We have had close to 40 local football players in the BLITZ coverage area that have gone on to play DI football in a Power 5 conference. It got us thinking of each school’s top-rated football recruit. These would be players who were rated by Rivals, 247 Sports, ESPN, or On3.

BANKS COUNTY

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COMMERCE

Jaiden Daniels – Class of 2025

Daniels is an unrated RB in the 2025 cycle, but has a lot of interest surrounding him. He was a 2024 U.S. Army Bowl invitee. He holds an offer from UNLV and is sure to get plenty more high-level offers soon.

HONORABLE MENTION: Antonio Patman (’23); Cole Chancey (’17 RB) was unrated but went to Harding University

DAWSON COUNTY

Logan Walls – Class of 2007

Walls was a 77-grade by ESPN and a 3-star DT. He had offers to both UGA and Georgia Tech, and went to the latter in the ACC. He also held offers from the likes of BYU, Clemson, and Hawaii. He was the #22 DT in the state and #30 in the nation in the 2007 cycle by Rivals.

HONORABLE MENTION: Zach Johnson (’11 OL) was a 3-star to Troy; Luke Martin (’17 LB) was a 3-star to UNC Charlotte; Chad Cunningham (’06 K/P) was a 2-star to Tennessee and played in the NFL; Nasser Clark (’17 RB) was a 2-star to Army; Logan Barnes (’19 DB) was a 2-star to Wofford; Sevaughn Clark (’19 RB) was unrated but walked on at UGA

HABERSHAM CENTRAL

Tavarres King – Class of 2008

TK was a 4-star WR who went to UGA and then the NFL. Rivals had him as the #9 player in GA, #15 WR in the nation, and #88 overall recruit. He held offers from UGA, Clemson, Florida, and Georgia Tech among many others. ESPN had him at an 80-grade, and as the #22 WR in the country and #146 overall player.

HONORABLE MENTION: Joshua Pickett (’21 DB) was a 3-star to Duke; Daniel Franklin (’08 LB) was a 3-star to Oklahoma; AJ Curry (’18 QB) was a 3-star to Western Carolina; Donovan Curry (’19 WR) was a 2-star to Troy; Gabe Irby (’08 OL) was a 2-star to Wake Forest; Ian Wheeler (’13 P) was unrated but walked on at Oregon

JEFFERSON

Malaki Starks – Class of 2022

Starks was a #4 overall recruit in the nation from the 2022 cycle. He was the #1 DB in the country by both 247 (100 grade) and ESPN (90 grade). Both had him ranked #2 in the state overall. He picked UGA and is there as an All-American and future NFL player. Starks had offers from UGA, Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, LSU, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennesee, and tons of others.

Sammy Brown – Class of 2024

Brown was a 5-star LB by both ESPN and 247 Sports, and a high 4-star by Rivals. Both ESPN and 247 had him as the #2 LB in the nation and #2 player in Georgia, and both had him as the #13 overall player in the country. He picked Clemson, and had offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, NC State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, USC, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Wisconsin. Brown was a 98-grade by 247 and 90-grade by ESPN.

HONORABLE MENTION: Kelan Butler (’25 LB) is a 4-star with several Power 5 offers; Jordan Perry (’22 ATH) was a 3-star who went to Kansas State; Caleb Chandler (’17 OL) was a 3-star to Louisville; Kadin Bailey (’22 LB) was a 3-star to Syracuse; Aaron Hall (’19 DT) was a 3-star; Chris Davis (’06 OL) was a 3-star to UGA; Garmon Randolph (’19 TE) was a 3-star to Baylor; Colby Wood (’18 RB) was a 3-star to Wofford; Evan Shirreffs (’15 QB) was a 3-star to Miami; Bryant Shirreffs (’13 QB) was a 2-star to NC State; Brian Senter (’24 OL) was a 2-star to Troy; Dontae Wilson (’17 DT) was a 2-star to Georgia State; Zack Boobas (’17 DB) was a 2-star to Army; Joseph Randolph (’16 DE) was a 2-star; Max Brown (’27 LB) is already garnering TONS of Power 5 offers and attention but is not yet rated

LUMPKIN COUNTY

Cal Faulkner – Class of 2025

Faulkner is a consensus 3-star Athlete (WR/QB/DB), graded at 78 by ESPN who picked Georgia Tech. He had offers from Wake Forest, Air Force, Navy, and Georgia State as well, and was ranked the #41 ATH in the nation by ESPN and #79 overall player from Georgia. 247 has Faulkner graded at 88 as the #45 ATH in the country, #62 player in GA, and #858 overall player in the nation.

HONORABLE MENTION: Zach Matthews (’17 LB) was unrated but went to Georgia Tech

RABUN COUNTY

Gunner Stockton – Class of 2022

Stockton was a 5-star QB, rated by Rivals as the #2 QB in the nation in the 2022 cycle and as the #174 player in the nation and #18 in Georgia. 247 and ESPN both had him as a 4-star (83 grade), with ESPN at #5 QB in the nation and 247 at #7; both had him as the #110 overall player in the country. He went to UGA, and had 25 known offers: Alabama, Appalachian State, Arkansas, Arkansas State, Army, Colorado State, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Mississippi State, Mizzou, North Carolina, NC State, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Rutgers, South Carolina (original commitment), Tennessee Tech, USC, and West Virginia.

HONORABLE MENTION: Charlie Woerner (’16 TE) was a 4-star who went to UGA and is now in the NFL; Jaden Gibson (’23 WR) was a 3-star who is at Virginia; Willie Goodwyn (’24 WR/ATH) was a 3-star who is at Cincinnati; Adriel Clark (’21 WR) was a 2-star who went to ETSU; Bailey Fisher (’16 QB) was unrated but played for Tennessee Tech and then Gardner-Webb; Braxton Hicks (’20 WR) was unrated but walked on at UGA; Ty Truelove (’26 QB) is currently unrated but will be soon and has multiple DI offers and big Power 5 interest

STEPHENS COUNTY

Ben Cleveland – Class of 2016

Cleveland was rated as a 5-star OL by 247 Sports as the #2 player in Georgia, #4 OT in the country, and #15 overall recruit. Rivals had him as a 4-star as the #11 player in Georgia and #6 OL in the nation, as well as #119 overall in the country. ESPN graded him at 82 (4-star) as the #13 OL, #23 in GA, and #222 nation-wide. He went to UGA of the SEC, and was offered also by Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Miami, Michigan, Ole Miss, UNC, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Wisconsin, and Texas A&M. Cleveland had a remarkable college career and is now in the NFL.

HONORABLE MENTION: Tauren Poole (’08 RB) was a 4-star who went to Tennessee; Javin Gordon (’25 ATH) is a 3-star going to Duke; Cam Lacy (’23 WR) was a 3-star to Middle Tennessee; Aidan Butts (’24 Edge) was a 3-star to Middle Tennessee; Gamarion Carter (’20 WR) was a 3-star to Vanderbilt; Chaz Thornton (’13 RB) was a 2-star at Georgia Southern; Kerry Major (’04 DB) was a 2-star for Wake Forest; AJ Howard (’17 RB) was unrated but went to Army

TOWNS COUNTY

Robbie Elliot – Class of 2004

Elliot was a 1-star OL from the 2004 cycle who played at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga. He was a 2-time All-State player.

HONORABLE MENTION: Shea Underwood (’16 K/P) was unrated but walked on at Georgia Tech

UNION COUNTY

Blake Gowder – Class of 2010

Gowder was a 3-star ATH in the 2010 cycle. He picked Vanderbilt of the SEC. Gowder was offered by Vandy as well as UGA, Georgia Tech, Clemson, Duke, UCF, Army, Arkansas State, Air Force, Furman, Murray State, Samford, and UT Rio Grande Valley. ESPN had Gowder at a 76-grade and #110 Athlete in the nation that year.

HONORABLE MENTION: Joseph Mancuso (’16 QB) was a 2-star who went to Richmond; Luther Jones (’14 DT) was a 2-star DT who went to Kennesaw State; Cole Wright (’18 QB) was unrated and went to Army; Matt West (’04 ATH) was a 1-star who went to Princeton

WHITE COUNTY

Ashely Lowery – Class of 2011

Lowery was officially a 3-star DB recruit in the 2011 cycle. He picked Kentucky of the SEC. He was the #39 player in the state of Georgia and #42 DB or S in the nation by 247 Sports/Rivals. ESPN had him as a 75-grade and the #112 player in GA and #136 DB in the country. His offers included: Kentucky, UGA, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Illinois, Air Force, Navy, UAB, Western Carolina, and Eastern Kentucky. While he was listed as a DB, he was also an incredible running back.

HONORABLE MENTION: Darius Cannon (’23 WR) was a 3-star who went to Kentucky, but graduated from Gainesville after leaving White County prior to his senior year; Jay Lepkoske (’19 LB) was a 2-star who went to Georgia State