Region 5 has 10 of Class AAA's 25 preseason all-state players, and some recent history to back it up.
The region has two reigning state champions - Westminster (AAA) and Pace Academy (AA) - and a semifinalist that could usurp those two as the team to beat. That would be Cedar Grove.
Westminster's preseason all-state picks are RB Zay Malcome, the school's all-time leading rusher; DB Ian Ude; and DE Cortez Allen.
Pace's three are OL Andrew Thomas, OL Jamaree Salyer and WR Trey Blount. Thomas and Blount are committed to Georgia. Salyer is a junior and perhaps the mostly highly recruited of them all.
Cedar Grove's three are CB Tre Shaw, OL/DL Netori Johnson and OL Justin Shaffer. Johnson and Shaffer are committed to Georgia, Shaw to North Carolina. Cedar Grove QB Jelani Woods, committed to Oklahoma State, is one of the Saints' four major Division I prospects who did not make the team. Woods was beaten out by Greater Atlanta Christian's Davis Mills, who some believe is the best senior QB in the country.
The 10th preseason all-state player from the region is Towers DL Devonte Wyatt, who is committed to South Carolina.
Lovett, a perennial playoff program that won a state title of its own in 2013, also is a Region 6 member but did not place a player on the preseason all-state team.
The only other team that had three all-state members is Calhoun. The Yellow Jackets are represented by QB/LB Baylon Spector, OL William Long and RB Olico Dennis.
Offense
QB - Davis Mills, Greater Atlanta Christian
RB - Zay Malcome, Westminster
RB - Olico Dennis, Calhoun
WR - Trey Blount, Pace Academy
WR - Markese Jackson, East Hall
WR - Chase Royer, Pierce County
OL - Netori Johnson, Cedar Grove
OL - William Long, Calhoun
OL - Jamaree Salyer, Pace Academy
OL - Justin Shaffer, Cedar Grove
OL - Andrew Thomas, Pace Academy
ATH - Baylon Spector, Calhoun
PK - Brooks Buce, Greater Atlanta Christian
Defense
DL - Cortez Alston, Westminster
DL - M.J. Webb, Morgan County
DL - Devonte Wyatt, Towers
DE/LB - Quin Williams, Morgan County
LB - Markaviest Bryant, Crisp County
LB - Jeffery Burley, Jackson
LB - Jamin Davis, Long County
LB - Kyle Nixon, Peach County
DB - Tariq Carpenter, Long County
DB - Richard LeCounte, Liberty County
DB - Tre Shaw, Cedar Grove
DB - Ian Ude, Westminster
P - Omar Cervantes, Peach County
Coming Thursday: Class AAAA
Produced by Georgia High School Football Daily, a free e-mail newsletter. To join the mailing list, click here.
About the Author
