ELITE JUNIOR: Jean-Baptiste Kouassi

There was already a spotlight on Jean-Baptiste Kouassi as he entered this past season. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound junior was lining up at defensive end for No. 1 ranked Norcross as the Blue Devils setout to defend their first football state title in school history. Anchoring the opposite end from Kouassi would be teammate Lorenzo Carter, the most sought-after defensive end prospect in the country. The beam brightened as Kouassi and the athletic defensive line dominated throughout the season. Kouassi developed into a leading contributor on the defense and beat a Colquitt County double team to sack quarterback Daniel Mobley in the Blue Devils’ signature 14-9 state semifinals victory. In the state championship, Kouassi turned in 4.0 tackles for loss as Blue Devils stuffed North Gwinnett for a 31-14 win and successful defense of their state crown.

Disrupting offenses was not always in Kousssi’s intentions and the athletic run-stopper would have preferred playing wide receiver earlier in his career.

“The coaches kind of forced me to put my hand in the dirt,” admitted Kouassi.

It took some trial runs, but Kouassi is at home now on the defensive side of the football and has the versatility to play as a linebacker or defensive end. This offseason, Kouassi will focus on running track for the first time in his varsity career to add even more speed to his game. In the weight room, the two-time state champion is looking to improve his strength all around and is accepting the responsibilities of being a leader for his teammates.

When Kouassi is not training, he is dedicating time to his classwork and finds time to visit Waterford Gardens nursing home. Kouassi enjoys talks with its residents and connecting with them as they share their best stories with him.

Kouassi displayed all the traits of a leader on and off the field this season and is being recruited as a linebacker at the collegiate level. After putting his hand in the dirt and battling through a grueling 15-game schedule for Georgia’s No. 1 team, Kouassi is ready for anything.