Houston County quarterback Jake Fromm continues to put distance between himself and the field in the conversation for state player of the year. He threw a school-record seven touchdown passes last week and remains on pace to break state records for passing yards in a season and a career.
Here is a look at some of the top contenders for the state player of the year award.
1. QB Jake Fromm, Houston County: Fromm was 26-of-34 passing for 466 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns in a 58-27 victory over Veterans. On the season, Fromm is 105-of-143 passing for 1,842 yards and 19 touchdowns and two interceptions. If he continues to average 460.5 yards passing per game, Fromm will break state records for single-season passing yards (4,506 by Hutson Mason) and career passing yards (13,077 by Deshaun Watson) in the 10th game. Fromm, rated the No. 4 pro-style prospect nationally, is committed to Georgia. Houston County is ranked No. 1 in Class AAAAAA.
2. QB Trevor Lawrence, Cartersville: Lawrence was 18-of-29 passing for 292 yards and three touchdowns with two interceptions in a 31-0 victory over Westlake. In three games, Lawrence is 53-of-87 for 894 yards and nine touchdowns with three interceptions. Fromm is the top-rated junior prospect in the country. Cartersville is ranked No. 1 in AAAA.
3, RB Sheldon Evans, Roswell: Evans rushed for 231 yards and two touchdowns and caught a 21-yard TD pass in a 34-3 victory over Colquitt County. Evans has rushed for 460 yards and seven touchdowns on 62 carries. Evans rushed for 1,909 and 1,829 yards his past two seasons. Roswell is 3-0 and ranked No. 1 in Class AAAAAAA.
4. J.D. King, Fitzgerald: King rushed for 156 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries and caught four passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns in a 70-42 victory over Macon County. In two games, King has rushed for 275 yards on just 26 carries and scored six touchdowns. King led the state in rushing last season with more than 2,400 yards. King is committed to Oklahoma State. Fitzgerald is ranked No. 1 in Class AA.
5. Mike Thomas, Thomson: Thomas rushed for 284 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries in a 38-10 victory over Pace Academy. Thomas has rushed for 655 yards and eight touchdowns on 77 carries in Thomson's 4-0 start. Thomas is being recruited by mid-major Division I schools. Thomson is ranked No. 2 in Class AAAA.
Others: Houston County receivers Amari Colbert (26-496-9) and Eli Watson (19-481-5) could make a run at Demarco Robinson's state record for receiving yards in a season (1,655). set in 2010 for M.L. King. ... DT Aubrey Solomon of AAAAAA No. 4 Lee County (3-0) had eight tackles, two for losses, and caused a fumble in a 36-10 victory over Americus-Sumter. The No. 5 defensive-tackle prospect nationally, Solomon has 25 tackles, seven for losses, five sacks and eight QB hurries on the season. ... QB/LB Kyler Eldridge has passed for 420 yards, rushed for 349 yards and had a hand in 11 touchdowns for seventh-ranked Model (3-0) of AA. Eldridge has 25 tackles and two interceptions. ... WR/DB Richard LeCounte, the consensus No. 2 recruit in the state, has 204 yards from scrimmage on 11 touches, 371 return yards, 22 tackles and an interception for fifth-ranked Liberty County (3-0) of AAA. ... QB Bailey Fisher is averaging 321.5 yards passing (71.2 percent completion rate) and 69.5 rushing for sixth-ranked Rabun County (2-0) of AA. Fisher has had a hand in 10 touchdowns. ... QB K'hari Lane is 53-of-89 passing for 932 yards (310.7 per game) and 14 touchdowns for second-ranked Macon County (2-1) of Class A public. ... QB Tylan Morton threw for 447 yards and five touchdowns in a 53-7 victory over Upson-Lee last week to run his season totals to 72-of-100 for 1,158 (386.0 per game) and 10 touchdowns. His Griffin team (3-0) has scored 50 points or more in each of its first three games.
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