Brian Jones, of Score Atlanta Fame (as well as the Falcons beat writer I know personally), lists his top senior offensive playmakers that fans of Georgia High School Football can see on the Friday Night Gridiron this season. While I do not agree with parts of the list, Big B believes this to be the case, so HEY, here you go! My list to follow....
10. Kendrum Malcome (SW DeKalb) – 6-foot. 213. Malcome was one of the key pieces to the Panthers playoff run last year. Is a big back that can break a big run at any given point of a game. His will play at Georgia in 2010.
9. Ed Christian (Lowndes) – 6-5. 280. Can play with a nasty streak and can dive defenders back as good as any lineman in the southeast. He has committed to Florida State.
8. Storm Johnson (Loganville) 6-foot-1. 217. Johnson was a piece of the Buford team that won a state title last year. Some say he is the best big back in the state because of his strength, physicality and his speed. LSU leads the race, but Florida, FSU, Penn State and Tennessee are also interested.
7. Markeith Ambles (Henry County) – 6-foot-3. 185. Ambles is considered to be the best route runners in the state. He is also known for having great body control. Has committed to Tennessee.
6. Tai-ler Jones (Gainesville) – 6-feet. 174. Jones in a guy hat can explode off the line and can do a lot of things when he is out in space. Had 1,000 yards receiving yards last year and committed to Stanford in April.
5. Blake Sims (Gainesville) – 6-0. 170. He is dangerous throwing the football and running with the football. He also a great pocket presence which will take him far in the next level. Has committed to Alabama.
4. Da’rick Rogers (Calhoun) – 6-foot-3 206. Rogers looks like a linebacker, but has the tools to be a elite college receiver. Rogers notched 1,300 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns in 2008. Rogers has committed to Georgia.
3. Mack Brown (MLK) – 5-foot-11. 185. Mack Brown can do it all as a back. He can break tackles, has excellent vision and his footwork is flawless. Will be a huge part of the MLK offense this season as he had 21 rushing touchdowns last year. Has recently committed to Florida.
2. Kolton Houston (Buford) – 6-5. 270. Could very well be the best guard in the state as he was opening holes for guys like Storm Johnson last year. He will be wearing the red and black in Athens in 2010.
1. JaWuan James (North Gwinnett) – 6-6. 293. James is one of the best tackles in the country as he has great footwork and great body control. He will join Sheppard at Alabama 2010.
Big B, I am going to have to disagree with your top 4, at least in the order. I think that while JaWuan James is the best pro NFL prospect of this bunch, I cannot put him No.1 on the list. I just cannot. Sorry. And when I say best NFL prospect, I mean RIGHT NOW. He could play next season with his build and ability. I think Rogers gets there too, but after he puts on some weight.
My list..............10. Nash Nance, QB, Calhoun. Nance transferred to become a Yellow Jacket so he could throw to Rogers and they should put Calhoun into the semi-finals of the state playoffs. The future Vandy signal-caller will thrive in the Calhoun offense and can do it with his legs too for the record.
9. Tai-lor Jones, WR Gainesville. Notre Dame and Georgia wanted this guy, but he is Stanford bound and Screech's cousin is getting a good one. He needs to add more weight but this season he should haul in plenty of passes from Blake Sims as the Red Elephants should make a splash in the playoffs. They might be a No.1 seed if they can get past....
8. Connor Shaw, QB Flowery Branch. The future Gamecock is better at running his father's offense than brother Jaybo was...and Jaybo has started for GT. Connor won't have Drummond to hand off to this season, Shaw was the true star last season and the Brickyard should enjoy this kid while it can.
7. Ean Pemberton, RB, Grayson. This is top playmakers for 2009, not best college prospects. The Little Giant piled up the yards last season, despite his 5'3 frame. His coach Mickey Conn gushes about him and Pemberton will be the focal point of the offense without QB Tyler Horne around. That's fine with Pemberton, he'll keep mighty-mousing everyone.
6. Markeith Ambles, WR, Henry Co. Even with Jamal Patterson(Stanford) hauling in passes from Drew Little (GaState), Markeith Ambles was the best player on the team. Ambles will look to add some weight onto his 6'2 frame before heading to Lane Kiffinville, but no one will be able to slow this cat down in his senior season. It won't matter who is throwing, if he gets it close, Ambles will catch it. His body control is incredible.
5. Kendrum Malcome, RB, SWD. A big back who can run away from the pack. Pretty rare you see a "big back" that can outrun the defense, but he can. He could form a nice "thunder and lightning" with Charlton Thomas once in Athens. Plus he will lead a LOADED Southwest DeKalb. From what I hear from the coaches and from my Panther-insider, this team could be the 2009 Tucker. Fast, fast, fast straight to a title.
4. Blake Sims QB(/WR @ Bama), Gainesville. I believe this is the best QB in the state, Sorry Nance, Shaw, and Devin Burns. He was doing all of the running and passing last season when Connor Shaw had Daniel Drummond to help out in the backfield. Sims returns his favorite target in Jones so expect a huge year from Sims. Can't wait for Gainesville v FloBranch at the Brickyard.
3. Storm Johnson, RB, Loganville. He won his state title last season and then transferred to Loganville to get more touches. Maybe he ISN'T officially on board with LSU but he will get plenty of carries to lock that scholarship up if he wants it. He considers himself the "best running back in the country" but I have him No.2 in GA.
2. Da'Rick Rogers WR Calhoun. According to one Scott Janovi(tz) of 790 The Zone's Official Visit, Rogers looks like a linebacker playing wide receiver. "He's AT LEAST 206lbs." Can you imagine Aaron Murray throwing to AJ Green deep with Marlon Brown on the crossing route with Rogers going over the middle and Orson Charles exploiting a linebacker? could get SCARY good in 2010, especially with Tebow gone!
1. Mack Brown, RB MLKing. The best back in Georgia, straight up. UGA went after Malcome to get Stripling and you just hope that doesn't backfire with Brown burning up the Dawgs in Jaxvegas. Brown isn't as big, but he will fit in nicely if Urban ever gets that I-formation working. I remember thinking this kid was good as a sophomore and ready for primetime last season. The question will be, can he lead MLKing past those big teams from Region1 in the state playoffs. the best ones can lift a team. Can Brown? We shall see.
2 comments:
Nice that you would include Pemberton for that reason. I don't know how he is academically but Pemberton would fit in somewhere at a smaller school like Garrett Wolfe did. Storm Johnson and Mack Brown have a lot of show me to do this year.... especially Johnson who may get to play more than a half this year. Mack Brown has got to prove that he is powerful enough to run between the tackles in the SEC and handle that pounding. My guess from seeing him is yes he is but he's Jacquizz Rogers sized. Small and powerful. I'm not sure either are better than Marcus Lattimore from over in Byrnes SC. Blake Sims and Tai-ler Jones will continue the red elephant show. I'm not sure there is a single or even perhaps double team in their division that can stop Jones with a good throw from Sims. Ambles has been the best of that very good Henry co. bunch for a couple of years now.
I'm not sold on Storm Johnson yet. I don't think I've seen enough. Mack Brown is the best RB in Georgia no question and he's a better inside runner than anyone at Florida right now not named Tebow.... but nationally I don't think they are as good as THEY think they are. Especially Johnson.
With Tucker Rebuilding... Dekalb County is going to be VERY interesting this fall
NOTE: It was hard to make this list and exclude....
Apalachee's RB Jon Lee. I watched this guy as a sophomore and you could tell he was going to be special. He is going to go someplace like Clemson as the Tigers No.3 fallback and really open some eyes. Plus I feel like Paul Mac and I discovered him and started beating the drum for this guy on High School High Five.
SoGwin's WR and Vandy-bound Jonathan Krause. He was Gwinnett County's leading receiver as a junior last year and while his numbers will probably dip because of a new QB, the Commodores are getting a guy with great hands.
Harrison's RB Robbie Godhigh and QB Christian Burnett. The Hoyas should cakewalk through the Region (North Cobb lost EVERYONE and Walton is without Ed Dudley and Burrows) and it will be thanks to these two. Godhigh is more deserving because when he was ON last season, the Hoyas won. WHen he was hurt, they lost.
Finally, Delino DeShields Jr, rb at Norcross, formerly of Woodward Academy. He will be THE rushing attack of the Blue Devils and while he is only a 3-star recruit now, just wait until Maloof gets a hold of DeShields. He'll be a star by the end of the regular season.
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