This Friday Region 8-5A features a key matchup that will most likely decide the region title as Eastside travels to North Oconee. Both teams are full of Division I talent, making for an exciting and action-packed game that will certainly have scouts from across the country in attendance.
Christian Gass - Senior, Eastside, 4-star linebacker, Tennessee commit
Gass is the highest-ranked player in the matchup. At 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, he shows versatility in his playstyle, being able to play both interior and outside linebacker. He excels at rushing the passer with high-end speed and also does a tremendous job setting the edge in the run game. His recruitment exploded in his junior year, earning him 27 offers from schools like Georgia, USC, and Tennessee. He will be tasked with making North Oconee QB Harrison Faulkner uncomfortable in the pocket to slow down the dominant North Oconee passing game.
Landon Roldan - Senior, North Oconee, 3-star wide receiver, Georgia commit
Roldan exploded onto the scene this summer, going from an unknown recruit to a top 500 player in the country, earning offers from schools like Georgia, Georgia Tech, and Vanderbilt. His play this season has shown that those schools knew what they were talking about. Through the first six games of the season, he has 482 receiving yards, which is good for sixth in the classification. He shows great route running and elite speed that has been near impossible for many defensive backs to cover.
Bailey Benson - Senior, Eastside, 3-star linebacker, Wake Forest commit
Benson creates a dynamic duo with Christian Gass at the linebacker position. Benson is another big linebacker with positional versatility, though he is more of a traditional linebacker than Gass. His recruitment ramped up after his junior season, getting offers from schools like Kansas, Cincinnati, and Wake Forest. His presence prevents opposing offenses from being able to run away from Gass. He is a dominant run defender who will limit what opposing offenses can do in the run game, which will be crucial against the Titans.
Harrison Faulkner - Junior, North Oconee, Quarterback
The North Oconee offense has seen no drop-off under first-year starting quarterback Harrison Faulkner. Faulkner, the son of Georgia Tech offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner, junior quarterback has had a great season so far, throwing for nearly 1,200 yards through the first six games of the season, a number good enough for sixth in 4A. Faulkner has also gained attention on the recruiting trail, picking up four FBS offers from Central Michigan, Georgia Southern, Coastal Carolina, and Troy. He will need a big night and to take care of the football for the Titans to come away with the win.
Khamari Brooks - Junior, North Oconee, Athlete
Brooks is one of the hidden gems in the state. At 6-4, 220 pounds, he is a long and athletic player who plays as both an edge rusher and tight end for North Oconee. He does a great job rushing the passer, where he has created havoc in opposing backfields all season, and has done a great job as mainly a blocking tight end, opening running lanes for the Titans’ run game. On the recruiting trail, he has earned offers from the likes of Georgia, Alabama, and LSU. He will have to be disciplined against the Eagles’ balanced offensive attack to make sure to set the edge and stay in his rush lanes when rushing the passer.
Jayden Barr - Senior, Eastside, 3-star defensive back, Georgia Tech commit
Barr is another Eastside player whose recruiting took off during the past year. He has received all of his offers since last November, including his two Power Five offers from Georgia Tech and Boston College in February and June. As a player, he mainly plays safety and is more physical than most defensive backs. He will need to have a strong game in pass coverage of players like Roldan for the Eagles to have a chance to come away with the win.
Additional Players
Marion Eubanks- Senior, Eastside, athlete, four offers, including Samford and Hawaii
Tegan Brown – Senior, Eastside, offensive lineman, nine offers, including Marshall and Coastal Carolina
Payton Shaw- Junior. Eastside, quarterback, one offer from Troy
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