6 First-Half Breakout Alabama Prospects

This year especially, there seems to be several prospects in Alabama rising up to the occasion and making a name for themselves on the gridiron. Here are 6 prospects that have come out of the blue and are producing at a very high level.    [player_tooltip player_id='1452297' first='Aaron' last='Frye'] has come out of nowhere this fall and is amongst the passing leaders in the state. Frye hovers around 6'0 and carries 170 pounds. He is a twitchy athlete with a multiple sport background and does enough with his legs to keep plays alive and hold defenses accountable. Frye has a twitchy release and has enough drive on the ball to fire it to the perimeter and attack the short areas of the field. He is more than capable of adding touch on the ball when necessary and does so frequently. He is efficient in all areas as a passer and backs it up with a 74% completion percentage. Frye's pocket presence is perhaps the best part of his game. Even with above-average athleticism, he plays calmly in the pocket and doesn't get anxious when he has to work through his progressions. Frye is a good athlete with solid arm talent, but he is steady and efficient as well.     [player_tooltip player_id='1604807' first='Tristin' last='Blackmon'] is off to an electric start to his junior season and is playing himself onto the recruiting radar. He is listed at 6'1 200 and should be viewed as a dynamic size/speed threat at the RB position. His frame already makes him difficult to tackle, but he battles through contact and scraps for every possible yard. In the open field, he opens up his stride well and has enough breakaway speed to run away from defenders when given enough space to operate. However, he is best nickel and diming his way down the field, stepping on the toes of defenders as he cuts and finds the best available running lane. Blackmon is 6'1 200 with some impressive athleticism. There is plenty to like about his game and he is someone who should pop onto the D1 radar soon.     Jay'lin Taylor is amongst the most productive receivers in the state to start the season and should easily crack the 1000-yard mark this year. Taylor comes in around 6'0 185 and is an inside-out threat at WR, but will likely project long-term in the slot where he can soak up more YAC opportunities. The athleticism and speed pop off the tape for Taylor. With the ball in his hand, he can weave around defenders and run away from defenses when given space to operate. He has fiery footwork, which he uses to create his own yards and separate at the top of his route. When you factor in his speed, explosiveness, and ability to impact the game at all levels, Taylor indicates a P4 prospect.     Corey Barber is one of the hottest prospects in Alabama through the first few weeks. A 200+ yard performance against Hoover really put him on the map, and he is firmly on the FBS radar as a prospect. He has decent size at 6'1 180 and has shown enough ability to play above the rim and make catches in a crowd to stick on the outside. His speed is where he makes the biggest impact, splitting defenders and outrunning angles as he trots away from defenders and toward the endzone. His number if often called on sweeps and short routes, where he is given an opportunity to make plays in space with the ball in his hand. His speed off the line allows him to destroy cushion, and he is snappy enough in his routes to create a lot of separation as he breaks back toward the middle of the field. Barber is one of the best junior WRs in Alabama and his stock is only rising.     [player_tooltip player_id='1610217' first='Braden' last='Gordon'] already has 10 sacks on the year and is on pace to be in rare company as far as pass rush production is concerned. Gordon's recruitment is still taking shape, but there is plenty of reason to believe he will pop on FBS, and maybe even P4 radars in the not-so-distant future. He is listed around 6'4 200 and still has 3 years of physical development left in the tank before he heads to college. His first step is simply too much to handle for his level of competition. He instantly puts blockers into desperation mode, which is where he thrives. He fights with his hands and bends well around the edge, allowing him to fully clear himself of blockers and get on a path to the QB. His run-and-chase skills are elite, frequently flagging the football down from across the formation and playing through the whistle. Gordon dominates his lower level of competition, but his physical traits and upside are still impossible to argue against.     [player_tooltip player_id='1757068' first='Jordan' last='Woods'] is off to a hot start to his junior season. He already has 4 sacks and is an active participant on defense. He is listed at 6'4 235. He is very long and has a thin frame, offering plenty of room left to add weight. In a college weight room, he could eventually get up to 290, and maybe even higher. Woods is still developing his movement skills and pad level, but his first step is explosive and he knows how to shed blocks with his hands and sheer effort. He is a game-breaker, always seeming to create havoc plays and swinging momentum in the favor of his team. Woods is already an energetic player who produces against the ball, but his upside offers the most intrigue around his name.

This year especially, there seems to be several prospects in Alabama rising up to the occasion and making a name for themselves on the gridiron. Here are 6 prospects that have come out of the blue and are producing at a very high level.