Friday Four: Under The Radar Prospects To Know
In today’s recruiting update, Dawg Post takes a look at four under-the-radar players who are bound for big seasons next fall. While some of them currently hold offers, the Georgia staff hasn’t currently offered these prospects at this time.
We’re going to start off in South Georgia and mention Brooks County (GA) running back, Omari Arnold. Now he may be on the smaller side at 5-foot-8 160-pounds, but the vision, speed, and natural running ability are there. The small-town athlete rushed 201 times last fall as a sophomore for 1,698 yards and 22 touchdowns. He also caught 21 passes for 159 yards and 3 TDs.
Of course, playing in a small town means you’re likely playing on both sides of the ball. On defense, Arnold scored two touchdowns. One was a scoop-and-score while the other was a 98-yard pick-6. He totaled 285 kick return yards off just 9 returns and one touchdown. That makes 22 touchdowns on the year for the 2022 athlete.
The offers may not be there this second, but the interest in starting to heat up. Arnold’s athleticism is easy to see, and his skillset could allow him to play defense at the next level as well. Once camps start back up, look for more schools to start giving Arnold a serious look. He’s as productive as it gets and is poised for a big junior season in 2020.
While the state is loaded at QB in the 2022 class, one guy Georgia fans may not know about is Milton (GA) quarterback, Devin Farrell. The 5-foot-11 190-pound two-sport athlete didn’t start until game 6 last year for the Eagles, but put up some quality numbers, going 91/149 for 1,056 yards and 8 touchdowns. He also rushed 104 times for 793 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Farrell has already taken a leadership role on the team and even won over some seniors last season. While his recruitment hasn’t completely taken off yet, there’s a chance it could down the road due to his athleticism and versatility. He might be the quarterback of a powerhouse program, but Farrell has the ability to be an impact cornerback as well. He starts on the basketball team, He’s an A/B student, and really does have the world in front of him.
As a prospect, the athleticism stands out first, but he’s also shifty, he’s quick, and he’s great with the ball in his hands. As a passer, he has nice pocket presence for someone his age, using nice footwork to buy time and wait for something to open up down the field. He’s accurate in short-yardage throws but has some nice touch on the ball when pushing it down-field.
Farrell currently holds offers from Duke, Wake Forest, and Georgia Tech, but Dawg Post expects that number to climb sooner than later. He’s a fun player to watch, and he has a chance to have a breakout season for Milton in 2020.
Out in Northwest Georgia, Rockmart linebacker Daquan Banks is a prospect to know. The 2022 defender has been very productive early in his career, with 55 tackles, 7 TFL, 6 sacks, 26 hurries, 3 PBU, 1 INT, 2 FF, 2 FR, and 1 TD as a freshman.
As a sophomore, Banks recorded 65 tackles, 8 TFL, 3 sacks, 3 PBU, 3 FR, 4 FF, and two big plays on punt blocks. He’s not the biggest or flashiest guys, but he’s a sure tackler, a big hitter, and someone who still has plenty of potential to reach the top of his game.
“He’s a very cerebral player and is excellent at getting everyone lined up and on the same page,” one Rockmart coach told Dawg Post. “He picks apart the offensive front and determines tendencies and visual cues. Pre-snap, he has a great capacity to audible out of the initial game plan to counter little nuances that we are seeing for the first time on the field. He is also a sure tackler who is extremely focused on being the best possible LB for the team.”
When you think of Paulding County football right now, you think of 5-star linebacker, Smael Mondon. He’s a top Georgia target and one of the top overall prospects in the country. He also has a teammate who could possibly play football at the next level.
2022 offensive tackle Jacob Smith may not be the biggest guy right now, but he’s a nasty lineman on film who has the chance to turn into a nice prospect. He’s listed at just under 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds right now with a good first initial punch. He plays mean with strong hands.
One source at Paulding County called Smith, “the next Tate Ratledge”. He may not have the height and length of Ratledge, but Smith plays with that toughness and aggressiveness that made Ratledge one of the top 2020 offensive line prospects in the country. He’s coming off an injury that held him out of all-star games in December, but sources say once he’s heathy again, Smith could see some offers start to come his way.