Each year, South Georgia high school football teams feature some of the best players in the state. This year is no different. Our teams have elite-level players at all positions, from quarterback to defensive line. College programs from across the country make regular trips to the flatlands of South Georgia in search of three-, four-, and five-star recruits. And we have them in droves this year. Here is a look at a few of the top football players in our coverage area:
10. Chase Parrish, quarterback, Colquitt County. For the defending state champions, everything starts and ends with their quarterback. Parrish has played on the biggest stages a high school football player in Georgia can play on and he’s performed like a true champion every time. The 6’, 185-pounder threw for over 2,800 yards and 29 touchdowns last year. Having a quarterback returning with his experience and his skillset is an enormous advantage.
9. Maysoe Wiley, receiver, Valwood. The 6’4”, 205-pound Wiley is one of the area’s top wide receivers. He’s been a big reason why the Valiants have been one of the best programs in GISA over the last three years. He has all the tools necessary to succeed at the next level and has plenty of Division I programs vying for his services.
8. Todd Bradley, linebacker, Valdosta. Bradley, at 6’, 210 pounds, is a punishing linebacker who will be called upon to lead the Wildcats’ defense this season. The ‘Cats ought to be playing with a strong sense of urgency this year and nowhere will that urgency be more profound than on the defensive side of the ball. Graduation took its toll on Valdosta’s defense and Bradley, who has committed to Georgia, will have to step up and lead the Wildcats. He’s a very versatile player and will also see some time at running back.
7. Chris Barnes, offensive line, Lee County. Barnes, a 6’5”, 270-pound offensive tackle, is a three-star prospect, according to 247sports.com. Big, strong, with good footwork and mobility, Barnes is a big buffer between opposing defenses and quarterback Garet Morrell, who you’ll be reading about shortly. Barnes has also committed to Georgia.
6. Seth Shuman, quarterback, Valdosta High. Shuman, 6’1”, 180, is one of the 2015 Wildcats’ biggest assets. He started most of Valdosta’s games as a sophomore and all 11 games last year. Shuman has a great arm, tremendous athletic ability, and all the intangibles a quarterback needs to success. He’s also a great baseball player with a bright future ahead of him in either sport. In head coach Rance Gillespie’s offense, the quarterback is key. And Shuman is exactly the kind of signal-caller Gillespie likes.
5. Tray Eafford, wide receiver, Lee County. If you’re a receiver, it helps if your quarterback is the best in the region. Such is the case with the 6’, 200-pound, three-star receiver from Lee County. He’s a big, fast, athletic receiver who is a reliable target for quarterback Garet Morrell. With Morrell slinging the ball his way this year, Eafford should have a monster season.
4. Dee Walker and Ja’Quain Blakely, linebackers, Colquitt County. Is it a copout to list two players from the same team in one place? Maybe. But these two kids are among the most talented players the Packers have had in recent years. Given the level of talent that’s come through the program lately (and even on this year’s team), that says a lot. Both are 6’2”, 210, and have offers from most ACC and SEC schools. All told, they have over 50 scholarship offers between the two of them.
3. Kiel Pollard, wide receiver, Colquitt County (pictured left). What can you say about Pollard that hasn’t already been said? He’s been on recruiting boards for several years and has at least 15 scholarship offers. Pollard, 6’2”, 207, had 68 catches for over 900 yards last season.
2. Garet Morrell, quarterback, Lee County (pictured right). Colquitt head coach Rush Propst calls Garet Morrell the best quarterback in Region 1-6A this year. Morrell stepped into an unenviable spot at Lee County. He followed Stephen Collier under center, who led the Trojans to a Region 1-5A title his senior year. Collier then signed with Ohio State and left the quarterbacking duties to Morrell, then a junior. Morrell also had to lead the Trojans in their first-ever season in Region 1-6A. How well did he do? The Trojans finished third in the region while perennial powers Lowndes and Camden sat at home during the playoffs. They won their first-round playoff game. And Morrell’s performance throughout the season earned him a ton of postseason awards, including the John Reynolds Player of the Year Award. According to the Albany Herald, he threw for over 2,600 yards and 26 touchdowns. Morrell will play for the Marshall Thundering Herd in college.
1. Chauncey Manac, defensive end, Clinch County (pictured at top). The most exciting player in South Georgia this year can be found in Homerville at Class A Clinch County. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has 6’3”, 225-pound defensive end Chauncey Manac listed as the state’s sixth-ranked high school player and a legitimate four-star recruit. Manac is a fast, physical player with tremendous upside. He needs to put on a few pounds but his 6’3” frame can handle the extra weight. He’s effective against both the run and the pass and should terrorize Class A this season. He’s committed to Georgia, where he will likely play outside linebacker. Manac also has a younger brother at Clinch County, Ashton, who is a fine football player in his own right. So we’ll be hearing more from the Manacs for years to come.
Top 10/South Georgia/August 2015
Compiled by In the Game Staff
