Myles Autry, one of the state’s top uncommitted football prospects, saved his best game for his last game.
Autry, who had been hindered the entire season while recovering from major reconstructive knee surgery, scored on two long touchdowns to spark Norcross to a 31-14 win over North Gwinnett in Saturday’s Class AAAAAA state championship game.
“He really did save his best for last,” Norcross coach Keith Maloof said. “He just had a great last two games. Once he made that catch and run against (in the semifinals), it just carried into (the final).
“We knew it was going to come sooner or later. I’m just glad it came before he got into college because he’s just a great player. He has been a great player his whole career.”
The 5-foot-9, 175-pound Autry said his knee has been feeling “100 percent” for at least a month. It was a matter of his regaining confidence in it.
The 4-star recruit got permission from his trainer to take off his knee brace for the first time in last week’s semifinal and he caught the game-winning touchdown pass in the 14-9 decision against Colquitt County.
“All I needed was one game without my brace and I got all my confidence back,” Autry said.
In Saturday’s game, Autry had an electrifying 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the first quarter and later sealed the win with a 69-yard scoring reception.
Autry’s curtain call has boosted his recruitment by colleges. Some scouts waited to see how Autry’s knee would respond, since his skill set is based entirely on his explosiveness, speed and agility.
“I feel like I’ve shown the college coaches what I could do these last two weeks,” Autry said. “My knee is healthy, if not stronger than last year because of all the rehab. I saw all the coaches on the sidelines on Saturday … Clemson, Florida State and Georgia Tech. That game showed people I’m back 100 percent.”
Autry plans to set up official visits next month to Florida State, Ohio State, Oregon and Georgia Tech. His older brother, Anthony Autry, is a wide receiver at Tech and their mother would like them to play on the same team in college. Right now, Autry does not claim any favorites.
“I’m probably going to announce on signing day,” Autry said. “The first thing I’m looking at is education. (He wants to major in finance). Then I’m looking to for the place that gives me the best chance to play as a freshman.”
Autry projects to play wide receiver or running back in college.
Commitment: Raekwon McMillan, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super 11 linebacker from Liberty County High, committed to Ohio State over Alabama, Clemson, Auburn and Georgia on Monday afternoon. "I've been recruited by some of the best coaches in the nation … but there was just something special about Ohio State University every time I visited the school and every time I talked to Coach (Urban) Meyer on the phone," McMillan said. "I just had a special bond with Ohio State." McMillan is rated as the state's No. 2 overall prospect by the 247sports composite rankings.
New Tech offer: North Gwinnett's C.J. Leggett got some good news the day after his team's heartbreaking loss in the state championship game. The 3-star running back was offered a scholarship by Georgia Tech on Sunday and he immediately proclaimed the Yellow Jackets as his leader. Leggett is also considering offers from UCLA, Pittsburgh, Southern Miss, Middle Tennessee State, Yale, Miami (Ohio) and Georgia State.
“I would say Georgia Tech is at the top of my list,” Leggett said Sunday night. “They are definitely in the top two. The other one is possibly UCLA, but Georgia Tech might be in the No.1 spot right now because it’s just a glamorous school with what they have to offer with academics and athletics. Plus it’s close to home. So I will take that into account and that’s why it’s one of my top choices.”
The 5-9, 200-pound senior has been on Tech’s recruiting radar since transferring to North Gwinnett from Chattahoochee after the 2012 season. Leggett figured an offer might be coming after Yellow Jackets coach Paul Johnson stopped by his school last week to chat for about 45 minutes.
“They said they would use me as both an A- and B-back. I feel I could do both,” Leggett said. “I can use my speed and moves to get to the edge, but I can also get the tough yards when you need to pound it in there. I can do a good mixture of both.”
Leggett has blossomed into one of the state’s top running backs. Despite being hampered with a turf-toe injury during the regular season, Leggett finished with 1,743 rushing yards, including 840 in the playoffs.
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