PRZCJs Notebook: Who Impressed Me in Week 5?

Some speed and difference makers in the trenches are amongst the players that stood out to me in week 5. Here they are.    Bristan DeRocher has had himself a prolific start to his senior season. Against BEST Academy, he completed 17 of 21 passes for 222 yards and 2 TDs. He was even more prolific on the ground, rushing for 167 yards and finding the endzone 4 times. DeRocher projects as a skill player, but he is playing very well at QB. He is consistent and efficient as a passer, but his legs elevate his game to another level. He is super twitchy and slippery, weaving in and out of traffic and flashing the breakaway speed needed to beat tackling angles and take advantage of openings. He sold the option game well, pulling the ball with plenty of green grass ahead of him.     Emarion Nichols was flying all over the field for Newnan in a win over Northgate, finishing with 17 total tackles and 6 TFLs. His 5'11 200 frame might be what is holding him back from being a more noteworthy prospect, but the rest of his game is easily D1 caliber and he holds some smaller school offers. Nichols plays with several gears. On one hand, he is quick off the line, allowing him to shoot gaps, get behind blockers, and arrive at the ball carrier several yards in the backfield. On the other hand, he also plays with outstanding patience, keeping his feet active and putting himself in the appropriate spots to make a play on the football. He is clearly a productive tackler and does a good job of attacking the trunk of ball carriers. Nichols lands a D1 grade from me and is a massive senior sleeper.     The potential is evident in Parker, and D1 schools are starting to notice. He finished with 2 TFLs and pressured the QB against Dalton, but his entire work this season is what has impressed me. His frame is instantly an eye-catcher, standing at 6'4 220 with plenty of room to add more play strength. Parker is twitchy off the snap, allowing him to instantly penetrate against blockers. He has enough bend to turn and chase the football as well. Added play strength is the next step in his growth, and with his length, the speed-to-power potential is evident. I expect more and more D1 schools to enter the sweepstakes for his signature before his senior season is out.     [player_tooltip player_id='1132551' first='Ian' last='Hulbert'] helped lead Sprayberry to an upset victory over Sequoyah by rushing for 150 yards and adding 3 TDs. Hulbert, a smaller back at 5'10 160, relies on his speed and agility to make his mark. Hulbert is a verified 11.5 100M runner and 23.6 200M runner, and he has more speed potential left in the tank as he will become a more explosive athlete in the next few years. Hulbert did an outstanding job of following his caravan of blockers and picking his way around defenders to find open running lanes. Once in the open field, he was nearly impossible to catch, outstriding every skill player on the field to the endzone. Hulbert has had several impressive showings to start the year and is somebody to track going forward.     [player_tooltip player_id='1566569' first='Mason' last='Bryant'] is another sleeper amongst a loaded 2025 QB class in Georgia. Bryant only played the first half in a blowout victory over South Cobb, but he still completed 9 of his 12 pass attempts for 358 yards and 5 TDs. In his limited pass attempts, he attacked all areas of the field and put enough air under the deep ball for his receivers to go up and make a play. Bryant might not be an electric prospect, but he is good in every facet of the game and is a big body in the pocket. There are several smaller schools that would be lucky to land his signature.     Will Patterson was all over the field for Sonoraville in a win over Coahulla Creek. He finished with 9 total tackles, 3 TFLs, a sack, and even turned around and played a little offense. There are some athletic indicators present for Will Patterson. He is a well-built 6'2 210 and doubles as a baseball athlete. He did an outstanding job of navigating chaos up front, finding a way to keep himself clean of pulling guards and misdirection on his way to the football. He won at the point of attack, driving his matchup onto his heels frequently. At the ball carrier, he finished well, wrapping up and finishing the process of the tackle through the dirt. Patterson is a new junior on my radar that I will be watching closely as he develops.

Some speed and difference makers in the trenches are amongst the players that stood out to me in week 5. Here they are.