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 1/9 at 10 PM
OFFENSE
QB – Thomas Castellanos, Ware Co.
RB – Justice Haynes, Blessed Trinity
RB – Dallas Johnson, Eastside
RB – Damari Alston, Woodward Acd.
WR – Malik Leverett, Greenbrier
WR – Daveon Walker, Warner Robins
WR – Cole Speer, Calhoun
WR – KD Hutchison, Harris Co.
FLEX – Javious Bond, Jones Co.
OL – CJ Brooks, Warner Robins
OL – Jose Gonzalaz, Warner Robins
OL – Jalen Farmer, Eastside
OL – Jackson Cannon, Ola
OL – Kendrick Kirby, Calhoun
OL – Shadre Hurst, Cartersville
K – David Vaughn, Coffee
ATH – JaFrederick Perry, Warner Robins
DEFENSE
DL – Javeon Miller, Creekside
DL – Victor Burley, Warner Robins
DL – Donovan Westmoreland, Griffin
DL – AJ Hoffler, Woodward Acd.
DL – TJ Hill, Whitewater
LB – Vincent Hill, Creekside
LB – Jay Carter, Warner Robins
LB – Dwight Johnson, Dutchtown
LB – Demarion Davis, Lithonia
LB – Mavrick Torrico, Blessed Trinity
DB – Malachi McNeill, Clarke Central
DB – Christian Harrison, Woodward Acd
DB – Amari Jackson, Eagle’s Landing
DB – Marc Stampley, Starr’s Mill
DB – Roderick McCrary, Creekside
P – Evan West, Jones Co.
RET – Jack Tchienchou, St. Pius
Ware County’s Thomas Castellanos is one of the more dynamic football players in the entire state of Georgia. Scrambling all over the field, stringing out plays, and giving headaches to opposing defenses have been a resounding theme the last 4 years for Castellanos. The senior topped off his career throwing for 2613 passing yards, 25 touchdowns, and 112 QBR while also rushing for 968 yards and 13 touchdowns as well. Castellanos was named Region Player of the Year and signed with UCF.
Justice Haynes out of Blessed Trinity finished off 2021 with 2375 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns. That’s pretty ridiculous considering the junior missed part of the season with an injury. His 197.9 yards per game led the classification and will return again next fall as the top back in the state. Dallas Johnson out of Eastside rushed for 1809 yards and 22 touchdowns on the season. That earned him Region Player of the Year honors. Johnson is a quick one-cut back who can slice up a defense, and last season he averaged 150.8 yards per game. Johnson remains uncommitted at this time. Damari Alston takes the last running back spot on the All-State team. Alston rushed for 1639 yards and 27 touchdowns on the season. The Auburn signee also had 243 receiving yards (11.6 yards per catch) and two touchdowns. Alston was named Region Player of the Year for his efforts.
Malik Leverett had a great season catching 1326 yards, which led the classification. The junior out of Greenbrier also had 8 touchdowns on 77 receptions while also rushing for 6 touchdowns and even returning 316 yards. Leverett in total had 1778 all-purpose yards on the season and is sure to be a coveted recruit in the class of ’23. Daveon Walker was another top receiver in the classification. The Warner Robins senior had 1154 receiving yards and was tied for the class lead with 13 touchdowns. Walker has been one of the more productive receivers the last few years in the state of Georgia and will be suiting up for Vanderbilt. Cole Speer out of Calhoun really did it all for his team; being the top target at WR while also having a huge impact on defense. Speer totaled 1731 all-purpose yards on the season. He had 1159 receiving yards which ranks him 2nd in the classification and his 15 touchdowns on the season put Speer at the top of 5A. He played a huge role in Calhoun’s run to the state title game and he was named Region Player of the Year. Speer is set to play at UGA. KD Hutchison was Harris County’s dynamic playmaker this fall catching 1009 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. The explosive senior is one of the fastest players in the state of Georgia and is currently committed to Vanderbilt. Javious Bond from Jones Co. makes the flex option for this All-State team. The versatile playmaker had 943 rushing yards on the season and 14 touchdowns while also receiving 555 yards and 6 touchdowns. His 1677 all-purpose yards were among the best in the classification. Bond was named Region Athlete of the Year for his efforts.
CJ Brooks earns a spot on the OL for this year’s All-State team. The senior blocker who is signed with Army has excellent fundamentals and is tough as can be. Jose Gonzalas is another Warner Robins OL to make the team. The senior shows really good leg drive while blocking and is relentless in getting the defender to the ground. The senior signed with Mercer in December. Jalen Farmer out of Eastside is a hulking 6’5″ +300 lbs. OL who destroys defenders with his immense size. Farmer was named Region Lineman of the Year and is committed to Florida. Jackson Cannon out of Ola is a strong senior blocker with a nasty streak to him. The ’22 prospect is signed with Miss State. Kendrick Kirby is a very athletic blocker out of Calhoun who can get out in space and make impact blocks. The senior is another Army commit making this All-State team. Shadre Hurst out of Cartersville is pound for pound the strongest of the OL on this All-State team. The 6’2″ 280 lbs. senior is way under the radar, and one of the top wrestlers in his weight class in the state of Georgia. A good student as well, sporting a 3.93 GPA.
Coffee’s David Vaughn earns our All-State kicker spot after going 15/19 on the season. The only field goals he missed all season were from outside of 40 yards. Vaughn also kicked 57/63 kickoffs as touchbacks. JaFrederick Perry earns out All-State athlete honors. The 2022 two-way player did some major damage rushing the football for 1208 yards and 22 touchdowns. His 11.2 yards per carry average led the classification. Even more impressive, Perry’s 22 touchdowns came on just 108 carriers – that is basically a touchdown every 5 touches. On defense, Perry had 111 tackles and 9 tackles for loss, and also two interceptions. Perry continues to be under the radar, but one of the best pure football players still available.
Javeon Miller from Creekside had 102 tackles on the year and 25 tackles for a loss to go along with a class-leading 22 sacks. The junior out of Creekside is a relentless edge rusher to watch out for this offseason. Victor Burley out of Warner Robins was stout all season dominating opposing offensive lines and commanding double teams. The junior had 54 tackles on the year, 14 tackles for a loss, and 5 sacks. Donovan Westmoreland out of Griffin is an explosive pass-rusher who totaled 15 tackles for a loss and 7 sacks on the season. He was named Region Defensive Lineman of the Year and is signed with UGA. AJ Hoffler out of Woodward Acd. was huge getting into the backfield all season long. The junior had 15 tackles for a loss and 9 sacks on the season. Hoffler is widely considered to be one of the top pass-rushers in his recruiting class. TJ Hill out of Whitewater played really well this fall totaling 84 tackles and 6 sacks. He was one of the classification leaders with 17 tackles for a loss and earned Region Defensive Player of the Year.
Vincent Hill out of Creekside led the classification with 191 tackles. He also managed to get 12 tackles for a loss and 6 sacks. The senior made a huge jump in the last year and has excellent size at 6’2″ and 220 lbs. Jay Carter out of Warner Robins seemed to be a likely candidate to make All-State prior to the season and he certainly held up to that hype. The senior had 130 tackles on the year, 85 solos to go along with 23 tackles for a loss and 9 sacks. Carter came up big in the clutch all season making key tackles for Warner Robins in route to their state title. Dwight Johnson out of Dutchtown earns himself an All-State spot. The explosive junior backer who has great instincts and speed was named Region Defensive Player of the Year. He already has a handful of FBS offers under his belt and definitely a 2023 recruit to watch this offseason. Demarion Davis was one of the classification leaders with 144 tackles on the year. The senior out of Lithonia explodes to the football and hits like a bag of hammers. Davis was one of the leaders in 5A with 36 tackles for a loss, 6 forced fumbles, and also 98 solo tackles. He also managed 4 fumble recoveries. Davis is uncommitted and very much under the radar at the moment. Mavrick Torrico out of Blessed Trinity played excellent this fall totaling 136 tackles and 9 tackles for a loss. The junior is a high IQ football player, snuffing out the play before it can get started. Torrico was named Defensive Player of the Year in his region and is a promising junior backer to watch out for.
Malach McNeill out of Clarke Central had some crazy interceptions this year and ended up with a total of 6 on the season. That ranked him near the top in the classification. The class of ’23 cornerback is someone we expect to see his recruitment take off soon. Woodward Academy senior Christian Harrison played lockdown defense all season long and also managed to get 3 interceptions too. The fundamentally sound defensive back will be suiting up for Tennessee come next season. Amari Jackson out of Eagle’s Landing has been a dynamic playmaker for the squad the last few years. Jackson ended up with 3 interceptions on the season while putting a seatbelt on receivers. Jackson is signed with Michigan State. Marc Stampley out of Starr’s Mill gets the not at All-State safety. The 2022 do-it-all athlete was dynamic all over the field, even leading the classification in return yards and was named Region Player of the Year for his efforts. Stampley is signed on with Georgia Southern. Roderick McCrary ended up with over 100 tackles on the season and had 2 interceptions to go along with 12 pass breakups on the year. The smart sophomore defensive back reads the field really well and gets a fantastic jump on each play.
Evan West out of Jones County certainly made the most of his 19 punts on the year, knocking 6 inside the 20-yard line. He had a 42 average which led the classification and also made 10/13 field goals as a placekicker. Jack Tchienchou out of St. Pius could have been placed at multiple spots on this All-State team, but his 360 returns yards on just 12 returns definitely caught our eye. He had two returns for a touchdown while also getting 33 tackles and 2 interceptions at CB. The junior was named Region Athlete of the Year.
HONORABLE MENTION
Johnathan Cline, Cartersville/Dainsus Miller, Creekside/Antwon Jackson, Warner Robins/Boyton Cheney, Whitewater/Jaleel Chambliss, Griffin/Dailen Howard, Clarke Central/Julien Davis, Union Grove/Brandon High, Coffee/Gage Leonard, Calhoun/Jace Warren, Calhoun/Ian Fisher, McIntosh/Micaiah Shaber, Starr’s Mill/Christian Cotton, Harris Co./Byrce Burnett, Woodward Acd./Josh Parks, Southwest Dekalb/TJ Hartley, Whitewater/Lee Johnson, Woodward Acd./Rodney Williams Jr, Eastside/Chase Folser, Ola/Randy Smith, SW DeKalb/Henry Bates, Ware Co./Quin Smith, Calhoun/Christopher Lewis, Calhoun/Zion Ragins, Jones Co./Mekhi Lloyd, Decatur/Renardo Faust, Clarke Central/Jemarion Whatley, Hiram/Camren Davis, Mundy’s Mill/Ali Dargan, SW DeKalb/Devon Green, Lithia Springs/Popo Aguirre, Whitewater/Jadon Smith, Harris Co./Chayce Smith, Warner Ropbins/Cole Weaver, Blessed Trinity/Patrick Hester, Northview/Davin Driskell, Greenbrier/Brooks Pangle, Greenbrier/John Alan Richter, Jones Co./Derrick Drayton, Banneker/Kieran Davis, Blessed Trinity/Malachi Youman, Harris Co./Ty McKey, Villa Rica/Elijah Harris, Apalachee/Cooper Kennedy, Loganville/Caden Williams, Calhoun/Emaree Winston, Calhoun/Ian Lowe, Cass/Sacovie White, Cass/Christian Lewis, Calhoun/Austin Taylor, St. Pius/Max Nunnally, Decatur/Shug Bentley, St. Pius/Cooper Corey, Harris Co./Saihi Brown, Eagle’s Landing/Christion Lane, Warner Robins/Fabian Walker, Chamblee/Nyqua Lett, Creekside/Jai’que Hart, Lithia Springs/Trey Ransom, Jackson Co./Malcolm Brown, Warner Robins/Colby Sikes, Apalachee/Cartevious Norton, Ware Co./Malachi Hosley, Northside-COL/Hakem Hodges, Drew/Adonis Dessin, Hiram/Brandon Mathis, Starr’s Mill/Amari White, Cartersville/Avery Hamilton, Loganville/JT Pendleton, Eagle’s Landing/Damare Franklin, Veterans/Preston Bird, Veterans/Quentin Thomas, Eagle’s Landing/Jameel Avery, Chamblee/Davion Leslie, Lithia Springs/Jordan Thornton, Chamblee/Daiquan White, Creekside/Malcolm Simmons, Jonesboro/Ayden Smith, Lithia Springs/Yasin Muhammad, New Manchester/James Daniels, Ware Co./Jarvis Hayes, Ware Co./Jaden Cofer, Jackson Co./Deuce Petty, Warner Robins/Kenric Lanier, Decatur/Taye Seymore, Lithia Springs/Miles Thurston, Hiram/Dajwon Deloach, Northside-COL/Cameron Leonard, Jonesboro/Terrance Hill, Eagle’s Landing/Tamari Matthew, Eagle’s Landing/Devon Patchus, McIntosh/Jacob McCluskey, Aplachee/Wyatt Ervin, Harris Co./Caleb Lamar, Stockbridge/Joshua Benton, Whitewater/Will Snellings, Whitewater/Johnathan Navakas, Whitewater/Trejan Landers, Coffee/Zack Potter, Jackson Co./Zack Potter, Jackson Co./Christian Benson, Eastside/Harlin Morris, Woodland-Cartersville/Kalen Justice, Drew/Deldrick Franklin, Blessed Trinity/Cameron High, Coffee/Deven White, Aplahcee/Malachi Matthews, Banneker/Chandler Harris, Jones Co./Christen Williams, Lithia Springs/Spencer Snipe, Woodward Acd./Kyle Smith, Walnut Grove/Ja’Cari Waller, Chamblee/Justin Pressley, Walnut Grove/Chase Kerns, SW DeKalb/Kamren Reese, Stockbridge/Cameron Wingo, Decatur/Carlton Williames, Creekside/JJaylin Tate, Woodward Acd./Damon Wilson, Jonesboro/Chapman Smith, Decatur/Montrell Henderson, Drew/Kanye Varner, Jonesboro/Ryan Scott, Blessed Trinity/De’Andre Jones, New Manchester/Tate Smith, Cartersville/Deon King, Woodward Acd./Connor Pressnal, Chamblee/Isaiah Johnson, Stockbridge/Chadrick Garner, Jonesboro/Darion Washington, New Manchester/Devon Rainey, Jonesobor/Javian Washington, Jones Co./Jacob Ray, Cartersville/River Hanson, Woodward Acd./Jadedon Smith, Woodland-Cartersville/Anthony Paulk, Coffee/Phillip Schiltz, Cartersville/Dalton Moyse, Hiram/Jerrick Gibson, Bannaker/Jake Trebil, Wayne co./Sharvon Pierre, Ware Co./Deandre Kennedy, Veterans/Nate Brooks, Veteran/Tavaris Wilkins, Wayne Co./Demetrius Baldwin, Ware Co./Trey Hargrove, Ware Co./Tavoris Wilkins, Wayne Co./Jamil Williams, Banneker/Brian Williams, Creekside/Caleb Holmes, Creekside/Joshua Weems, Woodland-Stockbridge/Colin Alexander, Dutchtown/Dechavion Williams, Union Grove/Andre Craig, Locust Grove/Amare Grayson, Stockbridge/Garrison Madden, Dutchtown/Gregory Hamilton, Dutchtown/Jamal Bing, Dutchtown/Khamari Shannon, Lithonia/Tyree Weathersby, New Manchester/TJ Harvison, Villa Rica/Komari Frye, Chapel Hill/ Caleb Odom, Villa Rica/Khariy Mapson, Lithia Springs/Thomas Daniels, Villa Rica/Zantavious Graham, Villa Rica/Karleon Bell, Jackson/Isiah Hair, Villa Rica/CJ Lowe, Villa Rica/Chris Baldo, North Springs/Tyler Martin, Cass/Khyle Cowan, Clarke Central/Marquavious Smith, Clarke Central
