Greater Atlanta Christian, a 10-win team the past two seasons but looking for its first state title, leads Class AA with three preseason all-state picks. Those are running back Micah Abernathy, receiver Darius Slayton and linebacker Tyler Cooksey.
Cooksey is committed to Georgia Tech. Abernathy and Slayton are two of four top-25 senior recruits from AA in the state, according to the 247Sports Composite state rankings. The other two are Macon County's Roquan Smith (No. 10) and Hapeville Charter's Adren Key (No. 14). Abernathy is 18th, Slayton 21st.
The deepest position is probably the defensive line. Macon County's Malik Walker, Dublin's Juwan Wells and Lovett's Jack Gearon all have Division I offers. So does Key, a transfer from M.L. King who is committed to Tennessee. Tremond Ferrell of Washington-Wilkes is a returning all-state punter.
We did not get a nomination for punter but chose Willie Candler, who handles the position well, but is better known as quarterback for defending AA champion Lovett.
Offense
QB - Kevin Johnson, Pace Academy, Sr.
RB - Micah Abernathy, Greater Atlanta Christian, Sr.
RB - Duranta Dunson, Heard County, Sr.
RB - Deshawn Waller, B.E.S.T. Academy, Sr.
WR - Darius Slayton, Greater Atlanta Christian, Sr.
WR - Brad Stewart, Benedictine, Sr.
OL - James Banister, Lamar County, Sr.
OL - Levi Brown, Heard County, Sr.
OL - Damion Kemp, Greene County, Sr.
OL - Mikael Mays, Groves, Sr.
OL - Allen Robinson, Thomasville, Sr.
ATH - Jordan Black, Vidalia, Sr.
PK - Andres Aparicio, Greene County, Sr.
Defense
DL - Juwan Wells, Dublin, Sr.
DL - Arden Key, Hapeville Charter, Sr.
DL - Jack Gearon, Lovett, Sr.
DL - Tremond Ferrell, Washington-Wilkes, Sr.
DL - Malik Walker, Macon County, Jr.
LB - Dax Bishop, Model, Sr.
LB - Tyler Cooksey, Greater Atlanta Christian, Sr.
LB - Robert Muschamp, Darlington, Sr.
LB - Roquan Smith, Macon County, Sr.
DB - Connor Dolan, Holy Innocents', Sr.
DB - Exavius Medlock, Brooks County, Sr.
DB - Antoine Wilder, Hapeville Charter, Sr.
DB - Charlie Woerner, Rabun County, Jr.
P - Willie Candler, Lovett, Sr.
Coming Monday: Class A preseason all-state team.
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