MaxPreps 2012 Preseason Xcellent 25 Football preview: No. 18 Colquitt County

In his fifth year at the helm of Colquitt County (Moultrie, Ga.), former Hoover (Ala.) head coach Rush Propst has the south Georgia program on a nationally elite level.

Last fall, the Packers were minutes away from eliminating eventual AAAAA champion Grayson from the playoffs and competing in the title game. It was the third-consecutive time that Colquitt County had reached the AAAAA semifinals.

In 2012, the goal is pretty clearly to make - and win - the AAAAAA final.

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Dual-threat quarterback Cole Segraves is the straw that stirs the drink for Colquitt County. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound senior is an offensive force, able to hang in the pocket or use his large frame to get yards on the ground. Colquitt County coaches discovered this offseason that Segraves can throw the ball 30 yards accurately with either hand, meaning he’ll be even more lethal rolling out of the pocket.

It will likely be running back by committee this year, following the graduation of Willie Woodyard and Tre Cooper. Tim Sanders saw most of the carries in the team’s spring game, but there are several capable options for Propst.

Bobby Hill, who led the team in touchdown receptions, will give Segraves a trusted weapon on the outside.

The offensive line has been an area of focus for Propst this spring. He moved defensive tackle Travis Register to guard this season, a testament both to the team’s need for offensive linemen as well as its depth on the defensive front.

Returning starter Jamiyus Pittman will anchor the defensive line from his end position, while Mike Parrish and Taphari Wright should help fill the void left by Register’s switch to offense. Both rotated in last season and got reps down the stretch.

Defensive coordinator Travis Pearson, who has worked under Auburn head coach Gene Chizik, runs some aggressive schemes, which makes having middle linebacker John Gray back even more valuable.



Johnny Ward and Jamal Phillips are back in the secondary. Overall, the defense returns some key players, but there’s an overriding belief that the team’s freshmen and sophomores will be able to step up and fill holes as needed.

Local look: “Colquitt County football coach Rush Propst likes where his football program is right now, but knows he has one more big step to take.”
- Wayne Grand, Moultrie Observer, a week after Colquitt County’s season-ending loss to Grayson.

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Size: Class AAAAAA


Enrollment: 2,250 (approx.)


2011 finish: 11-3, Class 5A semifinalist


Head coach: Rush Propst




Career record: 218-73


Years at school: 4


Notable players coached:
QB John Parker Wilson (Alabama, NFL)

WR Chad Jackson (Florida, NFL)

DB Cory Reamer (Alabama)

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No. of returning starters: 6 (offense), 5 (defense)

Key losses:
OL Bryce Giddens

K Oscar Luna

TE Ty Smith

OL Preston Mobley

Key returners:
QB Cole Segraves

WR Bobby Hill



LB John Gray

OL/DL Travis Register

Key newcomers:
WR Kiel Pollard

LB Bull Barge

LB Tomarcio Reese

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Toughest game: Camden County. Now a member of Region 1-AAAAAA, Camden County adds to what is arguably the top region in the state. Jeff Herron’s squad is extremely well-coached and this year it has the talent to go a long way in the playoffs.



Question mark: Can the offensive line buy Segraves enough time? Sure, he’ll turn some broken plays into big gains, but the unit will need to be consistently good if Colquitt County is going to live up to expectations this fall.

Local outlook: Region 1-AAAAAA will be a gauntlet, and could very well end up producing the first state champion in the newly formed Class AAAAAA. Lowndes should be improved from the squad that Colquitt beat 34-7 last year, while Valdosta, which beat Colquitt last season, can never be taken lightly.

Overall outlook: The 2012 season has been much-anticipated for a while. This team returns key players all across the field and wields a bounty of talented newcomers. Although it enters the season ranked No. 2 in Georgia, it is unquestionably one of the top teams in the country.

Coach quote: “We feel really good about the upcoming season. In fact, it’s one of those situations where anything short of a state championship will probably be a disappointment. Since coach Propst has gotten here, expectations have gotten higher.”
- Chris Evans, assistant coach

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