2023 Georgia "All-Sleeper Team": Defense

<p>For several reasons, multiple talented recruits each year fall beneath the recruiting radar and become what some may call “sleepers”. In Georgia, with the sheer amount of elite talent we see, getting overlooked is normal. Here, I uncover 22 prospects that I believe are the best-undervalued prospects in Georgia. We continue with the defense.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">DL: Javon Hobson, 2024, Cherokee</h2>   <p>Hobson is a high-upside, versatile DL prospect with his best football ahead of him. He has a firm 6'2 265 pound frame and carries his weight well. He has longer arms and heavy hands, which he uses to knock blockers off-balance and give himself room to operate. Hobson is a good athlete that moves well. He has enough shimmy in his shoulders and can get skinny to slip his way into the backfield. He also has good pursuit skills and can scale a large area of the field to make a play. As Hobson refines his pad level and short-area explosiveness, he could take that next step as a prospect. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">DL: Aamear Walton, 2024, Dutchtown</h2>   <p>Walton is a stout, explosive DL prospect with the ability to dent the pocket and displace blockers. He is all of 6'1 285 with a thick, well-built lower body. He is exceptionally quick and explosive off the snap, almost always being the first hat to create penetration at the line. He plays with a squared, firm base to the QB and avoids being moved thanks to his broad shoulders and strong legs. Walton is active with his hands, showing the ability to chop and fire his hands to free himself from the grip of the blocker. Walton is a bottle of strength and explosiveness and deserves far more recognition for his efforts on the field.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">DL: Simeon John, 2024, Hebron Christian</h2>   <p>John is a stout, athletic nose defender who is capable of shading in the A gaps. It takes a lot to move his 6'2 290 frame. He is built well from the waist down and still has some room for refinement in his upper half. In the pass game, John plays with a wrecking ball mentality. He takes advantage of blockers entering their pass-set by quickly closing space and bull rushing. At the very least, even when he doesn't create penetration, he can dent the pocket. In the run game, John can slice on blockers and slam the door on running lanes, ultimately gobbling up the ball carrier or flushing him further to the outside. John is a body type that all colleges need. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">EDGE: Brody Hancock, 2024, North Forsyth </h2>   <p>Hancock produced last season at a high level at around 190 pounds. The difference this year is that he is up to 225 pounds and is now more of a power-speed threat. Hancock plays with outstanding effort coming off the edge. He relentlessly fights off blockers on each play and has the pursuit skills to flag down the football from the backside. He also has the speed and bend to get around the edge. Now at 225 pounds, he should become an even bigger force in the run game and take his play to another level. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">LB: AJ Butts, 2024, Effingham County</h2>   <p>Butts is a rangy, dynamic LB prospect who is easily one of the more noteworthy sleepers in Georgia. Coming in around 6'0 210 with speed and explosiveness, he checks the physical boxes to play LB at the D1 level. Butts is a true "run and chase" defender who excels in dime and nickel packages where he can drop back in coverage and play more freely. He can quickly make his way from one side of the field to the other and completely eviscerate any angle or leverage the ball carrier has on the defense. Butts is a clear D1-caliber LB who has yet to get the recruiting attention he deserves. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">LB Daniel Turpin, 2024, Arabia Mountain</h2>   <p>Turpin is a downhill, physical LB prospect who could make an impact on any given play. He is an exceptionally gifted blizer who can navigate through traffic and fend off blockers to make tackles. At the next level, he will rely more on his striking ability and speed. He can shoot right past blockers and meet RBs in the gaps with authority. He strikes with a firm base, good pad level, and has the power to lift playmakers completely off their feet. Turpin is a scrappy player who happens to be a good tackler. He could easily rack up tackles at the next level once he adjusts to the speed and physicality of the college game. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">DB: Richard Houston, 2024, Cartersville</h2>   <p>Houston is a fluid, versatile defender who is always around the football. Houston can play N, S, and even play in the box as an extra defender. In pass coverage, he is able to match up 1 v 1 with receivers pretty well and can break on the football. He also does a good job of tracking the ball, and adjusting to the ball path. Against the run, Houston is a reactionary defender who can tackle well all over the field. When playing in the box, he can maintain outside leverage on ball carriers thanks to his sideline-to-sideline speed. Houston is an instinctual, productive, and versatile defender worthy of your attention.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">CB: Azarel Juste, 2024, St. Anne Pacelli</h2>   <p>From his measurables to his skillset, Juste is a clear candidate to play as a perimeter corner at the next level. His measurables are eye-opening, coming in at 6'3 170 with room to grow and a noticeably long wingspan. Juste seems most comfortable in off-man coverage and bail-style drops where he can come downhill and jump underneath routes and make plays on the football. He does have the length to step up and disrupt route combinations off the snap. He also shows the ability to work through the hands of the receiver and knock the ball loose. Juste is a clear D1-caliber corner with a lot of upside. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">CB: Quinton Charles, 2024, Harrison</h2>   <p>Charles is a smooth, consistent DB that has produced against solid competition. Charles has the size and physicality to hold his own against most WRs. Charles isn't a burner, but he has good football speed and plays with good instincts. He reads the receiver well off the line and throughout his route, which allows him to stay in phase with the receiver and remain in tight coverage. Charles has the downhill tackling ability to break on screens and impact the running game. Charles is a very good player all around who will be a valuable locker-room addition at the next level. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">DB: Kendre Standley, 2024, Ware County</h2>   <p>Standley is a fluid, three-down DB prospect with scheme versatility. He is capable of playing at safety and showing off his range and rally to the football. He is also long and sudden enough to step up in man coverage and hold his own against defenders. When making a play on the football, Standley comes downhill hard and works through the hands of the receiver to jar the ball loose. As a tackler, Standley flies to the football and is capable of working his way through and around blocks to do so. When you factor in his range, ball skills, and tackling ability, you have a prospect capable of making a play on every snap.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">DB: Melvin Emioma, 2024, Kennesaw Mountain</h2>   <p>Emioma is a pure striker who is capable of generating serious impact at the point of collision. Emioma spent some time at RB and played some LB last year, but his future is likely at S where he will be able to show off his ability to come downhill and make heavy hits on the ball carrier. He is a super energetic defender who is capable of launching from any position. he can stand-up ball carriers in their path and can also launch his shoulder into their midsection and drive them to the ground. Emioma will benefit greatly in a defense that allows him to play in space and chase after the football. </p>

For several reasons, multiple talented recruits each year fall beneath the recruiting radar and become what some may call “sleepers”. In Georgia, with the sheer amount of elite talent we see, getting overlooked is normal. Here, I uncover 22 prospects that I believe are the best-undervalued prospects in Georgia. We continue with the defense.