Kaelan Riley was the Georgia Sports Writers Association Class AAA offensive player of the year in 2014, when he led Calhoun to a state title. He's 21-0 as a starter.
Given a challenging situation last week - Calhoun trailed unbeaten Adairsville 13-3 - Riley delivered perhaps his best game of the season as he rushed for 129 yards and passed for 221 in a 45-13 victory.
That helped launch Riley back into GHSF Daily's Player of the Year Watch.
"Kaelan is your ideal dual-threat quarterback," Calhoun coach Hal Lamb said. "He has good football instincts and is very coachable. He has a good arm and has the ability to make something happen with his feet. He is also a tremendous leader."
Riley is committed to Mercer, where he'll play for another Lamb. Hal's brother Bobby is the Bears' head coach.
Riley is one of four new members of the Watch. Riley and Fitzgerald RB J.D. King had been in the Watch earlier this season and are back. Mays WR Randrecous Davis and Colquitt County QB Chase Parrish are in for the first time.
The biggest jumper was Jefferson's Colby Wood, who carried 46 times for 285 yards in a victory over Elbert County. Wood, now the state's leading rusher, moved up seven spots to No. 2.
1. DT Derrick Brown, Lanier:Brown's team did not play last week. In five games, Brown has 43 total tackles, 20 for losses, five sacks, 14 QB hurries, eight deflections, one interception and one recovered fumble for Lanier (5-0), the No. 6 team in Class AAAAA. Brown, who is uncommitted, is the consensus No. 9 recruit in the country.
2. RB/DB Colby Wood, Jefferson:Wood rushed for 285 yards and four touchdowns on 46 carries in a 27-8 victory over Elbert County in a game between unbeaten teams in Region 8-AAA. For the season, Wood has rushed for a state-leading 1,246 yards and 18 touchdowns (at least two in every game) on 175 carries (7.1 ypc) and has caught five passes for 91 yards and one touchdown. He has intercepted two passes, forced one fumble and made 15 tackles, one behind the line of scrimmage. Jefferson (6-0) is ranked No. 3 in AAA.
3. RB/DB Taylor Trammell, Mount Paran Christian: Trammell's team did not play last week. For the season, Trammell has rushed for 1,110 yards on 119 carries (9.3 ypc), scored 17 touchdowns and intercepted two passes. Mount Paran (5-0) is ranked No. 1 in Class A. Trammell is committed to Georgia Tech as a baseball player.
4. LB Tre Lamar, Roswell:Lamar had nine solo tackles, seven assists, two stops for losses and a sack and broke up a pass in a 48-14 victory over previously unbeaten Walton. In five games, Lamar has 74 tackles, 16 behind the line of scrimmage, and three sacks for a 5-0 team ranked No. 3 in Class AAAAAA. Lamar, who is committed to Clemson, is the first AJC Super 11 player in Roswell history. He is rated the No. 8 inside linebacker prospect nationally by 247Sports' composite rankings.
5. QB Jake Fromm, Houston County:Fromm threw five TD passes in a 44-12 victory over Cross Creek. Fromm completed 12 of 15 attempts for 219 yards. In six games, Fromm is 87-of-146 (.596) for 1,521 yards and 15 touchdowns with four interceptions for a 6-0 team ranked No. 2 in Class AAAAA. Fromm, who is uncommitted, is rated the consensus No. 8 pro-style quarterback prospect nationally among juniors.
6. QB Trevor Lawrence, Cartersville:Lawrence was 11-for-20 passing for 211 yards and one touchdown with one interception in a 42-6 victory over Heritage (Ringgold). For the season, Lawrence is 84-of-125 passing for 1,201 yards and 13 touchdowns with two interceptions for a 5-0 team that is ranked No. 1 in Class AAAA. Lawrence is rated by 247Sports as the No. 1 quarterback prospect in the country among sophomores. He is uncommitted.
7. QB Kaelan Riley, Calhoun: Riley was 10-of-18 passing for 221 yards and one touchdown in a 45-13 victory over previously unbeaten Adairsville. He also rushed for 129 yards and scored a touchdown. On the season, Riley is 61-of-93 passing for 956 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has rushed for 336 yards and six touchdowns on 47 carries. Calhoun is 5-0 and ranked No. 1 in Class AAA. Riley is committed to Mercer.
8. QB Chase Parrish, Colquitt County: Parrish was 14-of-21 passing for 252 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-20 victory over Lowndes. For the season, Parrish is 72-of-105 passing for 1,123 yards and 16 touchdowns with two interceptions. Parrish is 21-0 as a starting quarterback. Colquitt County is 6-0 and ranked No. 1 in Class AAAAAA.
9. RB J.D. King, Fitzgerald: King rushed for 154 yards and three touchdowns and caught a 46-yard TD pass in a 41-14 victory over Thomasville. For the season, King has rushed for 1,066 yards and 15 touchdowns on 126 carries (8.5 ypc). He has four receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown. Fitzgerald (6-0) is ranked No. 2 in AA. King, a junior, has an offer from Georgia Southern.
10. WR Randrecous Davis, Mays: Davis had eight receptions for 123 yards and three touchdowns in a 42-21 victory over defending Region 6-AAAAA champion Creekside. For the season, Davis has 32 receptions for 566 yards and 10 touchdowns, scoring nearly every three times he catches a ball. Mays is 6-0 and ranked No. 3 in AAAAA. Davis, the consensus No. 38 player in the state, is committed to Georgia.
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