For a second straight season, the Dragons were ousted in the first round of the state playoffs. However, last year was an anomaly for Jefferson, who dealt with tragedy of epic proportions before rolling to a region title and then getting a tough first-round draw and loss to Cass. With the nation’s top linebacker, 5-star Clemson commit Sammy Brown back for one final run, the Dragons are as good on paper as they’ve been since the 2020 State Runner-Up season.

Head Coach: Travis Noland, 2nd season
2022 Record: 8-3; 1st Round; Region Champions; #3 State Ranking

Coach Travis Noland has a tough schedule to navigate, and the region is chalk full of potential landmines like a rising Flowery Branch and Loganville, now coached by former Dragons coach Gene Cathcart. No local team has the talent that the Dragons do. Here’s all you need to know about the season. This Jefferson team stands a chance to go unbeaten in the regular season, win the region, and get to the playoffs for the 13th straight season.

“Our expectations stay consistent,” says Jefferson’s staff. “If we are playing to the best of our abilities, playing with great toughness, discipline, and togethern,ess we expect to be in a position to win football games.”

2023 SCHEDULE – JEFFERSON

AUG 18 vs ALPHARETTA

AUG 25 @ WREN (SC)

SEP 1 @ ST. PIUS X

SEP 8 vs OCONEE COUNTY

SEP 15 BYE

SEP 22 vs CLARKE CENTRAL^

SEP 29 @ WINDER BARROW^

OCT 6 BYE

OCT 13 vs FLOWERY BRANCH^

OCT 20 @ LOGANVILLE^

OCT 27 vs HERITAGE^

NOV 3 @ EASTSIDE^

^REGION 8-AAAAA GAME

Personnel & Schemes

Key Departures: Max Aldridge, Elijah Dewitt, Isaiah Copeland, Oscar Escobedo, Bryson Hill, Bowman Horn

That’s a ton of talent rolling off – so it’s easy to think we’re nuts for thinking this year’s group can be better. But the reality is, these guys left great examples of hard work, resiliency, and determination that the next group can follow and build off of. Aldridge was great at managing the offense at QB, and Copeland is next-level. Dewitt, of course, was tragically murdered last season about midway through. He was sure to be playing this fall in the college ranks.

Returning Starters: 8 on offense; 6 on defense

Key Returning Players: Sammy Brown, Kelan Butler, Skyler Zimmerman, Zay Minish, Brian Senter, Jayden Yang, Talan Childress, Bryant Cox

Sammy Brown is the motor that runs this team – in all facets. Skyler Zimmerman (DI recruit), Zay Minish

One of those is Skyler Zimmerman (59 TKL), and others are Zay Minish, Jayden Yang, Talan Childress, and 4-star Kelan Butler. Sammy Brown is a 5-star. Brian Senter is a next-level lineman. And then there’s Max Brown, little brother of Sammy Brown. He was just named 8th Grade Linebacker of the Year and named a LBU All-American. He’s going to be every bit as good as Sammy is the hope. In a word, this team is STACKED! Let’s go through the game-by-game!

Up & Coming Players: SO ATH Dallas Russell, JR ATH Rhett Hemphill, JR DE/LB Kelan Butler, FR Max Brown, JR QB Forrest Ross, JR QB Gavin Markey

According to the JHS staff, Russell, Hemphill, and Butler are primed for big seasons. The other 3 mentioned are from the summer noise we’re hearing them make. Max Brown is hyped, and deservingly so. He’s garnering DI attention, and he’s going to be a big-time playmaker aside brother Sammy. JR QBs Forrest Ross and Gavin Markey are dueling for starting reps, and the latter has especially had a standout summer, attending several big-time camps.

Offense: Pro-Style

Sammy Brown (1,459 rush yds, 21 TD; 246 rec yds, 3 TD) will likely be the focal point, but expect Zay Minish (249 yds, 1 TD) to take on more, and Forrest Ross and/or Gavin Markey to provide plenty on offense from the QB position. Brown will be complimented with Hemphill, Russell, and Mikell Pittman, with Minish being the go-to option at WR.

Defense: Multiple

After allowing all of 26 points in region contests (READ THAT AGAIN), the Dragons will have a lot of pieces to replace. Sammy Brown (103 TKL) is the key there, along with 4-star OLB Kelan Butler and LB/DL Skyler Zimmerman (59 TKL; offers from the likes of UNC Charlotte). That trio is enough to put the fear in every opponent.

Trenches: “We return 3 starters on the OL, anchored by Troy State committ Brian Senter (LT). We are developing depth on the DL led by Skylar Zimmerman and Kelan Butler.”

Strengths & Areas of Focus

Strengths: “This year’s team has worked hard this offseason,” says the coaching staff. “This group has put in a great deal of time and effort to build upon the 2022 Region 8-AAAAA Championship. They have performed well in the weightroom and are putting themselves in position to be a disciplined and physical football team.”

Focusing On: “Our focus stays consistent in everything we do,” adds Jefferson coaches. “Being disciplined in what we do, emphasizing fundamentals and toughness while playing together as a team.”

---

---

---

---