Alec Ogletree of Newnan became a first-round draft pick and lived his dream
as a starting linebacker in the NFL. Ed Christian of Lowndes died tragically
and never played a game of college football.
The future makes no promises for the Super 11, the state's best high school
football players. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has selected a Super 11
team each preseason since 1985.
The Super 11 picks from 2009 proved fairly typical. All were superstars in
high school, but only about half became outstanding college players.
Ogletree is an established NFL player. Rookies Da'Rick Rogers, Garrison
Smith and T.J. Jones are trying to make NFL rosters this fall.
Markeith Ambles and Kolton Houston for a time were written off as college
players, but each persevered to become likely starters this fall. Mack Brown,
B.J. Bostic and Blake Sims are in the running to start on their teams, but
time is running out.
Injuries ruined the career of T.J. Stripling and Ed Christian. The story of
Christian stands as the saddest reminder that high school glory is fleeting.
A back injured forced him to give up football after one red-shirt season. In
2012, the popular lineman was shot and killed at an apartment complex in
Auburn as he was trying to break up a fight at a party.
Here is a closer look at the careers of the AJC's Super 11 team from 2009:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s 29th annual Super 11 team was announced on Friday. Here is a look back at the AJC’s Super 11 team in 2009. In five years, some have made their way to the NFL. Others are out of football.
*Markeith Ambles, Henry County: Ambles was a first-team all-state wide receiver in Class AA as a senior for a Henry County team that went 7-4. He signed with Southern Cal and spent one season there before attending Arizona Western. He is now a senior at the University of Houston, where he transferred last year. Ambles played in 10 games for the Cougars in 2013, with 17 receptions for 252 yards.
*B.J. Bostic, Jefferson County: Bostic, a quarterback in high school, was named the AJC's Class AA offensive player of the year in 2009 after leading the Warriors to a 12-1 record and a berth in the state quarterfinals. He is now preparing for his senior season at Georgia Tech (he redshirted in 2011 after suffering a season-ending injury), where he will compete for playing time at the A-back position.
*Mack Brown, M.L. King: Brown was named an honorable mention all-state running back in Class AAAAA as a junior and senior as M.L. King went 18-5 in the two-year span. He signed with Florida and redshirted his first year. Brown is now preparing for his senior season with the Gators after leading the team in rushing with 543 yards in 2013.
*Ed Christian, Lowndes: Christian was a first-team all-state offensive lineman in 2009, when Lowndes finished 12-1 and reached the Class AAAAA quarterfinals. He signed with Auburn, but his career was cut short by a back injury that forced him to give up the sport after redshirting as a freshman. Christian was shot and killed in 2012 at an apartment complex in Auburn, reportedly as he was trying to break up a fight at a party.
*Kolton Houston, Buford: Houston was a first-team all-state offensive lineman in 2009 and led Buford to a 14-1 record and the Class AA championship. He signed with Georgia but was ineligible to play his first three seasons because of a positive drug test as an early enrolled freshman. His eligibility was reinstated last summer and he played in 13 games for the Bulldogs, starting six. Houston is a senior this season.
*Tai-ler Jones, Gainesville: The wider receiver, who now goes by the name T.J., was a first-team all-state wide receiver in 2009, leading Gainesville to a 14-1 record and a berth in the Class AAA championship game. He signed with Notre Dame, where he ended his career as one of six wideouts in school history with at least 150 receptions, 2,000 yards and 15 touchdown receptions. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
*Alec Ogletree, Newnan: The linebacker was named Class AAAAA defensive player of the year in 2009, when Newnan went 13-1 and lost in the state semifinals. He played three seasons at Georgia, leading the team in tackles as a junior, and then left to enter the NFL Draft. He was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the first round with the 30th overall pick. Ogletree led the Rams in tackles as a rookie.
*Da'Rick Rogers, Calhoun: The wide receiver was the AJC's all-classification player of the year in 2009, when Calhoun went 14-1 and lost to Buford in the Class AA final. Rogers signed with Tennessee but was indefinitely suspended before his junior season and transferred to Tennessee Tech. Rogers made himself available for the 2013 NFL draft but was not selected. He eventually signed with Indianapolis and is on the Colts' 2014 roster.
*Blake Sims, Gainesville: Sims was named Class AAA offensive player of the year at the athlete position by the Associated Press after leading Gainesville to a 14-1 record and a berth in the AAA final in 2009. He signed with Alabama and redshirted as a true freshman in 2010. Sims has served as the backup quarterback the past two years and enters his senior season battling to be the starter.
*Garrison Smith, Douglass: The defensive lineman was named first-team all-state in Class AAAAA despite playing for a 1-9 team in 2009. He signed with Georgia and appeared in 48 games in his career, recording 145 total tackles. Smith was not selected in the 2014 NFL Draft but signed a free-agent contract with the Miami Dolphins.
*T.J. Stripling, Southwest DeKalb: The defensive lineman was named the AJC's Class AAAA defensive player of the year in 2009 for a team that finished 10-2. Stripling signed with Georgia, but his playing time was limited after he suffered a ruptured patella tendon during the fifth game of his freshman season. Stripling completed his four-year college career last year with 38 games played and 17 total tackles.
- Capsules compiled by Chip Saye
About the Author
