Welcome to another year of our All-State picks! Please continue to check HERE throughout the next week to see the rest of the classifications. Down below we have our player of the year vote, first-team all-state picks with a writeup, and at the very bottom our honorable mention selections. Feel free to leave a comment down below!
Player of the Year
– Vote once per hour
– Voting ends 1/8 at 10 PM
OFFENSE
PRO – Holden Geriner, Benedictine
DUAL – Devin Riles, Carver-Columbus
RB – Jaiden Credle, Caver-Columbus
RB – Dom Elder, North Oconee
FLEX – Justin Thomas, Benedictine
WR – ZaQuan Bryan, Benedictine
WR – Ray Morrison, Northwest Whitfield
WR – Alex Ingram, Westover
TE – DaeQuan Wright, Perry
OL – Bo Stanley, North Oconee
OL – Elijah Pritchett, Carver-Columbus
OL – Shaun Shockley, Flowery Branch
OL – Donovan Haslam, Perry
OL – Ashton Jackson, Jenkins
OL – Steven Nahmias, Marist
K – Miguel Vargas-Dominguez, Dougherty
ATH – CJ Washington, Cedartown
DEFENSE
DL – Mykel Williams, Hardaway
DL – Isaiah Mitchell, Luella
DL – Jai Barnes, Cedartown
DL – Gabe Harris, Thomas Co. Central
DL – Qua Birdsong, Troup
LB – Holden Sapp, Benedictine
LB – Gary Davis, Cairo
LB – Eli Barrow, Cedartown
LB – Jathan Willis, West Laurens
LB – Kadin Bailey, Jefferson
DB – Vicari Swain, Central-Carrollton
DB – Deyon Bouie, Bainbridge
DB – Khalil Barnes, North Oconee
DB – Langston Lewis, Islands
DB – Antonio Watts, Carver-Columbus
P – Ripp Perez, Marist
RET – Cordell Andrews, Stephenson
Holden Geriner had himself a season in 2021. He threw for a classification leading 3377 passing yards, completing 68% of his passes for 36 touchdowns and just 3 interceptions. He had a classification leading 131 QBR. The senior QB who is headed to Auburn was named Region Player of the Year and helped the Cadets win the 4A state title. Meeting up with Geriner in that state title game was dual-threat QB, Devin Riles, out of Carver-Columbus. He threw for 2222 passing yards and 17 touchdowns with the 2nd best QBR in the classification at 121. Riles also rushed for 855 yards and 7 touchdowns. The senior will be suiting up for Middle Tennessee next fall.
Jaiden Credle out of Carver-Columbus led the classification with 2162 rushing yards and a 154 average per game. His 27 touchdowns also led the classification. The ultra-speedy back also had 430 receiving yards. Credle proved to be one of the most dynamic players in the state this fall. Dom Elder helped North Oconee reach new heights to the state semifinals. The junior back was named offensive player of the year with 1419 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns. Elder is a tough runner who grinds out of tough yardage and a class ’23 back to watch. Justin Thomas had an elite season playing all over for Benedictine. The dynamic senior had 1426 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns while hauling in 967 receiving yards and 12 more touchdowns. He also managed to get 5 interceptions on defense. Thomas was named Region Player of the Year and is going to be playing baseball at the next level for UGA baseball.
ZaQuan Bryan was the 4A leader and Geriner’s favorite target among the Benedictine receivers corps. Bryan finished this fall with 95 receptions, 1376 receiving yards, and 15 touchdowns. The junior with sticky hands will be one to watch this offseason. Ray Morrison out of Northwest Whitfield had 927 receiving yards on the season and 10 touchdowns. He hauled in 64 receptions as well, showing excellent speed after the catch and a solid 6’2″ frame. The senior remains uncommmited. Alex Ingram was a big play waiting to happen for Westover. The senior receiver had a classification leading 26.7 yards per catch and 106.8 yards per game. He had 7 touchdowns on just 32 receptions on the year. DaeQuan Wright out of Perry is coming off a season where he had 1025 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. He was ranked 2nd in the classifications in both categories. Wright averaged 20.1 yards per catch, a really impressive feat for the 6’4″ 230 lbs. pass-catcher.
Bo Stanley was huge in North Oconee’s run to the semifinals. The big 6’4″ OT is a relentless blocker who shows good leg drive. Elijah Pritchett out of Carver-Columbus gets the not at the OL spot. Perhaps the best athlete in the state on the offensive line, Pritchett will be suiting up for Alabama next fall. Shaun Shockley is a really proficient junior blocker out of Flower Branch. The 6’2″ blocker has excellent fundamentals and is one of the more consistent blockers in all of 4A. Donovan Haslam was huge for Perry’s explosive offensive in the 2021 season. Haslam is a huge OL who stands 6’5″ and right around 300 lbs, making him more than capable to serve up pancakes. Ashton Jackson out of Jenkins is an explosive blocker. The senior is very capable of getting out in space and making devastating blocks. Steven Nahmias is a run blocking machine that just dismantles defenders in front of him. The senior has incredible strength at the point of attack one of our favorite offensive linemen in the class of ’22 across the state of Georgia. Nahmias is signed with Duke.
Miguel Vargas-Dominguez gets the nod at the kicker spot, and it was very competitive. The Dougherty kicker was 7-9, knocking 3 from over 40 yards and a long of 47. CJ Washington is our pick for All-State athlete. Rushing for 1k yards and 20 touchdowns on the season while also totaling 42 tackles, 17 QB hurries, and 7 sacks, Washington had an impact on both sides of the football and was named Region Player of the Year. He will be suiting up for UGA next fall.
Mykel Williams out of Hardaway earns his 3rd straight All-State team selection. The senior ended up with 81 tackles, 20.5 tackles for a loss and 12.5 sacks. Williams signed with UGA last month and is arguably the best defensive lineman in the state of Georgia. Isaiah Mitchell out of Luella helped the program really take a jump this fall. The Region Defensive Player of the Year was a stalwart at the nose tackle position. He stomped the opponent’s rushing game and helped his team go 8-4 on the season. Cedartown senior Jai Barnes was one of the classification leaders with 17.5 tackles for a loss and 9 sacks. He was named Region Defensive Lineman of the Year. Barnes remains uncommitted, but his recruitment is picking up late here. Gabe Harris is a powerful defensive lineman out of Thomas Co. Central. The junior is a physical specimen on the field who creates chaos on each play. With already a lot of P5 offers under his belt, it will be interesting to watch how Harris’ recruitment plays out. Qua Birdsong was a sack-machine for Troup this season. The quick-twitch edge rusher gets into the backfield in a hurry. He was the only sophomore to make this All-State team, and should be a favorite for year’s to come.
Holden Sapp out of Bendictine was named Region Defensive Player of the Year. He had 123 tackles (88 solos) and 17 tackles for loss while also getting 4 sacks too. Sapp also ended up with 5 interceptions on the year too. Gary Davis out of Cairo makes the All-State team again. The dynamic tackler led his team again with 88 on the season. He was named Defensive Player of the Year in his region. Eli Barrow out of Cedartown had 127 tackles on the year, making him one of the classification’s leaders. The Cedartown junior backer also had 13.5 tackles for a loss. Barrow has excellent instincts reading the play and is a devastating tackler. Jathan Willis is a senior out of West Laurens who didn’t get much pub going into the season but ended being named Defensive Player of the Year in his region by season’s end. The senior had 135 tackles, 15 tackles for a loss, and 8 sacks on the year. He also created a whopping 6 fumbles on the season. Kadin Bailey out of Jefferson has been a consistent playmaker for the squad. He was named Region Athlete of the Year, and his sideline to sideline speed bottles up offenses. Bailey is signed with Syracuse.
Vicari Swain out of Central-Carrollton was one of the classification leaders with 6 interceptions on the season, while also catching over 800 yards receiving too. The junior is an explosive athlete who has a few FBS offers under his belt and many more on the way. Deyon Bouie out of Bainbridge was a lockdown CB among other things last season. The senior who signed on with Texas A&M had 2 interceptions to go along with 7 pass-breakups while also totaling 1116 all-purpose yards. North Oconee’s Khalil Barnes can really do it all. Playing both receiver or defensive back, Barnes makes a big impact on the field and his explosive playmaking helped North Oconee make a deep playoff push into the semifinals. The junior was named Region Athlete of the Year and should be one to watch in the recruiting-world. Langston Lewis out of Islands was another classification leader with 5 interceptions on the season. The springy senior safety is very good at fighting for positioning and high-pointing the football over the receiver. Lewis is signed to play with Central Michigan. Carver-Columbus senior Antonio Watts earns the last DB spot. He had 104 tackles on the season with 7 tackles for a loss and 4 interceptions. The senior is holding several D1 offers still and remains uncommitted.
Ripp Perez had a very efficient season for Marist this fall. The junior punter averaged 40.8 yards per punt while kicking 13 of his 28 punts inside the 20-yard line. Cordell Andrews out of Stephenson earns our All-State returner spot. He led the classification with 4 special teams’ returns for a score (2 kick returns and 2 punt returns) and racked up 541 total return yards on the season. The speedy senior was part of the Stephenson State Champion track team last spring and has some legit wheels. Definitely an under-the-radar playmaker.
HONORABLE MENTION
Camerin Marshall, Perry/Kavon Johnson, Westover/Devin Hester, Cedar Shoals/Jordan Neang, Riverdale/Dexter Ricks, Baldwin/Quantaves Gaskin, Hapeville Charter/Christian Curry, Hardaway/Adam Hopkins, Thomas Co. Central/Sammy Brown, Jefferson/Jordan Perry, Jefferson/Bryce Baker, Benedictine/James Jackson, Carver-Columbus/Dontavious Broadnax, Bainbridge/Demario Sims, Cedartown/Cameron Crowell, Carver-COL/Bridger Jones, Columbus/Chandler Heath, Marist/Garrison Rippa, Luella/Aarmon Stiggers, Arabia Mt./Jayven Jenkins, Cairo/Brian Habeck, Jefferson/Julius Linton, New Hampstead/Kelton Smith, Carver-COL/Jacob Klein, Ridgeland/Don’ya Golson, Thomas Co. Central/Robert Edwards III, Columbu/Michael Merriweather, Carver-COL/Eugene “Tre” Brown, Jenkins/Jack Fabris, North Oconee/Luke Kincaid, North Oconee/Devon Irving, Hapeville Charter/Marcellius Johnson, Hapeville Charter/Troy Pikes, Mays/Malaki Starks, Jefferson/David Renard, Flowry Branch/Armar Gordon, Perry/Owen Brooker, Northwest Whitfield/Bo Smith, Bainbridge/Clete Cooper, East Hall/Pauly Seeley, New Hampstead/Vinson Berry, Luella/Kameron Davis, Dougherty/Javon Graham, Fayette Co./Joshua Pridgen, Jenkins/Harlem Diamond, Cedartown/Autavius Ison, Riverdale/Dakaria Anderson, Perry/Brayden Morrison, NW Whitfield/Darius Holcomb, East Hall/Kameron Edge, Benedictine/Shatavious Hogan, Baldwin/Marcus Pike, Pickens/Devin Hand, Pickens/Quientin Williams, Hapeville Charter/Toriano Bias, New Hampstead//Kadyn Hampton, Pickens/Riley Hollar, SE Whitfield/Detrique Lawrence, Luella/Jarred Fuller, Perry/Isaiah Brown, Luella/Devin Collier, Dougherty/Anthony Suttles, Dougherty/Wilkes Albert, Benedictine/Curtis Dukes, Monroe/Joshua Cooper, Riverdale/Ian Hackney, Riverdale/Statavious Smith, Dougherty/Anthony Johnson, Howard/Brandon Moss, Fayette Co./Austin Denson, Westside-Macon/Austin Denson, Westside-Macon/Miquon Merriweather, Carver-COL/Juliuz Walton, Central-Carrollton/Mac Kromenhoek, Bendictine/Elijah West, Dougherty/Samuel Edika, Riverdale/Collin Swearingin, Heritage-Ringgold/Dorian Thomas, Cairo/Jeronimo Marin, Chestatee/Marcus Christian, Thomas Co. Central/Dacien Robinson, Riverdale/Saxton Melvin, Hardaway/Joel Howard, West Laurens/Keion Bryant, Faytte Co./Antavious Murphy, Bainbridge/Ben Hollerbach, Bendictine/Kam Blackmon, Shaw/Anderson Britton, Heritage-Ringgold/Micah Welch, Baldwin/Omarion Knight, Baldwin/Keyondre Whisby, Rutland/Braxton Truitt, Troup/Randy Campbell, Haraday/Qua Thornton, LaGrange/Kam Bing, New Hampstead/Michael Oruse, Fayette Co./Robert Wright, Mt. Zion/Jaylen Lester, Luella/O’Shea Stroman, Stephenson/Amir Williams, Miller Grove/Zy’Terrio Lee, May/Charlie Fleming, Pickens/Evan Vaughn, Central-Carrollton/Peyton Nikolopoulus, Cedartown/Jaylon Stephenson, Cedartown/Darron Reed, Carver-COL/Kaden Sonnabend, New Hampstead/Bryce Pashke, Benedictine/D’Angelo Sheppard, Jenkins/Quintavious Kendrick, Perry/Senquavious Alsobrooks, Spalding/Terrell Riley, McDonough/Champ Davis, Marist/Rahim Diarrasouba, Stephenson/Andrew Mannelly, Marist/Chandler Heath, Marist/Samauri Sutton, Stephenson/Travis Terrell, Mays/Kaden Swope, Heritage/ Ty Brewer, Central-Carrollton/Zahmerius Shiflet, Madison County/Neico Sandifer, Rutland/Dubois Watson, Spalding/Jaylan Hatchett, Hardaway/JycelMosley, Lagrange/Thaddeus Dixon, LaGrange/Tyson Duncan, Troup/Omarion Brice, Shaw/Kevin Speed, Cairo/Dominick Henderson, Monroe/Erin Green, McDonough/Jayden Brown, Miller Grove/Ryan Phelan, Marist/Daniel Turpin, Arabia Mt./Victor Hajdu, Madison Co./KJ Moon, North Oconee/Dametris Green, Westover/Sha’ron McGert, Islands
