McEachern man destined for SEC

Julian Rochester didn’t flinch when Georgia changed coaches. A defensive tackle from McEachern, he made teammates better because of the focus on him from opposing teams.

Three things to know about Rochester, who enrolled early:

1. Destined for SEC: A four-star defensive tackle, Rochester (6-foot-5, 321 pounds) committed to Georgia in May, picking the Bulldogs over Auburn, Alabama, Florida and LSU.

2. A force multiplier: Despite being double- and triple-teamed almost every play, Rochester recorded 92 tackles, 12 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, forced and recovered three fumbles, returning one for a touchdown.

3. High water mark for defense: McEachern defensive coordinator Bryan Minish said Rochester attracted so much attention that he made his teammates better. "We had the best total team defense in 20 years at McEachern because of this," Minish said. "He is a true leader and film rat, always wants more information and gives information to his teammates."

About the Author

David Purdum

Merrill wins Georgia Women’s Am with record score

In addition to having her name engraved on the Eleanor M. Keeler Trophy, Merrill receives an exemption into the U.S. Women’s Amateur at Bandon Dunes.

Jermaine Dupri, Big Boi, Kandi Burruss to join All-Star celebrity softball game

Expect plenty of Atlanta flair when MLB’s All-Star Celebrity Softball Game hits Truist Park on July 12.

Dream’s Allisha Gray named starter for WNBA All-Star Game

Dream guard Allisha Gray was named a WNBA All-Star starter for the first time, becoming the first Atlanta player to earn the honor since 2018.

The Latest

Credit: Kate Awtrey-King

Merrill wins Georgia Women’s Am with record score

Jermaine Dupri, Big Boi, Kandi Burruss to join All-Star celebrity softball game

Sports Daily: Rest easy, Coach

Featured

Credit: Reed Williams/AJC

Brookhaven removes colored glass from City Centre dome after uproar

Some say the colors were too bright, the dome looked like ice cream with sprinkles and the hues distracted from the building’s muted design.

Confederate group sues to stop Stone Mountain’s ‘truth-telling’ exhibit

The Sons of Confederate Veterans allege the park’s changes to its Civil War history exhibits violate state law.

Georgia student going to court after being expelled for warning of threat

The middle school student was expelled after he sent messages to friends about a video he'd seen with someone threatening to shoot up area schools.