Notes From the Trail: Scouting Hits on 8 AL/GA Prospects

*Use code "jackson30" for 30% off your PRZ subscription*   Here, we empty the notebook and deliver some scouting hits on 8 total prospects from my scouting territory that popped on my radar this offseason.   Alabama    Simmons is steadily one of the best 2027 LB prospects in Alabama, but this is actually my first look at him. This is just an easy evaluation here. He is athletic, long, strong, and does a lot of things very well. He is an easy pursuer of the ball with the length to fully engulf ball carriers. He is strong at the point of attack against blockers, and added weight continues to improve that part of his game. Plenty of offers under the belt for Simmons, who is on pace to get a crack at a high level of football.     Newby is a traitsy, clear D1 caliber TE prospect. He has some of the best blocking tape out of any TE in AL, both attached to the line and in space. He plays with good hand placement, a solid anchor, and leverages defenders well. He flashes some violence as well, finishing blocks through the dirt and popping defenders off their feet. He has the body to be a mismatch downfield as a pass catcher, but he will make his money as a blocker, especially as he continues to add weight and grow.     Swain has an offer from UAB and is an early candidate to lead the charge for the 2029 TE class in Alabama. Impressive frame on this kid for a youngster, coming in at 6'4 200. He is still raw and lean, so he still has the natural progression of his growth ahead of him. Swain is a long-striding, raw player, but he is still a mismatch and flashes some violence on tape. There's so much to like here, and he will only get better as he gets older. I am expecting eventual P4 attention here.    Georgia    Gaiter is a buzzy breakout player out of West Forsyth this offseason, and while I've watched him before, this is my first extended look. Gaiter is a well-rounded player, and I would be nitpicking to find much wrong with his game. He is a strong, cut, sturdy 6;0 185, which greatly benefits him in contested catch situations. He is a physical corner with some pop in his pads, but his finesse comes through as well. His feet are quick, smooth, and he attacks through the hands of receivers. He is plenty of capable of coming downhill to support as a tackler, too. I have an FBS grade on Gaiter, and I will continue to track this recruitment closely.     Davenport is a prolific dual-sport athlete, and a recent offer from Samford got some buzz started here. Davenport is a smaller corner projection, but he is very difficult to separate against and can win in different coverages and leverages. He is smooth and patient in coverage, allowing him to consistently be around the top of routes. From there, he uses his short-area burst and ball tracking skills to close space and attack the ball, both when carrying routes and when coming downhill. Samford shouldn't be the last D1 offer here.     Torres is a fairly familiar name to me, but this is the first time I really dove into the tape. Torres plays both ways, but I think this is an obvious WR projection here. He is a long, thin athlete who could add more weight and get bigger, but I think playing at a thinner stature actually benefits his game. He is a smooth athlete who can sink his hips and lean in his routes to work back to the QB and over the middle of the field. His length and body control help him win vertically, too. I love the upside here, and I think Torres is one of the better receivers in his area without major recruiting attention.     Matrale's size and experience during his younger years have put him in a solid position headed into his junior year. He played center as a sophomore, and I think he could have a home there long term. He is a stout, thicker prospect with a clear IOL build. He is very strong at the point and is capable of laying devastating blocks on defenders when he gets his hands on them. He is a people mover, but he isn't a bad athlete either, showing he is capable of staying engaged on blocks and running in space. An All-Region performer on the OL at his size and age deserves plenty of looks.     The athletic indicators for [player_tooltip player_id='2147907' first='Ethan' last='Davis'] are intriguing. The size and frame speak for themselves, but an 11.58 in the 100M at his size is eye-opening. Davis plays both ways and flashes on both sides of the ball. As a defender, he is quick out of his stance, instantly shooting gaps and penetrating. He often arrives at the football before the play can even develop, leaving the ball carrier no chance of escaping. As a TE, when he can roll in space, it just adds more context to the caliber of athlete he is. You can't argue against the traits here. There are strong P4 indicators here, so I'll call that shot before the buzz fully gets going.

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