With that, Grayson will have three of the top five (and five of the top 12) senior prospects in the new Class AAAAAAA (7) next season. (See list below.)
Worth noting is that two-time defending champion Colquitt County has no players in Georgia’s top 100. The highest-rated is offensive lineman Quan Stokes, checking in at No. 110. Colquitt was under-manned in blue-chip recruits last season too, but extended its winning streak to 30 in fairly dominating fashion. Grayson made the semifinals with a 13-1 record.
One assumption is that the players are changing schools to aid in recruiting. That was the case last year when wide receiver Tyler Simmons, who left New Manchester in Douglas County for state contender McEachern in Cobb. DawgNation detailed that story this week. Simmons soon had an offer from Alabama. He wound up committing to Georgia.
There were several other big-name transfers last season. They included Roswell quarterback Quantarius Neely from Lovejoy, Archer lineman E.J. Price from Central Gwinnett, Peachtree Ridge safety Nigel Warrior from Westlake, Westlake linebacker Jaden Hunter from Riverwood and Pace Academy receiver Trey Blount from Hillgrove. Neely and Blount got to play in state-championship games as a result of their moves.
USA Today's Jim Halley speculated this week that Grayson's transfers were attracted by the Rams' 2016 schedule. Opponents include nationally ranked IMG Academy of Florida and Hoover of Alabama, plus Georgia state powers Archer and McEachern.
Kipp Adams, a recruiting analyst for 247Sports, says he doesn't think the motivation is to enhance their status as recruits. ''The ones with offers are leaving places they already got plenty of attention at,'' Adams said. Instead, said Adams, ''It's the Lebron (James) mentality - just join up with your camp and youth ball buddies and play together for a ring.'' Adams hears rumors that more transfers are on the way to Grayson.
Top prospects in Class 7A for 2016 (per 247Sports Composite Rankings) with their overall state ranking:
1. CB DeAngelo Gibbs, Grayson
2. DE Robert Beal, Norcross
6. RB/CB Jamyest Williams, Grayson
12. DB Xavier McKinney, Roswell
13. OL Tony Gray, Grayson
17. LB Jaden Hunter, Westlake
19. CB A.J. Terrell, Westlake
20. CB LeAnthony Williams Jr., Roswell
21. QB Bailey Hockman, McEachern
22. LB Leonard Warner, Brookwood
24. LB Breon Dixon, Grayson
26. QB Chase Brice, Grayson
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