AJC's Super 11 High School Football Players for 2010

by Jeff Fisher
Georgia High School Football Huddle

Having lived in Atlanta for a couple of years, I was always excited by the way the Atlanta Journal Constitution covered high school football.

Things have changed with several top reporters forming Georgia High School Football Daily, but the quality of coverage hasn't, because of a nice cooperative between the two entities.

Below is a preview of players that are on the AJC and GHSF radar for the paper's Super 11 that has been a part of AJC tradition since 1985.

David Andrews, OL - Wesleyan
Isaiah Crowell, RB - Columbus Carver
Ray Drew, DE - Thomas County Central
A.J. Johnson, LB - Gainesville
Nick Marshall, QB - Wilcox County
Brian Randolph, DB - Kell
Chris Milton, QB - Charlton County
Jay Rome, TE - Valdosta
Damian Swann, DB - Grady
Gabe Wright, DT - Columbus Carver
Zack Walker, WR - Johnson County

Touchdown Club of Atlanta Honors

Bobby Dodd National Back of the Year: Alec Ogletree, Newnan
Bobby Dodd National Lineman of the Year: Garrison Smith, Douglass

All-Metro team
Offense

QB - Hutson Mason, Lassiter
RB - Rajion Neal, Sandy Creek
RB - Cole Moon, St. Pius
RB - Rajaan Bennett, McEachern
WR - Markeith Ambles, Henry County
WR - Tai-ler Jones, Gainesville
OL - Kolton Houston, Buford
OL - Morgan Bailey, Loganville
OL - Daniel Blitch, North Hall
OL - Austin Shepherd, North Gwinnett
OL - JuWuan James, North Gwinnett

Defense

DL - Shawn Green, Grayson
DL - Grant Ramsay, Pope
DL - T.J. Stripling, Southwest DeKalb
DL - Michael Thornton, Stephenson
LB - Jessel Curry, Buford
LB - Clarence Jackson, North Clayton
LB - Tyrone Cornelius, Stephenson
DB - Shaun Kitchens, Banneker
DB - Isaiah Johnson, Sandy Creek
DB - Blake Sims, Gainesville
DB - Ryan Ayers, South Paulding

Special Teams

K/P - Justin Moore, Marist
K/P - Joe Mansour, LaGrange

Best of the Best Awards
D.J. Shockley Award (QB): Blake Sims, Gainesville
Ronnie Brown Award (RB): Rajion Neal, Sandy Creek
Jonas Jennings Award (OL): Austin Shepherd, North Gwinnett
Takeo Spikes Award (LB): Clarence Jackson, North Clayton
Carlos Rogers Award (DB): Demetruce McNeal, Banneker
Leonard Pope Award (TE): Brian Vogler, Brookstone
Thomas Davis Award (S): Alec Ogletree, Newnan
The Wheeler, Fox and Smith Award for The Best Line Backing Core: A.J. Johnson, Thomas Sprague, Alberto Sanabria, Graham Simmons, Gainesville
Thomas Brown Award (two-way player): Brad Roby, Peachtree Ridge
Kendrell Bell Award (rookie): C.J. Uzomah, North Gwinnett
Robert Edwards Award (comeback player): Trey Rood, West Forsyth
Wesley Woodyard Award (defensive player of the year): Shawn Green, Grayson
Harry Douglas Award (WR): Tai-ler Jones, Gainesville
Curtis Lofton Award (leadership): Hutson Mason, Lassiter

Coaches of the Year
Wright Bazemore Coach of the Year: Jeremy Williams, Greenville
AAAAA: Jeff Herron, Camden County
AAAA: Chip Walker, Sandy Creek
AAA: Chad Campbell, Peach County
AA: Jess Simpson, Buford
A: Mark Ledford, Wilcox County
Corky Kell Award: Jeff Herron, Camden County
George Gardner Award: Spencer Smith, Georgia Football Officials Association

Morrow Names New Coach

by Jeff Fisher
Georgia High School Football Huddle

Niketa Battle has accepted his first head coaching job.

Georgia High School Football reports that the former Miller Grove defensive coordinator is the new head coach at Morrow.

Wayne County Hires Lakeside's Grooms as Head Football Coach

by Jeff Fisher
Georgia High School Football Huddle

Jody Grooms is the new head football coach at Wayne County.

Georgia High School Football reports that Grooms leaves Lakeside, where he turned the program around in three years, finishing with a 20-12 record.

Americus-Sumter Hires New Football Coach

by Jeff Fisher
Georgia High School Football Huddle

Michael Pollock is the new head football coach at Americus-Sumter.

Georgia High School Football reports that Pollock last year served as offensive coordinator at Valdosta High.

Tragedy Strikes McEachern Football Star

by Jeff Fisher
Georgia High School Football Huddle

A couple of weeks after signing a scholarship to play football at Vanderbilt, the Atlanta Journal Constitution is reporting that McEachern running back Rajaan Bennett is dead after an apparent murder-suicide at his family's home.

Bennett was the AJC's Class AAAAA player of the year.

Woodstock Assistant Gets Head Coaching Job

by Jeff Fisher
Georgia High School Football Huddle

Woodstock High School officials stayed within the program for its new head football coach.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports that Brent Budde has been promoted after being an assistant coach for 12-years.