Schools’ top recruits this century

From Calvin Johnson to Trevor Lawrence to Elijah Griffin, here are the highest-rated recruits this century by Georgia team, according to GHSF Daily’s research of the 247Sports Composite rankings.

If there are a few more recent players, it’s because Georgia’s reputation for developing major Division I and NFL talent continues to rise. In the first decade of this century, Georgia averaged 17.3 players in the consensus top 250 nationally. That improved to 22.1 the next decade. This decade, it’s up to 26.0.

Twenty-seven Georgia teams have their best college prospect this century on their current roster.

There are some surprises. Deshaun Watson is no longer Gainesville’s most highly rated prospect. That honor goes to current Red Elephants linebacker Xavier Griffin, a five-star recruit committed to Alabama. Current player ratings aren’t final, however. That doesn’t happen until high school careers are finished and 247Sports does the final tally.

Another interesting school runner-up is Georgia All-America safety Malaki Starks at Jefferson, edged out by his former teammate, Clemson freshman Sammy Brown. Those two former five-star recruits have a reunion Saturday when Georgia opens against Clemson in Atlanta.

Many are no surprises at all. Who else but Travis Hunter at Collins Hill, Roquan Smith at Macon County or Nick Chubb at Cedartown?

Not every Georgia school is included. There are 40 GHSA schools, mostly smaller or newer ones, that have no players assigned state rankings on the 247Sports Composite this century. Getting a 247 composite ranking historically entails being rated on all major recruiting sites (ESPN, Rivals, 247, On3).

The players are listed with the year of their senior season.

Bryson Tarver, Swainsboro

Bryson Tarver, a senior quarterback/defensive back at Swainsboro, is the scoutSMART Student-Athlete of the Week. Tarver has 190 rushing yards, three touchdowns and 12 tackles in the Tigers’ first two games, He has a 4.0 GPA, is a member of the Honors Program, and received the UGA Certificate of Merit. His recognition includes the highest math and science average (three times) and being included on the 2022 and 2023 all-region teams. Tarver is a FBLA Chapter Officer and a member of the Spanish Club and the Tigers’ track team. “He is the ultimate competitor in the classroom, weight room, practice field and under the lights,” Swainsboro coach Scott Roberts said. “He has sacrificed so much of his time and energy for his teammates, school and community. Bryson has been a huge reason for our success since his freshman year, and I am very grateful for the opportunity to have him in my life. He takes his obligation as a role model seriously and is someone that kids and adults should aspire to emulate.”

GHSF Daily, in conjunction with scoutSMART, will be announcing a football student-athlete of the week each Friday this season. The ideal candidate will be outstanding on the field and in the classroom. Please click here to send nominations to Diane Bloodworth.

Here is where Georgia teams stand in several national polls. The numbers on the left are this week's rankings; the numbers in parentheses are last week's rankings.

CalPreps

(Top 100)

13. (11) Milton

38. (27) Carrollton

41. (28) Buford

49. (50) Douglas County

53. (38) Thomas County Central

68. (52) Coffee

70. (44) Colquitt County

71. (90) Collins Hill

73. (91) Grayson

USA Today

(Top 25)

5. (10) Milton

11. (12) Carrollton

MaxPreps

(Top 100)

4. (6) Milton

12. (12) Carrollton

18. (32) Douglas County

21. (21) Buford

31. (34) Thomas County Central

50. (67) Collins Hill

53. (62) Mill Creek

54. (78) Grayson

61. (58) Camden County

67. (75) Gainesville

70. (NR) Hughes

90. (88) Rome

Massey Ratings

(Top 100)

21. (27) Milton

28. (25) Colquitt County

32. (37) Mill Creek

34. (44) Hughes

35. (46) Coffee

44. (48) Walton

50. (45) Carrollton

62. (56) Thomas County Central

64. (61) Lee County

69. (NR) Grayson

70. (67) Rome

74. (65) Collins Hill

78. (88) Buford

82. (77) Douglas County

97. (NR) Camden County

High School Football America

(Top 100)

4. (9) Milton

23. (23) Colquitt County

27. (26) Buford

31. (43) Carrollton

41. (49) Walton

45. (58) Mill Creek

54. (53) Thomas County Central

73. (NR) Collins Hill

75. (NR) Grayson

76. (74) Coffee

78. (78) Gainesville

86. (89) Rome

88. (NR) Douglas County

SBLive/Sports Illustrated

(Top 25)

5. (6) Milton

16. (18) Carrollton

24. (13) Buford

NationalHSFB.com

(Top 25)

6. (9) Milton

20. (18) Buford

Blue Star Media

(Top 25)

6. (9) Milton

9. (10) Carrollton

19. (19) Buford

How do teen athletes recover

from ankle sprains?

Teen athletes are no strangers to ankle sprains – in fact, nearly half of all ankle sprains occur in children and teens.

Luckily, many mild sprains can be treated at home. If an athlete is diagnosed or showing symptoms of an ankle sprain, they should:

1. Rest: Immediately remove the athlete from an activity. Do not remove their shoe until ice can be applied – a tight shoe can limit initial swelling.
2. Ice: Apply crushed ice in a plastic bag directly over the skin for 20 minutes, every one to two hours.
3. Compress: Wrap the ankle with a first aid bandage, starting at the toes to the ankle.
4. Elevate: Keep the athlete’s ankle elevated above the level of their heart.
5. Medicate: Give the athlete teen acetaminophen as needed for the first two to three days to relieve pain.
6. Rehabilitate: Begin range-of-motion exercises the next day to prevent stiffness. Discomfort is normal. While your athlete is seated, have him imagine that his big toe is a pen, and have him trace all the capital letters in the alphabet as large as possible.

It’s important to keep these tips on hand when injuries happen, but if symptoms don’t improve, make an appointment with an orthopedic specialist. 

To learn when athletes can return to play, or other ankle injuries, visit choa.org/ankle.

This content is general information and is not specific medical advice. Always consult with a doctor or healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about the health of a child. In case of an urgent concern or emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department right away.

GHSF Daily will select 10 games each week for the Predict the Winner contest, presented by Shuma Sports. Predictions must be submitted by 5 p.m. each Friday. Limit on entry per email address. Contest winners will be announced on Mondays at the start of each new contest and will receive an apparel prize from Shuma Sports. Click here to play.

On TV

Today

*Dalton at Northwest Whitfield, 7:30 p.m., WFLI-TV (Chattanooga)

*Gilmer at Pickens, 7:30 p.m., ETC 3 (Ellijay)

*Rome at Carrollton, 7:30 p.m., GPB

*South Aiken, S.C. at Lakeside (Evans), 7:30 p.m., WJBF MeTV 6.2 (Augusta)

*Gainesville at Westlake, 8 p.m., Peachtree Sports Network

On the Web

NFHS Network

Watch Georgia High School Football all season long on the NFHS Network. You can stream games from around the state every week live and on-demand. Catch the action from your smartphone, tablet, computer, or connected TV devices like Apple TV, FireTV, Roku, and Google TV. Subscribe today to keep up with your favorites teams. Find your game and subscribe today.

Tech’s local success

Georgia Tech has gotten commitments from linemen Christian Garrett of Prince Avenue Christian and Josh Petty of Fellowship Christian in recent weeks. Both are top-150 national senior prospects from Georgia. Tech now has six commitments from four- or five-star Georgia prospects. Using the 247Sports Composite, this list ranks all of Tech’s five- and four-star signees this century, plus the six committed in the 2025 class, who are noted in red.

WR Calvin Johnson, Sandy Creek

OT Josh Petty, Fellowship Christian

RB Jahmyr Gibbs, Dalton

WR Morgan Burnett, North Clayton

RB Jonathan Dwyer, Kell

DL Christian Garrett, Prince Avenue Christian

CB Dalen Penson, Sandy Creek

WR Isiah Canion, Warner Robins

OT Damola Ajidahun, Duluth

DUAL Joshua Nesbitt, Greene County

SDE Francis Kallon, Central Gwinnett

CB Ryan Ayers, South Paulding

OT Shamire DeVine, Tri-Cities

IOL Justin Hasenhuetl, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee

WDE Anthony Williams, Union Grove

K David Jordan, Brookstone

WDE Jared Ivey, North Gwinnett

DT J.C. Lanier, Emanuel County Institute

RB Antonio Martin, Hughes

TE Leo Blackburn, Westlake

OT Nick Claytor, Gainesville

DT Denzel McCoy, Northview

ATH James Graham, Fitzgerald

OG Omoregie Uzzi, Chamblee

RB Jam Griffin, Rome

CB Roderick Sweeting, Luella

WR D.J. Donley, Charlton County

LB Trenilyas Tatum, Mount Zion (Jonesboro)

S Fenix Felton, Eagle's Landing Christian

WR Nate McCollum, Dutchtown

ATH Myles Autry, Norcross

DT Shawn Green, Grayson

What Georgia team will lead the state in regular-season linear miles traveled this season with 2,072? (Answer Monday)

Answer to Thursday’s question: The most commonly played Georgia rivalry between GHSA private schools is Marist vs. Woodward Academy, to be played tonight for the 57th time. Marist leads the series 29-25-2. They met for the first time in 1922, when Woodward was called Georgia Military Academy.

Jostens is the largest class ring manufacturer in the world. Order your class rings by clicking here.

GHSA

Thursday's scores

Bacon Co. 31, Treutlen 21

Crawford Co. 24, Kendrick 7

Decatur at Carver, Atlanta

East Forsyth 34, Winder-Barrow 30

Howard 31, Rutland 12

Landmark Christian 35, Towers 18

Lovett 46, Spencer 23

Northeast 42, Washington Co. 9

Seminole Co. 38, Sneads, Fla. 13

South Atlanta 16, Washington 0

Today’s games

ACE Charter at Jefferson Co.

Adairsville at Cass

Allatoona at River Ridge

Alpharetta at Milton

Apalachee at Walnut Grove

Arabia Mountain at Newnan

Archer at Mill Creek

Athens Academy at Shaw (OS)

Atkinson Co. at Montgomery Co.

Baconton at Piedmont Academy

Bainbridge at Ware Co.

Berkmar at Peach Co.

Berrien at Telfair Co.

Bleckley Co. at East Laurens

Blessed Trinity at Prince Avenue Christian

Bowdon at Bremen

Brantley Co. at Pierce Co.

Brentwood at GMC Prep

Brooks Co. at Cook

Brookstone at Mount Vernon

Burke Co. at Benedictine (SM)

Callaway at Opelika, Ala.

Calvary Day at Oceanside, Coll., S.C.

Carver, Columbus at Harris Co.

Cedar Grove at Collins Hill

Cedartown at Alexander

Central Gwinnett at Lowndes

Central, Carrollton at Hiram

Central, Macon at Dodge Co.

Central, Talbotton at Calhoun Co.

Charlton Co. at Jeff Davis

Chattahoochee at Discovery

Cherokee Christian at Armuchee

Chiles, Fla. at Pelham

Clarke Central at Jefferson

Clinch Co. at Miller Co.

Coahulla Creek at North Cobb Christian

Columbia Co., Fla. at Coffee

Columbus at Randolph-Clay

Commerce at Luella

Coosa at Model

Creekview at Cambridge

Crisp Co. at Fitzgerald

Cross Keys at Rock Springs Christian

Dacula at Jackson Co.

Dade Co. at LaFayette

Dalton at Northwest Whitfield

Darlington at Ridgeland

Dominion Christian at Walker

Dooly Co. at Worth Co.

Dorman, S.C. at Grayson

Dothan, Ala. at Monroe (M)

Dougherty at Valdosta

Drew at South Cobb

Dublin at Southwest (TH)

East Coweta at North Cobb

East Jackson at Dawson Co.

Eastside at Alcovy (SH)

Etowah at Campbell

Everglades, Fla. at Richmond Hill

Fannin Co. at Union Co.

Fla. State High at Thomas Co. Central

Flowery Branch at Forsyth Central

Forest Park at Utopian Academy

Franklin Co. at Banks Co.

Gainesville at Westlake

Gilmer at Pickens

Glascock Co. at Briarwood Academy

Gordon Central at Josey

Greene Co. at Haralson Co.

Groves at Jenkins (SV)

Grovetown at Evans

Hampton at Jones Co.

Hancock Central at Lake Oconee Acad.

Hapeville Charter at Cartersville

Hardaway at Greenville

Harrison at North Paulding

Hart Co. at Lumpkin Co.

Heard Co. at Murphy, N.C.

Heritage, Ringgold at Ringgold

Houston Co. at Perry

Irwin Co. at Schley Co.

Islands at Southeast Bulloch

Jackson at Lamar Co.

Johns Creek at Centennial

Johnson, Gaines. at East Hall

Johnson, Savannah at Long Co.

Jonesboro at Atlantic, Fla.

Jordan at Chattahoochee Co.

King's Ridge at Heritage, Newnan

KIPP Atl. Collegiate at Social Circle

LaGrange at Sandy Creek

Lanier at North Forsyth

Lanier Co. at Hawkinsville

Lassiter at Northview

Lee Co. at Tift Co.

Liberty Co. at Windsor Forest (IH)

Lincoln Co. at McCormick, S.C.

Lithia Springs at Pebblebrook

Macon Co. at Lakeside, Atlanta (A)

Madison Co. at Loganville

Marietta at McEachern

Marion Co. at Southland Academy

Marist at Woodward Academy

McIntosh at Hillgrove

Metter at Swainsboro

Midtown at McNair (NC)

Morrow at Holy Innocents'

Mountain View at Seckinger

Mt. Pisgah Christian at B.E.S.T. Acad. (L)

Mt. Zion, Carroll at Bethlehem Christian

Mt. Zion, Jonesboro at Riverdale

New Hampstead at Effingham Co.

New Westminster, B.C. at Mary Persons

North Clayton at West Laurens

North Gwinnett at Colquitt Co.

North Hall at Cherokee Bluff

North Springs at Woodstock

Northgate at Northside, Columbus (K)

Oconee Co. at Morgan Co.

Ola at Eagle's Landing Christian

Parkview at West Forsyth

Pataula Charter at Aucilla Christian, Fla.

Paulding Co. at East Paulding

Pepperell at Christian Heritage

Pope at Cherokee

Portal at Twiggs Co.

Providence Christian at Sav. Christian (P)

Putnam Co. at Laney

Redan at Therrell (L)

Rockdale Co. at Miller Grove (HS)

Rome at Carrollton

Salem at M.L. King (GO)

Sav. Country Day at Porter Gaud, S.C.

Sequoyah at Kell

Shiloh at Duluth

South Aiken, S.C. at Lakeside, Evans

South Forsyth at Riverwood

South Gwinnett at Brookwood

Southeast Whitfield at Murray Co.

Southwest DeKalb at Chamblee (ND)

Sprayberry at Kennesaw Mountain

St. Francis at Mount Paran Christian

Stephens Co. at Cedar Shoals

Stephenson at Dutchtown

Stockbridge at Locust Grove

Stone Mountain at New Manchester

Sumter Co. at Pike Co.

SW Georgia STEM at SW Ga. Academy

Tattnall Co. at Vidalia

Temple at Trion

Thomasville at Cairo

Thomson at Richmond Academy

Toombs Co. at South Effingham

Towns Co. at Lakeview Academy

Union Grove at McDonough

University Christian, Fla. at Hebron Christ.

Veterans at Starr's Mill

Walton at Roswell

Warner Robins at Northside, W.R. (MT)

Warren Co. at Johnson Co.

Washington-Wilkes at Oglethorpe Co.

Wayne Co. at Appling Co.

Wesleyan at Elbert Co.

West Broward, Fla. at Camden Co.

West Hall at Chestatee

Westminster at Calhoun

Westover at Westside, Macon (ED)

Wheeler at North Atlanta (HA)

White Co. at Habersham Central

Wilcox Co. at Terrell Co.

Wilkinson Co. at Jasper Co.

Woodland, Stock. at Eagle's Landing

Saturday’s games

Creekside at DeSoto, Texas

Douglas Co. at Newton (SH)

Mays at Douglass (L)

GIAA/GAPPS

Thursday’s scores

Lanier Christian 27, Riverside Prep 0

Valwood 48, Frederica Academy 14

Today’s games

Athens Christian at Strong Rock Christian

Baconton Charter at Piedmont

Brentwood at GMC Prep

Brookstone at Mount Vernon

Bulloch Academy at Augusta Christian

Calvary Christian at Mount de Sales

Cherokee Christian at Armuchee

Cross Keys at Rock Springs Christian

Edmund Burke at Trinity Christian, Dublin

First Presbyterian at St. Anne-Pacelli

Flint River Academy at Skipstone Acad.

Glascock Co. at Briarwood Academy

John Milledge Academy at Tiftarea Acad.

King’s Academy at Creekside Christian

King’s Ridge at Heritage, Newnan

Loganville Christian at Gatewood

Maclay, Fla. at Brookwood School

Marion Co. at Southland Academy

Mt. Zion, Carroll at Bethlehem Christian

Pinewood Christian at Stratford Academy

Robert Toombs at Thomas Jefferson

St. Andrew’s at Central Fellowship

SW Georgia STEM at SW Ga. Academy

Tattnall Square at George Walton Acad.

Towns Co. at Lakeview Academy

Westfield at Deerfield-Windsor

Windsor Academy at Augusta Prep

Stadium abbreviations: (A) Adams; (ED) Ed Defore; (GO) Godfrey; (HA) Henderson, Atlanta; (HS) Hallford; (IH) Islands High School; (K) Kinnett; (L) Lakewood; (M) Mills; (MT) McConnell-Talbert; (NC) Napoleon Cobb (formerly Avondale); (ND) North DeKalb; (OS) Odis Spencer; (P) Pooler; (SH) Sharp; (SM) Savannah Memorial; (SV) Savannah High School; (TH) Thompson

When you join the GACA and identify yourself as a football coach, then you are automatically a GFCA member for 2024-2025! To renew your membership, click here.

GHSA schools play numerous games against out-of-state competition. GHSF Daily will track the scores of those games each week to see how Georgia fares against the rest of the nation.

Vs. Alabama**********6-2

Vs. British Columbia*0-0

Vs. Florida**********3-3

Vs. North Carolina***0-2

Vs. South Carolina***0-2

Vs. Texas************0-0

Vs. Utah*************1-0

Total***************10-9

Last week’s scores

Camden Co. 60, East Lake, Fla. 15

Cottonwood, Ala. 22, Randolph-Clay 0

First Baptist, Fla. 29, Westside Macon 0

Gadsden Co., Fla. 45, Tift Co. 7

Gainesville 31, Moody, Ala. 7

Grayson 15, Thompson, Ala. 14

Mallard Creek, N.C. 31, Prince Avenue 21

Milton 37, American Heritage, Fla. 28

Monarch, Fla. 30, Peachtree Ridge 29

Mount Zion, Carroll 43, Ranburne, Ala. 36

North Augusta, S.C. 25, Thomson 18

Oxford, Ala. 56, Central, Carrollton 46

Pataula 20, Northside Methodist., Ala. 11

Pierce Co. 41, Coosa Christian, Ala. 7

Shaw 15, Smiths Station, Ala. 6

Westside, S.C. 30, Creekside 27

This week’s games

Seminole Co. 38, Sneads, Fla. 13

Callaway at Opelika, Ala.

Calvary Day at Oceanside Collegiate, S.C.

Columbia Co., Fla. at Coffee

Dorman, S.C. at Grayson

Dothan, Ala. at Monroe (M)

Everglades, Fla. at Richmond Hill

Heard Co. at Murphy, N.C.

Jonesboro at Atlantic, Fla.

Lincoln Co. at McCormick, S.C.

New Westminster, B.C. at Mary Persons

Pataula Charter at Aucilla Christian, Fla.

Sav. Country Day at Porter Gaud, S.C.

South Aiken, S.C. at Lakeside, Evans

University Christian, Fla. at Hebron Christ.

West Broward, Fla. at Camden Co.

Creekside at DeSoto, Texas (Sat.)