
Trevor Lawrence, Cartersville
Photo by Dennis Carter
It's unlikely that any freshman quarterback from the state of Georgia had the sort of debut season that
Cartersville (Ga.) ninth-grader
Trevor Lawrence enjoyed in 2014.
The 6-foot-4, 180-pound signal caller completed 187 of 310 passes for 3,042 yards and 26 touchdowns in leading Cartersville to a 12-2 record.
"I can't remember a freshman quarterback who could stretch the field with his arm and pass like that," said Todd Holcomb of Georgia High School Football Daily.
Due to his spectacular season, Lawrence is the MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year and highlights the MaxPreps 2014 Freshman All-American Team.
Woodbridge running back Ricky Slade, who rushed for over 1,300 yards and 18 touchdowns, and quarterback Dakereon Joyner, who helped Fort Dorchester to a 12-3 season and its first victory over rival Summerville in 16 games, also drew consideration for National Freshman of the Year honors.
MaxPreps 2014 Football Freshman All-American Teams

The MaxPreps 2014 Football Freshman All-American Teams.
Photos by MaxPreps photographers / Graphic by Social Recluse Graphx
First Team OffenseWR – Rayshawn Williams, 6-3, 180, Crenshaw (Los Angeles)
Jamarye Joiner, Salpointe Catholic
Photo by Chris Hook
Williams could be the next City Section star. He opened his high school career in fashion by scoring a touchdown against Long Beach Poly.
WR – Jalen Hall, 6-3, 175, Hawkins (Los Angeles)The nation’s leading freshman receiver, Hall grabbed 52 catches for 1,181 yards and nine touchdowns.
WR – Jamarye Joiner, 6-1, 175, Salpointe Catholic (Tucson, Ariz.)Playing for one of the state’s top teams, Joyner was a multipurpose weapon, lining up mostly at receiver. He had 22 catches for 345 yards.
TE – Zack Kuntz, 6-7, 200, Camp Hill (Pa.)A matchup nightmare, the 6-7 Kuntz caught six touchdown passes to go along with 653 yards.
OL – Will Lawrence, 6-4, 265, Harding Academy (Memphis, Tenn.)Lawrence already has several college offers.
OL – Brey Walker, 6-5, 300, Southmoore (Moore, Okla.)A starter at right tackle, Walker showed the agility and quickness to also play guard.
OL – Cade Mays, 6-5, 285, Knoxville Catholic (Tenn.)Mays already has an offer from Tennessee and was a standout lineman on the varsity squad.
OL – Emil Ekiyor, 6-3, 285, Indianapolis Cathedral
Dakereon Joyner, Fort Dorchester
Photo by Cliff Lavelle
Ekiyor started at guard for one of Indiana’s top programs.
OL - Sebastian Sainterling, 6-3, 322, Hallandale (Fla.)The athletic Sainterling was a top road grader for Hallandale, which posted a 10-2 record.
QB – Dakereon Joyner, 6-1, 170, Fort Dorchester (North Charleston, S.C.)Joyner, who has drawn very impressive comparisons to current NFL players, led Fort Dorchester to one of its best seasons in years.
QB – Trevor Lawrence, 6-3, 180, Cartersville (Ga.)In leading Cartersville to a deep playoff run, Lawrence threw for over 2,600 yards and 25 touchdowns.
RB – Ricky Slade, 5-10, 175, Hylton (Woodbridge, Va.)Slade gained 1,309 yards on the ground and found the end zone 18 times.
RB – Zamir White, 6-1, 180, Scotland (Laurinburg, N.C.)Playing for one of the state’s best teams, White rushed for 18 touchdowns and over 1,100 yards.
RB – Mataeo Durant, 6-0, 183, McCormick (S.C.)The nation’s leading freshman rusher, Durant fell just short of the 2,000-yard mark, finishing with 1,979 yards.
ATH - Alontae Taylor, 6-1, 175, Coffee County Central (Manchester, Tenn.)Taylor played quarterback, but did most of his damage with his legs, totaling 1,676 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground.
K – Grant Gonya, 5-6, 125, Hudson (Ohio)Gonya connected on 48 of 49 PATs for one of the top teams in Ohio this fall.
First team Defense
DL – Xavier Thomas, 6-3, 215, Wilson (Florence, S.C.)A physically imposing ninth-grader, Thomas registered 59 tackles and eight sacks.
DL – P.J. Mustipher, 6-4, 270, McDonogh (Owings Mills, Md.)
Merlin Robertson, Serra
Photo by Ted Aguirre
The younger brother of Notre Dame freshman Sam, P.J. started up front for one of Maryland’s top programs.
DL – Micah Parsons, 6-3, 215, Central Dauphin (Harrisburg, Pa.)One of the most impressive ninth-graders in Pennsylvania, Parsons already has an offer from Penn State.
DL – Taron Vincent, 6-2, 265, Gilman (Baltimore)Vincent can play on either side of the ball and immediately stepped into a big role as a freshman for 8-3 Gilman.
LB – Merlin Robertson, 6-3, 215, Serra (Gardena, Calif.)In addition to compiling nearly 70 tackles, Robertson forced three fumbles for one of Southern California’s better teams.
LB – Toa Taua, 5-10, 190, Lompoc (Calif.)Taua made 54 tackles and forced three fumbles.
LB – Teradja Mitchell, 6-2, 200, Bayside (Virginia Beach, Va.)Mitchell saw extensive playing time for one of the Tidewater area’s top programs.
LB – Donovan Georges, 6-1, 200, Champagnat Catholic (Hialeah, Fla.)Georges terrorized opposing quarterbacks, recording nine sacks to go along with 60 tackles.
LB – Jalen Norwood, 6-0, 200, North Florida Christian (Tallahassee, Fla.)
Tyreke Johnson, Trinity Christian Academy
Photo by Andrew Bershaw
Norwood enjoyed a monster season, making 67 tackles, intercepting five passes and recovering six fumbles.
DB – Chris Tutt, 5-11, 175, Thomson (Ga.)Tutt made 33 tackles and also contributed in Thomson’s running game.
DB – Tyreke Johnson, 6-2, 175, Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.)Already with three years of varsity experience under his belt, Johnson is a seasoned veteran as a ninth-grader.
DB – D'Angelo McKenzie, 5-11, 175, Mt. Pleasant (San Jose, Calif.)McKenzie, a team captain as a freshman, hauled in seven interceptions and was a force on special teams.
DB – Myles Mason, 6-2, 185, Pleasant Grove (Ala.)Mason was a second team Class 5A all-state selection.
Click 'Next' for the Second Team offense and defense.