*Best player: Matt Fuller, Wayne County. Fuller (left) rushed for 1,757 yards and 22 touchdowns and had a team-leading 90 tackles and 18 tackles for losses for a 10-3 team that was 0-9 the season before.
*Best position: Defensive back. Noah Dixon (Clemson), Zach Jackson (Duke), Tae Harris (Georgia) and Terrence Kiell II (Texas A&M lean) are major Division I prospects
*Most highly recruited: Luke Kromenhoek, Benedictine. He’s the consensus No. 99 player nationally and No. 8 quarterback.
*That’s interesting: Troup quarterback Taeo Todd is the second-leading returning passer in the class (2,444 yards) and the leading rusher (2,012).
*Snubbed: Cedar Shoals’ Devin Hester had 51 receptions for 953 yards and 13 touchdowns and ran a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns last season. He’s as good as the two wide receivers who made it, but to their credit, they had more than 1,000 yards receiving and 10-plus touchdowns as well. Hester is unrelated to the former NFL and Falcons player of the same name.
*Underrated: Luella’s Tyler Moore had 16 sacks last season, the most on record among returning players, but he’s 5-10, so that leaves him with mostly mid-major and FCS offers to this point.
*What else is news: Wilkes Albert had 110 solo tackles – 54 more than his closest teammate – for a team that won state last season and didn’t make all-state teams. Benedictine credited him with 18 solo stops in the title game against Cedartown.
Offense
QB - Luke Kromenhoek, Benedictine, Sr.
QB - Jaxon Pate, Sonoraville, Sr.
RB - Matt Fuller, Wayne County, Sr.
RB - Micah Welch, Baldwin, Sr.
WR - Dakarai Anderson, Perry, Sr.
WR - Antavious Murphy, Bainbridge, Sr.
TE - Jiquavious Marshall, Westside (Macon), Sr.
OL - Amare Grayson, Stockbridge, Sr.
OL - Jycel Mosley, LaGrange, Sr.
OL - Zach Pearson, New Hampstead, Sr.
OL - Jayden Todd, West Laurens, Sr.
OL - Jacobe Ward, Benedictine, Jr.
ATH - Taeo Todd, Troup, Sr.
K - Max Prozny, Starr’s Mill, Sr.
Defense
DL - Hevin Brown-Shuler, Pace Academy, Sr.
DL - Cam Matthews, Trinity Christian, Sr.
DL - Tyler Moore, Luella, Sr.
DL - Jacobi Murray, Holy Innocents', Sr.
LB - Wilkes Albert, Benedictine, Sr.
LB - Qua Birdsong, Troup, Sr.
LB - Jordan Burns, Pace Academy, Sr.
LB - Tavion Wallace, Wayne County, Jr.
DB - Noah Dixon, Troup, Sr.
DB - Zach Jackson, Holy Innocents', Sr.
DB - Terrence Kiel II, Pace Academy, Sr.
DB - Tae Harris, Cedartown, Jr.
P - Carson Wilkie, Westminster, 5-9, 164, Sr.
Coming Friday: Class 3A
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Jefferson's Sammy Brown, the consensus No. 2 linebacker prospect nationally, had 59 tackles and rushed for 1,449 and 21 touchdowns last season. (Photo courtesy of On3)
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Brown headlines top linebackers |
GHSF Daily’s rollout of the Georgia Power 100 continues today with linebackers. They include 247Sports’ and ESPN’s No. 1 LB prospect nationally, Jefferson’s Sammy Brown. The 100 are chosen primarily on high school production, though college potential also is considered.
*Qua Birdsong, Troup, Sr.: Birdsong (6-2, 195) had 81 tackles, 13 tackles for losses and four sacks for a 12-2 Class 4A team last season. He’s a rare two-time AJC and GACA first-team all-state player. A consensus top-400 national recruit, Birdsong committed to Central Florida in July.
*Sammy Brown, Jefferson, Sr.: Brown is the consensus No. 2 LB prospect nationally and No. 15 player overall. He had 59 tackles and rushed for 1,449 yards and 21 touchdowns for an 8-3 Class 5A team last season. He has more than 250 tackles and 3,000 rushing yards for his career. He is a former 400 meters and wrestling state champion. Brown committed to Clemson in June.
*Andrew Hines III, Woodward Academy, Sr.: Hines (6-1, 205) had 54 tackles, five sacks and a team-leading 11 tackles for losses for an 11-2 Class 6A team last season. A consensus top-750 national recruit and Woodward’s top LB prospect this century, he committed to Wake Forest in April.
*Grayson Hodges, North Cobb, Sr.: Hodges (5-11, 210) had 137 tackles, seven tackles for losses and five sacks for a 9-3 Class 7A team last season. Hodges committed to Air Force in June.
*Cole Mullins, Mill Creek, Sr.: Mullins (6-4, 240) had 58 tackles, 10 tackles for losses and six sacks for the Class 7A champions last season. A consensus top-750 national recruit, he committed to Notre Dame in April.
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*Jadon Perlotte, Buford, Jr.: Perlotte (6-3, 200) is the consensus No. 5 LB nationally among juniors, the highest among Georgia players. He had 33.5 tackles last season for an 11-1 Class 7A team. Perlotte committed to Georgia in December, but three 247Sports forecasters have predicted this month he’ll flip to Florida State.
*Devin Smith, Brunswick, Sr.: Smith (6-1, 220) had 40 solo tackles, 10 tackles for losses and six sacks in nine games for a 10-1 Class 6A team last season. He was the Region 2-6A defensive player of the year. Smith is a consensus top-600 national recruit with more than 30 offers.
*Montreze Smith, Carrollton, Sr.: Smith (5-11, 200) is the leading returning tackler for the Class 7A runner-up last season with 62 stops and 10.5 tackles for losses. A three-star recruit, Smith committed to Duke in June.
*Ashton Woods, Walton, Sr.: Woods (6-3, 210) had 128 tackles, 11 tackles for losses and five sacks for a 10-3 Class 7A team last season. He was his region’s defensive player of the year and made first-team AJC all-state. Three of Woods’ brothers have played college football, including current Georgia Tech wide receiver Dominic Blaylock. Woods committed to North Carolina in June.
*Brent Washington, Rockmart, Sr.: Washington (6-0, 225) had 112 tackles, 13 tackles for losses, 13 QB pressures and four forced fumbles for a 10-3 Class 2A team last season. He made first-team AJC all-state and was the Region 7-2A defensive player of the year. He has six mid-major offers.
Coming Friday: Defensive backs
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Class A Division II
The Maxwell Ratings, compiled by mathematician and Georgia High School Football Historians Association founder Loren Maxwell, have projected the region finishes of all 413 football-playing schools in the GHSA. The projections are based on historical scores, with the most recent season weighing most heavily. Teams that did unusually well, or poorly, in 2022 are projected to regress toward the mean. The ratings do not consider changes in player personnel or coaching staff. Below are Maxwell’s projections and a brief look at how Class A Division II shapes up in 2023.
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Coming Friday: GIAA and GAPPS |
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Longest-tenured: A-II
Chris Kelly has coached at his alma mater, Glascock County, for 22 seasons. He’s the longest-tenured Class A II coach at one school.
22 - Chris Kelley, Glascock Co.
17 - Don Norton, Johnson Co.
13 - Chris Kearson, ECI
12 - Matt Burleson, Telfair Co.
11 - James Leonard, Aquinas
9 - Dexter Copeland, Macon Co.
8 - Marleau Blount, Hancock Cent.
8 - Chris Kirksey, Marion Co.
8 - Darren Alford, Schley Co.
7 - Brad Gordon, Mt. Zion (Carroll)
6 - Richard Fendley, Bowdon
6 - Kurt Williams, Lanier Co.
6 - Keldrick Burke, Wilkinson Co.
5 - Russ Murray, Charlton Co.
5 - Don Tison Jr., Clinch Co.
5 - Bradley Warren, McIntosh Co. Academy
5 - Jack Harris, Terrell Co.
5 - Jason Roquemore, Towns Co.
5 - Rob Stowe, Wilcox Co.
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What was the only preseason No. 1 team to lose its 2022 opener? Hint: The same team reached the state finals. (Answer Friday)
Answer to Wednesday’s question: Houston County’s Jake Fromm (4.073 in 2015) and Warner Robins’ Dylan Fromm (4,374 in 2018) are the only brothers to pass for more than 4,000 yards in a season.
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The preseason scrimmage schedule is compiled by GHSF Daily and not maintained by the GHSA or any other organization. Please click here to make additions or report errors. Games in red are those updated or added since Wednesday's edition.
Today's games
Archer at Peachtree Ridge
Brookwood at Paulding Co.
Bryan Co. at Tattnall Co.
Cass at Cedartown
Cherokee Bluff at Morgan Co.
Coahulla Creek at Gordon Central
Creekside at Westlake
Dooly Co. at Dougherty
Eastside at Monroe Area
Gainesville at Milton
Groves at Glenn Hills (GHM)
Lamar Co. at Central, Macon (ED)
Jackson Co. at East Jackson
McNair at South Atlanta (HA)
Meadowcreek at Alpharetta
Mount Zion, Carroll at Bremen
Northeast at Swainsboro
Northside, Columbus at Heard Co.
Redan at Salem
Ringgold vs. Soddy Daisy, Tenn. (TC)
Riverdale at Douglass (L)
Rockmart at Rome
Savannah Country Day at Islands
Union Grove at Starr's Mill
Wesleyan at Walnut Grove
Westfield at Wilcox Co.
Friday's games
Alexander at Carrollton
Ashley Ridge, S.C. at Camden Co.
Adairsville at Trion
Allatoona at Kennesaw Mountain
Arabia Mountain at Alcovy
Athens Academy at Westminster
B.E.S.T. Academy at Landmark Christian
Baconton at Terrell Academy
Baldwin at Jackson
Banks Co. at Lumpkin Co.
Blessed Trinity at Oconee Co.
Brantley Co. at Frederica Academy
Butler at Hephzibah
Carver, Atlanta at Decatur
Carver, Columbus at Lee Co.
Central Gwinnett at Seckinger
Charlton Co. at Berrien
Chattahoochee Co. at Brookstone
Chattooga at Ridgeland
Claxton at Portal
Clinch Co. at Pierce Co.
Columbus at Marion Co.
Columbia at LaGrange
Commerce at Holy Innocents’
Community Christian at Walker
Creekview at Cherokee
Cross Creek at Lincoln Co.
Dade Co. at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe
Darlington at Sumter Co.
Drew at Forest Park (SC)
Duluth at Osborne
ECI at Fitzgerald
Etowah at Sprayberry
Flint River Academy at Jordan (OS)
Forsyth Central at Pope
GMC Prep at Montgomery Co.
George Walton at Mount Paran Christian
Glascock Co. at Jenkins Co.
Gordon Lee at Coosa
Greene Co. at Putnam Co.
Hapeville Charter at Chattahoochee
Hardaway at Manchester
Harlem at Grovetown
Harris Co. at Upson-Lee
Harrison at East Paulding
Harvester Christian at Greenville
Houston Co. at Mary Persons
Hughes at North Gwinnett
Jasper Co. at Crawford Co.
Jeff Davis at Atkinson Co.
Jenkins at Liberty Co.
Johnson, Savannah at Lakeside, Evans
Jones Co. at Buford
KIPP Atlanta at New Manchester
Lafayette at Model
Lakeview Acad. at Lake Oconee Acad.
Macon Co. at Lanier
Marietta at Campbell
Marist at Jefferson
McDonough at Ola
McIntosh at Whitewater
McIntosh Co. Academy and Savannah Christian at Brunswick (jamboree)
Miller Co. at Deerfield-Windsor
Mount Bethel at Cherokee Christian
Mt. Pisgah Christ. at Providence Christ.
Mount Vernon at Prince Avenue Christian
Mountain View at South Gwinnett
Murray Co. at Southeast Whitfield (NW)
New Faith Christian at Piedmont Acad.
Newton at North Springs
North Cobb at Collins Hill
Northgate at Fayette Co.
Pelham at Worth Co., canceled
Pendleton, S.C. and Wren, S.C. vs. Madison Co. (at Hart. Co. jamboree)
Perry at Northside, W.R.
Pickens at Pepperell
Pike Co. at Hampton
Pinewood Christian at Brentwood
Powdersville, S.C. and T.L. Hanna, S.C. at Hart Co. (jamboree)
Rabun Co. at Bowdon
River Ridge at Wheeler
Rockdale Co. at Banneker
Roswell at Lambert
Rutland at Howard (ED)
Schley Co. at Irwin Co.
Seminole Co. at Shaw (K)
Shiloh at South Forsyth
Social Circle at Tattnall Square
Southwest at Laney
St. Anne-Pacelli at Southland Academy
St. Francis at King’s Ridge Christian
Statesboro at Long Co.
Stone Mountain at Johnson, Gainesville
Tift Co. at Lowndes
Tiftarea Acad. at SW Georgia Academy
Toombs Co. at Benedictine (SM)
Union Co. at Chestatee
Valdosta at Thomasville
Valwood at Hawkinsville
Villa Rica at Haralson Co.
Ware Co. at Cairo
Warren Co. at Telfair Co.
Washington Co. at Jefferson Co.
West Hall at Oglethorpe Co.
West Laurens at First Presbyterian
Westside, Augusta at Greenbrier
Westside, Macon at Bleckley Co.
White Co. at East Forsyth
Windsor Forest at Bradwell Institute
Woodland, Cartersville at Lassiter
Woodland, Stockbridge at Chapel Hill
Woodward Academy at GAC
Stadium abbreviations: ((ED) Ed Defore; GHM) Glenn Hills Middle School; (HA) Henderson-Atlanta; (K) Kinnett; (L) Lakewood; (NW) Northwest Whitfield High School (OS) Odis Spencer; (SC) Southern Crescent; (SM) Savannah Memorial; (TC) University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
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Class A Division II
Number of hires: 16
Best hire: Frank Barden, Christian Heritage
Hardest to replace: Sid Fritts, Washington-Wilkes
Best job: Washington-Wilkes
Toughest job: Central (Talbotton)
Most interesting: Alex Bradford was Lincoln County’s starting split end on two Class A championship teams under Larry Campbell in 2005-06. Now he’s now coaching the enemy – Washington-Wilkes – the team that Lincoln County defeated in one of those championship games. Washington-Wilkes promoted Bradford from offensive coordinator to replace Sid Fritts, who retired from Washington-Wilkes in May. Fritts is one of 11 coaches in GHSA history to win region titles at four schools. The first three came at Vidalia, Rome and Elbert County. Fritts also won a region title at Sequatchie County in Tennessee. Only the great T. McFerrin won region titles at more than four schools.
Region 1
*Baconton Charter hired Mitchell County Middle assistant Jermaine King to replace David Bell, who became head coach at Pataula Charter. King had spent six years on Mitchell County’s staff as defensive coordinator through three region titles. Baconton has won one game each of the past three seasons, playing a non-region schedule in two of them.
*Early County promoted offensive coordinator Frank Killingsworth to replace Joel Harvin, who became head coach at Putnam County. Killingsworth has been on Early’s staff for nine seasons. He’s a former head coach at Miller County (2007-13) and Calhoun County (1993-95) and won region titles at both. Early County was 33-32 in six seasons under Harvin, who went out with a 9-4 quarterfinal finish and region title.
*Miller County hired Pataula Charter coach Daniel McFather to replace Nate George, who remained at the school as a teacher. McFather has been head coach at Pataula (2002), Southwest Georgia (2017-21), Randolph-Clay (2009-16), Lanier County (2001-08) and Henry County (1999-2000). McFather’s record is 116-130-1 despite inheriting only one team with more than two victories the previous season. That was Pataula, which he improved to 7-2 from 6-4. Miller County was 12-18 in George’s three seasons.
*Pataula Charter hired Baconton Charter coach David Bell to replace Daniel McFather, who became head coach at Miller County. Bell’s Baconton teams won one game each of the past three seasons. Miller County was 12-18 the past three seasons under George and 5-6 in 2022. Bell also was head coach the two previous season at his alma mater, Miller County.
Region 2
*Atkinson County hired Lowndes Middle coach and athletic director Bobby Jones to replace Carl McGowan, who remained as athletic director. Jones worked at Cook for 23 seasons, the last four (2015-2018) as head coach. His teams there were 21-24. He coached at Charlton County two seasons before going to Lowndes last year. Atkinson County was 18-32 the past six seasons under McGowan.
Region 3
None
Region 4
*Hawkinsville hired Jeff Davis defensive line coach Tim Suttles to replace Shane Williamson, now an assistant superintendent. Suttles spent 15 seasons at Montgomery County, where he was 19-13 as a head coach in 2019-21. Hawkinsville was 11-29 in four seasons under Williamson and 3-7 in 2022.
*Treutlen hired South Effingham assistant head coach Pat Collins to replace Steve Versprille, who is now East Laurens’ linebackers coach. Collins, noted for running the wing-T offense, has been a head coach at Bulloch Academy (2018-19), Southeast Bulloch (1995-96, 2010-16), Screven County (2006-09), Portal (2004-05) and Claxton (1998-99).
*Wheeler County hired Vidalia defensive coordinator Britt Ingle to replace Thomas Smith, who became head coach at Dodge County. Ingle was Wheeler County’s coach from 1997 to 2003 and Treutlen’s coach from 2004 to 2017. Ingle’s 1999 Wheeler County team is the only one in program history to win a playoff game. The Bulldogs were 5-6 in 2022 and made the playoffs for the first time in six years.
Region 5
*GMC Prep hired Pepperell offensive coordinator Bobby Rhoades to replace Lee Coleman, who became head coach at Lakeview Academy. Rhoades was on Pepperell’s staff five seasons and coached prior in five other states. Those travels include college stops at Delta State, Tusculum, Central Arkansas and Illinois State. He has been a head coach in Alabama at Kate Duncan Smith DAR and Grissom. GMC was 23-20 in three seasons under Coleman, whose new job puts him in his Gainesville hometown.
*Twiggs County promoted Patrick Wray as interim coach to replace Iradé Perry, who now works as a counselor at Macon County and is not coaching. Twiggs County has won four games since 2017 and dropped football during the 2020 COVID season.
*Wilkinson County promoted offensive line coach Terrell Holt, an alumnus, as interim coach to replace Keldrick Burke, who was named East Laurens’ principal last week. Holt joined Wilkinson County’s staff in 2019 out of college. Burke was the GHSF Daily Improvement Tracker coach of the year last season in Class A Division II after leading the Warriors to a 7-5 finish, their best season in 10 years.
Region 6
*Central (Talbotton) hired Chattahoochee County assistant coach and head boys basketball coach Andrew Hall to replace Chris Cowart, who is now Veterans’ defensive line coach. Hall had been Central’s basketball coach for 19 seasons through 17 playoff appearances. Central is 0-25 since 2020.
*Chattahoochee County hired Suwanee (Fla.) offensive coordinator Josh Jacobson to replace Ryan McKenzie, who became head coach at Hardaway. Jacobson had joined the Panthers’ staff this spring as offensive coordinator before the promotion. He’s been an offensive coordinator at Cook and Bacon County in Georgia and Baker County, Milton and Suwanee in Florida. He began his coaching career in 2002 as a student assistant defensive line coach at alma mater Eastern Michigan in his home state. Chattahoochee County was 5-6 in McKenzie’s lone season. Despite a 94-88 all-time record, Chattahoochee County has hired nine coaches in the program’s 18-season history.
*Greenville promoted longtime assistant Robert Sanders to replace Alexander Ogletree, who is now Northgate’s running backs coach. Greenville was 2-7 in his lone season.
Region 7
*Christian Heritage hired St. Francis coach Frank Barden to replace Jay Poag, who became head coach at Pine Lake Prep near Charlotte. Barden led St. Francis to the Class A Division I semifinals and a 10-4 record last season. The Alpharetta private school had won only one playoff game in its 12 previous seasons. Barden also won a state title at Cartersville in 1999, and his 216 victories are sixth among active GHSA coaches. Christian Heritage was 37-45 in seven seasons under Poag and 5-7 last season.
Region 8
*Washington-Wilkes promoted offensive coordinator Alex Bradford to replace Sid Fritts, who retired. Bradford is a former Lincoln County player who won two state titles under coach Larry Campbell and coached at his alma mater from 2011 to 2017, the last three years as offensive coordinator. He worked at Cairo for a season before coming to Washington-Wilkes in 2019. Washington-Wilkes was 26-9 in three seasons under Fritts and 8-4 in 2022.
Coming Friday: GIAA
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Today’s interviewee is Bowdon coach Rich Fendley, whose team won Class A Division II last season for the school’s first state championship since 1992. Bowdon is 39-11 the past four years after going 1-9 in Fendley’s first season.
Rich Fendley, Bowdon head coach
1. Looking back on the 2022 season one more time, what was the legacy of that team and season? “The legacy for the 2022 team was being etched as one of the top three teams in school history of a storied program that has three state titles and 20 region championships. It was the first title in 30 years. Several teams had come close, but the 2022 team finally got it done. The most memorable moments were, No. 1, the big win on the road 23-16 to a semifinal team St. Francis without our quarterback, Robert McNeal; No. 2, being down 19-0 in the quarterfinals to Early County and coming back to win 36-26; and No. 3, the state championship win at Center Parc Stadium 39-31 over Schley County.”
2. What's the scouting report on this year's team? “We think we are deeper and have more skill-position depth than we have had in the last six years. Our top four wide receivers return. Two of our three running backs return. We have two really good quarterbacks competing for the job. Our areas of concern are our OL/DL positions, where graduation hit us hard.”
3. You have two experienced transfer quarterbacks who will take over for McNeal. What can you tell us about them? “One is a four-year starter from Alabama, Kyler McGrinn. He is 195 pounds. He is a powerful runner but has nice touch on the ball. The other is Devan Powell. We were 14-1 last year, and he was the quarterback on the opposing team that beat us [Central of Carrollton]. He has a strong arm and a knack for knowing when to tuck it and run. Both quarterbacks looked good in our opening scrimmage.”
4. What helped bring Bowdon back to being a state contender from that 1-9 finish in your first year? [Bowdon was 2-8 the year before.] “First, our board of education and administration at our school put athletics right up there with academics. They see the importance of being good at both. Secondly, our strength program we feel is second to none. It is one of the most important components of a football team. Our kids love to lift, they get bigger, and then they play physical on Friday nights. Lastly, the great relationships between our players and coaches. Our players know we love them. This allows us to coach them hard and stay on them about doing things the right way and in return our players give us their best effort during the week at practice and on Friday nights. What I have learned is that morale and relationships are important, and if I had to pick a single turning point of the program, it was the first year in 2018 when we were 0-9. The kids were still playing hard, and I remember telling the seniors that their senior night would leave a huge impact on future teams, that they could still leave a legacy at Bowdon. We won that game 14-7, and after that I think we won seven or eight in a row before we lost another one. In 2019, we were ranked No. 2 in the state for most of the year and made it to the second round of the playoffs and have consistently had a good football team since.”
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About Us
Georgia High School Football Daily is a free e-mail newsletter produced and owned by Todd Holcomb and Chip Saye. Holcomb is a former lead high school football writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and co-founder of the Georgia High School Football Historians Association. Saye is a 38-year veteran of the newspaper industry who has covered high school sports for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Athens Banner-Herald, Anderson (S.C.) Independent-Mail and Gwinnett Daily News.
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