There’s no surprise that the depth of high school football talent in Georgia continues to grow each year. What may surprise some is the amount of talent going out-of-state.
Seven of the top ten players in the 247Sports Composite Rankings have given their verbal commitments to programs outside of the state, home of the defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs. The leakage of talent starts at the top where the top two players have given their verbals to Georgia arch-rival Alabama.
Safety Caleb Downs, the state’s only 5-star player on the list, chose Alabama over Georgia, North Carolina, Notre Dame and Ohio State last week. The Mill Creek senior was named first-team All-State after recording 77 tackles (57 solos) with five interceptions. He owns a school record 14 interceptions.
Also heading across state lines will be No. 2 prospect Justice Haynes of Buford. Haynes, who transferred to the three-time defending champs in the spring from Blessed Trinity, rushed for almost 5,000 yards and 72 touchdowns during first three years with BT.
The highest-ranked player to give Kirby Smart his verbal was Langston Hughes offensive tackle Bo Hughley, the No. 5 prospect in the rankings. Hughes is one of five Langston Hughes players in the Class of 2023 Top 100.
Tight end Jelani Thurman is the No. 6 prospect in the state. He’s chosen Ohio State.
The other three Panthers in the Top 100 are safety Terrance Love (Auburn verbal) at No. 24, wide receiver Robert Lockett III (Jackson State verbal) at No. 47 and uncommitted defensive lineman Joshua Horton at No. 84.
Overall, the Georgia Bulldogs have been given six verbal commitments from members of the Class of 2023. Aside from Downs and Haynes, the only other Georgian to head west to Tuscaloosa is quarterback Dylan Lonergan of Brookwood, the No. 4 prospect in the state.
Clemson has poached the most amount of talent. The Tigers have received seven verbals overall, led Warner Robins defensive lineman Vic Burley, the No. 3 prospect.
Below are the Top 100 players:
Top Georgia High School Football Players Class of 2023
5 Stars
No. 1 Caleb Downs, S – Mill Creek – Alabama
4 Stars
No. 2 Justice Haynes, RB – Buford – Alabama
No. 3 Vic Burley, DL – Warner Robins – Clemson
No. 4 Dylan Lonergan, QB – Brookwood – Alabama
No. 5 Ethan Davis, TE – Collins Hill – Tennessee
No. 6 Bo Hughley, OT – Langston Hughes – Georgia
No. 7 Jelani Thurman, TE – Langston Hughes – Ohio State
No. 8 Madden Sanker, IOL – South Paulding – Louisville
No. 9 CJ Allen, LB – Lamar County – Georgia
No. 10 Gabriel Harris, EDGE – Valdosta – Georgia
No. 11 Raul Aguirre, LB – Whitewater – Miami (Florida)
No. 12 DJ Chester, OT – Eagle’s Landing Christian – Uncommitted
No. 13 Zavion Hardy, DL – Tattnall Square – Uncommitted
No. 14 T.J. Searcy, DL – Upson-Lee – Florida
No. 15 Zechariah Owens, OT – Eagle’s Landing Christian – Clemson
No. 16 Kayin Lee, CB – Cedar Grove – Ohio State
No. 17 Jamal Anderson, LB – Mill Creek – Clemson
No. 18 Adam Hopkins, WR – Thomas County Central – Uncommitted
No. 19 Stephiylan Green, DL – Rome – Clemson
No. 20 Kelton Smith, IOL – Columbus Carver – Georgia
No. 21 Dontavius Braswell, RB – Washington County – South Carolina
No. 22 Darron Reed, DL – Columbus Carver – LSU
No. 23 Lawson Luckie, TE – Norcross – Georgia
No. 24 Terrance Love, S – Langston Hughes – Auburn
No. 25 Avieon Terrell, CB – Westlake – Clemson
No. 26 Ethann Nation, CB – Roswell – Uncommitted
No. 27 Kayden McDonald, DL – North Gwinnett – Uncommitted
No. 28 AJ Hoffler, DL – Woodward Academy – Clemson
No. 29 Shamurad Umarov, OT – Denmark – Tennessee
No. 30 Adonijah Green – EDGE – Cedar Grove – Louisville
No. 31 Dee Crayton, LB – Denmark – Clemson
No. 32 Aaron Gates, ATH – Trinity Christian (Sharpsburg) – Florida
No. 33 Grant Godfrey, LB – North Gwinnett – Kentucky
No. 34 Michael Daugherty, S – Grayson – LSU
No. 35 Trovon Baugh, IOL – Pace Academy – South Carolina
No. 36 Martel Hight, CB – Rome – Vanderbilt
No. 37 Branden Strozier, CB – St. Francis – Clemson
No. 38 Mlachi Singleton, QB – North Cobb – Arkansas
No. 39 Nathan Efobi, IOL – South Forsyth – Uncommitted
3 Stars
No. 40 Ahmad Brown, S – Crisp County – Ole Miss
No. 41 Jalon Kilgore, S – Putnam County – South Carolina
No. 42 Jayden Davis, S – Collins Hill – Louisville
No. 43 Jalen Smith, LB – Grayson – Tennessee
No. 44 Whit Weeks, LB – Oconee County – LSU
No. 45 Jace Arnold, CB – Marietta – Wisconsin
No. 46 Tyree Weathersby, DL – New Manchester – Tennessee
No. 47 Robert Lockhart III, WR – Langston Hughes – Jackson State
No. 47 Cayden Lee, WR – Kennesaw Mountain – Uncommitted
No. 49 Bryce Thornton, S – Milton – Uncommitted
No. 50 Justin Benton, DL – Newton – West Virginia
No. 51 Brice Pollock, CB – Shiloh – Pitt
No. 52 Johnny Williams IV, OT – Northeast (Macon) – West Virginia
No. 53 Seven Cloud, DL – McEachern – Georgia
No. 54 Jamal Meriweather, OT – Brunswick – Central Florida
No. 55 Paul Mubenga, OT – Buford – LSU
No. 56 Connor Lew, OL – Kennesaw Mountain – Uncommitted
No. 57 Kevis Thomas, CB – Lowndes – Maryland
No. 57 Kaleb Cost, CB – Sandy Creek – North Carolina
No. 59 Paul Davis, WR – Hart County – Uncommitted
No. 60 Zachariah Keith, EDGE – Douglas County – Georgia Tech
No. 61 Devin McRae, IOL – Telfair County – Wake Forest
No. 62 Gabriel Fortson, IOL – North Cobb Christian – Uncommitted
No. 62 Terry Simmons, DL – Calvary Day (Savannah) – Duke
No. 62 Robert Billings, S – Milton – Clemson
No. 65 Benjamin Hall, RB – North Cobb – Michigan
No. 66 Tavion Gadson, DL – Jenkins – Uncommitted
No. 67 Troy Ford, EDGE – Calvary Day (Savannah) – UCF
No. 68 Keyjuan Brown, RB – South Atlanta – Purdue
No. 69 RJ Johnson, ATH – Eagle’s Landing Christian – Arkansas
No. 70 Ethan Mackenny, OT – Lassiter – Georgia Tech
No. 71 Jordan Louie, RB – Meadowcreek – West Virginia
No. 72 Nakai Poole, WR – Norcross – Mississippi State
No. 72 Tyler Walton, EDGE – North Gwinnett – Wake Forest
No. 75 Caleb LaVallee, LB – Whitfield Academy – North Carolina
No. 76 Robert Grigsby, IOL – North Cobb – North Carolina
No. 76 Vicari Swain, ATH – Carrollton Central – Uncommitted
No. 76 Colton Hood, CB – Eagle’s Christian Landing – Uncommitted
No. 79 Zaquan Bryan, CB – Benedictine – Minnesota
No. 80 Sean Thompkins, IOL – Newton – Baylor
No. 80 Malik Leverett, WR – Greenbrier – East Carolina
No. 82 Jeremiah Telander, LB – Gainesville – Tennessee
No. 83 Kenric Lanier, WR – Decatur – Vanderbilt
No. 84 Ravon Johnson, EDGE – Grayson – Uncommitted
No. 84 Joshua Horton, DL – Langston Hughes – Uncommitted
No. 86 Jaylen Johnson, RB – Appling County – Uncommitted
No. 87 Jamarion Wilcox, RB – South Paulding – Uncommitted
No. 88 Jack Tchienchou, CB – St. Pius X – Uncommitted
No. 89 Jevell Fugerson, WR – Lee County – Uncommitted
No. 89 Johnathan Cline, IOL – Cartersville – Uncommitted
No. 91 Jatavius Shivers, OT – Villa Rica – South Carolina
No. 92 Jack Luttrell, S – Colquitt County – Tennessee
No. 92 Hilton Alexander II – Douglas County – Wake Forest
No. 94 Quentin Ajiero, CB – North Cobb – Duke
No. 95 Shelton Lewis, CB – Stockbridge – Uncommitted
No. 96 Ayden Duncanvon, S – Whitefield Academy – East Carolina
No. 96 Khalil Barnes, ATH – North Oconee – Wake Forest
No. 98 Barry Jackson, WR – Cedar Grove – Nebraska
No. 98 Dylan Wittke, QB – Buford – Virginia Tech
No. 100 Obadiah Obasuyi, OT – Alpharetta – NC State
Buford athlete KJ Bolden is the No. 1 prospect in the state in Class of 2024. The junior is a 5-star prospect, who is ranked as the No. 4 overall prospect in the nation. He currently has 35 college scholarship offers.
Top Georgia High School Football Players Class of 2024
No. 1 KJ Bolden, ATH – Buford – Uncommitted
No. 2 Sammy Brown, LB – Jefferson – Uncommitted
No. 3 Mike Matthews, S – Parkview – Uncommitted
No. 4 Eddrick Houston, EDGE – Buford – Uncommitted
No. 5 Landen Thomas, TE – Colquitt County – Georgia
No. 6 Kameron Davis, ATH – Dougherty – Florida State
No. 7 KingJoseph Edwards, ATH – Buford – Uncommitted
No. 8 Zion Ragins, WR – Jones County – Uncommitted
No. 9 Hevin Brown-Shuler, DL – Pace Academy – Uncommitted
No. 10 Myles Graham, LB – Woodward Academy – Uncommitted
No. 11 Ny Carr, WR – Colquitt County – Georgia
No. 12 Ricardo Jones, S – Northside (Warner Robins) – Uncommitted
No. 13 Daniel Calhoun, OT – Centennial – Uncommitted
No. 14 Jake Merklinger, QB – Calvary Day (Savannah) – Uncommitted
No. 15 Waltclaire Flynn, Jr., IOL – Grayson – Uncommitted
No. 16 Justin Green, DL – Mountain View – Uncommitted
No. 17 Noah Dixon, S – Troup County – Uncommitted
No. 18 Martavious Collins, ATH – Rome – Alabama
No. 19 Walter Matthews, TE – Hiram – Uncommitted
No. 20 Joseph Stone, ATH – Grayson – LSU
No. 21 Omar White, DL – Valdosta – Uncommitted
No. 22 Michael Smith, TE – Calvary Day (Savannah) – Uncommitted
No. 23 Dwight Phillips, Jr., ATH – Pebblebrook – Uncommitted
No. 24 Malcolm Simmons, WR – Jonesboro – Uncommitted
No. 25 BJ Gibson, ATH – Wilcox County – Uncommitted
No. 26 Caleb Holmes, IOL – Creekside – Uncommitted
No. 27 Jadan Baugh, ATH – Columbia – Uncommitted
No. 28 Jalyn Crawford, CB – Parkview – Uncommitted
No. 29 Zion Ferguson, CB – Grayson – Uncommitted
No. 30 Qua Birdson, LB – Troup County – Uncommitted
No. 31 Kylan Fox, ATH – Grayson – Uncommitted
No. 32 Air Noland, QB – Langston Hughes – Uncommitted
No. 33 Champ Thompson, DL – Meadowcreek – Uncommitted
No. 34 Tyshun White, S – Buford – Uncommitted
No. 35 CJ Heard, S – Woodward Academy – Florida State
No. 36 Debron Gatling, WR – Milton – Uncommitted
No. 37 Sacovie White, WR – Cass – Uncommitted
No. 38 Ashton Woods, LB – Waltonn – Uncommitted
No. 39 Luke Kromenhoek, QB – Benedictine – Florida State
No. 40 Judd Anderson, QB – Jones County – Uncommitted
Linebacker Zayden Walker of Schley County is a sophomore to keep your eye on. While he’ll play defense at the next level, last year he led the team in rushing, as a freshman, with 1,001 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Walker’s brother, Zykeivous, is a defensive tackle at Auburn. Zayden currently has 15 scholarship offers.
The state did lose its top Class of ’25 running back. Calvary Day’s Donovan Johnson announced in the spring that he was transferring to national power IMG Academy in Florida. He ran for over 1,300 yards as a freshman with ten touchdowns.
