Georgia once was known for its great running backs. Times are changing. This season, five in-state high school quarterbacks are rated among the top 10 recruits nationally at their positions.
“There is no question this is not the Georgia I grew up playing in,’’ said 247Sports analyst Rusty Mansell, a wide receiver on Pepperell High’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 their value as high school players and not necessarily their status as college recruits.
Kyle Banks, North Paulding (6 feet 2, 180 pounds): As a junior, Banks passed for 3,498 yards and 32 touchdowns for a 4-7 team. His 318-yards-per-game passing average led the state. Banks 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 for a 10-3 Class AAAAA quarterfinal team. He was first-team all-state. Fromm, who is uncommitted, is rated the No. 8 pro-style quarterback nationally among juniors by 247Sports' composite rankings.
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. He is rated the No. 1 athlete 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.''
Bailey Hockman, McEachern (6-2, 210): As a sophomore, Hockman passed for 3,551 yards and 42 touchdowns for a 10-4 team that reached the Class AAAAAA semifinals. Hockman is rated the No. 2 pro-style quarterback nationally among juniors. He is committed to Georgia.
Romario Johnson, Newton (6-1, 180): As a junior, Johnson passed for 2,750 yards with 29 touchdowns for a 7-4 team that reached the Class AAAAAA quarterfinals. (Newton had two games canceled because of weather.) Johnson, who also rushed for 569 yards, is a mid-major recruit.
Trevor Lawrence, Cartersville (6-5, 191): Lawrence is rated by 247Sports as the No. 1 quarterback prospect in the country among sophomores. As a freshman, he threw for 3,042 yards and 26 touchdowns for a 12-2 Class AAAA semifinal team. He was first-team all-state.
Joe Mancuso, Union County (6-4, 200): As a junior, Mancuso passed for 3,078 yards and 35 touchdowns for a 9-2 team. He was The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's first-team all-state quarterback in Class AA. Mancuso has no reported scholarship offers.
Garet Morrell, Lee County (6-3, 185): As a junior, Morrell passed for 2,702 yards and 26 touchdowns for an 8-3 team that scored 40 or more points against Lowndes, Camden County and Lovejoy. Morrell is committed to Marshall.
Jawon Pass, Carver-Columbus (6-4, 220): Pass threw for 2,153 yards and 28 touchdown and rushed for 398 yards 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 led Calhoun to a 15-0 finish and the Class AAA championship. He threw for 2,463 yards and rushed for 775. He is committed to Mercer.
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