Matt Stewart Sports High School Football Podcast Preseason 4A All-State Defense

DL – Gregory Jackson, Union Grove – 2024:  68 TT, 36.5 TFL, 15.0 QB Sacks

DL – Cassius Burch, Creekside – 2024:  83 TT, 21.0 TFL, 14.0 QB Sacks

DL – Kameron Cody, Benedictine – 3-Star committed to Clemson – 2024:  89 TT, 11.0 TFL, 8.5 QB Sacks

DL – Jack Richerson, Marist – 3-Star TE committed to Georgia Tech – 2024:  17 TFL, 10 QB Sacks, 25 QB Hurries, 7 PBU

DL – LaDamion Guyton, Benedictine – 5-Star rated as high as No. 1 Edge 2027 committed to Texas Tech – 2024:  52 TT, 13.5 TFL, 6.5 QB Sacks

LB – D.J. Jacobs, Blessed Trinity – 5-Star rated as high as No. 1 Edge 2027 – 2024:  116 TT, 31.0 TFL, 11.0 QB Sacks

LB – Khamari Brooks, North Oconee – 4-Star rated as high as No. 13 Edge 2026 committed to Georgia – 2024:  131 TT, 17.0 TFL, 13.0 QB Sacks

LB – David Parson, Union Grove – 2024:  112 TT, 38.0 TFL, 17 QB Sacks  

LB – Brayden Rouse, Kell – 4-Star rated as high as No. 4 LB 2026 committed to Tennessee – 2024:  111 TT, 15.0 TFL, 3.5 QB Sacks

LB – Decari Farley, Creekside – Committed to Southern Illinois – 2024:  119 TT, 19.0 TFL, 2 QB Sacks

CB/RET – Jontavius Wyman, Jonesboro – 4-Star rated as high as No. 22 CB 2026 committed to Miami – 2024:  32 TT, 2 INT; 2 KR TD

CB – T.J. Umenyiora, Blessed Trinity – 3-Star 2026 committed to Michigan State – 2024:  2 INT, 4 PBU

CB – Jalen Williams, Kell – 3-Star 2026 committed to Arizona State – 2024:  39 TT, 4 TFL, 2 INT

SAF – Cortez Redding, Jonesboro – 4-Star rated as high as No. 21 SAF 2026 committed to Miami – 2024:  118 TT, 6 TFL, 3 INT

SAF – Kamauri Dorsey, Hampton – 4-Star rated as high as No. 1 SAF 2027 – 2024:  58 TT, 4 TFL, 3 INT

SAF – Jowell Combay, Kell – 3-Star 2026 committed to Tennessee – 2024:  93 TT, 3 TFL, 2 INT

P – Jonathan Gentry, Blessed Trinity – Kohl’s Kicking 5-Star rated No. 7 Punter 2026 committed to Georgia Tech – 2024:  36.3 average with 17 inside the 20

 

Matt Stewart Sports High School Football Podcast 

4A Preseason All-State

Offense

QB – Harrison Faulkner, North Oconee – 3-Star committed to Georgia Southern – Passed for over 3,000 yards with 37 TD/1 INT and rushed for over 700 yards and 6 TD

QB – Cayden Benson, Creekside – Passed for nearly 2400 yards with 30 TD and rushed for over 1,000 yards and 12 TD 

RB – Jonaz Walton, Central Carrollton – 4-Star rated as high as No. 6 RB 2026 committed to Notre Dame – Career:  4,714 rushing yards, 66-953 yards receiving, 66 Total TD

RB – Moonie Gipson – 4-Star rated as high as No. 6 RB 2027 – Career:  2,331 yards rushing, 32 Total TD

RB – Caden Waye, Ola – 4-Star rated as high as No. 8 RB 2027 – 2024:  1,194 yards rushing, 18 Total TD; Defense:  51 TT, 4 INT as sophomore

WR – Craig Dandridge, Cambridge – 4-Star rated as high as No. 10 WR 2026 committed to Georgia – 2024:  58-1,443 yards, 14 TD

WR – Brady Marchese, Cartersville – 4-Star rated as high as No. 9 WR 2026 committed to Georgia – 2024:  44-1,051 yards, 11 TD

WR – Bubba Frazier, Benedictine – 4-Star committed to Notre Dame – 2024:  46-753 yards, 5 TD

WR – Jordan Christie, Southwest DeKalb – 3-Star 2027 committed to Georgia Tech – 2024:  47-690 yards, 8 TD

TE – Nathan Agyemang, Kell – 3-Star rated as high as No. 22 TE 2026 committed to Georgia Tech – 2024:  21-397 yards, 3 TD

TE – Jeremiah Roux, Mundy’s Mill – 3-Star ATH 2026 committed to East Carolina – 2024:  38-540 yards, 2 TD

OL – Jared Smith, Woodstock-Stockbridge – 4-Star rated as high as No. 10 IOL 2026 committed to Rutgers

OL – Bear McWhorter, Cass – 4-Star rated as high as No. 4 Guard 2026 committed to Michigan

OL – Langston Hogg, Cartersville – 3-Star rated as high as No. 2 Center 2026 committed to Tulane

OL – Tre Glover, Warner Robins – 3-Star OT 2026 committed to App State

OL – Jayvon Perry, Creekside – 6-4, 270, IOL committed to Georgia Southern

PK – Carson Camp, Perry – 2024:  9-12 FG and 45-46 PAT

 

Matt Stewart Sports High School Football Podcast Preseason 6A All-State Defense

DL – Deuce Geralds, Collins Hill – 4-Star rated as high as No. 2 DT 2026 committed to LSU – 2024:  114 TT, 30 TFL, 13 QB Sacks

DL – Jordan Carter, Douglas County – 4-Star rated as high as No. 7 DE 2026 committed to Texas A&M – 2024:  62 TT, 17 TFL, 13 QB Sacks

DL – Bryce Perry-Wright, Buford – 5-Star rated as high as No. 2 Edge 2026 committed to Texas A&M – 2024:  57 TT, 13 TFL. 9 QB Sacks

DL – Katrell Webb, Collins Hill – 3-Star 2026 committed to Purdue – 2024:  68 TT, 29 TFL, 13 QB Sacks

DL – Carter Luckie, Norcross – 4-Star rated as high as No. 20 DL 2026 committed to Georgia – 2024:  51 TT, 24 TFL, 2 QB Sacks

LB – Tyler Atkinson, Grayson – 5-Star rated as high as No. 1 LB 2026 committed to Texas – 2024:  166 TT, 32 TFL, 13 QB Sacks

LB – Jake Godfree, North Gwinnett – 3-Star rated as high as No. 23 LB 2027 – 2024:  129 TT, 19 TFL, 6 QB Sacks

LB – Anthony Davis, Grayson – 4-Star rated as high as No. 20 LB 2026 committed to Ole Miss – 2024:  105 TT, 15 TFL, 3 QB Sacks

LB – Stephen Barjolo, Collins Hill – 2026 Athlete with 5+ offers – 2024:  96 TT, 7 TFL, 7 QB Sacks

LB – Noah LaVallee, Walton – 3-Star 2026 committed to Florida State – 2024:  124 TT, 8 TFL, 1 QB Sack

CB – Peyton Dyer, Duluth – 4-Star rated as high as No. 22 CB 2026 committed to USC – 2024:  70 TT, 1 INT

CB – Dorian Barney, Carrollton – 4-Star rated as high as No. 15 CB 2026 committed to Michigan – 2024:  32 TT, 1 INT

CB – Alexander Ward, Walton – 4-Star rated as high as No. 7 ATH 2027 committed to Alabama – 2024:  18 TT, 2 TFL, 1 QB Sack, 2 INT

SAF – Markell Taylor, North Paulding – 3-Star 2026 committed to Cincinnati – 2024:  58 TT, 8 TFL, 2 QB Sacks, 2 INT

SAF – Kennedy Green, Douglas County – 4-Star rated as high as No. 16 SAF 2027 – 2024:  75 TT, 3 TFL, 6 INT

SAF – Chance Gilbert, East Coweta – 4-Star rated as high as No. 1 SAF 2027 – 2024:  44 TT, 1 TFL, 2 INT

ATH – Ty Green, Buford – 4-Star rated as high as No. 6 ATH 2026 committed to Georgia – 2024:  28 TT, 5 INT; 527 yards rushing, 10 Total TD

Special Teams

PK – Aaron McWilliams, East Coweta – Kohl’s Kicking 5-Star Kicker rated No. 3 in the country 2027 (Also 5-Star Punter rated No. 6 2027) – 2024:  12-12 FG, L44, 45-50 TB on Kickoffs, 29-30 PAT (36.0 punt average, 13 inside-20)

P – Jake Snyder, Denmark – Kohl’s Kicking 5-Star Punter rated No. 12 in the country 2026 (Also 4.5-Star Kicker) committed to Memphis – 2024:  45.0 punt average with 8 inside-20 (11-13 FG, L49)

RET – David Coleman, Camden County – 3-Star CB 2026 committed to East Carolina – 2024:  762 yards total kick/punt returns with 2 KR TD and 1 PR TD (3 Total)

 

Matt Stewart Sports High School Football Podcast 

6A Preseason All-State

Offense

QB – Jordan Do, Archer – 2024:  205-305 passing, 67.2%, 2,639 yards, 27 TD/4 INT; rushing 850 yards, 13 TD

QB – Michael Johnson, Douglas County – 3-Star 2026 committed to Utah – 2024:  178-310 passing, 57.4%, 2,700 yards, 24 TD/6 INT; rushing 618 yards, 10 TD

QB – Travis Burgess, Grayson – 4-Star rated as high as No. 7 QB 2026 committed to North Carolina – 2024:  154-256, 60.2%, 2,255 yards, 23 TD/4 INT; rushing 596 yards, 4 TD

RB – Brayden Tyson, Brookwood – 4-Star rated as high as No. 12 RB 2027 – 2024:  2,123 yards rushing, 326 yards receiving, 29 Total TD

RB – Jae Lamar, Colquitt County – 4-Star rated as high as No. 11 RB 2026 committed to Georgia – 2024:  885 yards rushing, 172 yards receiving, 13 Total TD

RB – Zamarcus Lindley, Douglas County – 2024:  1,224 yards rushing, 15 Total TD

WR – Aaron Gregory, Douglas County – 4-Star rated as high as No. 10 WR 2026 committed to Texas A&M – 2024:  53-914 yards receiving, 9 TD

WR – Ryan Mosley, Carrollton – 4-Star rated as high as No. 21 WR 2026 committed to Georgia – 2024:  55-848 yards receiving, 12 TD

WR – Peyton Zachary, Carrollton – 3-Star 2026 committed to UNLV – 2024:  77-969 yards receiving, 10 TD

WR – Devin Carter, Douglas County – 4-Star rated as high as No. 16 WR 2026 committed to Florida State – 2024:  41-669 yards receiving, 5 TD

TE – Jude Cascone, Walton – 3-Star 2026 – 2024:  10-214 yards receiving, 1 TD

OL – Graham Houston, Buford – 4-Star rated as high as No. 9 IOL 2026 committed to Georgia

OL – Josh Sam-Epelle, Douglas County – 4-Star rated as high as No. 7 OT 2027

OL – Brandon Anderson, North Cobb – 4-Star rated as high as 10 IOL 2026 committed to Missouri

OL – Zachary Lewis, North Gwinnett – 3-Star IOL 2026 committed to Georgia

OL – Zykie Helton, Carrollton – 4-Star rated as high as No. 1 Center 2026 committed to Georgia

OL – Courtlin and Courtney Heard, East Coweta – 3-Star OT 2026 committed to Georgia Tech

 Top 15 Boys Basketball Prospects Playing GHSA Hoops

 

1.    Wheeler 5-Star Isaiah Collier – 6-2, 190, Senior – Signed with Southern Cal - Consensus No.1 overall 2023 National prospect and Senior Point Guard in the Country

 

2.    McEachern 5-Star Ace Bailey – 6-9, 210, Junior – Committed to Rutgers – Highest Ranking:  On3 Recruiting No. 1 Junior prospect in Georgia, No. 1 Power Forward in the Nation and No. 7 overall National Prospect in Class of 2024

 

3.    Newton 5-Star Stephon Castle – 6-5, 180, Senior – Signed with UConn – Highest Ranking:  On3 Recruiting Consensus No. 1 Shooting Guard in the Country, No. 3 Senior Prospect in Georgia and Overall No. 13 National Prospect in the Class of 2023

 

4.    Grovetown 4-Star Derrion Reid – 6-7, 180, Junior – 11 Offers including South Carolina and Mississippi State – Highest Ranking:  247 Sports Composite No. 5 Junior Prospect in Georgia, No. 10 Small Forward in the Nation and No. 38 Overall National Prospect in Class of 2024

 

5.    Holy Innocents 5-Star Caleb Wilson – 6-7, 175, Sophomore – 8 Offers including Cincinnati, Xavier and Indiana - Highest Ranking:  ESPN No. 2 Sophomore Prospect in Georgia, No. 3 Power Forward in the Nation and No. 7 Overall National Prospect in Class of 2025

 

6.    Wheeler 4-Star Arrinten Page – 6-9, 220, Senior – Signed with Southern Cal – Highest Ranking:  247 Sports No. 6 Senior Center in the County and No. 6 Overall National Prospect in Class of 2023

 

7.    McEachern 5-Star JD Palm – 6-10, 207, Sophomore – Offered by Alabama and Alabama State - Highest Ranking:  ESPN No. 1 Sophomore in the Country and No. 3 Prospect in Georgia in the Class of 2025

 

8.    Newton 4-Star Jakai Newton – 6-3, 190, Senior – Signed with Indiana - Highest Ranking:  247 Sports Composite No. 8 Senior Prospect in the State and 2023 No. 12 Combo Guard in the Nation

 

9.    Grayson 4-Star Gicarri Harris – 6-4, 180, Junior – 15 Offers including Purdue and Georgia - Highest Ranking:  247 Sports Composite 2024 No. 7 Combo Guard in the Nation and No. 7 Junior Prospect in the State

 

10. Dacula 4-Star Mari Jordan – 6-5, 185, Senior – Signed with Georgia – Highest Ranking:  ESPN No. 7 Senior Prospect in Georgia and 2023 No. 19 Small Forward in the Nation

 

11. Kell 4-Star Peyton Marshall – 6-11, 310, Junior – Committed to Auburn – Highest Ranking:  On3 Recruiting Consensus No. 6 Junior Center in the Country and No.7 Prospect in Georgia in Class of 2024

 

12. Pace Academy 4-Star Kyle Green – 6-2, 170, Junior – 20 Offers including Georgetown and South Carolina – Highest Ranking:  ESPN No. 7 Junior Prospect in Georgia and 2024 No. 16 Point Guard in the Nation

 

13. Lovett 4-Star Christian Anderson – 5-11, 155, Junior – Committed to Michigan – Highest Ranking:  247 Sports No. 7 Junior Prospect in Georgia and 2024 No. 12 Point Guard in the Nation

 

14. Wheeler 4-Star Jelani Hamilton – 6-6, 180, Senior – Signed with Iowa State – Highest Ranking:  On3 Recruiting Consensus No. 9 Senior Prospect in Georgia and 2023 No. 26 Shooting Guard in the Country

 

Sandy Creek 3-Star Micah Smith – 6-7, 185, Junior – Offered by Georgia Tech, Auburn, Cincinnati, and Georgetown – Highest Ranking:  247 Sports No. 10 Junior Prospect in Georgia and 2024 No. 21 Power Forward in the Nation

Underdog Fromm Will Look to Repeat History, It Won't be Easy

There’s probably a lot of people out there right now saying Jake Fromm made a big mistake by going pro early and then being drafted in the fifth round by the Buffalo Bills. I don’t think so.  

The reasons Fromm was a fifth-round pick are likely the same reasons he would have been a similar-round pick had he waited until the 2021 NFL Draft.

Fromm was the number one quarterback the last three years at one of the most successful programs in the country. So, no real improving on that.

His stats are what they were. Were they likely to change dramatically had he stuck around for his senior season? Probably not. Last time I checked the Bulldogs did not have a wide receiver corps anywhere close to the ones that provided the incredible supporting cast enjoyed by LSU’s Joe Burrow and Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa.

So, what kind of pro quarterback will Fromm be? Being a fifth-round pick will make his life a lot tougher. Let’s face it, higher round picks get a greater opportunity to prove themselves…and fail…and prove themselves again than lower round picks.

So, when his opportunity comes, he’ll need to seize it, and not with “okay” performances but outstanding performances. The type of performances that make it impossible for a head coach to put you back on the bench.

Kind of like what he did in his first game as a college football player. When Jacob Eason was injured in the 2017 opener, Fromm played Lou Gehrig to Eason’s Wally Pipp and never gave the job back.  Kind of like what Tom Brady did to Drew Bledsoe.  He will need to reprise that role when opportunity comes knocking in the NFL.

It won’t be impossible. There were five quarterbacks who started in the NFL last season who were drafted lower than Fromm’s fifth round pick and number 167 selection overall. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Kyle Allen, Gardner Minshew, Case Keenum and the GOAT, TB 12, the Patron Saint of all Quarterbacks who ever thought they were overlooked and undervalued.

Fromm’s designation as a fifth-round pick is largely based on the things that he does not do well.  According to NFL.com’s draft analysis, Fromm lacks “premium physical tools. Arm talent and velocity are below average. His throws lack a tight spiral.”

Now these were the positives: “Typically unrattled in high-leverage battles. Good leader with football intelligence for the chess match. Full-field reader who values the football. Gets through progressions in clean, timely fashions. Quick feet. Waits for route development in the face of pressure. Gets rid of the ball rather than take a sack.”

So, the short of all that is, Fromm is not a great athlete when compared to others at his position in the NFL.  But he is very smart and makes great decisions.

After watching football all my life, I will take the good athlete at quarterback who is smart over the great athlete at quarterback who is not. Of course, in a perfect world I will take the great athlete at quarterback who is also smart.

Fromm has a chance. Will he be a star in the NFL? Unlikely. But I really did not consider him a star in college football (not like say the aforementioned Burrow or Tagovailoa). Instead his “stardom” was a product of being the starting quarterback for a highly successful team with a rabid fan base.

A lot will depend upon things beyond his control. How quickly will he get a chance?

Fromm was selected to back-up 23-year-old Josh Allen who just two years ago became the highest drafted quarterback in Buffalo Bills history when he was chosen with the seventh pick in 2018.  That means a lot of money and the reputation and credibility of many in the Bills’ front office are tied-up in Allen.

Fromm will have to be extraordinary with limited opportunity to beat him out. It is the NFL so the most likely scenario is that chance will come because of injury. If and when that opportunity comes, Fromm must seize it just as he did three years ago in Athens.

In Age of Coronavirus, Georgia Bulldogs get Creative for G-Day

The Georgia Bulldogs will hold their annual spring football G-Day celebration Saturday, it just won’t be what fans are accustomed to. As the nation continues in its shutdown from coronavirus, the Bulldogs have come-up with a creative way to engage their fans, even if the football team cannot play.  

It will be a virtual G-Day.

Instead of 90-thousand fans packing into Sanford Stadium, Georgia’s big win over Notre Dame last season will be rebroadcast on SEC Network with Coach Kirby Smart interacting with fans via his Twitter account during the replay of that game.  The Georgia radio broadcast team will also “chop it up” with fans on the Bulldogs Facebook page.

“It was probably one of the all-time greatest atmospheres in Sanford Stadium (for that game last September),” said Chuck Dowdle, the long-time former television sports anchor who is now the sideline reporter for the Georgia radio team. “It was one of the greatest games in college football last season.”

“This is an opportunity for fans to connect with the program when there’s not a lot of ways to connect right now,” explained Alan Thomas, UGA Associate Athletic Director for External Operations.

The idea actually started with Coach Smart. 

He approached the Bulldogs marketing and promotions department with the concept of connecting with fans in the absence of the annual G-Day Game. SEC Network had planned to replay Georgia’s 2019 spring game this Saturday but jumped at the idea of rebroadcasting the Dawgs’ 23-17 win over the Fighting Irish with Smart’s social media involvement.

“This is going to be fun,” exclaimed Dowdle. “Everybody looks forward to G-Day. This gives people something to watch and break the monotony of social distancing at home.”

The plans for Georgia’s virtual G-Day Game come in the same week that Vice President Mike Pence met with college football commissioners about plans for the 2020 season in the wake of the current pandemic.  The big news coming out of that 30-minute conference call was that commissioners told Pence that college sports could not restart until campuses reopened.

“We are not in control. All we can do is make contingency plans,” said Thomas. “We’re preparing contingencies for everything, from the green light is go and we’re back to normal, to number two are we having events where we have to limit fan bases or will we go through a time where we are still not having events?”

Dowdle described UGA athletic officials as “cautiously optimistic.” He hosts the 30-minute Bulldog Roundtable daily on Atlanta sports talk radio station 680 The Fan. “Time is our ally. We are still nine weeks away from the first of summer.”

But the clock is ticking. 

“If you’re looking in the future to give a game ball, that game ball is going to go to modern medicine as they come-up with immunizations or vaccines to protect people from the virus so people can come back and enjoy the sport,” said Thomas.

While the wait for that continues, the Bulldogs will entertain fans with a G-Day Saturday, if only virtually.