Freshman Focus: Productive 2027 DL Prospects to Know
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As is the case, Georgia is crawling with young DL prospects who are worthy of recruiting attention out of the gate. Here are a few who impressed on varsity this fall. Don’t be shocked if you see some P5 buzz…
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Continue ReadingAs is the case, Georgia is crawling with young DL prospects who are worthy of recruiting attention out of the gate. Here are a few who impressed on varsity this fall. Don’t be shocked if you see some P5 buzz for some guys on this list very soon.
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- 6’2 225 with good length and plenty of room to grow.
- Solid athletic profile, although there is room to refine his pad level and movement skills as he gets older.
- Uses his length to his advantage to punch blockers and lock out with his shoulder, which gives him the separation needed to slip and shed blocks.
- Does a good job off the snap of winning inside leverage against blockers, which allows him to collapse running lanes from the outside.
- Run stuffer. Can collapse running lanes, but also sits patiently on the edge waiting for the RB to spill.
- Sure tackler. He does a good job of settling down and not out running the ball carrier. He uses his length to engulf the ball carrier and finishes tackles through the ground.
- Decent pursuit skills. Takes good angles to the football, even without plus speed.
- Power Statement: Jaden Wuerth Jaden Wuerth 6’2″ | 243 lbs | DL Aquinas | 2027 State GA is a lengthy, toolsy DE prospect who can rumble through running lanes and set the edge. He is a good pursuer of the football and will only get better as he develops into a better athlete. Wuerth has the traits to generate recruiting buzz soon.
Highlights
Segun Alexander
Segun Alexander
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- Stout, well-developed 6’3 260 frame.
- Will probably grow into a spot on the IDL, but spent a lot of his time as a freshman at the 4 and 5 tech spots.
- Tremendous play strength against the run. Can easily fill gaps between the tackles and can set the edge by driving the blocker into running lanes.
- Can win at the point of attack on seemingly every rep. He is explosive off the snap, strikes with good pad level, and has excellent grip strength which allows him to rip through blocks.
- He can work through double teams and free himself when tied up simply by firing his feet and gradually letting his strength win out.
- Wins against the pass in several ways. His bull rush is obviously efficient, but he can fire his hands, swim his arms, and pull off several other finesse moves to deceive the blocker.
- Closes to the football quickly and aggressively. When given a runway to the QB, his presence alone disrupts the timing of the QB, even if he doesn’t make a sack.
- Power Statement: Segun Alexander is a well-developed 2027 DL prospect who I project as a P5 IDL When it comes to play strength and explosiveness, Alexander is off the charts. On top of that, he can add some finesse to his game, which makes him even more well-rounded.
Decorey Crumbley
Decorey Crumbley
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- Shorter, stout frame.
- Easily projects as an IDL prospect and can line up over the nose.
- Explosive off the snap and has good balance while engaging blockers. He is naturally the low man, which gives him leverage. However, his ability to stay on his feet while he works off blocks is huge for his future development.
- Reads and reacts against the run very well. He can quickly shoot gaps and cut off outside running angles for RBs.
- Quickly fires his hands to prevent the blocker from getting on his chest, critical for DL prospect without great length.
- Does provide pass rushing upside from the interior. Has more than enough athleticism and speed to run stunts and pursue the QB.
- Aggressively finishes plays through the ground, ragdolling ball carriers once he has his hands on them.
- Power Statement: Decorey Crumbley is a super strong, stout IDL prospect who is built well beyond his years. He understands leverage and uses to his advantage to win blocks. He is also an impressive athlete who can quickly pursue to the football and violently finish plays.
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- 6’1 250 with broad shoulders and a stout lower body.
- Played plenty of meaningful snaps for a 7A state championship winning team.
- An obvious gap stuffer in the middle of the DL. At his peak, his presence alone will be tough to move against the run and should funnel the football out to his teammates.
- Bull rush allows him to dent the pocket and get pressure in the face of the QB. He attacks the ground by firing his feet and maintains leverage while barreling towards the QB.
- Knows when to shed off his block and pursue the football.
- Energetic player that violently gets after the football. Will run all over the field looking for action. The type of player that racks up larger than usual tackling numbers for an IDL.
- Power Statement: Christian Hunter Christian Hunter 6’1″ | 265 lbs | DL Milton | 2027 State GA is an explosive, strong IDL prospect who has been generating recruiting buzz since middle school. Varsity reps only made him better and he is a guy who could start seeing offers as early as this offseason. He is already firmly on the radar.