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MCA Rising Seniors All-Star Game: 2026 Eye-catchers

Jeremy Johnsonby:Jeremy Johnson•12/31/24•

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Taron Essex
Photo by Jeremy Johnson.

The Minority Coaches Association Rising Seniors All-Star game shed some light on some prospects that could end up being a factor for Georgia at some point during the 2026 recruiting cycle.

There were a few names that we already knew that further established themselves. There were a few new names that made a splash on Monday.

Here are 10 eye-catchers from the Rising Seniors game.

Safety Taron Essex

Essex has every trait a fast-rising defensive back could want. He’s 6-foot-3, he has long arms, moves well and he seems to have next level speed.

Essex also plays with an edge and is a willing tackler at that size. He flashed in a few positions on Monday. He spent time in the ‘star’ position playing in the slot over slot receivers and tight ends. He also played a good deal of deep safety where he roamed and came up to help in run support.

This was the name that a lot of coaches had circled as the one who could be the next to pop as the national recruit.

OT Bear Fretwell

Fretwell is still learning to play the position. He hasn’t been a lifer in football but at 6-foot-7, 290 pounds he’s able to bend, play with leverage and move people.

Fretwell had a few plays on Monday that saw him going to the echo of the whistle and burying his defender.

He plays with a nasty edge but also has a lot of intelligence in gaining leverage on defenders. He’s a big man who moves well but has good weight with room to add much more size over the next few years.

Another prospect that could be a savage riser.

IOL Parker Pritchett

The Carver-Columbus offensive lineman has the size to be an SEC or Big Ten interior offensive lineman. He immediately passes the eye test.

Pritchett moves his feet really well for a large man. He’s going to get better at finishing blocks but he plays with good leverage and is good at moving other humans out of the way at will.

4-star WR Nalin Scott

This one is self-explanatory. Scott has continued to mature physically and has blended somewhere in-between tight end and massive wideout.

He’s put on some size since his freshman and sophomore seasons. Scott has a huge impact in the run game as a blocker and a match-up chess piece as a pass catcher.

WR Peyton Zachary

This is another name that has been on Georgia’s radar for some time. He has had an offer for the last two years.

Zachary is not a large man but with the football in his hands, he’s as dangerous as the come. He’s smooth, shifty and can hit another gear in the green whenever he needs to.

Zachary also has good hands and the ability to make plays in traffic. Has a lot of value as a kick returner as well.

WR Eric Paul

Paul is another player that isn’t a massive person but there’s a game-changing level of speed under his hood. He does not work hard to run fast as well.

Paul was a regular in the jet sweep game on Monday. He scored on one, outrunning the entire defense to the corner.

He’s got some wiggle as well but this is another inside type player with some juice.

CB Terrious Favors

Favors was one that came up multiple times throughout the week in Atlanta. He’s not a larger cornerback but he was one that people pointed to as one of the best overall players and athletes in the event.

Favors is twitchy, plays with good eyes, has some electric ability as a returner and has big-time long speed. He has an offer from Boise State. He’s the type of player who runs up boards once teams watch his film. He’s an exciting player to watch, much of his highlight tape is of him scoring touchdowns on kick returns.

RB Brandan Ridley

Riley is a smooth player. He runs easily and has some speed. He’s a taller running back but already has a good feel for how to use his size. He also makes an impact as a blocker and pass catcher.

Riley is a complete running back.

RB Jayreon Campbell

Campbell is loud as a ball carrier. He’s going jump cut and dart and startle defenders and then he’ll run through you.

He’s very physical. Campbell had a few plays in which he simply wanted to run over the defender and created load ‘cracks’ in doing so.

Campbell also showed some speed after bouncing the ball outside and racing the defense to the pylon on his touchdown run.

CB Caleb Carson

Carson has good size as a defensive back. He’s physical, he can run and he’s got a nasty side in the run game.

He’s an intriguing one to watch this spring.

Few more that shined

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