NORTH TEAM…
Josh Bettistea (Allatoona): On the offensive side of the ball, Bettistea may have increased his stock the most during this past weekend. During practice, Bettistea was the guy that set the pace for the North team. He was 100 percent every snap and was hitting holes so quickly that the coaching staff moved him back a yard in the backfield. Bettistea has the intangibles and is a very patient runner, which makes him an increasingly dangerous running threat. The durable 5-foot-11, 185-pound back took a game-high 22 carries for 113 yards in the Elite Junior Classic. Bettistea is always fighting for the extra yards and after his 113-yard day in the Classic, he officially finished 2013 with 100-plus rushing yards in every football game he played in. Bettistea looked great in practice catching wheel routes and passes out of the backfield and will be a dual-threat receiving back at the collegiate level. Bettistea energizes his teammates with his effort and toughness and is an excellent student of the game and is as coachable as they come.
Kawon Bryant (North Oconee): Did you see that cutback? As the North team went to run out the clock, the South team loaded the box to keep Bryant from picking up a possible game-clinching first down. Bryant, who had chipped his way at the defense all game, found a seam with a Division 1 football cut that fooled the entire defense. Bryant finally found space to get outside and two plays later the North team kneeled it out for the victory. Bryant’s 41-touchdown junior season earned him recognition in the recruiting world, but people were wondering how the scoring machine would do against the best defenders in the state. From day 1 of the Elite Junior Classic weekend, the North coaches couldn’t stop talking about how impressed they were with the Class AAA star. Bryant split the carries well with Bettistea and averaged 7.0 yards a carry with his 112-yard performance. Bryant is 5-foot-10, 190 pounds and has the frame and skillset built for a very successful career at the collegiate level.
SOUTH TEAM…
KirVonte Benson (Marietta): Benson did not have nearly as many carries as Taj Griffin (13), Kawon Bryant (16) or Josh Bettistea (22) but left the field with MVP honors after rushing for 58 yards off just nine carries. Benson’s 28-yard touchdown showcased the 5-foot-9, 190-pound back’s breakaway speed. Benson is an extremely tough runner and stiff-armed his way out of a tackle from Andrew Butcher, one of the best defensive prospects in the state. Vanderbilt recruiting tweeted several times during the game with how impressed they were with Benson’s body of work in the Elite Junior Classic.
Willie Jordan (Northside-Warner Robins): The Northside-Warner Robins running back has SEC size at 6-foot-1, 224 pounds. Jordan got the fewest touches out of the five running backs, but looked great in practice and could be one of the state’s best power rushers this upcoming season. Jordan is approaching a 500-pound squat and has a gym rat mentality that will allow him to enter next season as the Peach State’s version of “Beast Mode”.
Taj Griffin (McEachern): Looking fast against the best defenders in the state is not easy, but Griffin took his 13 carries for a hard-earned 53 yards in the Elite Junior Classic. Griffin was able to beat guys to the outside consistently, but the North defense did a great job of cutting off any possible daylight inside. Griffin’s game speed is the fastest I have seen this season and he has all the skills to be a home run back on the college level. Also, we should expect to see Griffin making a difference as a return man throughout his career and the five-star will make an immediate impact when he arrives on a campus in 2015.
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