Georgia’s top players by position: Wide receivers

Collins Hill wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) makes a long catch against North Gwinnett defensive back Jordan Hancock (7) in the first half Oct. 30, 2020, in Suwanee. (Jason Getz/For the AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz/Special to the AJC

Credit: Jason Getz/Special to the AJC

Collins Hill wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) makes a long catch against North Gwinnett defensive back Jordan Hancock (7) in the first half Oct. 30, 2020, in Suwanee. (Jason Getz/For the AJC)

Editor’s Note: This is the third in a series of 10 feature articles that recognize the 10 best players by position.

The only Georgia defensive player with a higher 247Sports Composite rating than Travis Hunter this century is Grayson defensive end Robert Nkemdiche in the class of 2013. Hunter, the consensus No. 1 prospect nationally, expects to play cornerback at Florida State, but in the meantime, the Collins Hill All-American returns as the state’s most lethal wide receiver.

Hunter caught a state-record 137 passes in 2020 for 1,746 yards and 24 touchdowns. He had three touchdowns in a game five times. His 11-catch, 183-yard performance against fourth-ranked Lowndes helped put Collins Hill in a championship game for the first time.

He’ll play cornerback, too, as he did in 2020, making him the best two-way starter in Georgia. He’s also started on Collins Hill’s basketball team since he was a freshman.

These wide receivers are the newest additions to the Georgia Power 100:

*Kojo Antwi, Lambert: An Ohio State commit, Antwi (6-0, 190) is 247Sports’ No. 8 WR senior prospect nationally. He’s caught 92 passes over the past two seasons for 1,474 yards and 15 touchdowns for a team that’s gone only 5-15 in that time. He was first-team GACA all-state last season. He’s the highest-rated prospect in his school’s history.

*Janiran Bonner, Cedar Grove: His 2020 season was virtually wiped out by injury, but he had a team-leading 30 receptions for 501 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore on a run-first state champion in 2019. A four-star recruit, Bonner (6-1, 190) committed to Georgia Tech in April.

Cedar Grove High wide receiver Janiran Bonner, who announced his commitment to Georgia Tech on April 16, 2021. (247Sports)

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*Tyler Griffin, Southeast Bulloch: Griffin, Southeast Bulloch’s first top-100 Georgia recruit this century, also played running back, linebacker and safety last season. He had 605 yards receiving and made 54 tackles with an interception returned for a touchdown. He’s also an all-region basketball player. Griffin’s 6-4, 200, and probably a wide receiver in college. He committed to Central Florida in June.

*Adarrius Harshaw, Cherokee: Harshaw had 53 receptions for 872 yards and seven touchdowns for an 8-3 Class 7A school last season. He also averaged 27.4 yards on nine kickoff returns. He’s run a 10.78-second 100 meters. A consensus three-star recruit, Harshaw committed to Utah last month.

*Travis Hunter, Collins Hill: Hunter’s junior season was probably the most productive all-around effort for a two-way player in state history. Hunter (6-1, 165) was credited with 51 solo tackles and eight interceptions, and his 1,746 yards receiving were fourth-most in state history. He committed to Florida State in March of 2020. Hunter became the consensus No. 1 recruit this week when Quinn Evers, a quarterback from Texas, chose to graduate a year early and enroll at Ohio State.

*Samuel Mbake, North Cobb: Mbake (6-3, 205) had 54 receptions for 474 yards in 10 games last season at Brookwood. He tailed off the second half of the season, but his physical tools – he’s 6-4, 205 – make him a top-300 national recruit. He’s back at North Cobb, where he began his high school career. His parents are from Cameroon. Mbake says he’ll commit at the All-American Bowl in January.

*D.J. Moore, Archer: Moore (6-1, 190), one of the state’s fastest receivers, had only 21 catches for 379 yards and five touchdowns in 2020 but played only nine games in a Class 7A offense that averaged only 100 yards passing. The numbers should go up substantially this season for the three-star recruit who committed to Georgia Tech in May.

*De’Nylon Morrissette, North Cobb: Morrissette (6-1, 200) led the state in receiving before an injury in game seven but still finished with 63 receptions for 824 yards and seven touchdowns for an 8-3 Brookwood team. Morrissette is now at North Cobb. He played for St. Francis in Maryland as a sophomore. He’s a top-250 national prospect and the consensus No. 30 wide receiver. He committed to Georgia in April.

*Cole Speer, Calhoun: His 59 receptions for 1,151 yards and 11 touchdowns (19.5 ypc) represent the best season of any returning Georgia receiver not named Travis Hunter. Speer (6-1, 185) was first-team Class 5A all-state for a quarterfinal team. He was timed at 4.38 seconds at a college camp this year, and his recruiting has taken off. Georgia offered him on Saturday.

Warner Robins wide receiver Daveon Walker (11) runs after a catch against Cartersville during the first half of the Class 5A football championship game Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020, at Center Parc Stadium in Atlanta. (Jason Getz/For the AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz

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Credit: Jason Getz

*Daveon Walker, Warner Robins: Walker had 49 receptions for 790 yards and seven touchdowns for the Class 5A champion last season. He had nine receptions for 121 yards in a 35-28 victory over Blessed Trinity in the quarterfinals. Walker (6-2, 180) has offers from Liberty and Pitt.

Previously: Running backs | Up next: Tight ends

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