Section 3: Cox and George headline 5 players to watch this fall

Cox is a massive prospect, standing at 6'9" 360-pounds, he stands out in on the field. The CBA-Syracuse prospect holds one offer from Syracuse with other schools interested in the talented lineman.   Cox reminds me of "The Blindside" movie as he is extremely physical and holds a lot of power in his blocking. Listing as a tackle, he moved inside to the Guard position during the season. He has an elite IQ and creates gaps in the run game while holding strong in the passing game. His athleticism is viewable on tape and is used on every snap. For a guy who is 360 pounds and 6'9", he moves perfectly. Getting him on the field for every play is needed.   Cox is easily a top ten prospect, who at the next level, will be utilized with a good nutrition and athletic program to enhance his traits.      The Colgate commit stands at 6'3" 290-pounds and is a physical beast on the Whitesboro team. George is coming off a Section Three championship and looks to build on momentum for his senior season.   His hand placement is elite and he dominates the LOS. Reaching the next level is easy for George as he bulldozes his way through opposing defenses. George always finishes blocks and has elite lower body strength. His physicality and power are on display on each play as rushers struggle to get past him. He played multiple snaps on the DL and had success, but he projects as a lineman.   George is another physical OL in the Section Three who will star in the Colgate program with good coaching.      Hailing from Syracuse, Smith attends CBA-Syracuse and is a frequent riser in our 2026 rankings.   The 6'0" 220-pound prospect, projects as an OLB with potential to play snaps on the LOS as an EDGE. In this case Smith should look to gain 5-10 pound of good weight to improve his physicality on the line. In his tape, he is a beast who shows his presence on nearly every play. He has exceptional pass rushing moves and excels in lateral movement. Smith is the most violent and physical defenders across the state.   He is for sure a top OLB prospect in NY and has the potential to continue his climb in the next rendition of the 2026 rankings.      Syracuse and Boston College are two colleges with offers extended to the CBA-Syracuse product. Standing at 6'3" 185-pounds Hicks has a solid build for the position.   Hicks displays an elite route tree understanding paired with elite separation. He dominates the Redzone and creates huge mismatches in that region. His size makes him a threat with 50/50 balls and catches in traffic. He has a quick burst and break and can create huge gains after initial contact.   Overall a solid prospect who can lineup across the LOS whether outside or in the slot. Hicks excels in man and press coverage. Size and skills should make him a threat at the next level.      Way is a frequent camp attender who has left his mark in every competition. Standing at 6'0" 190-pounds, the New Hartford WR made a lasting impact with Lead Scouts at events.   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> Easily and not surprisingly [player_tooltip player_id='1212764' first='Peyton' last='Way']<a href="https://prepredzone.com/player/peyton-way/"></a> was one of the best receivers in West Grove all weekend. Earning a top performer without question, Way showed you again why is the 31st ranked prospect in New York. </blockquote>   On film, Way is no different. He can lineup across the LOS using his understanding of Zone and Man coverage to create mismatches and find the open room across the field. He is difficult to tackle and extremely shifty making easy cuts to escape defenders. His route tree is elite and he seems capable of creating separation on every route.   Way is an elite prospect who will easily rise in the next 2026 rankings. The New Hartford prospect is for sure a top WR in the state of NY.