Jacurri Brown, Cody Brown, Daejon Reynolds and Micah Morris were first-team all-state players in Class AAAAAAA last season, but the rest of those highest-class first-teamers in the highest classification are graduating.
Who’ll fill their cleats?
Below are some of the best offensive players in the highest classification. The Class AAAAAAA will look at top defensive players next week.
If you want to weigh in on players who ought to be on this ''watch'' list, email GHSFDaily@bellsouth.net.
Quarterback – Jacurri Brown led Lowndes to a 14-1 finish in 2019 as a sophomore. He rushed for 1,559 yards and passed for 1,330. He's a four-star recruit rated the No. 5 dual-threat QB prospect nationally among rising juniors, according to 247Sports. Carlos Del Rio, a Florida commit, has transferred to Grayson from McEachern. He's also a dual-threat type. He passed for 1,792 yards and rushed for 572 last year. Denmark of Forsyth County is moving into AAAAAAA and bringing Aaron McLaughlin, a four-star recruit who threw for 1,997 yards last season. He's more of a pocket passer. Michael Maginnis of Newnan has several mid-major offers. He's also being recruited by Harvard. He threw for 1,717 yards and was Region 2's offensive player of the year. Sam Horn of Collins Hill, A.J. Swann of Cherokee and Brady Meitz of North Forsyth all passed for more than 2,000 yards last season. North Cobb has two quarterbacks with Division I offers - rising senior Trevor Lovett (pro style) and rising sophomore Malachi Singleton (dual threat).
Running back – Cody Brown of Parkview rushed for 1,676 yards in 2019, when he was a unanimous first-team all-state pick. Phil Mafah of Grayson has committed to Clemson. He was injured for part of 2019 and shared the ball with LaFayette Gurvin, who is graduating, so expect a big year from him. Camden County's Jamie Felix rushed for 767 yards in 10 games as a sophomore. He's the highest-rated RB prospect among rising juniors in Georgia, per 247Sports. Cam Cunningham of North Cobb rushed for 1,077 yards last season. Keith Adams Jr. of Cherokee is another returning 1,000-yard rusher. Renoldo Spivey of Archer had 1,066 all-purpose yards in 2019. Lowndes has a pair of excellent backs, Israel Mitchel and Justin Lee, who must share the carries with each other and their star quarterback, Jacurri Brown.
Tight end – Jack Nickel of Milton is a top-20 recruit in Georgia for rising juniors, according to 247Sports. He had 27 catches for 337 yards last year in an offense that didn't throw much. At 6-4, 230, he's a good blocker. Meanwhile, Devin McGlockton of South Forsyth had 38 receptions for 504 yards last season. He's 6-6 and was the Forsyth County News basketball player of the year. Other all-region tight ends returning are Armond Anderson of South Gwinnett, Samuel Kelly of Brookwood and Mallen Pope of Lowndes.
Wide receiver – All-state receiver Daejon Reynolds – who had 88 receptions for 1,534yards and 16 touchdowns in 2019 – has transferred to Grayson from Central Gwinnett. He's committed to Florida. Reynolds will team with Georgia Tech-committed Jamal Haynes to form the classification's best WR duo. Travis Hunter of Collins Hill had 49 receptions for 919 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore. He had another seven catches, defined as interceptions, while playing cornerback, his projected college position He's committed to Florida State. Harrison's Marques Owens had only 25 receptions, but for 743 yards (29.7 ypc) and nine touchdowns for a state-championship team. Lemeke Brockington caught 53 balls for 923 yards. He's got mid-major offers. Shawn Hardy of Camden County had 33 receptions for 562 yards and seven touchdowns. He's a three-star recruit with reported offers from LSU and Ohio State. Kojo Antwi of Lambert is rated a four-star recruit by 247Sports. He had 48 receptions for 679 yards and six touchdowns in just 10 games as a sophomore. Some other all-region receivers returning in 2020 are Josh Harris of Newnan (39-765), West Bruno of Woodstock (39-416) and Adarrius Harshaw of Cherokee (45-626)/
Offensive line – Camden County tackle Micah Morris was first-team all-state in 2019. He recently committed to Georgia. Camden rising junior Noah DeMeritt (6-6, 340) might be Region 1's next-best offensive lineman. West Forsyth tackle Dylan Fairchild is a four-star recruit that is being chased hard by Georgia. South Forsyth had a pair of junior linemen, Bryce Myers and Ethan Patrick, who actually beat out Fairchild for first-team all-Region 5 last season, so watch those two. Some other 2019 all-region linemen who are back include Jeden Watson and Gage Pitchford of East Coweta, Anietie Ntekop of Roswell, Pat O'Connell of Walton, Nason Simmons of Cherokee, Cameron Dye of Milton, Jackson Walls of Parkview, Adam Rush of Newnan and Amari McNeill of Peachtree Ridge.
Place-kicker – Harrison's Christian Lowery made nine of 11 field goals for the Class AAAAAA champions last season. He put 57 of 95 kickoffs in the end zone. Conor Cummins of Walton made seven of nine attempts with a long of 46. More than half of his kickoffs were not returned. Alex Wilson of West Forsyth made nine of 10 field goals with a long of 46.
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