Stephenson High School has one of the more talented football rosters in state history.
Nearly a dozen seniors have both been offered and accepted football scholarships to FBS (formerly Division I-A) schools, including seven to the SEC, and that number could escalate to 14-15 seniors by February’s national signing day.
It’s like a team of all-stars.
But with great talent, there are great expectations — unlike any other season in the Stone Mountain school’s 16-year history.
“I guess I’d be lying if I said a state championship wasn’t important to me. It would be icing on the cake winning a state championship,” Stephenson coach Ron Gartell said. “It will happen if it’s going to happen.
“But we’re not going to put that kind of pressure on our kids because we have all the D-1 prospects and all this talent. We’re not going to do it. They have other things they need to be concerned about rather than us saying, ‘You’ve got to win a state championship, everybody is expecting it.’
“I think that’s the wrong approach. We want them to play well every week. We’re going to prepare them to play the best we can for that week’s game.”
Stephenson is considered one of Georgia’s better programs that hasn’t won a state championship. The Jaguars advanced to the playoff semifinals in 2005 and had four other challenges end in the quarterfinals. Stephenson has lost in the first round three of the past four years.
“We’ve had some disappointing losses in the playoffs, but it hasn’t been heartbreaking,” Gartrell said. “Scholarships and getting kids into colleges, that softens that up because state championships are won and lost in December. Come February [around signing day], it’s a whole new ballgame.
“People still may be celebrating state championships, but we’re celebrating as a family because people are now getting to go to college and not have to pay for it and being proud that they came from Stephenson.”
The Jaguars have seven players committed to SEC schools — tailback Mike Davis (Florida), defensive lineman Jafar Mann (Florida), safety Kyle Fleetwood (South Carolina), defensive tackle Carlos Hood (South Carolina), wide receiver DeMarcus Sweat (Kentucky), defensive back Shawn Blaylock (Kentucky) and linebacker Darreon Herring (Vanderbit).
Two are headed to the ACC — linebacker Raphael Kirby (Miami) and defensive end Jarontay Jones (Virginia Tech) — while two are going elsewhere — offensive lineman Nicholas Gibbons (Memphis) and tight end Joshua Parris (Syracuse).
“The best thing about being around so many great players is the competition; everybody is pushing each other to be the best,” said Jones. “The worst thing would have to unreal expectations from everybody, but I have faith in my team. We’re definitely going after that state-championship ring.”
Gartrell said his players have responded well to the circus-like atmosphere of college scouts and media fanfare surrounding the team.
“The hardest part is making sure the guys know that they are still a Jaguar. College commitments mean a lot, but we still have some business left to take care of before we put their name on that scholarship paper in February,” Gartrell said. “But it’s a great feeling when you have that many guys get scholarships. Most of them have really good grades, and all of them are going to qualify.
“Christmas comes early for some people, and it came early for Stephenson this year.”
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