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Monday, April 14, 2008
The Great High School Football State Debate: Who’s producing top players?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Where is the best high school football played? I’m talking states now, not North Georgia vs. South Georgia.
I’ve been thinking about that since last week, when there was a little back-and-forth on the blog with a fan from Texas, who felt that Georgia played decent football, but nothing that should be compared to what takes place in the Longhorn State. So I did a little research in an attempt to quantify this and came up with some lists.
The first is the number of players by state who signed with ACC or SEC schools in February. I added those numbers myself. (Don’t want you to think I’m lazy.) I’d like to add the other four BCS conferences and do this nationwide so that we can compare Georgia and Texas. I’ll try to have that by tomorrow. It could be very interesting.
Below that list I’ve got the number of NFL players per state, then the number of NFL players per state PER CAPITA.
NFL players aren’t the best measure of the strength of high school football by state, but my per-capita list makes a definitive statement about what region of the country has the most football talent. Hint: The Atlanta Journal once covered it like the dew. OK, to the lists …
Kick off the debate: Where IS the best high school football played? Check out Todd’s lists below, then tell us what you think.
States with the most SEC/ACC signees in February
(Florida has twice the population as Georgia; I hear that Florida has a couple of hundred more senior citizens)
Florida: 118
Georgia: 71
Alabama: 43
Virginia: 39
South Carolina: 32
North Carolina: 29
Louisiana: 23
Arkansas: 14
Maryland: 14
New Jersey: 11
California: 10
Pennsylvania: 10
Ohio: 9
Kentucky: 8
Mississippi: 7
States with the most NFL players
California: 198
Texas: 173
Florida: 169
Georgia: 84
Ohio: 65
Pennsylvania: 65
Louisiana: 62
Virginia: 56
North Carolina: 53
South Carolina: 49
Mississippi: 47
Illinois: 47
Alabama: 46
States with the most NFL players PER CAPITA
Mississippi
Louisiana
South Carolina
Florida
Alabama
Georgia
Texas
Virginia
Hawaii
North Carolina
(Don’t let Hawaii fool you. It is the most Southern state in the U.S., for what it’s worth.)
Kick off the debate: Where IS the best high school football played? Do you buy Todd’s NFL per capita regional argument or are you sold on the strict state-by-state stats? Or do you just say “MY state. Duh”? Tell us.
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Spring Football Fling: Roswell faces season of rebuilding under new coach
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
THE SPRING FOOTBALL FLING In upcoming weeks, teams throughout the state will spend 10 days on the practice field preparing for the 2008 football season. In a series of stories, ajc.com will provide an offseason outlook for 25 of the top teams in the metro and state.
This Week’s Lineup
Mon: Roswell • Tues: Norcross • Weds: Walton • Thurs: Harrison
• Fri: Camden Co. • Sat: Newnan • Sun: Stephenson
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Roswell in ‘08? Still an elite program or in a rebuilding year? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
Roswell: Replace, rebuild, rebound while retaining respect
Roswell’s football team will take the field for spring workouts next month without 31 players who graduated. That should be challenge enough. But it also appears the program will begin those workouts without a head coach.
Tim McFarlin unexpectedly resigned two weeks ago, and although receivers coach John Coen has been put in charge of football operations, he, athletics director Mike Power and principal Ed Spurka continued interviewing for McFarlin’s replacement last week.
“The program’s going to continue being in great shape,” McFarlin said. “It was in great shape when I inherited it [10 years ago], and it will be next fall.”
The Hornets will be playing for a ninth consecutive winning season, a sixth straight playoff appearance, a chance to match their region titles of 2000 and ‘05 and a 2006 Class AAAAA state co-championship with Peachtree Ridge.
Every coach since the program began in the GHSA in the 1950s has been promoted from within, and Spurka said a new head coach likely will come from Roswell’s current staff. With offensive coordinator Gary Varner having accepted a head coaching job at Allatoona, a new school in Cobb County, defensive coordinator Leo Barker is believed to be the Hornets’ frontrunner.
“Leo’s the main reason we won that state championship,” McFarlin said. “He’d do a great job [as head coach].”
The new coach will be challenged to replace key players, including three-year quarterback Dustin Taliaferro, who signed with Samford, and running back Alex Daniel, who signed with Northwestern. Also gone are kicker Jim Broadway, who is playing at Miami of Ohio; defensive end Curtis Hazelton, who is at Duke; and linebacker Ebele Okakpu, who is at North Carolina.
Roswell Hornets
Region 6-AAAAA • Photos
Spring practice dates: May 6-20.
Last season’s record: 10-3, lost in state quarterfinals to Lowndes County, 31-20.
Reclassification challenge: Does not apply.
Working on: Despite the abrupt resignation of McFarlin and the graduation of 31 players, the Hornets are seeking to continue continuity from the last two seasons, when they shared a Class AAAAA championship with Peachtree Ridge and reached the quarterfinals against Lowndes.
Key starters lost: OL - Travis Dupart, 6-2, 250, (Valdosta State); K - Broadway, 6-0, 170, (Miami of Ohio); RB - Daniel, 5-11, 200, (Northwestern); WR - Garrett Embry, 6-3, 210, (Oregon); DE - Hazelton, 6-2, 255, (Duke); FS - LaVelle Larry, 6-0, 205, (); LB - Okakpu, 6-2, 210, (North Carolina); QB - Taliaferro 6-3, 205, (Samford)
Key players returning: OT - Cade Yates, Sr., (6-1, 275); FB - Emmerson Plantico, Sr., (5-11, 230); WR - Donnovan Bennett, Sr., (5-11, 165), WR - Tailor Jones, Jr. (6-0, 170); WR/S - Keegan Hughes, Jr., (6-0, 175); DE - Foo Dorsett, Jr., (6-0, 245); NG - Brayden Knudson, Jr. (5-10, 250), CB - Tyler Watson, So. (6-0, 170)
2008 strengths: Speed should again be plentiful, particularly offensively, with Plantico in the offensive backfield and Jones, Bennett and Hughes as wideouts. Like last season, when the Hornets allowed only 11 points a game, defensive speed should be key as well.
2008 weaknesses: Interim head coach Coen will have to find replacements for offensive linemen Travis Dupart, Brandon Reynolds, Tyler Lippincott and Matt Cobb, as well as a linebacking group depleted by the loss of Okakpu, Zach Waddell and Kyle Gruskowski. A huge vacancy remains at quarterback.
This season’s projection: Promoting its new head coach from within, as it has for roughly 50 years, might go far toward extending the Hornets’ run of eight playoff appearances and two region championships in McFarlin’s 10 seasons. The cupboard is not bare. There is considerable talent coming up from last season’s dominant junior varsity and freshmen programs.
You make the call: What’s the buzz on Roswell in ‘08? Still an elite program or in a rebuilding year? Games start in August. Talk starts NOW.
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