This is the seventh of eight GHSA football 2016 classification previews.
Tomorrow…7A classification
The 6A classification is incredibly deep. Six teams could win a state title and 15 could truly be top ten caliber.
Championship favorites…
As we built the rankings in preseason, we wondered aloud if anyone else would have Glynn Academy at #1. The question of best defense in the classification will be a great one in 2016. The Red Terrors get first crack at stating their case. Rocky Hidalgo’s crew returns eight impact players to that side of the ball; including perhaps the best linebacker corps in the class: junior Hunter Hall (2015: 115-plus tackles), senior Xavier McClintock (2015: 80-plus tackles), senior Preston Joseph (2015: 80-plus tackles/ eight tackles for a loss/ six sacks), senior Kendall Cross (2015: 65 tackles/ nine tackles for a loss). And, of course, Deejay Dallas, one of the top overall athletes in the state, is back to run, pass and catch. Dallas’ numbers in 2015: 1,200 rush yards/ 14 rush touchdowns/ 700 pass yards/ 7 pass touchdowns/ 14 receptions/ 150 receiving yards/ 2 interceptions at DB.
If you ever have the chance to see Houston County senior signal caller Jake Fromm, do it. The Georgia commit, one of the top players in the country this year, was named the 2015 Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year. He will lose his number one option Darion Anderson, but will have a more well-rounded group led by senior Eli Watson. The reason we have them as a top two team in the state? Offensive line and defense. The defense will be deeper and more experienced. The “big uglies” will be led by junior Trey Hill.
People who follow Georgia high school football know Northside, Warner Robins is one of the great programs in state history. Yet, sometimes I think we lose sight at just how good. Since 1998, in 18 seasons, the Eagles have enjoyed 17 double-digit win seasons and put together a 215-24 record! Incredible. Coming back for the 2016 edition will be dual-threat quarterback Tobias Oliver. The now three-year starter, Oliver will direct an offense with questions and lean on a defense that will be one of the stingier in the classification behind senior defensive back Tae Daley and senior linebacker Cam Burnett.
Contenders…
Lanier loses the top defensive player in the state, Derrick Brown, and will still have a top five defense in the classification in 2016. Senior defensive lineman Michael Allen is one of the top at his position in Georgia. In our opinion, their linebackers are top two in the class. Senior Tyler Taylor, who sports a Top 5 college list that consists of: UGA, Auburn, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State; will be joined by senior Juwuan Jones, Soph LB Kameron Brown (Derrick’s younger bro is 6’0/ 230) and junior Erick Turner. Plus, Coach Mobbs loves safeties CJ Burris & Ethan Wilson.
Could this be the year? After all of this time, could this be the year Stephenson finally gets over the hump and wins it all? The list or returning players is impressive. Senior linebacker Michael Makins (6’0/ 200/ 2015: 91 T/ 4 TFL) and senior defensive back Carlito Gonzalez (Auburn/ 6’1/ 190/ 2015: 55 T/ 3 FF) will lead an aggressive, opportunistic defense. Senior running back Jaylen Marson-Knight will lead an offense still in search of some consistency. This could be the best Jaguars team since 2012; again, it’s all about the offense…
Is Creekside back? They have more youth starting to work through middle school and into the high school level as freshman Kyle Mann, sophomore Malik Fleming and junior Gino Appleby are getting some pub. Plus, seniors DJ Brown and Khalil McClain, who saw time as freshman on the 2013 title team, will be there to lead. The biggest key to their season is coming via transfer. Junior Rico Frye, one of the top running backs in America for 2018, comes over from Starr’s Mill. This addition takes the Seminoles contention to another level.
Is Lovejoy also back? Could be. Senior Marquese Taylor will be everywhere. When he is on the field, and he is plugged in with fellow wide outs Jayden Thomas and Malik Route, they form arguably the best wide receiver lineup in 6A. Unless, Taylor has to play quarterback. Sophomore Jordan Huntington looks to be the new man under center. His maturation should be made easier via the aforementioned skill players, plus a host of unmentioned scorers. The 2016 defense will need to be far more stout than last year’s edition with the depth of their schedule.
Tucker will be themselves in 2016: raw, talented, athletic, faster than most, and with a few depth issues at a couple of positions. If they can minimize mistakes they have enough “first 22” talent to play with anyone in the classification. The return of guys like senior athlete Chris Broadwater (2015: Led Tigers in rushing & was second in DeKalb with 1,304 yards/ 18 Tds/ 6’0/ 212) and senior athlete Samuel Bryant (Kennesaw State commit/ 2015: 668 Yds & 10 Tds/ 5’9/ 175) will keep the vaunted Tiger rushing game where we expect it to be. Also returning is leading tackler Antonio Showers. Last year the 2018 graduate totaled 71 tackles, 12 for a loss and six sacks. Finally, they have climbed the ranks of title contenders via a couple of key transfers: SR DE Aaron Sterling (1st Team/ 6’2/ 260/ Committed to Alabama on Christmas Day/ 11 G’s/ 23.5 Sacks/ 34 TFL/ 20 QBH/ 80 T/ 2 INT-BOTH TD), senior defensive back Eugene Brown (6’0/ 190/ West VA) and junior offensive linemen Dylan Wonnum (6’5/ 279) transferred in from Stephenson.
Playoff bound, higher seeds beware…
Allatoona will be good; they are a true “reload and not rebuilt” program. The defending state champions will return three offensive linemen, a potential all-state kicker, a 600-yard rusher, its number three receiver, and four or five impactful defensive players. However, losing seven starters on both sides of the football smells like a seven-win season. Especially, when it includes a 4,500-yard career rusher, the starting quarterback who combined for 37 total touchdowns and two 100-plus tacklers.
Many were shocked Mays was so good in 2015. Remember, they lost their entire starting offensive line up from the 2014 state championship game, except for Randrecous Davis. All of that valuable experience, for some of the youngsters, will pay off in 2016 as they will be thin in a couple of levels.
Valdosta will be playing below the highest classification for the first time since 1957; also, for the first time since 1968 (Lowndes second season), they and the Vikings are not in the same region. Although they do play each other Aug 19th. I think the Wildcats are more worried about figuring out the QB situation.
Langston Hughes could be our crew’s pick for a sleeper run in 6A. Isaiah Green is now a senior under center; as are defensive stalwarts Josh Swilling and Josh Brown. Plus, let us be the first to introduce you to sophomore middle linebacker Charles Thomas.
Lee County could be a pretty big surprise for some in 2016. Not many realize they feature one of the top fullbacks in Georgia (Tory Carter- LSU), a four-star defensive lineman (Aubrey Solomon- Michigan), a tremendous junior defensive back (Otis Reese- Michigan) and a running back about to emerge (Demarious Milton). If they find a quarterback to replace Morrell, they will be dangerous.
Also under the radar is Alexander. If a team that received more publicity returned a 1,300-yard rusher (senior Daetrich Harrington) and the state’s leading receiver (senior Justin Hall), they would be more highly thought of. Do not be shocked if the Cougars end 2016 with double-digit wins and a quarterfinal appearance.
Alpharetta is another dark horse to win a region title. They return a really good junior running back who is ranked as a top ball carrier for 2018 (Nolan Edmonds), two experienced quarterbacks who have had to play a lot over the last two years via injury (senior EJ McGill and junior Matt Downing), and a potentially great wide receiver corps (senior Carlos Carriere, senior Ellis Merriweather and senior Spencer Gaddis, who transferred in from Cambridge).
Top Ten challengers…
Florida Hall of Famer Robbie Pruitt has Coffee on the strong side of play. After back-to-back 10-win seasons expect a bit of a talent drop off. However, they will feature five high impact players who have done nothing but win the last two seasons.
Dacula should have a pretty good defense this year; they will be talented but not deep. So many guys are going to go both ways.
In all reality, Northgate was the story of 2015 in their classification. They were one of the most balanced offensive-defensive teams in the state. After losing a large amount of talent they will suffer a drop off, but not disappear. Senior running back Ton Evans will shoot for 2,000.
The South Paulding program is showing signs of becoming a “reload each year” program. Watch out for senior defensive back Michael Carter II.
Chris Mooneyham 