Notes From the Trail: Scouting Notes From Kell vs McEachern

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kell and McEachern battled on May 15th to close out spring ball. Both squads have their fair share of talent, and generated plenty of college coach eyes on the sidelines. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>'27 Kell WR Nehemiah Watson isn't loaded with offers like some of his teammates, but he impressed and could be considered the MVP of the night for the Longhorns. He is a smaller YAC guy who you can flip the ball to in the flat and let him get a few yards. However, he got open down the field too and reeled in two long TDs (one called back). What really stood out to me was his willingness to take on contact. He wasn't just willing either. He dropped his shoulder, exploded through contact, and packed a punch well for a thinner guy. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>It was another in-person exposure to '26 LB [player_tooltip player_id='401475' first='Brayden' last='Rouse']. Anything I say now will just be a broken record. However, the more I watch him, the more I can confidently say he is one of the best players in the country. He is a rare blend of a kid who plays the position at an elite level, but still has some physical maturity left in the tank. His growth over the last two years sheds light on the kind of athlete he will continue to develop into. He will play football for a long time. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>'26 LB [player_tooltip player_id='1297871' first='Bryce' last='Shelton'] is another avatar at LB for Kell, coming in at 6'3 200 with some athleticism. His name was called out a lot on tackles. He willingly stuck his head into contact and got involved in physical plays. This guy will make his money in coverage. He clouds passing lanes over the middle of the field and is a chore to fit the ball around. This kid has several offers under his belt, but still feels like he is overlooked on a national level. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>'27 CB [player_tooltip player_id='942130' first='Kamoni' last='Adams'] drew a tough matchup against a huge, athletic WR. However, I thought he played really well, and I came out of this game even higher on him. He was stride for stride down the field the entire game and wasn't hesitant to engage physically. He got his hands on you early in the route, helping disrupt timing and limit separation down the field. They left him out on an island often, and it worked. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>'26 DB Tony Forney had a pick in the first half. Matched and ran the route for the WR, and was gifted with the ball in his hands. I like how this guy looks physically. He is all of 6'1 190 and carries that weight well. He moves around the secondary, stepping up and pressing receivers at the line. Every time I have seen Kell play, it seems like this kid makes a big play, not to mention the physical gifts. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>'26 DB [player_tooltip player_id='401536' first='Kiyante' last='Ingram'] caught my eye frequently. He kicked off scoring with a pick-six, remained patient during chaos, and flashed the instincts to drive downhill and undercut a route for a pick. He is listed at 6'0 180 and carries weight well. I liked how he tackled, leveraging the ball well and striking with some thump. I think the floor is high on this kid, thanks to his size and ability to tackle. Holds D1 offers.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>'26 DB Jachai Hackney had his name called a few times. I thought this guy pursued the ball really well and was always around piles, if not the first hat in. He is a smaller guy, but his ability to leverage the ball and act as a willing pursuer raises the floor of his game and allows him to compensate.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>'27 DB Nasir Banks is a new name to me. He had a pick at the start of the second half. Settling down when the scramble drill ensued, saw the ball go up in the air, got to his spot, and had the ball skills to create a takeaway. He is listed around 6'0 185, impressing with his body type. Banks looks the part, will find the field this fall, and has two years to develop. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>'26 QB Calvin Pittman Jr is an experienced returning starter for McEachern. All things considered, I think he played composed in the pocket. What really drew my eyes was his escapability. He flashed some twitch, escaping pressure, and was able to frequently find green grass. He has the top speed to break off big runs, and he proved it yesterday. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>'26 DL Darryl Rivers has emerged as one of the premier 2026 DL prospects in Georgia, and for good reason. From a pure physique standpoint, I don't think I've seen a DL prospect that looks quite like this. He is listed at 6'5 270, and is ALL of it. He plays even bigger, too, with his length and massive wingspan. He is still a bit raw and is developing nuance and improving pad-level. Regardless, he is "accidentally good" at this stage. That's not a knock on him. He is so long that when the ball carrier comes his way, his length helps him engulf and execute against the ball. The upside here is a true boom, a boom that could mean playing football for a long time. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->