You arguably won’t find a more physical 2-way player that put up 1,500-plus yards on offense and more than 80 tackles. In fact, there wasn’t any other player that met that threshold in North Georgia. Reid Giles is the BLITZ Football Player of the Year.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

1,348 Rush Yds, 16 TD, 7.7 Yds/Carry
393 Rec Yds, 2 TD, 30 Rec
161 KR Yds, 1 TD
1,902 Total Yds, 19 TD
5 100-yd rushing games
6 multi-TD games
88 TKL, 8 TFL
2 INT, 1 FF

This all occurred in just 11 games for Rabun County. Reid Giles rushed for 1,348 yards and 16 TD, averaging 7.7 yards per tote. He had a team-high 30 receptions for 393 yards and 2 TD as well, giving him a total of 1,902 yards and 19 TDs when you also add in returning duties. Giles had 5 100-yard rushing games, and had 6 multi-TD performances. Nearly playing every snap, he registered 88 tackles (8 for loss), had 2 interceptions, and a forced fumble.

VOTING RESULTS

1. Reid Giles – 58.5 pts (7 1st-place votes)
2. Tysean Wiggins – 47 pts (4)
3. Gavin Markey – 40 pts (4)
4. Rett Hemphill – 37.25 pts (3)
5. Javin Gordon – 20.25 pts
6. Nolan Matthews – 15.75 pts (1)
7. Dustin Barrett – 10.5 pts
8. Zeke Whittington – 8.25 pts

Voting included our 19-person panel made up of sports reporters, writers, video producers, former coaches, players, GHSA officials, and sports experts. The voting is Heisman-style, with the following points system:
1st place votes: 5 pts; 2nd: 3 pts; 3rd: 2 pts; 4th: 1 pts; 5th-6th: 0.5 pts; 7th-8th 0.25 pts

Reid Giles picked up 7 1st-place votes, though it wasn’t clear-cut. He had competition, as Tysean Wiggins, Gavin Markey, Rett Hemphill, and Nolan Matthews all had 1st-place tallies. One thing to note is the prowess of Jefferson teammates Gavin Markey and Rett Hemphill, who split 1st-place votes.

HISTORY OF FOOTBALL POY

• 2024 – Reid Giles – Rabun Co JR RB/LB
• 2023 – Sammy Brown – Jefferson SR RB/LB
• 2022 – Jaden Gibson – Rabun Co SR WR
• 2021 – Gunner Stockton – Rabun Co SR QB
• 2020 – Gunner Stockton – Rabun Co JR QB
• 2019 – Gunner Stockton – Rabun Co SO QB
• 2018 – Gunner Stockton – Rabun Co FR QB
• 2017 – Bailey Fisher – Rabun Co SR QB
• 2016 – Bailey Fisher – Rabun Co JR QB
• 2015 – Bailey Fisher – Rabun Co SO QB
• 2014 – Charlie Woerner – Rabun Co JR WR/RB/DB
• 2013 – Joseph Mancuso – Union Co SO QB
• 2012 – Tyler Dominy – Dawson Co SR QB
• 2011 – Kevin Ellison – Habersham Central SR QB
• 2010 – Ashely Lowery – White Co SR RB/DB
• 2009 – Ashely Lowery – White Co JR RB/DB

The Rabun County dominance of this award is so real! From Charlie Woerner, Bailey Fisher, Gunner Stockton, Jaden Gibson, and now Reid Giles, the Wildcats have won it 10 out of 16 times. Running backs have won it only 5 times, though this marks two years in a row for a RB/LB winner in Reid Giles and Sammy Brown.

WHO WILL WIN IT NEXT YEAR?