Jordan Black is on track to be a four-year starter in three sports at Vidalia. He is a point guard for Vidalia's basketball team, which has made the state semifinals twice. He is a center fielder and pitcher in baseball.
But his best sport is football. He's the quarterback and best all-around player on a 9-0 team that is ranked No. 2 in Class AA. Black also plays free safety and return kicks. He was a wide receiver his first three seasons on varsity.
Vidalia has scored a touchdown every six times that Black has run or passed the ball this season. Vidalia has played only two close games, so his second-half action has been limited, depressing his statistics. But in those two games, Black threw the game-winning TD pass late to beat Benedictine 31-24, and he scored on runs of 70 and 37 yards in the second half of a 31-17 victory over West Laurens. The 70-yarder came on a gutsy fourth-and-1 call.
"He seems to always play well when the money is on the table," Vidalia coach Lee Chomskis said. "He is our most valuable player because of what he brings on both sides of the ball. At free safety, he is our leader, gets others lined up, our last hope if anyone breaks. On offense, Jordan is able to make quick decisions, makes plays when they are needed, gets us out of bad plays at the line of scrimmage and is a fourth runner in our Wing-T backfield."
Black has played quarterback only this season. "And he has made me realize that I'm an idiot to not have him there all four years," Chomskis said. "He is a good passer, but his stats don't show it because we have not had to throw it very much."
Black has not been offered a scholarship, although he visited Army last weekend. Others that have been in contact are Western Carolina, Wofford, Furman, and Kennesaw State.
Black is the only new member of this week's Player of the Year Watch.
1. QB/DB A.J. Gray, Washington County:Gray rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns on just four carries in a 56-3 victory over Hephzibah. He was 1-for-5 passing for 25 yards. For the season, Gray has rushed for 1,068 yards and 19 touchdowns on 101 carries and is 56-of-95 passing for 1,117 yards and 14 touchdowns with five interceptions. He has returned three interceptions for touchdowns. Gray has not played in the second half of four games. Washington County (9-0) is ranked No. 1 in Class AAA. Gray is committed to Georgia Tech.
2. RB Shannon Brooks, Pickens:Brooks rushed for 193 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries in a 42-19 victory over Gilmer. For the season, Brooks leads the state with 2,043 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns on 181 carries (11.3 ypc) for an 8-1 team. Brooks also has eight receptions for 164 yards and a touchdown, and he's 2-for-2 passing for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Brooks is committed to Minnesota.
3. RB Sihiem King, Colquitt County:King rushed for 86 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries in a 62-21 victory over Tift County. King also had four receptions for 103 yards and an 80-yard touchdown. For the season, King has rushed for 1,116 yards and 18 touchdowns on 134 carries (7.3 ypc). He has 18 catches for 171 yards. He has scored at least one touchdown in every game this season. Colquitt County (9-0) is ranked No. 1 in AAAAAA and owns three top-five national rankings. King has more than 10 scholarship offers, including those from Georgia Tech, Georgia State and Georgia Southern.
4. RB/DB Ruben Garnett, Aquinas:Garnett rushed for 142 yards on 31 carries, caught a 41-yard TD pass and made six solo tackles in a 15-13 victory over Lincoln County. For the season, Garnett has rushed for 1,495 yards and 20 touchdowns on 194 carries (7.7 ypc) and has four TD receptions. He has made 39 tackles, intercepted a pass and forced two fumbles. Garnett has rushed for at least 125 yards and scored a touchdown in every game. Aquinas (8-0) is ranked No. 1 in Class A. Duke reportedly leads to sign Garnett among 15 Division I offers.
5. DL/OL Trenton Thompson, Westover:Thompson had 12 tackles, six behind the line, in a 29-27 three-overtime victory over Bainbridge. Thompson graded out at 70 percent playing offensive guard. For the season, Thompson has 74 tackles, 30 for losses, four sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception. He has started on offense and defense the past four games. Thompson, an AJC Super 11 pick, is the consensus No. 2 recruit in the nation. He is committed to Georgia.
6. WR Josh Imatorbhebhe, North Gwinnett:Imatorbhebhe had three catches for 87 yards and a touchdown in a 50-6 victory over Meadowcreek. For the season, Imatorbhebhe has 56 catches for 1,051 yards and 15 touchdowns. Imatorbhebhe is rated the No. 25 junior prospect in Georgia by 247Sports. He has 14 reported scholarship offers. North Gwinnett is 6-2 and ranked No. 7. A 4.0 student, Imatorbhebhe is believed to favor Michigan and Vanderbilt.
7. LB Quarte Sapp, Milton:Sapp had 11 tackles, one for a loss, in a 35-7 victory over Pope. For the season, Sapp has 94 tackles, 56 solo, 11 tackles for losses, two sacks, five interceptions, a fumble recovery, a safety and a defensive touchdown. Sapp is rated the consensus No. 23 outside-linebacker prospect nationally. His reported leader is Tennessee.
8. RB Russell Halimon, Allatoona:Halimon's team did not play last week. For the season, Halimon has rushed for 1,593 yards and 18 touchdowns on 237 carries (6.7 ypc). Allatoona (9-0) is ranked No. 4 in Class AAAAA. Halimon is the classification's leading rusher. A 5-foot-9 junior, Halimon has no reported scholarship offers.
9. QB/FS Jordan Black, Vidalia: Black rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown, passed for 42 yards and a touchdown and ran an interception 80 yards for a touchdown in a 38-0 victory over Jeff Davis. For the season, Black has rushed for 735 yards and 14 touchdowns on 81 carries and completed 28 of 52 passes for 510 yards and nine touchdowns without an interception. He is the starting free safety on defense. He has returned an interception 80 yards for a touchdown and a punt 45 yards for a touchdown. Black is being recruited by Army, Western Carolina, Wofford, Furman, and Kennesaw State.
10. QB Anforne Stroud, Griffin:Stroud was 10-of-22 passing for 105 yards in a 33-12 victory over Riverdale. For the season, Stroud is 111-of-195 passing for 1,935 yards and 19 touchdowns with three interceptions. He has rushed for more than 400 yards and five touchdowns. Griffin is 9-0 and ranked No. 2 in Class AAAA. Stroud, who started in Griffin's secondary last season, has no reported scholarship offers.
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