There’s no doubt northeast Georgia is oozing with football talent.
Rosters around the area are filled with skilled, smart, physical, elusive high school football players. As with every season, some positions are deeper than others. The 2019 season is no exception.
In 2019, the number of wide receivers, offensive linemen, defensive linemen, defensive backs and linebackers run deep and appear to be the “power positions.”
We searched high and low, roster after roster and compiled, with the help of the area’s head coaches, what we think, at AccessWDUN and Friday Game Night, is a solid list of players that fans should keep an eye on during the season.
We provide stats and a brief description of each players’ style of play (as given by coaches). They are listed by position and school in alphabetical order:
DEFENSIVE BACK
BUFORD
-- Sr. CB T Lee (5-11, 175 lbs, Arizona State-commit; 25 TKL, 5 TFL, 2 CF, 1 RF) -- Lee’s ball skills and Knowledge to the game is unreal. He may be one of the best pure athletes in the state.
-- Sr. CB Jalen Huff (6-1, 174 lbs, Georgia Tech-commit; 23 TKL, 3 TFL, 3 Int) -- Huff is very smooth on his breaks. Tracking the football is his best gift and change of direction is as good as it gets.
COMMERCE
-- Sr. TJ Trudnak (6-1, 170, 44 TKL, 2 Int) -- Trudnak is a smart gritty player that is not often out of position.
DAWSON COUNTY
-- Sr. Brody Howell (6-4, 195 lbs; 61 TKL, 2 Int) -- Howell shifts from linebacker to safety this year and provides the defense with experience and an elevated tackling technique.
-- Sr. Riley Herndon (6-0, 162 lbs; 37 TKL, 2 Int) -- A returning starter, Herndon is known as a hard-nosed hitter with very keen instincts to the Tiger secondary.
FLOWERY BRANCH
-- Sr. DB Chase Dial-Watson (5-11, 180 lbs; 84 TKL, 4 Int) -- Watson will be the most versatile player on the team.
-- Sr. DB Chandler Dial-Watson (6-0, 185 lbs; 68 TKL, 3 CF, 2 FR, 2 Int) -- Watson is a punisher that tracks down opponents with his speed and quickness.
JEFFERSON
-- Sr. Donsha Gaither (6-2, 182 lbs; 14 TKL, 6 PBU, 1 Int, 1 FR) -- Gaither is one of the best athletes in the school with a tremendous vertical leap. He has the ability to make up ground with outstanding closing speed.
-- So. Malaki Starks (6-2, 180 lbs, no stats, missed entire 2018 season due to injury) -- Starks could be a dynamic player. He’s very versatile and a hard hitter on defense. Explosive speed and has great skills to find the ball. Already being recruited without having played a single varsity down.
RABUN COUNTY
-- AJ Wheeler (5-9 170 lbs; 79 TKL, 8.5 TFL, 2 Int) -- A three-year starter, Wheeler has a ton of experience, plays assignment football and knows what it takes to execute at a high level.
RIVERSIDE
-- Jr. CB Shad Dabney (5-10, 170 lbs) -- Dabney is quick, athletic, and can play any position on the field. He will be used on offense as well but is an impact in the secondary; preseason all-state Class A Private -- GHSA power rankings.
-- Jr. CB Jordan Thomas (5-11, 170 lbs) -- Thomas is an athletic corner that likes to challenge receivers at the line. Has a wingspan of about 70 inches so has the ability to make plays from any angle.
UNION COUNTY
-- Sr. DB John Mancuso (5-10, 175 lbs; 88 TKL) -- High IQ player, Mancuso has gotten more physical and elevates his play with Intelligent decisions in the Panther secondary.
-- Sr. Zion Ross (no stats, suffered an injury and played just two games in 2018; could be an impact player on defense) First year at corner, Ross brings his athleticism to the position and has a chance to be a good cover guy for the Panthers.
DEFENSIVE LINE
BUFORD
-- Sr. Jackson Powell (6-2, 220 lbs, Army-commit, leading sack guy in 2018) -- An Army-commit, Powell’s quickness makes him really fast off the edge and a threat to the opposing offense.
-- Sr. Carlton Holley (6-0, 263 lbs; 35 TKL, 8 TFL, 7 QBP, 4 sacks) -- Holley’s strength allows him to be a disrupter and QB hunter.
COMMERCE
-- Sr. Conner Kyle (6-1, 250 lbs, 36 TKL, 1.5 sacks) -- Kyle plays with a lot of effort and has outstanding technique.
-- Sr. Trahvon Wiggins (6-1, 215 lbs, 78 TKL, 4 FR, 2 sacks) -- Wiggins has an explosive first step that allows him to get to ball carriers quickly.
GAINESVILLE
-- Sr. Makius Scott (6-4, 309 lbs, South Carolina-commit; 57 TKL, 5 TFL, 1 sack, 3 FF, 2 blocked FGs) -- Scott has excellent athleticism for a big guy with a high motor and great work ethic.
JACKSON COUNTY
-- Sr. Brandon Fisher (5-10, 220 lbs; no stats avail.) -- Fisher is a solid run-stopper inside that crowd lanes and allows the linebackers to do their job.
-- Jr. Andrew King (5-10, 275 lbs; no stats avail.) -- King. like Fisher, is a solid run-stopper that bullies his way into the backfield.
LINEBACKER
BANKS COUNTY
-- Sr. Braxton Simpson (6-2, 220; 80 TKL, led team in 2018) -- Simpson is a throwback player. He’s hard-nosed and savvy, has a nose for the ball, and plays with a lot of energy and emotion.
-- Jr. Jace Bennett (6-0, 208 46 TKL, 2 sacks, 1 Int, 2 FR) -- Bennett is a physical player with good instincts and speed. Has good technique and is a very good tackler.
BUFORD
-- Sr. LB - Evan Dimaggio (6-2, 220 lbs, Furman-commit; 42 TKL, 9 TFL, 6 QBP, 1 FR) -- A Furman-commit, Dimaggio is a consistent player on defense.
CHESTATEE
-- Sr. LB Robbie James (6-2, 240 lbs; 72 TKL) -- James might not be flashy, but he's just a do-your-job kind of player. He’s a strong, physical player with great work ethic.
FLOWERY BRANCH
-- Sr. Connor Mayfield (6-1, 215 lbs) -- At middle linebacker, Mayfield provides the experience and IQ to lead the defense.
GAINESVILLE
-- Sr. Ques Borders (6-2, 200 lbs; 83 TKL, 5 TFL, 5 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery) -- Borders has good instincts for the ball and will be around the ball at the end of every play.
-- So. Yusif Ali (5-10, 185 lbs; first-year varsity player) -- Ali plays way above his physique and is fundamentally sound. He’s smart, a great tackler and gets the defensive lined up.
HABERSHAM CENTRAL
-- Sr. Arian Curry (6-2, 210 lbs) -- Curry runs extremely well and is not afraid of contact.
-- Sr. Josh Pickett (6-1, 175 lbs; 26 TKL) -- Pickett is a dynamic two-way player. Dubbed as one of the best players around by his coach Benji Harrison, Pickett is a great cover guy and plays physical on the defensive side of the ball.
JEFFERSON
-- Sr. Colby Clark (5-10, 180 lbs, 26 TKL, 3 TFL) -- Clark is a versatile player that has started as many as 8 different positions in his career. A tremendous technique tackler that plays a physical style. Clark, however, was injured most of the 2018 season.
-- Sr. Kade McNally (6-0, 218 lbs, 30 TKL, 4 TFL) -- Mcnally is a force at the inside position that can make plays from sideline to sideline.
RABUN COUNTY
-- Sr. Mason Sprinkle (121 TKL, led team in 2018, 1 FF) -- Sprinkle is a true definition of a mike linebacker, student of the game and plays with relentless effort.
-- Sr. Brody Jarrard (5-10, 185 lbs; 49 TKL, 5 TFL) -- A two-way player that has a knack of always being around the football.
UNION COUNTY
-- Sr. LB Sloan Sutton (5-10, 180 lbs;116 TKL, 10 TFL) -- athletic undersized ILB that plays hard and does the little things well.
WEST HALL
-- Sr. Caden Collins (5-10, 201 lbs; 61 TKL, 2nd on the team in 2018, 1 Int) -- Last season’s leading tackler, Collins returns as the stronger player on the team and has improved his speed and agility.
-- So. LB Nick Sturm (6-2, 205; 24 TKL, 1 FR) -- After gaining varsity experience as a freshman, Sturm has developed an Intense work ethic and a tireless pursuit to the ball. His work ethic, skillset and overall understanding of the offense will make him a solid utility threat for the Spartans.
WHITE COUNTY
-- Sr. LB Jared Julian (6-0, 195 lbs; 92 TKL, 2 TFL) -- Julian led the team in tackles in 2018. He has great instincts and a nose for the football.
-- Sr. LB Greg Wimer (6-0, 190 lbs, 85 TKL) -- Wimer may be the best hitter on the team and can make plays from sideline to sideline.
OFFENSIVE LINE
BUFORD
-- Sr. Seth McLaughlin (6-4, 270 lbs, Alabama-commit; 76 pancake blocks, 93 percent overall grade) -- McLaughlin is a huge, strong road-grader that is also quick on his feet and knows the game inside and out.
-- Sr. Malone VanGorder (6-2, 270 lbs; 65 Pancakes Blocks, 91 percent overall grade) As a two-year starter, VanGorder’s overall grade proves he’s a solid mover on the O-Line.
DAWSON COUNTY
-- Sr. Bryson Broadway (6-5, 255 lbs) -- Broadway adds good size and reach to the Tiger O-Line.
-- Sr. Seth Adams (6-3, 285 lbs) -- Adams is a big, strong lineman with quick footwork.
FLOWERY BRANCH
-- Sr. Clayton Walczuk (5-11, 270 lbs) -- Walczuk is a physical three-year starter.
-- Sr. Dylan Bailey (6-0, 265 lbs) -- Bailey is a strong anchor at the center position.
-- Sr. Adarius Bailey (6-0, 265 lbs) -- Bailey is an athletic and Intelligent lineman.
GAINESVILLE
-- Sr. Jordan Williams (88 percent overall grade, Georgia Tech-commit) -- Williams is a polished offensive tackle that run blocks and pass blocks well, a bully on the field.
-- Jr. Cedrick Nicely (6-4, 305 lbs) -- Nicely has all the measurements to be a Division-I offensive lineman. He has good feet. Will he become a nasty OL in 2019?
-- So. Elijah Ruiz (6-3, 270 lbs) -- Ruiz is smart, has all the tools and can play all five O-Line spots.
HABERSHAM CENTRAL
-- Sr. Josh Wade (6-1, 280 lbs) -- He’s nasty. Coach Benji Harrison says Wade is the best center he’s ever had. He’s very physical and a big kid that can move well.
-- Sr. Greg Wiley (6-2, 305 lbs) -- Wiley is very athletic for a big guy. He is very, very physical.
-- Sr. Linccoln Wright (5-11, 245) -- A two-year starter, Wright is a tough kid that really understands the game. He’s quick.
-- Jr. Pierce Vickery (6-1, 225 lbs) -- A Two-year starter, Vickery is a technician. He knows how to position guys really well and is very athletic.
JEFFERSON
-- Jr. Colton Steele (6-3, 285 lbs) -- Steele is a returning starter that is a physical run blocker
NORTH HALL
-- Sr. Micah Holman (6-1, 250 lbs) -- Holman is new to the tackle position this season but is a physical presence when he makes contact with a defender.
-- Sr. Seth Carlton (5-10, 205 lbs) -- A quick pulling guard who kicks and wraps with speed and force.
-- Sr. Austin Sullens (6-3, 270 lbs) -- Sullens is large and physical on down blocks and can get to the second level on linebackers.
RABUN COUNTY
-- Sr. Will Hightower (6-0, 230 lbs) -- Hightower is a very experienced offensive lineman who can play all five spots upfront.
RIVERSIDE
-- Sr. Lamar Gordon (6-3, 275 lbs) -- The leader of the Eagles OL group, Gordon is a three-year starter that is a solid run blocker and can also protect the passer.
-- Jr. Lauren McDonald (6-2, 255 lbs) -- McDonald is a smart player that is a two-year starter with size that can protect the quarterback and open holes in the run game.
UNION COUNTY
-- Sr. Drake Groves (6-0, 240 lbs) -- Groves is a solid player, has a good football IQ, understands the game and can play all five spots on the O-Line.
-- Sr. Wright Hogsed (6-4, 300 lbs) -- Hogsed is a big dude that has come around and worked really hard to be a good high school football player.
WIDE RECEIVER
CHESTATEE
-- Sr. Seth Pressley (5-11, 170 lbs; 81 rec., 1,189 yards, 7 TDs) -- Pressley is athletic and long and is a technician at running routes. He also has a competitive, high energy and outstanding work ethic.
DAWSON COUNTY
-- Jr. Dakohta Sonnichsen (14 rec., 231 yards, 2 TD) -- Sonnichsen flashed on the scene two years ago as a freshman and worked his way into more of a prominent role last season. The Tigers will count on his speed and agility more in 2019.
GAINESVILLE
-- Sr. Walt Dixon (played just 2 games at WR in 2018) -- Dixon is a long wide receiver with excellent ball skills.
-- Jr. Lenny Chatman (27 rec., 269 yards, 2 TDs, the leading receiver in 2018) -- Chatman is quick and elusive. He’s also tough to tackle even in a phone booth.
HABERSHAM CENTRAL
-- Sr. Joshua Pickett (6-1, 175 lbs) -- Pickett is a dynamic two-way player. Dubbed as one of the best players around by his coach Benji Harrison, Pickett has great hands, is smart and has great speed.
RABUN COUNTY
-- Sr. Braxton Hicks (5-11, 212 lbs; 55 rec., 1,042 yards, 14 TD) -- Hicks is a very lengthy wide receiver who can stretch the field vertically.
-- Sr. Dawson Lathan (6-1, 175 lbs;21 rec., 280 yards, 3 TD) -- Lathan is a very versatile player who rarely comes off the field. He has the big-play ability in all three phases of the game.
RIVERSIDE
-- Jr. Adriel Clark (6-5, 175 lbs) -- Clark is tall, lengthy and a good athlete with great hands that can go deep and across the middle.
UNION COUNTY
-- Sr. Sawyer Drake (6-2, 180 lbs; 44 rec., 900 yards, 8 TD) -- Drake is a physical receiver that is explosive and has good hands. He has a very good vertical.
-- Sr. Kyle Morlock (6-6, 205 lbs; 47 rec., 757 yards, 8 TD) -- Morlock has gotten more physical and stronger in the offseason and has really hands and runs good routes.
-- Sr. Cayden Rich (5-11, 185 lbs; 25 rec., 367 yards, 1 TD) -- Rich has a high football IQ and understands how to get open. He understands the game and is a possession-type guy.
WEST HALL
-- Jr. Rodrigo Lopez (6-1, 190 lbs; 13 rec., 130 yards, only 6 games) --. Lopez has great hands and a great frame that allows him to make plays on balls in the air and catch passes in traffic. His overall speed and agility make him capable of explosive plays with the ball in his hands.
