player, splitting time fairly evenly between RB and WR. At the next level, he likely projects as a scat-back, as he is a dangerous receiving threat out of the backfield who could easily flex outside. He is a super loose player in the open field, effortlessly weaving and dodging away from defenders. He keeps himself free of contact, allowing him to stay on his feet as he climbs each level of the defense. His acceleration flashes on tape, quickly gaining his speed as he explodes through openings. He has good enough feet to separate as a route runner and stack moves. Strong is an impressive athlete, but he also plays with good pace and patience in the open field. Strong is a D1-caliber playmaker.     [player_tooltip player_id='1313934' first='Evan' last='Ward'] has been on my radar for well over a year. Here is a snippet of an evaluation from August 2023:   "On tape, Ward looks like he could project as an EDGE/OLB-type prospect. He has the length and bend to play at the edge spot, where he could bend around blockers and use his length to create space. He has pretty good spatial awareness and poses as a large presence in space once he drops back into space."   A year later, Ward is now listed around 6'5 230 and is committed to play college ball at South Florida. He is one of the best athletes in the state, and his best football is still on the horizon.     Chayse Wright is a versatile second-level defender with a track and field background. He is plenty long at 6'1 185, and can easily add enough weight to get up to and above 200. He is both willing and able as a run supporter, keying downhill patiently and striking with good pad level. He isn't much of a thumper, but he attacks the trunk of the ball carrier, working from the ground up as a tackler. He is better playing close to the line where he can help defend against the run. However, he has the length needed to crowd the hands of receivers. He also clouds passing lanes over the middle of the field and is hard to throw over. Wright is a long, active tackler and doubles as a track athlete. He hits a lot of athletic indicators and has some high upside.     [player_tooltip player_id='401558' first='Tim' last='Sims'] camped with us in January and walked away as the MVP of the afternoon. He checks the height, weight, and speed boxes, but it's his violence and pursuit of the football that takes his game to another level. Here is an eval from this offseason:   "[player_tooltip player_id='401558' first='Tim' last='Sims']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/tim-sims/"></a> is a hybrid DB prospect picking up P4 buzz and offers this spring. For the most part, he is still someone sneaking onto the national radar. Sims was at our camp on April 30th and took home the MVP, testing well and bringing the action in the competition segment of camp. He is listed at 6'1 185 and well-built physically. He plays with a violent edge, showcasing the ability to fire downhill and impact the running game. When pursuing the football, he plays like a heat-seeking missile, soaring to the football and striking with intent. He is a candidate to consistently play closer to the line, but he has the speed to play center field as a safety and get underneath the football. Sims will only continue to pick up P4 offers over the next two years"     Caleb Smith is a fluid OL prospect who can provide depth across the board. He is built well at 6'4 290 and can add more good weight and play strength to his frame. He isn't super twitchy and can sometimes play off-balanced, but he is plenty fluid and flexible. At RT, he can cut off rushers and keep them in front of him. He plays with solid hand placement, landing blows in the chest while keeping his feet active. On down blocks, he is big enough to completely collapse defenders, and he will sit on them at the end to completely leave them out of the play. Caleb Smith is super underrated. He has D1 size and athletic traits. I like him at RT, but he will add depth across the board, especially in the middle of the defense.     Ese Aigbokhae is an elite traits prospect. He has a prototype 6'5 250 frame and is making the transition over from the basketball court. As is typical with basketball athletes, he has adequate athleticism and movement skills. He is still a puppy on the gridiron, but he looks physically overwhelming on tape. Even while still learning how to play the position, he will be able to get consistent push and penetration on the defensive front. I am watching AIgbokhae closely. He has P4 athletic traits and could be a late-bloomer after coaches see him perform this fall.

The South Atlanta region might not get the love that the northern part of the city does, but it is still littered with D1-caliber prospects. After scanning the area, here are 7 prospects that intrigue me.