By — Will Thorogood
The Inaugural Georgia High School Football Media Day in Atlanta last season was a great success and showcased 85 teams from all over the state with players to keep a close eye on entering the season. The event returns to Atlanta on July 24th at the Mechanical Trade Institute building to promote some of the top teams and players entering the 2024 season. There will also be an extra day of this event in Macon on July 25th at Westside High School.
Three teams – South Paulding, Collins Hill and North Gwinnett – will be attending the Atlanta Media Day are each poised for a productive season after a year of growth.
South Paulding is returning a high rate of offensive production this season which starts with dual-threat quarterback Kade Wigginton who has a quick release and is a capable passer on the run. Running back Albert McCoy is looking to be a workhorse this season for the Spartans with his elusiveness that leads to a large number of yards per carry.
The offensive line’s performance determines how the offense in general performs. Excellent run and pass protection by Tyler Chukuyem, Jayce Sanker, Will Anderton, and the rest of the offensive line is mandatory for the Spartans to have success on offense.
The defense will look to be an effective group this season with a defensive line that can get to the quarterback rapidly. They can cause multiple turnovers with the high amount of pressure they bring to opposing offenses. Sanker and Jeremiah Hughey are excited along with the rest of the defensive line to dominate the offenses they face this season.
Eddie Stafford and the linebacker group for the Spartans bring a lot of pressure to opposing offenses.
The secondary will display excellent man and zone coverage while making quarterbacks pay for mistakes on passes this season with Stafford and Jermaine Tyler Jr. leading the way for South Paulding.
The Spartans went 3-8 last season, and 3-4 in Class 6A-Region 5, finishing fourth in the region. South Paulding lost in the first round of the playoffs 46-27 to Gainesville on the road. This year will mark South Paulding’s second season under head coach Maurice Allen as they will be playing in Class 5A Region 5.
Collins Hill is hoping for a solid season on the offensive side of the ball. In the quarterback room AJ Bush has a quick release and utilizes his quick decision making to his benefit. PJ Wolfe likes to roll around in the pocket and is comfortable when throwing on the run, finding wide open receivers. Makyree Cross has a cannon of an arm with accurate deep ball passes and solid mobility.
The running back group for the Eagles looks like they will be an X-Factor for the offense. Cameron Jones can get past the secondary in a snap of a finger with the speed he possesses. Jacari Thomas has a lot of elusiveness and can provide protection for the quarterback. Maddox Henderson is full of speed and will make it hard for defenses to keep up with him. Colin Peterson is a shifty running back that opposing defenses will have difficulty containing.
The wide receiver room is looking for good performances in one-on-one situations that will lead to a lot of big yardage plays and touchdowns. Senior CJ Hector shows that he can be a solid receiver with how good he is in one-on-one situations. Alijah Patillo does well in one-on-one situations as well with sensational catches and causes opposing secondaries to lose him. Gavin Schumann’s allusivity after making catches allows him to avoid defenders, and his ability to break off tackles helps him get to the open field. Jamel Tuff can make astonishing catches over the defensive backs he faces and has served as an effective blocker. Tight end Jaylen Burroughs is a force in the open field, using his strength to fight off the first defender for extra yards after catch. His blocking proved to be a difference maker for Collins Hill.
The offensive line is crucial for the Eagles offense to be able to perform at a high level. Cameron Daniels is doing a good job at keeping the edge rushers from getting to the quarterback. Jadon Martin, Kingston Fitzhugh, and Trey Moore play a big part in the run game’s success with tremendous run blocking that creates plenty of space for the running backs. Morgan Jordan provides protection on the left side of the offensive line offering protection for the quarterback’s blind spot.
The Eagles defense starts with a dominant defensive line. Daniels, Joshua Johnson, Martin, Levi Samecken, and Moore are always involved in the run stoppings as they are constantly wreaking havoc. The ones involved in the pass stoppings are Jordan, Samecken, and Katrell Webb with how quick they can get to the quarterback. Deuce Geralds II, Jordan, and the rest of the defensive line continues to provide high pressure against offenses with the run and pass stops.
The linebackers show a lot of speed, helping them get to the ball carrier in a short amount of time. Javyon Hatch, Lorenzo Lewis, Jayden Forbes, Jack Hernandez, and Tuff provide depth at the linebacker position.
The secondary has been excellent with man and zone coverage, and with getting in the way of passes. Cameron Bass and Donavon Stephens display great coverage in both one-on-one and when in zone coverage. Hector and Stephen Barjolo have been able to make plays, forcing pass deflections and interceptions.
Collins Hill went 5-7 last season and 3-2 in Class 7A-Region 8 as they finished in third place in that region. They lost 42-21 in the second round of the playoffs on the road against Milton. The Eagles will be playing in Class 6A Region 8 this season as this will be their second season under head coach Drew Swick.
North Gwinnett is poised for a big season on offense.
Quarterback Ryan Hall leads the way for the Bulldogs, showing a lot of mobility and very accurate deep throws. Achilles Koine and Tommy Lafayette are two shifty running backs for the Bulldogs who can evade defenses at a high rate.
The wide receiver room for North Gwinnett is a big X-Factor for the offense. Joseph Alestra can create a lot of separation and can make acrobatic catches. Nicholas Bookman is hard to keep up with in the secondary with all the speed he has. Samford Halcomb is another speedy wide receiver that is hard to keep up with due to the separation he creates. Erik Ronning is an outstanding playmaker for the Bulldogs making sensational catches and big plays at the Brent Key/Corky Kell + Dave Hunter 7-on-7 Tournament. More Bulldog pass catchers consist of tight end Hudson Morton, who has a lot of speed which benefits him in route running and he can help the offensive line with good blocking.
Chase Morrow and Elijah Panasenko are two names on the North Gwinnett offensive line that cause problems for opposing defenses with their outstanding athleticism.
On the defensive line, Cole Funderburk, Jalen Gist, Braxton Kyle, and London Seymour are dangerous to go up against as they all get after the quarterback in a hurry. They also play a big role in stopping opposing rushing attacks. The linebacker group led by Wade Lowell, is important in leading the second level of defense. The linebackers are crucial in preventing big plays and halting the offense’s rhythm.
The secondary for North Gwinnett displays great coverage when playing man defense and makes big stops which include some big hits. Jaeden Benson, CJ Hollinquest, Chandler Jordan and Deuce Mitchell are solid in one-on-one situations with great coverage and multiple pass deflections and interceptions. Rashaud Johnson and Malekhi Weedon make a lot of quick stops in the secondary while making big hits on those stops.
North Gwinnett went 8-4 last season and 5-1 in Class 7A-Region 7, finishing in third place in that region. The Bulldogs lost 48-19 in the second round of the playoffs on the road against Walton. This season will be their second season under head coach Eric Godfree as they will be playing in Class 6A-Region 7.
South Paulding Spartans players coming to Media Day on July 24th:
QB Kade Wigginton, Junior (Offers: Troy, UNLV, Austin Peay, Miami (OH), and Charlotte)
RB Albert McCoy, Senior
S Jermaine Tyler Jr., Senior (Offers: Reinhardt and Western Kentucky)
SS/OLB Eddie Stafford, Senior
DE/TE Jeremiah Hughey, Senior
OT Tyler Chukuyem, Junior (Offers: John Melvin University, Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, and UT Martin)
OL/DL Jayce Sanker, Junior (Offers: Charlotte, Miami (OH), and Georgia State)
OL Will Anderton, Junior
Collins Hill Eagles players coming to media day on July 24th:
CB/S/OLB Cameron Bass, Senior
TE Jaylen Burroughs, Senior (Offers: Hampden-Sydney College)
OL/DL Cameron Daniels, Senior (Offers: Mississippi Valley State, Limestone University, Albany State, Samford, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Bryant University, Reinhardt, and Jackson State)
WR/FS/SS Eddie Goss, Senior
LB Javyon Hatch, Senior (Offers: Point University)
S/WR CJ Hector, Senior (Offers: Louisville, Miami (OH), Liberty, Florida Atlantic, East Carolina, Coastal Carolina, Jacksonville State, Wofford, Elon, and UT Martin)
OLB/DL Joshua Johnson, Senior (Offers: Florida Atlantic, Temple, and Fort Valley State)
RB Cameron Jones, Senior
OLB/LB/SS Lorenzo Lewis, Senior (Offers: Hampden-Sydney College)
OLB/DL/OL Jadon Martin, Senior (Offers: Sewanee, Jackson State, and Mississippi Valley State)
WR Alijah Patillo, Senior
DB/WR Donavon Stephens, Senior
RB Jacari Thomas, Senior (Offers: Point University)
WR/CB Robert Washington, Senior
SS/Nickel/RB Stephen Barjolo, Junior
QB AJ Bush, Junior
OT/OG Kingston Fitzhugh, Junior (Offers: Southern University)
LB/TE Jayden Forbes, Junior
DL Deuce Geralds II, Junior (Offers: Buffalo, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Tennessee State, Louisville, Ole Miss, Arkansas State, Michigan, Missouri Valley State, Mississippi Valley State, Grambling State, Southern University, Tennessee, Tulane, Pitt, Duke, NC State, LSU, Auburn, UAB, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Florida, Ohio State, Missouri, Penn State, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Kentucky, UCF, Cincinnati, Alabama, Miami (FL), Indiana, Georgia State, Florida Atlantic, Texas, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Arkansas, USF, USC, Kansas State, Kansas, Florida State, West Virginia, Clemson, Jackson State, and Oregon)
C Steven Hare, Junior
OL/DL Morgan Jordan, Junior
WR/CB Atticus Joseph, Junior
MLB Valiaku Kargbo, Junior
RB/DB Colin Peterson, Junior
DL/DE Levi Samecken, Junior
WR/DB Gavin Schumann, Junior
EDGE/DE/HB/TE Katrell Webb, Junior (Offers: UCF, Louisville, LSU, Ole Miss, Arkansas State, Michigan, Missouri, South Carolina, Pitt, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Florida State, Marshall, Arkansas, Indiana, Georgia State, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, USF, Florida Atlantic, and Charlotte)
QB PJ Wolfe, Junior
QB Makyree Cross, Sophomore
OL Robert Fitzsimmons, Sophomore
G/C/T Eddie Fitzsimmons, Sophomore
RB Maddox Henderson, Sophomore
LB Jack Hernandez, Sophomore
WR/SS Jaedon Hunt, Sophomore
DT/OL Trey Moore, Sophomore
FS/WR Jeremiah Proctor, Sophomore
LB/WR/S Jamel Tuff, Sophomore
Alejandro Reyes, Freshman
North Gwinnett Bulldogs players coming to Media Day on July 24th:
WR Joseph Alestra, Senior
DB Jaeden Benson, Senior
WR Nicholas Bookman, Senior (Offers: Taylor University and Sewanee)
T Caleb Carter, Senior
K/P Constantine Dallis, Senior
DE Cole Funderburk, Senior (Wake Forest commit)
DE/LB Jalen Gist, Senior (Offers: Sewanee and Davidson)
WR Samford Halcomb, Senior
QB Ryan Hall, Senior (Georgia Tech Baseball commit)
DB CJ Hollinquest, Senior (Offers: Reinhardt and Taylor University)
DB Rashaud Johnson, Senior
CB Chandler Jordan, Senior (Offers: Louisville, Auburn, Georgia Tech, Duke, Tennessee, South Carolina, Kansas, Indiana, Michigan State, West Virginia, Maryland, Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina, UAB, Georgia State, East Carolina, and Boston College)
DT Michael King, Senior
RB Achilles Koine, Senior
DT Braxton Kyle, Senior (Rutgers commit)
RB Tommy Lafayette, Senior (Stanford commit)
MLB Wade Lowell, Senior
CB Deuce Mitchell, Senior
C Chase Morrow, Senior
TE Hudson Morton, Senior (Offers: Austin Peay and Sewanee)
T/G Elijah Panasenko, Senior
C/G Hagan Pyles, Senior
OLB Dylan Quartey, Senior
DB/WR Malik Roberts, Senior
WR Erik Ronning, Senior (Offers: Warner University, Army, Columbia University, Murray State, Gardner-Webb, Navy, Air Force, and Wofford)
WR Faris Sadruddin, Senior
S Hadi Sahibzada, Senior
DT London Seymour, Senior (Offers: Marshall, Colorado, Charlotte, Georgia Southern, and Texas A&M University-Commerce)
WR Liam Skelton, Senior
G/NG/DT Benji Smith, Senior
FS Malekhi Weedon, Senior (Arkansas State commit)
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