Jammie Robinson, the Class AAAAAA defensive player of the year last season after leading Lee County to its second consecutive state football championship, will be playing for South Carolina in the fall.
Jadin Daniels, the offensive player of the year in the classification, also completed his high school career when his Northside-Warner Robins team lost to Lee County in the state final.
Robinson and Daniels aren’t the only big names that won’t be back next season. Of the 21 players who were named either player of the year, offensive player of the year or defensive player of the year in their regions last year, only one – Valdosta quarterback Tate Rodemaker – was not a senior.
So, the 2019 season presents an opportunity for the rising seniors to step into starring roles. Here’s a look at some of the highest-rated senior prospects in each of the eight Class AAAAAA regions. The ratings come from the 247Sports Composite rankings unless otherwise noted.
Region 1
*Top-rated rising senior: Houston County’s Wesley Steiner (5 feet, 11.5 inches and 220 pounds) is the No. 21 player in Georgia and the No. 13 “athlete” nationally. Playing running back and linebacker for the Bears last season, Steiner had 269 yards of total offense and recorded 42 tackles (seven for losses) and a blocked punt on defense. Steiner has received a reported six offers, including Alabama.
*Others in the Georgia top 100: Valdosta ATH Jaheim Bell (No. 38), Valdosta QB Tate Rodemaker (No. 95)
*2018 player of the year: QB Jadin Daniels, Northside
*2018 offensive player of the year: QB Tate Rodemaker, Valdosta
*2018 defensive player of the year: NG Anthony Harvey, Lee County
Region 2
*Top-rated rising senior: The five teams in Region 2 don’t have a senior among the state’s top 100 on the major recruiting lists, but they do bring back a lot of talent, particularly at running back, where first-team all-region selections Jalen Rouse (Richmond Hill), Desmond Howard (Effingham County) and Nolan Grant (Glynn Academy) return. Eleven juniors made first-team all-region last year.
*Others in the Georgia top 100: None
*2018 player of the year: RB Kevin Harris, Bradwell Institute
*2018 offensive player of the year: QB Vencent Gilbert, Bradwell Institute
*2018 defensive player of the year: DL Marlon Taylor, Glynn Academy
Region 3
*Top-rated rising senior: The six teams in Region 3 don’t have a senior among the 247Sports Composite top 100 in Georgia, but Grovetown’s Simeon Barrow is ranked No. 88 in the state by Rivals.com. Barrow, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound defensive end, was named first-team all-region after recording 80 tackles (31 for losses) and 15 sacks for a playoff team. He has not made a college decision.
*Others in the Georgia top 100: None
*2018 player of the year: WR Devron Harper, Heritage-Conyers
*2018 offensive player of the year: RB Jonquavous Brown, Grovetown
*2018 defensive player of the year: LB Bryce Atchison, Greenbrier
Region 4
*Top-rated rising senior: Stephenson’s Javier Morton, a 6-foot-2, 197-pound safety, is the state’s No. 17 overall prospect and the No. 10 player at his position nationally. Morton recorded 63 total tackles (34 solo), two interceptions, two fumbles caused, one fumble recovery and two pass break-ups during his junior season, when the Jaguars went 9-2. He committed to Alabama as a sophomore.
*Others in the Georgia top 100: Tucker CB Isaiah Dunson (No. 30), Mount Zion-Jonesboro LB Kameron Wilson (No. 66), Stephenson RB Deondre Jackson (No. 68), Morrow ATH Jimmy Calloway (No. 38)
*2018 offensive player of the year: WR Dayton Wade, Lovejoy
*2018 defensive player of the year: DE Justin Eboigbe, Forest Park
Region 5
*Top-rated rising senior: Creekside’s Tyson Meiguez, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound outside linebacker, is the No. 51 player in Georgia and the No. 39 player at his position nationally. He was the leading tackler for the Seminoles last season with 118 (nine for losses), with an interception, a fumble recovery and three caused fumbles. Meiguez has a reported 24 offers, including Georgia Tech and Tennessee.
*Others in the Georgia top 100: Mays DE JaQuari Wiggles (No. 67), Creekside CB Rashad Battle (No. 85)
*2018 player of the ear: DE Mataio Soli, Douglas County
*2018 offensive player of the year: QB Lazarus Anderson, Creekside
*2018 defensive player of the year: DL Antonio Watkins, Hughes
Region 6
*Top-rated rising senior: Creekview offensive tackle John Williams (6-5, 270) is the No. 35 senior in Georgia and the No. 32 player at his position nationally. He helped paved the way for region offensive player of the year Cade Radam and a team that averaged 35 points per game, won a school-record 12 games and reached the quarterfinals for the first time. Williams has committed to Clemson.
*Others in the Georgia top 100: Dalton RB Jahmyr Gibbs (No. 64), Sprayberry DE Marlon Krakue (No. 77)
*2018 offensive player of the year: RB Cade Radam, Creekview
*2018 defensive player of the year: FS Andy Davis, Creekview
Region 7
*Top-rated rising senior: There are no seniors from Region 7 among the state’s top 100, but the region claims the state’s top overall player from the Class of 2021. Centennial’s Julian Nixon, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound wide receiver, saw limited action as a sophomore but is ranked No. 2 at his position among rising juniors nationally. Auburn, Florida and Georgia are among his 12 reported offers.
*Others in the Georgia top 100: None
*2018 offensive player of the year: QB Max Brosmer, Centennial
*2018 defensive player of the year: DE Miles Younger, Johns Creek, Sr.
Region 8
*Top-rated rising senior: Phillip Webb of Lanier is the state’s top AAAAAA prospect. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound outside linebacker is ranked No. 58 nationally and No. 7 in Georgia. Webb was a first-team all-state pick after recording 86 tackles (20 for losses), 10.5 sacks and 27 QB hurries in 2018, when the Longhorns reached the semis. His reported leaders are Alabama, Auburn and Clemson.
*Others in the Georgia top 100: Gainesville OT Jordan Williams (No. 88), Gainesville DE Makius Scott (No. 100).
*2018 player of the year: QB Tre Luttrell, Habersham Central
*2018 offensive player of the year: Trenton Jones, Dacula
*2018 defensive player of the year: Kameron Brown, Lanier
