Five Georgia high school quarterbacks are rated among the top 10 recruits nationally at their positions.
They include traditional quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence of Cartersville (No. 1 pro-style quarterback in the class of 2018, according to 247Sports); Bailey Hockman of McEachern (No. 2 in 2017); Jawon Pass of Carver-Columbus (No. 4 in 2016); and Jake Fromm of Houston County (No. 8 in 2017). The list also includes Elbert County's Mecole Hardman, rated the No. 2 athlete prospect among seniors.
"There is no question this is not the Georgia I grew up playing in," said 247Sports analyst Rusty Mansell, a wide receiver on Pepperell's 1990 state championship team. "Even in 1990 we played 15 games and only really faced two teams that threw the ball. ... When you look at the state right now, there are some very talented dudes."
The five blue-chip recruits highlight this list of 10 outstanding Georgia quarterbacks. They were chosen based on the value they bring to their high school teams and not necessarily their status as college recruits.
*Kyle Banks, North Paulding (6-2, 180) - As a junior, Banks was 253-of-430 passing for 3,498 yards, 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for a 4-7 team. His 318-yards-per-game passing average led the state. Banks passed for 568 yards and six touchdowns against Harrison in a 49-35 victory. He is committed to Middle Tennessee.
*Jake Fromm, Houston County (6-2, 200) - As a sophomore, Fromm was 249-of-394 passing for 3,629 yards and 31 touchdowns and five interceptions for a 10-3 Class AAAAA quarterfinal team. He was first-team all-state and the Georgia Sports Writers Association AAAAA offensive player of the year. Alabama, Ole Miss and South Carolina reportedly lead for Fromm.
*Mecole Hardman, Elbert County (5-10, 175) - Hardman played in only five games last season as a junior because of a knee injury but rushed for 983 yards and 14 touchdowns and passed for 414 yards and three touchdowns. As a sophomore, Hardman rushed for 1,672 yards and 17 touchdowns and passed for 529 yards and four touchdowns. Hardman plays extensively in Elbert County's secondary and might play there or at wide receiver in college. Georgia and Tennessee reportedly lead for Hardman, who is rated among the top 50 recruits nationally. Mansell on Hardman: "I have not been to any camp this year, no matter where it was, where he was not the best player. He is electric with the ball in his hands and can play CB as well."
*Bailey Hockman, McEachern (6-2, 210) - As a sophomore, Hockman was 187-of-351 passing for 3,551 yards, 42 touchdowns and 10 interceptions for a 10-4 team that reached the Class AAAAAA semifinals. He also punted for a 44.1-yard average. Hockman was the AJC's first-team Class AAAAAA all-state quarterback. Rated the No. 2 pro-style quarterback nationally among juniors, Hockman is committed to Georgia.
*Romario Johnson, Newton (6-1, 180) - As a junior, Johnson 183-of-272 passing for 2,750 yards with 29 touchdowns and six interceptions for a 7-4 team that reached the Class AAAAAA quarterfinals. (Newton had two games canceled because of weather.) He rushed for 569 yards. Johnson is a mid-major recruit who might play another position in college.
*Trevor Lawrence, Cartersville (6-5, 191) - As a freshman, Lawrence was 187-of-310 passing for 3,042 yards and 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions for a 12-2 Class AAAA semifinal team in 2014. He was first-team all-state, perhaps becoming the first freshman quarterback to achieve such an honor. He is rated by 247Sports as the No. 1 quarterback prospect in the country among sophomores. Said Mansell, "I am not sure that Trevor Lawrence is not the best out of any [Georgia quarterback] right now as only a sophomore."
*Joe Mancuso, Union County (6-4, 200) - As a junior, Mancuso was 183-of-295 passing for 3,078 yards, 35 touchdowns and only three interceptions for a 9-2 team. Mancuso rushed for 421 yards. He was the AJC's first-team all-state quarterback in Class AA. Mancuso doesn't have reported offers entering fall practice.
*Garet Morrell, Lee County (6-3, 185) - As a junior, Morrell was 175-of-301 passing for 2,702 yards and 26 touchdowns for an 8-3 team that lost in the second round of the Class AAAAAA playoffs to state runner-up Archer. Morrell is committed to Marshall.
*Jawon Pass, Carver-Columbus (6-4, 220) - Pass threw for 2,153 yards and 28 touchdowns with four interceptions and rushed for 398 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior. Rated the No 4 pro-style quarterback prospect nationally, Pass is committed to Louisville.
*Kaelan Riley, Calhoun (6-4, 210) - As a junior first-year starter at the position, Riley was 163-of-277 passing for 2,463 yards, 23 touchdowns and seven interceptions for a 15-0 team that won the Class AAA championship. Riley rushed for 775 yards and 14 touchdowns. Riley was the AJC's first-team all-state quarterback and the GSWA's AA offensive player of the year. Riley is committed to Mercer.
Coming Tuesday: Running backs
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