Here are the Week 5 standouts from our weekend research. We have a quick write-up on each of the 10 athletes who we have selected with individual game film included, if possible.
We also have a poll for our Player of the Week directly underneath that will end Tuesday at 10 p.m. You can only vote once per hour! The winner will get a featured story on the website and a custom highlight video.
Caden McGatha
2025 Pierce Co.
Quarterback
The All-State QB was dominant against 4A’s New Hampstead winning 48-7. McGatha threw for 180 yards completing 9 of 11 passes and 5 touchdowns while also rushing for 204 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries. McGatha is a stout athlete at 6′ and 190 lbs. He runs behind his pads and is a workhorse whose durability can grind an opposing defense into exhaustion. McGatha is a front-runner for player of the year in Class 2A. On the recruiting front, he remains a prospect that colleges sleep on despite elite production.
Tyrese Woodgett
2025 Coffee
Running Back
Coffee beat Gadsen, Florida by 27-14 and Tyrese Woodgett was the offense, accumulating 278 yards and 3 touchdowns. The senior used his impressive change of direction and quickness to break off huge plays. The coaching staff at Coffee adamantly believes Woodgett is a hidden gem. He ran a 21.21 MPH top speed against Gadsen, which was the top speed of the game according to Barry Every. Woodgett’s lone offer is from Georgia Military College, but we feel like D1 programs will become more involved soon.
Jahsaun Clarke
2025 Norcross
Athlete
What do you do when your starting QB is out? Throw in your best playmaker and see what he can cook. Enter Norcross SR athlete Jahsaun Clarke, who stepped to the moment against rival Duluth to win 35-21. Despite having no varsity experience at QB, Clarke did a great job of executing the offense rushing for 14 carries 226 yards, and two touchdowns, while also keeping the defense on their toes, throwing two passes for two touchdowns. An efficient night for sure, and more importantly, Clarke moved Norcross to 3-1 on the season and is currently ranked #25 in the GHSA top 25. With recruiting, Clark is a prospect to watch. He is one of the shiftiest playmakers, and his ability to make defenders miss in tight spaces reminds me of Zion Custis.
Jaylen Elder
2025 Morgan Co.
Wide Receiver
The beat goes on at Morgan County with another blowout win, this time by the score of 41-19 against Cedar Shoals. The emergence in Class 2A has Morgan County the talk of the lower classifications, and senior receiver, Jaylen Elder, is the headliner. The speedster had five receptions for 191 yards and two touchdowns and had an 84-yard touchdown run. Elder was offered by UAB last week and visited Georgia Tech over the weekend. The 6′ and 150 lbs. receiver has taken a big jump with his top-end speed and has established himself as one of the top vertical threats in the class of ’25.
A’merre Williams
2025 Burke Co.
Running Back
Burke County lands the huge win over 5A’s Northside-Warner Robins by the score of 14-6. A’merre Williams was the key contributor on both sides of the ball. He rushed for 65 yards, caught two passes for another 95 yards and a touchdown plus Williams had five solo tackles and two tackles for losses. Williams is a tough runner with deceptive speed to get around pursuit angles you wouldn’t expect. Like his head ball coach Franklin Stephens, Williams is a tough dude, and that style of running perfectly encapsulates Burke County football. Colleges will need to pay close attention to Williams and this Burke County team; the weather will be cold before their final game.
Kade Smith
2025 Trion
Quarterback
The do-it-all QB for Trion was on his game in a 50-21 win against Lafayette. Smith was 17 of 21 passing for 304 yards and three touchdowns, scoring three more touchdowns on the ground on seven carries for 51 yards. Smith’s great performance carried Trion to a 22-0 2nd half, putting Lafayette away. With a great start to his senior year, Smith is currently the Class A DII leader with 1062 yards passing and is making a strong case to be All-State. His recruitment is taking off, and over the weekend he took a visit to East Tennessee State.
Andrew Beard II
2027 Prince Avenue
Running Back
The sophomore easily cruised around the Johns Creek team for five touchdowns, 344 all-purpose yards – 82 punt return yards, 180 rushing yards, and 82 receiving yards. Prince Avenue won by 55-7, and Beard II looked effortless as he glided by the pursuit. The sophomore has great running vision and balance; you can see why so many evaluators believe him to be among the best backs in the class of ’27. The 5’9″ and 185 lbs. back has offers from UGA, Alabama, Oklahoma, GT, etc.
Laryous Burt
2025 Greene Co.
Defensive Lineman
Greene County clinches the 14-8 win over archrival Laney, and senior defensive lineman Laryous Burt was all over the place with 14 tackles. He lived in the Laney backfield, grabbing three sacks and a total of eight QB pressures. Burt’s huge motor and length at 6’3″ 190 lbs. was a matchup problem for Laney and should continue to be throughout the season. Watch out for Burt and the Greene County defense this year, they will continue to be a nightmare for the opposing offense. On the recruiting front, Burt has interest from local DII and NAIA programs, but his film suggests that D1 programs need to take another look. Burt has a huge motor, making chase-down tackles look routine.
Tim Sims
2026 Lovejoy
Athlete
The Dutchtown vs Lovejoy game was heated, going down to the wire where ultimately Lovejoy fell 21-20. That result is not for the effort of Lovejoy junior athlete Tim Sims, who had 11 tackles, 5 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, and 5 QB hurries on defense while contributing 6 receptions for 54 yards on offense. Sims showed great acceleration to the football and is a physical tackler who wants to create action in the backfield. Sims urgency and speed off the edge was instrumental to his 5 tackle for loss performance. The 6’1″ 188 lbs. prospect looks like safety at the next level and already holds offers from Georgia Tech, South Florida, and Cincinnati. With more FBS on the horizon, he is a 2026 prospect to watch closely this fall.
Tommy Lafayette
2025 North Gwinnett
Running Back
The Stanford commit was too much in the 36-10 rivalry game beatdown against Brookwood. Lafayette carried the ball for 27 times for 211 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns. The senior has been explosive this season, helping North Gwinnett to a 4-0 start and currently ranked #2 in our 6A rankings. They will be a contender for a state title and Lafayette has a shot to be All-State in the state’s highest classification.
Tommy Lafayette
Tommy Lafayette …the best.