The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Super 11 team, selected each high school football preseason since 1985, is based primarily on the players’ value in high school. But most do well at the next level.
The most recent group to play in college, from the 2013 high school season, produced five players who started at least one game as true freshmen last fall. Five others played. Only one red-shirted.
Here are facts and figures about the 2015 AJC Super 11 selections, who will begin their final high school seasons in a few days.
» Photos: The complete 2015 AJC Super 11 roster
DERRICK BROWN, LANIER
Position: Defensive tackle
Height, weight: 6-4, 322
Class: Senior
College choices: Georgia, Alabama, Auburn and Tennessee are reported to be the favorites from among 26 offers.
2014 season wrap-up: Brown was named a first-team all-state defensive lineman last season after recording 17.5 sacks and 26 tackles for losses and forcing six fumbles for a team that went 10-1 and won the first region title in the program's five-year history. Brown is the No. 1 recruit in Georgia and No. 9 player nationally in 247Sports' composite rankings.
School's first Super 11 since: Brown is the first.
What's interesting: In addition to his four leaders, Brown will visit Mississippi State. Both of Brown's parents are from Mississippi, and his mother is a Mississippi State graduate.
» Photos: The complete 2015 AJC Super 11 roster
BEN CLEVELAND, STEPHENS COUNTY
Position: Offensive tackle
Height, weight: 6-7, 320
Class: Senior
College choices: Committed to Georgia
2014 season wrap-up: Cleveland was a first-team all-state selection from a Class AAAA school that finished 8-4 and reached the second round of the playoffs under first-year coach Frank Barden. Cleveland, rated the state's No. 2 offensive linemen, spent more time on defense last year because of an injury, but could play both ways this season.
School's first Super 11 since: James Singleton in 1990.
What's interesting: Nicknamed Big Country and Big Ben, Cleveland can bench press 450 pounds. Cleveland committed in the summer of 2014 and plans to enroll early at Georgia.
» Photos: The complete 2015 AJC Super 11 roster
Position: Quarterback
Height, weight: 5-10, 175
Class: Senior
College choices: He recently narrowed his choices to a top 10, a list that includes reported leaders Georgia and Tennessee. He has about 28 offers.
2014 season wrap-up: Hardman rushed for 983 yards and 14 touchdowns and passed for 414 yards and three touchdowns despite playing in only five games last season because of a knee injury. The Blue Devils finished 9-4 and reached the Class AAA quarterfinals. He also plays extensively in the secondary and might play there or at wide receiver in college.
School's first Super 11 since: Hardman is the first.
What's interesting: Hardman won't play quarterback in college, but he could play offense and defense. "I have not been to any camp this year, no matter where it was, where he was not the best player,'' said Rusty Mansell, a recruiting analyst for 247Sports.
» Photos: The complete 2015 AJC Super 11 roster
ELIJAH HOLYFIELD, WOODWARD ACADEMY
Position: Running back
Height, weight: 5-10, 205
Class: Senior
College choices: Holyfield has not narrowed his choices from a list of 32 offers that include Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia Tech, Georgia and 10 other SEC schools.
2014 season wrap-up: Holyfield rushed for 1,753 yards and 25 touchdowns and scored six more touchdowns receiving or returning for a team that finished 11-3 and lost to St. Pius in the Class AAAA semifinals. He is the top-rated running back recruit in Georgia and No. 5 nationally at the position in 247Sports' composite rankings.
School's first Super 11 since: Julian Jenkins in 2001 (AJC Atlanta Super 11)
What's interesting: Holyfield's father, former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield, claims his first love was football, too. But Evander was only 5-foot-8 in high school and rarely got off the bench in his one season at old Fulton High in Atlanta.
» Photos: The complete 2015 AJC Super 11 roster
ANTWUAN JACKSON, CEDAR GROVE
Position: Defensive tackle
Height, weight: 6-2, 285
Class: Senior
College choices: Auburn and Ohio State appear to be the favorites of a reported 42 offers.
2014 season wrap-up: Jackson, a four-year starter, was a consensus first-team selection last season and a second-team pick (Georgia Sports Writers Association) in 2013. He had 27 tackles for losses and 9.5 sacks last season for a team that finished 9-3, the Saints' best record since 1992. Jackson is rated the No. 8 player at his position in the nation.
School's first Super 11 since: Johnathon McCrary in 2012.
What's interesting: Jackson's stepbrother, Bryson Allen-Williams, is a linebacker for South Carolina. He also played at Cedar Grove.
» Photos: The complete 2015 AJC Super 11 roster
TRE LAMAR, ROSWELL
Position: Linebacker
Height, weight: 6-4, 240
Class: Senior
College choices: Committed to Clemson
2014 season wrap-up: Lamar had 78 tackles (19 for losses and one for a safety) for a Roswell team that finished 8-4 and reached the second round of the Class AAAAAA playoffs. He is the most highly recruited linebacker in Georgia and listed as the No. 7 inside linebacker nationally in 247Sports' composite rankings.
School's first Super 11 since: Lamar is the first.
What's interesting: Lamar is one of six players who are first-time Super 11 players for their schools, but perhaps the most surprising given Roswell's tradition. Roswell boasts recent NFL players Chris Reis and Jermaine Phillips.
» Photos: The complete 2015 AJC Super 11 roster
DEMETRIS ROBERTSON, SAVANNAH CHRISTIAN
Position: Wide receiver/defensive back
Height, weight: 6-1, 165
Class: Senior
College choices: Robertson, who recently decommitted from Alabama, reportedly has Stanford as his leader, but has said he will take official visits to Georgia Tech and Georgia.
2014 season wrap-up: Robertson missed the first seven games of the season waiting to win his appeal of eligibility after transferring from another Savannah private school. He scored 10 touchdowns on only 34 touches in Savannah Christian's run-based offense. He was a first-team all-state defensive back in 2013 and an honorable mention selection as a WR/DB last season.
School's first Super 11 since: Robertson is the first.
What's interesting: Robertson's transfer was highly publicized and controversial. As a result, the Georgia High School Association changed its bylaws, making it easier for private-school students to transfer and gain immediate eligibility.
» Photos: The complete 2015 AJC Super 11 roster
JULIAN ROCHESTER, MCEACHERN
Position: Defensive tackle
Height, weight: 6-5, 315
Class: Senior
College choices: Committed to Georgia
2014 season wrap-up: Rochester, the consensus No. 2 player in Georgia, is a two-year starter with more than 100 tackles and double-digit sacks and tackles for losses each season. He was named the Class AAAAAA defensive player of the year by the Georgia Sports Writers Association last season. McEachern reached the state semifinals each of the past two seasons.
School's first Super 11 since: Chuma Edoga in 2014.
What's interesting: Rochester is one of two McEachern players committed to Georgia. The other is quarterback Bailey Hockman, a junior. Georgia also is recruiting McEachern offensive lineman Tremayne Anchrum and wide receiver Tyler Smith.
» Photos: The complete 2015 AJC Super 11 roster
DYLAN SINGLETON, ARCHER
Position: Defensive back
Height, weight: 5-11, 180
Class: Senior
College choices: Georgia is reported to be the leader from a list of 12 offers that includes Duke, Georgia Tech and Auburn.
2014 season wrap-up: Singleton was perhaps the best all-around player on last year's Archer team that finished as the state runner-up in Class AAAAAA. He intercepted four passes and was the team's leading tackler with 141 combined stops, and he had more than 1,000 all-purpose yards. Singleton was the Gwinnett Daily Post county defensive player of the year.
School's first Super 11 since: Singleton is the first.
What's interesting: Singleton is not necessarily the most highly recruited player on his team, but was probably had the most impact for his team last season. Senior teammates E.J. Price (tackle) and Kyle Davis (receiver) are rated among the top 10 senior prospects in Georgia.
» Photos: The complete 2015 AJC Super 11 roster
CHARLES WILEY, STOCKBRIDGE
Position: Defensive end
Height, weight: 6-3, 235
Class: Senior
College choices: Committed to Mississippi
2014 season wrap-up: Wiley, the No. 17 weakside defensive end nationally in 247Sports' composite rankings, had 57 tackles (including 39 solo), 18 sacks and another 16.5 tackles for losses in 2014. Stockbridge, which opened in 1964, tied a school record with 11 victories last season and became the first Henry County public school to reach the state semifinals.
School's first Super 11 since: Kenderius Webster in 2013.
What's interesting: Wiley's stock rose in December from his performance at the Georgia Rising Seniors All-Star game. "Coaches will tell you without question he was the best one there," Stockbridge coach Kevin Whitley said. "Had he committed to Alabama, he would be ranked a lot higher."
» Photos: The complete 2015 AJC Super 11 roster
CHARLIE WOERNER, RABUN COUNTY
Position: Tight end
Height, weight: 6-5, 220
Class: Senior
College choices: Committed to Georgia
2014 season wrap-up: Woerner was named a first-team all-state defensive back in 2014 after leading Rabun County to a 9-3 season, the school's best since 1998. He had 45 receptions for 659 yards and seven touchdowns, rushed for 1,187 yards from the running back position and made 100 tackles playing safety. Woerner also was first-team all-state as a sophomore.
School's first Super 11 since: Woerner is the first.
What's interesting: Woerner is a nephew of former Georgia All-American Scott Woerner, but his father, Kent, the principal at Rabun County, also was a good player at Jonesboro High. He was the Clayton County back of the year in 1974.
» Photos: The complete 2015 AJC Super 11 roster
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