Peachtree Ridge Head Coach Bill Ballard is not a big fan of camps and combines, so you rarely see one of his kids out competing over the spring and summer, so it is tough to get a good look at his players at times.
Not too much film gets out of there either, so Angelo Watley was not well known going into this season.
The 6-foot-2, 225 pound senior was rated as a two-star defensive end and sitting at no. 128 overall at his position. That has all changed.
He has moved up to no. 61 after Scout got a good look at him live last weekend inside the Georgia Dome at the Corky Kell Classic.
Watley is very long with a frame to add some very good weight for the level. He was used at defensive tackle and defensive end on defense while playing tight end on defense. He made a couple of very nice plays on slip screens for crucial first downs on offense, but that is not where he will play on the next level.
He could play rush end or outside linebacker when he gets to Columbia. He has the body now to start out as an outside linebacker playing in space and showing his range. Once he settles in, hits the weights in Columbia, and matures more physically, he could end up playing with his hand down full time.
Watley is a very athletic young man with a good motor and nice potential. He showed Scout this past weekend that South Carolina may stole one from other SEC programs. The stole one years ago out of the Peach State in Eric Norwood and Watley could play a very similar role for the Gamecocks in the future.
