In the backfield of this high school football all-star team are two of the most prolific and exciting scorers in the state. Allatoona’s Josh Bettistea surpassed the 100-yard rushing mark in every game this season and finished the year with 27 rushing touchdowns to go with his 1,938 yards. Running mate Kawon Bryant of North Oconee scored a whopping 21 times in the month of September and finished the year with a ridiculous 41 rushing touchdowns. In 11 games, Bryant racked up 2,555 rushing yards. Each of these workhorses had a pair of games in which they carried the football more than 30 times.
OFFENSIVE FIREPOWER …
Paving the rushing lanes will be a group of linemen that averages 6-foot-5, 290-pounds tackle-to-tackle and features some of the top prospects in the country. North Gwinnett offensive tackle Mitch Hyatt is a consensus five-
star recruit and the No. 1-ranked junior prospect in Georgia. Four-stars Kaleb Kim and Nick Wilson will join Hyatt and 6-foot-7, Mays star Malik Mackey.Tight end Connor Redmond is a 6-foot-4 target that hauled in six touchdowns this sea-son, none bigger than his 36-yard go-ahead score against North Gwinnett in the playoffs. Redmond will rotate with Walton’s Davis Pidgeon, who stands 6-foot-6 and caught three touchdown passes this season. Pidgeon’s tremendous size and athleticism projects him to be a highly-regarded offensive tackle prospect.
At wide receiver are five tough and gifted playmakers. Almonzo Brown helped pace North Gwinnett’s explosive offense with eight touchdowns this season and teammate Daniel Imatorbhebhe owned the middle of the field as the Bulldogs’ slot guy. Sean Harper could also start for almost any team in the southeastern United States at safety, but he will take his snaps as a receiver for the North squad. Nekyle Lundie, is another reliable target who made arguably the biggest play of Tucker’s season in 2013. The Tigers trailed Stephenson 28-24 when Lundie hauled in a 35-yard Hail Mary with 13 seconds remaining to give the Tigers a 31-28 win.
Samuel McDade from Cross Keys has breakaway speed and provided one of the season’s memorable highlights when he leapt and reached over double coverage to snatch a 21-yard touchdown against Clarkston. Quarterbacks Daniel David and Hampton McConnell can do damage through the air as well as on the ground. David scrambled for 672 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns this season while McConnell took 138 carries for 794 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns.
STAR-STUDDED DEFENSE …
Defensively, a dependable North secondary should allow the linebackers and linemen freedom to play aggressive football against the South team. Receivers will have to think twice before coming over the middle against this group. Khalil Brooks and Darius Slayton are lockdown cornerbacks and Christopher Fredrick, Lewis Cousins III, Taquar Stewart and David Curry are safeties that are effective in run support. Curry helped lead Buford to its 25th consecutive win and a Class AAA state title this year. The safety is the son of Buddy Curry, a former Falcons’ linebacker and 2-time All-Pro selection.
On the defensive front are ends Andrew Butcher, Jean-Baptiste Kouassi and North Gwinnett teammates Luis Sobh and Anree St. Amour. Butcher is a four-star Tennessee-commit. Kouassi finished the season with 27.0 tackles for loss. St. Amour is a four-star prospect who helped the Bulldogs reach the state finals. At defensive tackles are Norcross’ D’Andre Plantin and Cedar Grove’s Quentez Johnson. Plantin posted three of his 23.0 tackles-for-loss this season in the Blue Devils’ 31-14 win over North Gwinnett in the state championship.
Johnson disrupts opposing lines and has NFL size at 6-foot-4, 332 pounds. The five North linebackers are all 6-foot-2 or taller and have the strength to fight off blockers and the speed to cover the perimeter. Six-foot-four outside linebacker Chris Calhoun out of Centennial adds a capable pass rush to the corps. Chase Middleton and Robert Muschamp are the other two natural outside linebackers and both are mature beyond their years in both size and fundamentals. Grayson three-star linebacker Daniel Fennell and St. Pius X middle linebacker Dalton Wilson will man the middle.
Loading ...
