We are right on the heels of the 2017 Georgia high school football season, so we are rolling out our preseason All-State teams for every classification in the state of Georgia this week. Underneath the All-State selections we wrote about each player selected, our thoughts and various stats. Also, be sure to checkout additional Preseason All-State selections by clicking HERE.

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OFFENSE

QB – Banks Ramsey, Wesleyan
RB – Tyler Jordan, Stratford
RB – Josh Mays, ELCA
RB – Tijai Whatley, Darlington
WR – Titus Moore, First Presbyterian
WR – Mykel Tubbs, Holy Innocents’
WR – Christian Parrish, Prince Ave
WR/TE – Tommy Tremble, Wesleyan
OL – Harrison Jump, Prince Ave
OL – Hunter Nourzad, The Walker School
OL – Al Hogan, Landmark Christian
OL – Gavan George, ELCA
OL – Daniel Parrish, Prince Ave
OL – Tad Aycock, Fellowship Christian
K – Drew Byus, Athens Academy
ATH – Richard Jibunor, Athens Christian

 

DEFENSE

DL – Harrison Taylor, ELCA
DL – Tyrese Black, ELCA
DL – Taequan Washington, Calvary Day
DL – Tobe Umerah, Stratford Academy
DL – Billy McCurry, Fellowship Christian
LB – Jackson Reese, Mount Paran
LB – George Shockley, ELCA
LB – Micah Harden, Hebron Christian
LB – Sam Wessinger, Prince Ave
DB – Tre’ Douglas, ELCA
DB – Cameron Browning, Our Lady of Mercy
DB – Connor Norwood, Mount Pisgah
DB  – Jamie O’Quinn, Stratford Academy
P – Crimmins Hankinson, Aquinas
RET – Justin Menard, ELCA

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Class A Private is always an interesting classification to scout due to the diverse backgrounds of so many of the student-athletes. Leading off is Banks Ramsey from Wesleyan High School. The 2018 signal-caller reminds us of Phillip Rivers due to his gun-slinging mentality and similar release. He threw for 2780 yards, completing 68% of his passes and 31 TDs on just 7 interceptions. 

Tyler Jordan is a power back in Stratford’s offense who could really blossom this upcoming year, and be a rushing leader in Class A Private. He has great size at 6’2″ 210 pounds, and a lot of varsity experience under his belt.  ELCA’s Josh Mays will be getting the bulk of the carries this year after rushing for 789 yards where he split snaps with a 1400 yard rusher the season before.  He has been chomping at the bit to be the primary back at ELCA and this fall he will get his chance. Darlington running back Tijai Whatley totaled 1587 yards last season. The GT football commit has great balance and is very hard to catch once he strides out.

Titus Moore returns as an All-State selection after his 901 yard receiving season last fall. He has made some major improvements to his speed, getting as low as a 4.48 forty time, so expect another big season for the First Presbyterian senior. Mykel Tubbs from Holy Innocents’ was a top rated recruit as a freshman, suffered a knee injury as a sophomore, and bounced back with a solid junior season. All signs show that the high-flying wide receiver will have a big fall, garnering double teams consistently. Christian Parrish was a big time playmaker for Prince Avenue last year totaling 1232 all-purpose yardage and 11 touchdowns. He is just a junior. Tommy Tremble is a new transfer to Wesleyan and is the most athletic tight end in the state of Georgia. It should not take too long for him and Ramsey to get into a rhythm. 

Harrison Jump is an outstanding athlete with a long 6’5″ frame that can get out in space. He is a perfect fit in Prince Avenue’s offense. Hunter Nourzad from The Walker School is a disciplined offensive lineman with great size at 6’4″ 285 pounds. Al Hogan from Landmark Christian returns after last season’s All-State selection. He is a big body weighing right at 300 pounds and very explosive – Virginia is his top offer right now. Gavan George is another player to return as an All-State selection after his strong junior season. He uses his immense length to get leverage on his opponent and drive them out of the play. Daniel Parrish from Prince Avenue Christian has tree trunks for a lower body and is a dominating blocker right at the point of attack. Tad Aycock led Fellowship Christian to their first ever state championship game last fall. He was an All-Metro selection and is a bone-crushing blocker who paved the way for two 1000 yard rushers. 

Athens Academy senior Drew Byus connected on 13 of 16 field goal attempt last season and is especially consistent from 35 yards in. Crimmins Hankinson from Aquinas is the most talented punter in Class A period. He averaged 35.7 yards on 49 kicks with a long of 70.

Richard Jibunor is our selection at athlete. The senior from Athens Christian is a physical freak at 6’4″ and runs a sub-4.5 forty time. He plays wide receiver, linebacker and even returns kicks. Justin Menard from ELCA is a natural at returning kicks, and his elite quickness allows him to scoot through small openings. He is an elite playmaker and had several long returns in the state championship game that were critical momentum swinging plays last fall.

ELCA senior Harrison Taylor is one of the most dominating defensive players in Class A private. The 6’4″ 240 pound defensive end has a crazy motor and last year in the state championship game he played on another level. His teammate Tyrese Black controls the line of scrimmage with blunt force and weighs right at 300 pounds. Calvary Day senior Taequan Washington squats almost 700 pounds. Last season he had 25 tackles for loss and 10 sacks while also totaling 91 tackles. Tobe Umerah is one of the more well-known athletes in the state of Georgia. The Stanford commit has a crazy motor and was a nightmare in opposing team’s backfields. Fellowship Christian senior Billy McCurry had over 92 tackles last season and 20 tackles for loss to go along with 8 sacks. His motor just never stops, and is a massive sleeper in the state of Georgia.

Jackson Reese was one of the leaders last fall in tackles with 118 to go along with 14 tackles for loss. The Mount Paran senior is a textbook tackler and fills the hole like a bucket full of water. George Shockley is another ELCA senior who made the All-State team. He is an instinctual linebacker with great lateral quickness. Micah Harden is a junior for Hebron Christian who is built like a fire hydrant. He had 87 tackles and 9 tackles for loss as a sophomore last fall. Sam Wessinger was voted defensive MVP on last year’s Prince Avenue team after totaling 112 tackles, 5 sacks, and 3 interceptions. At 5’10”, he might lack size, but has been electronically timed running a 4.62 forty, and hits like a freight train coming off the edge.

ELCA senior Tre’ Douglas is one of the top defensive backs in the entire state of Georgia. He is a lockdown cornerback with almost every offer in the southeast, but shocked the recruiting world earlier this summer when he committed to Vanderbilt. Our Lady of Mercy’s Cameron Browning had 5 interceptions last season and almost 20 pass break-ups as well. He is a very quick cornerback who sticks to his man like glue. Connor Norwood is a rising junior from Mount Pisgah. At 6’2″ and 195 pounds he is a physical tackler and strikes fear into receivers going down the middle of the field. Stratford Academy’s Jamie O’Quinn is another thumping safety who is also a rising junior. He is a textbook tackler that is quick to step up and defend the run. 

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All stats are from MaxPreps or the Recruit Georgia database.