Kyle Harmon
What's to like: Harmon is a tough, physical kid who brings his hard hat to the field. Sound, technical tackler, plays low and with great leverage and strength. Smooth when dropping into zone coverages, reads and reacts well to both run and pass plays. Has an instinct for avoiding blockers. Decent top end speed (ran a 11.8 100M as a 200lb sophomore)
Opportunities to improve: Harmon may have maxed out his frame and body. Doesn't look 229lbs on his film and 6'. Closer to 5'10-5'11" and 215lbs. Don't see him playing at 235+. He builds speed and doesn't have great short area quickness or burst.
Bottom line: Undersized and not super explosive yet in every other respect an ideal ILB for Cal. He has the coverage skills and top end speed to stay on the field for passing downs and he will be a STs demon at minimum
Alex Funches
What's to like: Alex is listed at 6'2 or 6'3" and only 225lbs, not ideal for a DE in a 4-3 but a better fit for the 3-4 as an OLB/DE hybrid. His body is lanky with long arms that he uses to great effect to get leverage as a pass rusher and in containing outside runs. Will remind folks of Chris McCain in build and play style. Quick and bursty with good lateral quickness and a strong first step
Opportunities to improve: Not sure he has the frame to take on more weight. Inconsistent with his motor. Can stand straight up and allow blockers to extend on him. Struggles to hold up when run at.
Bottom line: A designated pass rushing JC OLB/DE to add depth with Saffle/Weaver and Westerfield. Perhaps quicker than all of them save Saffle yet more of a specialist as I don't see him playing every down.
Poutasi Poutasi
What's to like: Ideal guard build in terms of height and thickness. Really nice combination of quickness and power. Better feet than one usually sees with interior lineman. Can fire out and get to 2nd level as well as pull. Shows toughness and fire.
Opportunities to improve: Inconsistent with his knee bend and staying low. Often stands straight up. Technique with hands and keeping arms inside shoulders both need a lot of work. Film says mauler more than Greatwood style technician
Bottom line: Above average OL film for Cal over the past 5-6 years. A lot to work with in terms of body and athleticism. If he has aptitude to be a technician and improves technique and flex, could be a 3 year starter
Biaggio Ali-Walsh
What's too like: Quick AND fast, Biaggio runs with patience and good vision. He shows off an impressive ability to cut while moving forward thus not losing much speed. Doesn't dance in the hole or look to bounce everything outside - one cut and go. Good, natural pass receiver. Powerful lower body and will break tackles in the open field.
Opportunities to improve: Small in stature (5'8"/5'9" is my guess) and not a power runner at the LOS. Tough to know as much as you'd like given how dominant his OL was in HS. Similar to Tre Watson in that respect and it took Watson a full season + to adjust. While already quick, could improve his first step acceleration. Needs to stay healthy, missed a lot of his senior year.
Bottom line: Similar in body to Isi Sofele though Ali-Walsh is clearly faster having run an electronic 4.41 at a camp last summer. He's also a better open field runner IMO. He'll replace Muhammed's dynamism and provides more of a home run threat with his open field ability.
Ben Moos
What's to like: Solidly built and powerfully strong TE. Good soft hands and nimble feet. He blocks at a very good HS OT level as a pass catching TE. A bulldozer in the run game. Likes to be physical and can run over people after the catch
Opportunities to improve: Not the prototypical TE frame as he's not that tall nor long limbed. Neither particularly quick or fast though he shows decent hops and good body control as a WR. Fluidity as a route runner and pass receiver can be improved
Bottom line: He'll be the best blocking TE on the roster as soon as steps on campus.
Could play early as a result. Ceiling likely not that high as an offensive receiver though he's solid in that respect
Michael Saffell
What's to like: A pure center prospect, Saffell looks the part with his barrel like build and bulldog play style. Very bright and high motor player who already has good pass blocking technique. Reminds me a lot of Chris Adcock though Saffell is bigger at the same age and arguably more powerful physically. Nasty, fearless demeanor.
Opportunities to improve: Not a great athlete in terms of lateral quickness or agility, he needs to work on second level blocking in college. Flex bend and playing with leverage are something every HS lineman has to improve. Flexibility improvement alone could take Saffell from middling prospect to college star.
Bottom line: He's ahead of Ooms and Adcock at the same stage. Mature in technique and strength, he could play early in his career.
Daniel Scott
What's to like: Instinctive, high football IQ free safety prospect. Scott has ideal size and build and is at his best playing the ball in the air. Runs decently well and is an aggressive ball hawk and play maker. Very productive HS career facing top competition on both sides of the ball
Opportunities to improve: Not yet an explosive, high twitch athlete. Top end speed is average and he's not a big leaper. Didn't see many examples of him in run support. Will need strength and physical development to compete in Pac 12
Bottom line: Like Harmon, Scott has great HS pedigree and an exceptional football playing brain. Reminds me a bit of Griffin Piatt though perhaps a tad bit faster and slightly less explosive athletically.
What's to like: Harmon is a tough, physical kid who brings his hard hat to the field. Sound, technical tackler, plays low and with great leverage and strength. Smooth when dropping into zone coverages, reads and reacts well to both run and pass plays. Has an instinct for avoiding blockers. Decent top end speed (ran a 11.8 100M as a 200lb sophomore)
Opportunities to improve: Harmon may have maxed out his frame and body. Doesn't look 229lbs on his film and 6'. Closer to 5'10-5'11" and 215lbs. Don't see him playing at 235+. He builds speed and doesn't have great short area quickness or burst.
Bottom line: Undersized and not super explosive yet in every other respect an ideal ILB for Cal. He has the coverage skills and top end speed to stay on the field for passing downs and he will be a STs demon at minimum
Alex Funches
What's to like: Alex is listed at 6'2 or 6'3" and only 225lbs, not ideal for a DE in a 4-3 but a better fit for the 3-4 as an OLB/DE hybrid. His body is lanky with long arms that he uses to great effect to get leverage as a pass rusher and in containing outside runs. Will remind folks of Chris McCain in build and play style. Quick and bursty with good lateral quickness and a strong first step
Opportunities to improve: Not sure he has the frame to take on more weight. Inconsistent with his motor. Can stand straight up and allow blockers to extend on him. Struggles to hold up when run at.
Bottom line: A designated pass rushing JC OLB/DE to add depth with Saffle/Weaver and Westerfield. Perhaps quicker than all of them save Saffle yet more of a specialist as I don't see him playing every down.
Poutasi Poutasi
What's to like: Ideal guard build in terms of height and thickness. Really nice combination of quickness and power. Better feet than one usually sees with interior lineman. Can fire out and get to 2nd level as well as pull. Shows toughness and fire.
Opportunities to improve: Inconsistent with his knee bend and staying low. Often stands straight up. Technique with hands and keeping arms inside shoulders both need a lot of work. Film says mauler more than Greatwood style technician
Bottom line: Above average OL film for Cal over the past 5-6 years. A lot to work with in terms of body and athleticism. If he has aptitude to be a technician and improves technique and flex, could be a 3 year starter
Biaggio Ali-Walsh
What's too like: Quick AND fast, Biaggio runs with patience and good vision. He shows off an impressive ability to cut while moving forward thus not losing much speed. Doesn't dance in the hole or look to bounce everything outside - one cut and go. Good, natural pass receiver. Powerful lower body and will break tackles in the open field.
Opportunities to improve: Small in stature (5'8"/5'9" is my guess) and not a power runner at the LOS. Tough to know as much as you'd like given how dominant his OL was in HS. Similar to Tre Watson in that respect and it took Watson a full season + to adjust. While already quick, could improve his first step acceleration. Needs to stay healthy, missed a lot of his senior year.
Bottom line: Similar in body to Isi Sofele though Ali-Walsh is clearly faster having run an electronic 4.41 at a camp last summer. He's also a better open field runner IMO. He'll replace Muhammed's dynamism and provides more of a home run threat with his open field ability.
Ben Moos
What's to like: Solidly built and powerfully strong TE. Good soft hands and nimble feet. He blocks at a very good HS OT level as a pass catching TE. A bulldozer in the run game. Likes to be physical and can run over people after the catch
Opportunities to improve: Not the prototypical TE frame as he's not that tall nor long limbed. Neither particularly quick or fast though he shows decent hops and good body control as a WR. Fluidity as a route runner and pass receiver can be improved
Bottom line: He'll be the best blocking TE on the roster as soon as steps on campus.
Could play early as a result. Ceiling likely not that high as an offensive receiver though he's solid in that respectMichael Saffell
What's to like: A pure center prospect, Saffell looks the part with his barrel like build and bulldog play style. Very bright and high motor player who already has good pass blocking technique. Reminds me a lot of Chris Adcock though Saffell is bigger at the same age and arguably more powerful physically. Nasty, fearless demeanor.
Opportunities to improve: Not a great athlete in terms of lateral quickness or agility, he needs to work on second level blocking in college. Flex bend and playing with leverage are something every HS lineman has to improve. Flexibility improvement alone could take Saffell from middling prospect to college star.
Bottom line: He's ahead of Ooms and Adcock at the same stage. Mature in technique and strength, he could play early in his career.
Daniel Scott
What's to like: Instinctive, high football IQ free safety prospect. Scott has ideal size and build and is at his best playing the ball in the air. Runs decently well and is an aggressive ball hawk and play maker. Very productive HS career facing top competition on both sides of the ball
Opportunities to improve: Not yet an explosive, high twitch athlete. Top end speed is average and he's not a big leaper. Didn't see many examples of him in run support. Will need strength and physical development to compete in Pac 12
Bottom line: Like Harmon, Scott has great HS pedigree and an exceptional football playing brain. Reminds me a bit of Griffin Piatt though perhaps a tad bit faster and slightly less explosive athletically.
