We have had around 40 local football players in the BLITZ coverage area that have gone on to play DI football in a Power 5 conference just since 2007. 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 – or prior to recruiting rankings in 2000. If prior to 2000, these are going based off where they wound up (high-end DI or lower-tier DI programs).

BANKS COUNTY

Terry Allen – Class of 1986

Though there is no recruiting date back in the 80s like there is now, Allen was by far the most sought-after talent from Banks County. He was an elite, generational talent for the Leopards as a RB, and went on to play at Clemson from 1987-89, rushing for 2,620 yards and 26 TD, adding 196 receiving yards. He was drafted in the 9th Round of the 1990 NFL Draft (241st overall) by the Minnesota Vikings. He played 10 years in the league with the Vikings, Redskins, Patriots, Saints, and Ravens. In that, he totaled 8,641 rushing yards and 73 TDs in the NFL, and had 1,601 receiving yards with six TD. In postseason play (six total games), he had 217 yards rushing and two TD, and a receiving score with 29 yards there. He was a 1996 Pro Bowler, 4x NFL Player of the Week (once Player of the Month).

COMMERCE

Runt Moon – Class of 1973

Runt Moon was before the time of recruiting rankings, but after rushing for 5,683 yards and 72 TD for Commerce from 1970-73, he played DI football at Memphis State University and the University of Louisville.

HONORABLE MENTION: Jaiden Daniels (’25 RB) was unrated, went to Eastern Tennessee State; 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; Seth Adams (’20) was unrated out of HS, but was a 3-star transfer recruit who landed at San Diego State University; 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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

Keylan Rutledge – Class of 2022

Keylan Rutledge was a 3-star IOL at 6-4, 310 lbs who went to Middle Tennessee then transferred to Georgia Tech, where he was an All-American in ’24. He was the #1,840 recruit nationally, #145 in Georgia, and #175 OL in the nation. He held a dozen offers as a HS prospect, including to such schools as Army, Navy, Wake Forest, , Liberty, and East Carolina among others.

HONORABLE MENTION: Will Bryan (’15 OL) was a 3-star who went to Georgia Tech; Tyler Fowler (’08 OT) unrated, went to UAB; Ben Cheek (’14 QB) was unrated, went to Presbyterian

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 and is now in the NFL; 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 was a multi All-American selection, and was drafted in the 1st Round (27th overall) by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2025 NFL Draft. 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 a heck of a freshman year), 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: Max Brown (’27 LB) is a 4-star Clemson commit; Kelan Butler (’25 LB) is a 4-star who went to Georgia State; 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

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 had 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 went initially to 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 a 3-star by QB Hit List who has several Power 5 visits/interests

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