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Classes AAA - A: Todd Holcomb’s 2008 Super 11 football rankings
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Someone suggested recently that we do a Super 11 for each classification. Given the response we got to the all-class Super 11 debate, that’s probably a good idea. Let’s keep the momentum going. My Class AAAAA-AAAA Super 11 rankings have already been posted. You can see them here. And the all-class Super 11 is still up for debate, too.
Below are my rankings of the best 11 players in Classes AAA-A. These aren’t official AJC rankings, just my own. And while I took the job seriously, I didn’t take three weeks to do it, so you might find me second-guessing myself. The rankings are based on all-state teams and recruiting rankings and comparing that to what I’ve seen and heard from coaches, sportswriters and fans.
TODD’S SUPER 11 PICKS
Class AAA
1. Johnnie Farms, Perry (OL)
2. Darren Myles Jr., Carver-Atlanta (QB/DB)
3. Jarvis Jones, Carver-Columbus (LB)
4. Branden Smith, Washington (DB)
5. Qua Huzzie, LaGrange (LB)
6. Donovan Tate, Cartersville (DB)
7. Chris Burnette, Troup (OL)
8. Corico Hawkins, Baldwin (LB)
9. Chase Vasser, Chestatee (LB)
10. Zach Mettenberger, Oconee County (QB)
11. DeAngelo Pease, Cairo (QB)
Class AA
1. Rashard Smith, Dublin (DB)
2. Jamal Patterson, Henry County (WR)
3. Dallas Lee, Buford (DL)
4. Drew Little, Henry County (QB)
5. Eric McDaniel, Calhoun (DT)
6. Shawn Williams, Early County (DB)
7. Justin Beasley, Banks County (RB)
8. Ricky Hart, Charlton County (L)
9. Chris Crenshaw, Jefferson County (DE)
10. C’Reon Arnold, Cook (LB)
11. Michael Ozment, Pepperell (OL)
Class A
1. Washaun Ealey, ECI (RB)
2. Dominique Ellis, Clinch County (WR)
3. Dexter Moody, ECI (LB)
4. J.C. Lanier, ECI (L)
5. Trey Miller, Whitefield Academy (QB)
6. Tanner Bryant, Landmark Christian (QB)
7. Jatoyaus Jones, Lincoln County (WR/DB)
8. Deondrick Pina, Schley County (QB/CB)
9. Tytus Baynes, Social Circle (DL)
10. McKay Matthews, Athens Academy (WR)
11. William Pearl, Our Lady of Mercy (QB)
And now AJC high schools writer Derrick Mahone has listed his Class AAA-A Super 11 picks:
MAHONE’S SUPER 11 PICKS
Class AAA
1. Darren Myles Jr., Carver-Atlanta
2. Jarvis Jones, Carver-Columbus
3. Branden Smith, Washington
4. Donavan Tate, Cartersville
5. Michael Bowman, Ridgeland
6. DeAngelo Pease, Cairo
7. Chris Burnette, Troup
8. Corrico Hawkins, Baldwin
9. LeRon Furr, Carver-Columbus
10. Brandon Watts, Washington County
11. Qua Huzzie, LaGrange
Class AA
1. Jamal Patterson, Henry County
2. Rashard Smith, Dublin
3. Dallas Lee, Buford
4. Drew Little, Henry County
5. Michael Ozment, Pepperell
6. Eric McDaniel, Calhoun
7. Chris Crenshaw, Jefferson
8. Michael Henley, Cook County
9. Shawn Williams, Early County
10. Justin Beasley, Banks County
11. C’Reon Arnold, Cook County
Class A
1. Washaun Ealey, ECI
2. Dexter Moody, ECI
3. Deondrick Pina, Schley County
4. Tanner Bryant, Landmark Christian
5. Jatoyaus Jones, Lincoln County
6. J.C. Lanier, ECI
7. McKay Matthews, Athens Academy
8. Tytus Baynes, Social Circle
9. William Pearl, Our Lady of Mercy
10. Dominique Ellis, Clinch County
11. Antonio Marshall, Wilcox County
HOT OR NOT: PHOTOS
• Rate Todd & Derrick’s Class AAA-A Super 11 picks!
• Rate Todd’s Class AAAAA-AAAA Super 11 picks!
• Vote for YOUR all-class Super 11 picks!
Kick off the debate: You’ve seen Todd’s and Mahone’s Class AAA-A Super 11 picks. Now let’s see yours. And what do you think of their lists?
Permalink | Comments (37) | Post your comment | Categories: Extra Point
How can Georgia high school sports teams combat high gas prices?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Extra Point blogger Todd Holcomb talked to GHSA and Georgia school officials about the problem of continually rising gas prices and its impact on the state’s high school sports programs. Georgia High School Association Executive Director Ralph Swearngin says future region reclassification aimed at lessening away game trips isn’t off the table. Tennessee has adopted a plan for football that groups bigger schools with smaller schools. Arkansas is considering combining its highest two classifications for similar reasons.
“Do we have to do something drastic? If we don’t, I’m not sure we’ll be out there traveling,” Earl Etheridge, chairman of the GHSA’s reclassification and football committees, says. Holcomb notes: “The average price of diesel fuel, which powers school buses that get only 6-10 miles per gallon, is now around $4.65 — 34 percent higher than the $3.48 average for the ‘07-08 school year. It was only $2.85 when school started last August, according to the Energy Information Administration.”
Kick off the debate: If you could devise a plan for the GHSA aimed at helping schools save on gas costs, what would it be? Are you opposed to Georgia adopting a Tennessee-like plan that pits large schools against smaller schools close by? Should Classes AAAAA and AAAA be combined, as Arkansas is considering? And what about title games? Should any championships still be played in a single arena (i.e., the Georgia Dome, Gwinnett Arena or Macon Centreplex)?
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Classes AAAAA and AAAA: Todd Holcomb’s Super 11 rankings
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Someone suggested last week that we do a Super 11 for each classification. Given the response we got to the all-class Super 11 debate, that’s probably a good idea. Let’s keep the momentum going.
Below are my rankings of the best 11 players in Classes AAAAA and AAAA. These aren’t official AJC rankings, just my own. And while I took the job seriously, I didn’t take three weeks to do it, so you might find me second-guessing myself. The rankings are based on all-state teams and recruiting rankings and comparing that to what I’ve seen and heard from coaches, sportswriters and fans.
Next week, we’ll spotlight Classes AAA-A so check back right here to debate my Super 11 picks and suggest your own. And the all-class Super 11 is still up for debate, too.
TODD’S SUPER 11 PICKS
Class AAAAA
1. Greg Reid, Lowndes (RB/DB)
2. Abry Jones, Northside-WR (DL)
3. Joel Kight, MLK (RB/LB)
4. Kevin Minter, Peachtree Ridge (LB)
5. Michael Tamburo, North Gwinnett (QB)
6. Andre Harris, Lovejoy (OL)
7. Alan Bonner, Newnan (WR)
8. Nigel Thornton-Mitchell, Stephenson (LB)
9. Derrick Lott, North Cobb (DL)
10. Mike Gilliard, Valdosta (LB)
11. Gerald Demps, Lowndes (DB)
Class AAAA
1. Jonathan Davis, Tucker (LB/RB)
2. Braxton Lane, Sandy Creek (WR)
3. Danny Madison, Westside-Macon (WR)
4. Drayton Calhoun, Tucker (RB)
5. Julian Burnett, Westside-Macon (LB)
6. Anthony Caldwell, Douglas County (QB)
7. Warren Norman, Chamblee (RB)
8. Jimmy Staten, Ware County (L)
9. Myer Nolan, Mays (DB)
10. Jeremy Boyd, Ware County (DL)
11. Darius McKeller, Jonesboro (TE)
And now AJC high schools writer Derrick Mahone has listed his Class AAAAA and AAAA Super 11 picks:
MAHONE’S SUPER 11 PICKS
Class AAAAA
1. Greg Reid, Lowndes (RB/DB)
2. Abry Jones, Northside-WR (DL)
3. Joel Kight, MLK (RB/LB)
4. Kevin Minter, Peachtree Ridge (LB)
5. Mike Gilliard, Valdosta (LB)
6. Andre Harris, Lovejoy (OL)
7. Nigel Thornton-Mitchell, Stephenson (LB)
8. Chance Warmack, Westlake (OG)
9. Jonathan Atchison, Douglass (LB)
10. Gerald Demps, Lowndes (DB)
11. D.J. Adams, Norcross (RB)
Class AAAA
1. Jonathan Davis, Tucker (LB/RB)
2. Braxton Lane, Sandy Creek (WR)
3. Danny Madison, Westside-Macon (WR)
4. Drayton Calhoun, Tucker (RB)
5. Julian Burnett, Westside-Macon (LB)
6. Emmanuel Lartey, Banneker (CB)
7. Warren Norman, Chamblee (RB)
8. Jimmy Staten, Ware County (L)
9. Emmanuel Dieke, North Clayton (DE)
10. Myer Nolan, Mays (DB)
11. Darius McKeller, Jonesboro (TE)
HOT OR NOT: PHOTOS
• Rate Todd’s Class AAAAA-AAAA Super 11 picks!
• Vote for YOUR all-class Super 11 picks!
Kick off the debate: You’ve seen Todd’s Class AAAAA and AAAA Super 11 picks. Now let’s see yours. And what do you think of Todd’s lists?
Permalink | Comments (77) | Post your comment | Categories: Extra Point
Who makes your 2008 AJC Super 11 squad?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
During the next three weeks, our staff will select the AJC’s 24th annual Super 11 football team.
We won’t announce the team until August, but we’ll have a tentative list of 11 in hand about a month before publication.
With the advent of the Extra Point blog, I want to do something different this year: Ask your opinion. Who do you think the Super 11 should be? Hot or Not photos: Vote for your Super 11 picks!
To get you thinking about it, let’s review a group of 11 that I mentioned in January. I’ve changed my mind on some of these guys. Let me know what you think.
• QB Zach Mettenberger, Oconee County: He’s a Top 100 recruit nationally by most accounts, but is he proven as a high school player? I want big-time recruits, but I also want guys who have been exceptional high school players before their senior seasons. The more I think about, the less I’m sure that Mettenberger fits that description, or that a “project” should be Super 11, no matter how he projects at the next level.
• QB/DB Rashard Smith, Dublin: Smith was The Associated Press defensive player of the year in Class AA, a phenomenal athlete, but I haven’t heard much from him on the recruiting front. He might be a tough sell now for the Super 11. What’s his story?
• QB Michael Tamburo, North Gwinnett: All-state first team as a junior in Class AAAAA, but no major offers. The opposite of Mettenberger, Tamburo might be another tough sell at this point, surprisingly.
• RB Washaun Ealey, ECI: Master Lock.
• WR Danny Madison, Westside-Macon: Made all-state as a junior, but few major offers yet. Jamal Patterson of Henry County is the highest-rated wide receiver, according to Scout.com. Madison’s Super 11 stock has fallen. Who are the best wide receivers?
• OL Andre Harris, Lovejoy: He has committed to Auburn since the January list. He was Rivals’ top-rated Georgia lineman in January. Scout now has Chris Burnette of LaGrange (a Georgia commit) and Johnnie Farms of Perry higher. It’s hard to know who’s a good lineman, unless you’re trying to get around him.
• DT Abry Jones, Northside-Warner Robins: Jones was all-state for a state championship team, and then he got his pick among virtually an ACC or SEC school, settling on Georgia. I can’t see him not making it.
• LB/RB Jonathan Davis, Tucker: Another all-state player. By the way, it’s not easy to make all-state as a junior. If you do it, you’re special. Media types and coaches favor seniors for those honors. Davis has a ton of college offers. He’s looking good.
• LB Jarvis Jones, Carver-Columbus: I’d put him in the Abry Jones category, another all-state guy for a state championship team. I figure he’ll be a terrific college player with his size.
• LB Joel Kight, M.L. King: The Class AAAAA defensive player of the year as a junior. No ACC or SEC offers. I don’t care, though. This guy can play.
• DB/RB Greg Reid, Lowndes: His team’s best player, committed to Florida, where he’ll likely play cornerback. There’s nothing not to like.
Kick off the debate: Who do you think should be on the AJC’s Super 11 team and why? Let us know what you think.
Hot or Not photos: Vote for your Super 11 picks!
Permalink | Comments (155) | Post your comment | Categories: Extra Point
Who’s headed to Georgia Coaches’ Hall of Fame?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Georgia Athletic Coaches Association inducted Bobby Gruhn of Gainesville, Oliver Hunnicutt of LaGrange and Jerry Sharp of East Rome and Darlington into its Hall of Fame earlier this month in Dalton.
That got me to thinking about which coaches, active and retired, will be inducted in the future.
I’ve broken it down into four lists below. Tell me what you think.
But first, let’s discuss the Class of 2008. Gruhn, Sharp and Hunnicutt are fine choices, but they make me wonder why they’ve made it and others have not.
For example, Gruhn was 256-102-5 in 30 seasons at Gainesville with no state titles. Compare that to Cedartown’s John Hill (254-89-5, no state titles) and Vidalia’s Buck Cravey (269-126-4, one state title).
Hill and Cravey are not in.
Should a state title be required? Newly retired Jim Dorsey of McEachern (237-78-1) likely will make it, but what about Danny Cronic of East Coweta (219-107-1)?
Or is it better to win four state titles in seven seasons, then retire, as Bill Corry (78-6) did in 1962 at Morgan County? The GACA requires a minimum 20 years of coaching.
Now let’s look at Sharp. He was 229-101-9 and won three state titles at two schools, an amazing record. Those East Rome teams of the 1970s were legendary.
But why isn’t Jim Hughes of Thomasville/Colquitt County in the Hall of Fame? Hughes (247-102-5) has more victories and a better winning percentage than Sharp and matched Sharp’s feat of winning three titles with two schools - except that Hughes’ three were in the highest classification.
And lastly, there’s Hunnicutt, who led LaGrange to titles in 1955 and 1958 and was 187-96-19 in an era when you could win state in just 12 games.
When you adjust for that, Hunnicutt’s career was comparable to Dale Williams at Waycross (230-122-3) and Alton Shell at Americus (208-107-2).
All three won about two-thirds of their games and a pair of state titles, but Hunnicutt is in the Hall of Fame and Shell and Williams are not.
OK, to the lists …
The 10 best candidates for the Hall of Fame (active): These are locks to make it.
- Larry Campbell, Lincoln County
- Robert Davis, Westside-Macon
- Luther Welsh, Thomson
- Alan Chadwick, Marist
- Conrad Nix, Northside-Warner Robins
- Ed Pilcher, Bainbridge
- Dwight Hochstetler, Bowdon
- Charlie Winslette, Gatewood School
- Buck Godfrey, Southwest DeKalb
- Rick Tomberlin, Valdosta
The 10 best non-locks for the Hall of Fame (active): You must coach at least 20 years in Georgia to be eligible. The first three are locks. The rest are working on their longevity.
- Rich McWhorter, Charlton County
- Cecil Flowe, Parkview
- Jeff Herron, Camden County
- Steve Pardue, LaGrange
- Randy McPherson, Lowndes
- Rayvan Teague, Carrollton
- Erik Soliday, Turner County
- Charlie Flowers, Dougherty
- Robby Pruitt, Fitzgerald
- Roger Holmes, Dublin
The 10 best candidates for the Hall of Fame (retired): The top two are locks; the bottom eight have credentials as good as some who already are in and probably will make it someday.
- T. McFerrin, South Gwinnett
- Dexter Wood, Buford
- Buck Cravey, Vidalia
- Jim Hughes, Colquitt County
- Jim Dorsey, McEachern
- Jack Johnson, Mitchell-Baker
- Dale Williams, Waycross
- John Hill, Cedartown
- Jim Cavan, R.E. Lee
- Jim Lofton, GAC
Five coaches from the GIA who should be in the Hall of Fame: Only two GIA coaches (DuPree of Laney and Arthur Mott of Tifton’s Wilson High) are in the Hall. But the two greatest black coaches of the GIA era — L.C. Baker of Washington and Odis Spencer of Spencer — are not.
- L.C. Baker, Washington
- Odis Spencer, Spencer
- Clarence Fisher, Center/Carver-Atlanta
- Stan Lomax, Risley
- T. Herman Graves, Howard
Permalink | Comments (83) | Post your comment | Categories: Extra Point
Latest comments
Figured my comments would get people riled up. I’m not from Metro, not from Gwinnett, not from up North. Just a person with an opinion like the rest of you. Believe it or not, they still do allow those in the USA. Like I said, some of those picked... read the full comment by TRUTH | Comment on Classes AAA - A: Todd Holcomb's 2008 Super 11 football rankings Read Classes AAA - A: Todd Holcomb's 2008 Super 11 football rankings
To: NTH TROJANS, Good to hear from you again. Hope your North Hall team does well again this season. As for LG, from a purely talent and experience standpoint, this 2008 LG team may be THE best I have ever seen from a talent standpoint. About 30 seniors.... read the full comment by slalom1 | Comment on Classes AAA - A: Todd Holcomb's 2008 Super 11 football rankings Read Classes AAA - A: Todd Holcomb's 2008 Super 11 football rankings
check lincoln county red devils record on nfl players... read the full comment by sag | Comment on Georgia high schools with the most NFL draftees since 1988 Read Georgia high schools with the most NFL draftees since 1988
slalom, Looks like it will either your Grangers or Cairo as preseason #1. I can’t wait till the season starts. Keep me updated on the players to watch for from LaGrange and the south Ga. schools, and I’ll do the same for you... read the full comment by NTH Trojans | Comment on Classes AAA - A: Todd Holcomb's 2008 Super 11 football rankings Read Classes AAA - A: Todd Holcomb's 2008 Super 11 football rankings