Spring Football Practice in Georgia

by Jeff Fisher
Georgia High School Football Huddle


Having lived in Atlanta for two years, there's no doubt in my mind that Georgia has some of the rabid high school football fans in the country.

The biggest thing that I learned about football in the south is that spring practice is a big deal.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution is also one of the best newspapers in the country to quench high school football fans' thirst for high school football knowledge during the off-season.

This spring, the AJC has put together a series called 30 in 30, which looks at some of the top teams in the state.  Click on the links below to learn about things such as whether Camden County can win its third straight AAAAA title after losing 19 of 22 starters; whether Buford capture a fourth straight AA crown and is Columbus-Carver's Isaiah Crowell the best high school running back in country.

Team (2009 Record)
Banneker Trojans (7-4)
Blessed Triniy Titans (5-5)
Brookwood Broncos (6-6)
Buford Wolves (14-1)
Camden County Wildcats (13-2)
Campbell Spartans (2-8)
Carver-Columbus Tigers (11-2)
Central Gwinnett Black Knights (2-8)
Creekside Seminoles (6-4)
Druid Hills Red Devils (2-8)
Greenville Patriots (11-1)
Kell Longhorns (6-5)
Lakeside Vikings (4-6)
Lovejoy Wildcats (4-6)
Marist War Eagles (9-3)
Mill Creek Hawks (5-5)
Norcross Blue Devils (5-5)
North Gwinnett Bulldogs (12-1)
Peachtree Ridge Lions (10-2)
Pebblebrook Falcons (6-4)
Riverwood Raiders (2-8)
Rockdale County Bulldogs (10-4)
Sandy Creek Fighting Patriots (14-1)
South Gwinnet Comets (10-2)
Stone Mountain Pirates (1-9)
Walton Raiders (6-4)
Wesleyan Wolves (12-1)

Chamblee Names Soza as New Head Football Coach

by Jeff Fisher
Georgia High School Football Huddle

After a very successful five year stint as an assistant coach at Atlanta-Carver, James Soza has his first head coaching job at the age of 28.

Soza was named Chamblee High School's new head coach earlier this week.  The Dunwoody Crier looks at the job ahead for  Soza, who will be trying to lead the Bulldogs to their fourth straight post-season berth.

Dalton Down to Two Finalists for New Head Football Coach

by Jeff Fisher
Georgia High School Football Huddle

The Dalton Daily Citizen is reporting that former players Matt Land and Preston Poag are the finalists for the vacant Dalton Catamount head coaching position.

School officials hope to select a new coach by the end of April.  The job opened-up in February when former head coach Adam Winegarden resigned.

Bryan County Hires Wilson to Turn Around Football Program

by Jeff Fisher
Georgia High School Football Huddle

Bryan County HIgh School has hired Mark Wilson to turn around its football program.

Wilson takes over for Ron Lewis, who resigned after a 28-92 record in 12 seasons.

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.