Prospect comparisons always generate a lot of discussion, and with the 2025 and 2026 class ranking sessions set to begin this week, now is a good time to take a step back and compare some of the current standout prospects to some college or NFL stars.
What follows are five comparisons of some of the best recruits in the Southeast.
Jamie French – Keenan Allen
Tall, physical, confident and graceful, some of the simple descriptions of the evolution of Allen’s game carried over to French. The rising senior is one of the most consistent receivers in the Class of 2025, able to snap the ball in traffic or away from his body. Like Allen, French isn’t the fastest receiver in the country, but his route-running ability, quickness and catch radius combine to separate all three levels of a defense.
Allen was a little heavier coming out of high school as a five-star prospect than French, but the young star has had time to continue to fill out his body — a move that should bolster his current upside. Ohio State, Texas State, LSU, Florida State, Miami State and several others continue to compete for French, a former Alabama commit.
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Osman Croman – Joe Mixon
A higher back used to come with a downhill, physical nickname. Modern backs can’t afford the one-dimensionality of this stereotype, which Mixon has proven to be good against, dating back to his prep days at Cal. Kroma went on to do the same thing in the SEC Central Region, where his appearance as a shock defender was the story of first impressions — but that was where it ended. The Georgia native is an elite defender with modern qualities in space and passing despite his size.
Mixon took full advantage of the physical elements that come with his larger frame, proving his durability for that often elusive second contract and now, thanks to a combination of classic traits and modern abilities, he’s a solid addition to the Houston Texans’ roster Man’s third contract. Kroma possesses elite straight-line speed and long strides, he swings through the hole and in the open field more than one might think, and perhaps most importantly, he can more than hold his own in the passing game as a receiver .
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Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng-Lavonte David
Comparisons through pedigree are easy when a rookie is an NFL legend, but in this case, the IMG Academy linebacker has more in common with David than Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoa resemblance. While the former Notre Dame star has the size to target in the 2025 class, his younger brother has yet to show off his pass-rushing ability. Instead, Owusu-Boateng makes a living as one of the most active and athletic linebackers in the class.
In his more than a decade in the NFL, David has been able to display a combination of instinct and speed, and he is still known for his ability to make plays in all three offenses in space. The young linebacker has a similar frame, weighing in at over 200 pounds, and has the speed and closing ability to be noticeable against the run and pass. Explosiveness through contact shows up in droves on tape, and projections like David’s and his 40 career turnovers (12 interceptions) force perspective on his game.
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Justus Terry – Quinnen Williams
In principle, this is more personal. When I first met Williams, he weighed about 250 pounds and had tremendous strength as a defensive lineman, both inside and outside. By getting to know Terry, who dropped to 255 pounds this spring, we see a lot of similarities in how these giant tackle projections carry the weight so well. Williams, of course, gained about 50 pounds early in his career at Alabama and became a top-five NFL draft pick. We can see a similar evolution with Terry.
His commitment to USC remains limited due to his versatility in the small high school program in Manchester, Georgia, and he still plays basketball part-time. Once the focus is all on football, in the Big Ten or SEC, Terry will be able to easily add weight and the power he’s already showing could jump to the next level. The comparison between Terry and Williams might be my favorite feature of this feature, as he has the speed to get over the inside of the frontcourt and even has a laid-back, smile-first personality off the court.
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Alice Williams – Mark Andrews
Giant wide receiver, basketball player, dominant tight end. Whether it’s Andrews, who hails from the West Coast, or Williams, a Georgia native, there’s an unmissable sense of their physical, commanding presence. That label has long been attached to the country’s top-ranked tight end prospect, who has produced more on the field than even Andrews did at the same stage nearly a decade ago. But as a tight end, everyone has receiver movement skills despite their size.
Williams and Andrews had a similar mismatch, with both being within 1 and 10 pounds of each other in the same stretch, but the Baltimore Ravens came from a pass-first offense in high school. Williams comes from a run-focused scheme, which means he’s more advanced as a blocker but still has more room to grow as a receiver — considering what we’ve already seen on tape and The way the program is going, it’s going to be scary for future Georgia opponents in a late position.
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