2026 Prospects To Track This Offseason

The offseason is upon us, which is a prime time for college programs to get eyes on prospects in person. Here are a few guys in GA who will turn heads this offseason as college programs continue to set and grow their boards.    I highlighted DJ Alexander last month as a lottery ticket prospect, which is obvious when you factor in his physical tools. Being 6'3 195 with a strong enough arm to attack outside the numbers and behind the safeties is enough to generate some buzz. However, he is a flashier athlete than most QBs in the country. He doubles as a basketball athlete and frequently shows off his explosiveness on tomahawk dunks. Even with his tools, he plays within himself and would rather attack in the pocket. Still, escapability is a plus and he has the athletic profile to break the game when given space to run.     [player_tooltip player_id='1474667' first='Davis' last='Strickland'] holds 2 FCS offers, but his stock is likely to rise this offseason and it wouldn't shock me to see several FBS schools enter the sweepstakes. He is a big-bodied QB coming off an efficient junior year while handling a high volume of throws. Strickland doubles as a baseball player and it shows on tape, frequently making impressive off-platform and arm-altered throws. He has easy arm strength, effortlessly buzzing the ball out of his hand. He generates plenty of power with just the flick of his wrist and throws with the touch to teardrop passes into hard-to-reach areas. Strickland is one of my favorite QBs in the state due to his athletic traits and the ability to make difficult, off-script throws.     I highlighted [player_tooltip player_id='1201831' first='Xavier' last='Rucker'] earlier this season and he has long been one of my favorite RBs in the state. Some college programs are intrigued with him as a receiver, but I think there's no question that he projects as a high-major talent at QB. Rucker has impressive GPS metrics, reporting 22 MPH GPS speeds and also proving impressive explosiveness. He can beat in you by running at you, around you, and even over you. He reminds me of Jarquez Hunter in the sense that he can create his own yards in creative ways, and also has a similar frame. Like Hunter going into his senior season, I think Rucker is due for a massive breakout this offseason. I have a P4 grade on him.     [player_tooltip player_id='283827' first='Darryl' last='Rivers'] is a big-body DL prospect who will likely slide inside at the next level. He is listed around 250, but looks even bigger, so if that weight is accurate, he holds his mass very well. Rivers wins with his sheer presence and strength alone. Rivers proves impossible to move and using his length to keep his chest clean. He is still raw and growing as a block destructor, but he checks ideal boxes from a measurable standpoint and has his best ball ahead of him. Rivers holds an offer from Georgia State and I imagine he will add some offers this offseason once college coaches see him in person.     [player_tooltip player_id='1595543' first='Josh' last='Battle'] was recently highlighted by fellow scout Lawrence Morgan. He is lowkey as of now, but won't be for long. He is a massive prospect at 6'7 285. While raw, he proves strong enough to move people off the ball and is only going to add more drive as he packs on more weight. Battle is raw but has plenty of harnessable traits. He has already turned heads on the ASG/camp circuit and it's a matter of time before someone breaks the seal and sends him an offer.     I've been tracking [player_tooltip player_id='1633287' first='Jayden' last='Skelton'] closely for the last few months. He is one of my favorite 2026 ATHs in the state and has a chance to blow up this offseason. Skelton is a verified 10.56 100M runner, making him one of the fastest players in the state. Skelton is an obvious YAC threat, which is where he will make his money given his speed and size. However, for a smaller guy, he stretches the field vertically well and tracks the ball through contact. He deceives DBs and slingshots at the top of his routes. He demands attention over the top given he is a threat to run by anybody. Skelton holds an offer from Georgia Southern. Fast forward a few months, and he will have more under his belt.     Matthew Mungin caught mainstream attention with his prolific performance in the state championship game. However, he has been on my radar since August. Mungin is paper-thin at 6'4 175 with plenty of room to add more mass and strength. He has solid mechanics in the pocket and is a good enough athlete to evade pressure. He is long, allowing him to cut through the ball and put some whistle on it. What we saw in the state championship game was his marksmanship. He jumped onto the college radar with his performance. Coaches will want to see him throw in person this offseason, and he should turn heads in that setting.     It was a massive season for [player_tooltip player_id='401507' first='Hudson' last='Cocchiara'], who was highly productive at WR in one of the most prolific offenses in the state this past fall. He is a super fluid basketball athlete who skates around the field and relies on his change of direction to separate. He will sink his hips and nod his head in routes to cause hesitation and win at critical points. His hands are perhaps the most impressive part of his game. He has quick, late hands, allowing him to get his paws up and pluck it off his helmet. He has evidence on tape of making off-platform grabs. Cocchiara is a D1 WR talent and I wouldn't be shocked to see offer number 1 come his way this offseason.

The offseason is upon us, which is a prime time for college programs to get eyes on prospects in person. Here are a few guys in GA who will turn heads this offseason as college programs continue to set and grow their boards.