PRZCJ's Notebook: Recent Evals + Grades, Nov. 25th

As I continue to paint the picture on some talented prospects here in Georgia, here are some of my favorite evaluations from November.    [player_tooltip player_id='283895' first='Alec' last='Upshaw'] is a checklist LB prospect with on and off-ball versatility. He is listed at 6'3 230 with some room to grow, projecting him best as an EDGE. He has T/F context as a thrower, plays basketball, and has shown positive physical growth since his sophomore season.   Explosive as a pass rusher with decent bend, allowing him to win around blockers and get after the QB. He is best when turning speed to power. He is a productive bull rusher, allowing him to dent the pocket. Strong enough in his arms to grab and rip through blockers. He plays horizontally well, operating patiently with outstanding pursuit skills. He projects as an EDGE defender, but can easily slide back and play off the ball.   As mentioned, his pursuit is impressive and it elevates the floor of his game. He has the play speed and motor to chase the ball down from the back side of the formation, which he frequently does on tape.   Upshaw is a size/speed threat off the edge with position versatility, a hot motor, and checks the multi-sport box. He is a high-floor player who should generate buzz this offseason.   Grade: FBS     [player_tooltip player_id='1633287' first='Jayden' last='Skelton'] is a traitsy 2026 prospect with one of the best multi-sport backgrounds in the state. He is a state champion in the 100M and 4x100M. His 10.56 100M makes him one of the verified fastest football players in the state. He does all of this on a 5'9 160 frame.   He plays both ways for Upson-Lee and shines on both sides of the ball. On offense, he is a blazer who has a knack for threatening the field vertically. He is naturally a mismatch thanks to his speed, but he is deceptive enough to get DBs guessing and sudden enough to slingshot at the top of his routes. He has fiery feet at release points, which he uses to overwhelm DBs. For a smaller guy, ball skills and contested catch ability are a plus. He has a smaller catch radius, but he maximizes it by leaping to pluck the ball above his head or picking it off the dirt.   He doesn't check ideal size boxes when it comes to defensive back, but he has the speed to roam the field at safety. He rallies to the football in a hurry and can play recovery mode extremely well. He might not have the length to challenge catch points consistently, but he is difficult to separate against and will always arrive at a spot, giving him a chance on the ball.   I project Skelton as a WR. He can stretch the field vertically and is a touchdown threat on any snap given his elite speed indicators.   Grade: FBS+     [player_tooltip player_id='401540' first='Landon' last='Edmondson'] is an intriguing S prospect with a big offseason ahead of him. He has no offers after his junior season but is surely to change with all that he has to offer. He is listed at 6'3 180, checking prototype length and frame boxes. He has plenty of room to add weight and should hold 200 pounds with ease.   His length is surely to be his biggest selling point from a physical standpoint. He might not possess elite speed or foot quickness, but his length is a frequent stressor at the catch point for receivers, using it to pluck the ball out of the air and poke at hands. Not to mention he is a cloud in passing lanes.   Far better at this point in zone coverage than man coverage. He looks to dissect concepts, stalk QBs, and diagnose from his safety spot well. He is best coming downhill, where he can rely on his instincts to jump routes and click to a spot. His length will help him be competitive in man coverage, but he is better suited as a roamer.   He rallies to the football as a tackler and engages blocks well, keeping his chest clean. He looks far more comfortable driving downfield, whether to make plays on the ball or tackle. He settles down with a firm base and mirrors ball carriers in space, then utilizes his length to uproot.   Edmondson has no offers yet, but I will call my shot and give him an FBS grade. He will have to move well at camps, but he has tremendous instincts at S and a high physical ceiling, not to mention his prototype frame.   Grade: FBS     Cam Ballinger is a size/speed threat at WR with enticing physical traits. He is listed at 6'4 180 with plenty of room for future muscle mass. He has multi-sport experience in the form of basketball and track. He competed in the state championships as a hurdler and PR'd at 15.79 in the 110H. Ballinger played varsity basketball as a freshman. Through the first 5 games of his sophomore basketball season, he is averaging 10 PPG and 4 RPG.   Ballinger is a field stretcher, relying on his long strides to eat up grass and gradually get behind DBs. He can naturally play above the rim and does a good job fighting for positioning for a thinner guy. He has more YAC juice than your average 6'4 WR. He is frequently targeted in short areas and breaks off big plays in space. He also rallied off several big returns as a sophomore. He is agile enough to weave in and out of running lanes. Even without elite verified speed, his long strides allow him to skate across the field. There is plenty of speed potential here.   I'm not seeing much dip in his hips or nuance as a route runner. He does play with good instincts and pacing in his routes, allowing him to slip into soft spots and settle. I believe there is plenty of athletic capacity here to sink his hips and be dangerous at release points, especially when you factor in his verified athletic data.   Ballinger holds an offer from North Alabama, but it won't be his last. He is a dynamic size/speed threat who can stretch the field vertically and horizontally.   Grade: FBS+     [player_tooltip player_id='1567281' first='Bryian' last='Duncan'] is an incredibly productive runner who has already rushed for over 2300 career yards through his first two HS seasons. He played both ways for Cairo but projects long-term at RB. He is listed at 5'9 160 and has impressive T/F metrics (10.94 100M, 22.03 200M, 21' 03'' LJ).   He possesses breakaway and stay-away speed. evidenced by his T/F numbers. He frequently breaks the tape of the endzone and out-runs tackling angles. He has joy-stick-level flash in the open field and can create his own yards better than almost any RB in GA's 2027 class. He plays with good patience, often slow-playing his first few steps before planting strong and exploding through running lanes.   He will have to get bigger to hold his own on every down, but he runs hard and finds creative ways to stay on his feet through congested areas.   He is a puppy from a physical standpoint. However, he has elite athletic traits, runs hard, and is one of the best playmakers in the state. I think he has clear P4 upside.   Grade: P4     Stanley Smart is a stock-up RB prospect in the middle of a playoff run for Benedictine Military. Some may consider him an athlete, but I project him at RB. Smart is listed around 5'10 185 with plenty of room and time to get bigger. He is an impressive sprinter, clocking 10.75 in the 100M and 21.76 in the 200M.   He has easy speed, allowing him to break away from defenders in the open field. He is a touchdown threat on any snap, especially when schemed up opportunities to put his foot in the turf and accelerate through running lanes. He plays with solid patience, awareness, and technique. He runs with his shoulders squared, allowing him to escape chaos in multiple directions. He also looks to do a solid job of following his lead blockers.   Smart is tough at the point of attack. He drops his shoulders, protects the ball, and keeps his feet firing to push piles forward. At this stage, contact balance is his biggest strength next to his speed.   You would like to see him flash a little more in the open field. Regardless, his upside is high. At the very least, he will be a physical runner who can run away from speedy defenders when he finds a lane. With two years of development ahead of him, I will watch him closely to see if he continues adding to his already outstanding developmental profile.   Grade: P4     [player_tooltip player_id='1567290' first='Braelan' last='Lang'] popped on my radar earlier this month and has the athletic profile to turn heads. He is listed at 6'2 180, checking prototype size boxes for a corner. He competed in the 400M this past T/F season and doubles as a basketball athlete.   To go along with his length, Lang brings over verticality from the basketball court and uses it to play above the rim. Ball skills flash on tape, as he frequently makes physical plays in jump ball opportunities. He produced against the ball this fall, coming down with 3 INTs and several PBUs. He plays with good instincts at this point in his career. He locates the football well and is patient when defending. He is a willing tackler, coming downhill and striking with good power and pad level.   Lang is an easy evaluation. He is how corner prospects are supposed to look and he can jump out of the gym. I wouldn't overthink this one, especially considering he has another two years of growth ahead of him.   Grade: P4     [player_tooltip player_id='409989' first='Trace' last='Hawkins'] is a notable 2028 QB prospect in Georgia who flashed at times this fall. He is now up to 6'0 160 and is in the youthful stages of his football growth. He has a basketball background as well.   As of now, his athleticism really flashes. He is slippery in the pocket, allowing him to evade pressure and keep plays alive. He does a great job of pinpointing receivers during the scramble drill and will often make something out of nothing as a result. He is more than just a chain mover with his legs. He looks to operate the running game well and is agile enough in the open field to create his own yards.   Arm strength is still developing and he will naturally add more horsepower on the ball as he gets bigger. However, he does cut through the ball well and has a natural delivery. He is capable of tightroping the ball outside the numbers and altering his arm angle.   While it is early to fully project him, his athleticism will take him far.   Grade: D1

As I continue to paint the picture on some talented prospects here in Georgia, here are some of my favorite evaluations from November.