With the regular season two-thirds done, here are some leading candidates for players of the year in classes 7A to 4A. Those highlighted aren’t necessarily the best individually but stand out in the context of how the 2021 season is playing out. Classes 3A to A will be covered next Wednesday.
Class 7A
1. Malachi Singleton, North Cobb: Singleton, a junior with major Division I offers, is trending as the best dual-threat quarterback in the state. He’s 93-of-129 passing (72.1%) for 1,374 yards and 15 touchdowns with only one interception. He has rushed for 450 yards and 12 touchdowns. North Cobb is ranked No. 3.
2. Caleb Downs, Mill Creek: Downs, a top-40 national prospect among juniors, is the leading tackler on a second-ranked team and a defense that hasn’t allowed more than two touchdowns in a game. Also excellent in the return game, Downs has 396 all-purpose yards.
3. Travis Hunter, Collins Hill: Hunter has been the state’s best player, but he’s injured and probably won’t return until the playoffs, putting his postseason accolades on hold. He has 46 receptions for 691 yards in six games while doubling as the nation’s No. 1 cornerback prospect.
4. Dylan Lonergan, Brookwood: Two major Division I wide receivers transferred in the offseason, but this four-star junior quarterback has only gotten better. Longergan is 122-of-178 passing (68.5%) for 1,831 yards (305.2 per game) and 16 touchdowns with only two interceptions for a 4-2 team.
5. Bryce Thornton, Milton: Thornton has a team-leading 24 solo tackles, six pass breakups, two interceptions and 283 all-purpose yards for the No. 4 team in the classification.
Class 6A
1. M.J. Morris, Carrollton: Morris, long a top recruit, is thriving under new Carrollton coach Joey King. He’s 92-of-138 passing (66.7%) for 1,851 yards and 24 touchdowns with only two interceptions for a 6-1 team.
2. Ousmane Kromah, Lee County: A freshman, Ousmane has rushed for 1,097 yards and 11 touchdowns on 95 carries (11.5 ypc) on a 6-1 team ranked No. 2.
3. Isaiah Bond, Buford: The best player on the best team is always worth points at awards time, although who that might be for the No. 1-ranked Wolves is debatable. Bond, as a wide receiver in a running offense, won’t have huge season numbers, but he is averaging 26.3 yards on his 14 receptions and makes big plays in his occasional defensive stints. (A similar candidate is RB/DB C.J. Clinkscales.) Bond is committed to Florida (and teammate Clinkscales to Boston College).
4. Simeon Askew, Houston County: Askew leads the state with 1,449 rushing yards, and it’s not close. The Bears are 4-3.
5. Avery Smith, Riverwood: A dual-threat quarterback committed to Toledo, Smith has led Riverwood to a 5-1 record while passing for 1,831 yards (305.2 per game) and rushing for 544 yards.
Class 5A
1. Thomas Castellanos, Ware County: Castellanos has thrown for more than 6,000 yards and rushed for more than 3,000 in his career, and he’s having his best season as a passer with career highs in yards per game (255.7) and completion percentage (.636). Ware is ranked No. 5.
2. Justice Haynes, Blessed Trinity: Haynes, the consensus No. 4 RB recruit among juniors, has rushed for 1,077 yards and 13 touchdowns in five games. He missed two with injuries, both losses. Blessed Trinity is 4-3 and ranked No. 9.
3. Christon Lane, Warner Robins: No. 1 Warner Robins is averaging an earth-scorching 54.8 points per game, no fewer than 48 in each outing. Lane (1,393 yards passing) makes it go, although teammates Malcom Brown (892 yards rushing) and Daveon Walker (681 yards receiving) could make this list just as easily.
4. Damari Alston, Woodward Academy: Committed to Auburn, this four-star running back has rushed for 838 yards and 14 touchdowns for a 6-0 team ranked No. 4.
5. Daiquan White, Creekside: This cornerback’s ACC and SEC offers make him the most conspicuous defender on a team that’s third in Class 5A points allowed while playing the likes of Grayson, Westlake and Cartersville. He’s got plenty of help on his side of the ball (Javeon Miller, Vincent Hill, to name two).
Class 4A
1. Justin Thomas, Benedictine: No Class 4A player is having a better all-around season, even Thomas’ more widely known teammate, Holden Geriner. A Georgia baseball recruit, Thomas has 1,313 all-purpose yards and 18 touchdowns on 98 touches along with 24 solo tackles and two interceptions on a 5-2 team ranked No. 3.
2. Sammy Brown, Jefferson: Playing for the No. 1-ranked team, the sophomore Brown has rushed for 753 yards, averaging 13 yards per carry. A five-star LB recruit, he has 19 solo tackles, second on the team. Brown’s famous teammate, Malaki Starks, would be here too, but he’s missed two games injured, and his offensive numbers are further deflated by Brown’s backfield presence and Jefferson blowouts.
3. Holden Geriner, Benedictine: Geriner, an Auburn commit, has thrown for a class-leading 1,715 yards and 15 touchdowns.
4. Jaiden Credle, Carver (Columbus): Credle has rushed for 978 yards, at least 147 in each game since the opener. He’s averaging 11.1 yards per carry. Carver is 6-1 and ranked No. 4.
5. Mykell Williams, Hardaway: A five-star recruit committed to Southern Cal, Williams has 8.5 sacks and 11.5 other tackles for losses for an unranked 4-2 team.
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