Timmy Byerly leads Georgia's all-classification football team

By Todd Holcomb Dec 27, 2010, 10:33pm

Chattahoochee quarterback accounted for 51 touchdowns to earn top QB honor.

It was the year of the passer in Georgia football, as six quarterbacks threw for more than 3,000 yards. But the quarterback getting most of the postseason honors has been more like Cameron Newton, the Georgia native who won the Heisman Trophy as a dual threat for Auburn.

Timmy Byerly of Chattahoochee was 170-for-249 passing for 2,664 yards while rushing for another 1,509 yards. He's believed to be the first quarterback to have 30 touchdowns passing and 20 rushing.

Byerly is the quarterback on this all-classification team compiled by Georgia High School Football Daily.

OFFENSE
QB – Timmy Byerly, Chattahoochee, Sr.: Byerly (6-0, 210) threw for 31 touchdowns and scored 21 while his school won its first state championship. Byerly has scholarship offers from Air Force and Furman and a few schools in the Mid-American Conference. He's hopeful that Wake Forest is close to pulling the trigger on an offer.



RB – Joshua Clemons, Whitewater (Fayetteville), Sr.: Clemons rushed for 2,003 yards and 25 touchdowns for Whitewater (9-3). Clemons (5-10, 205) rushed for more than 200 yards in a 28-21 upset victory over No. 1-ranked Northside of Warner Robins in the first round of the AAAA playoffs. Clemons has committed to Kentucky.

RB – Tevin King, Colquitt County, Sr.: King was one of three Georgia players with more than 2,000 yards rushing in 2010. King (5-6, 148) finished with 2,047 and added 625 yards on 50 receptions and scored a school-record 37 touchdowns. His team reached the AAAAA finals. King has offers from a few mid-major schools including Marshall and East Carolina.

WR – Malcolm Mitchell, Valdosta, Sr.: Mitchell was the Region 1-AAAAA player of the year over several high-profile candidates, including King of Colquitt County. He had 77 receptions for 1,419 yards and 15 touchdowns. Valdosta (11-2) had its best season since 2003. Mitchell (6-3, 185) has offers from most SEC and ACC schools, including Alabama, Auburn and Georgia.

WR – Demarco Robinson, M.L. King, Sr.: Robinson set Georgia records for receiving yardage (1,655) and receiving touchdowns (27) this season for a 9-3 team. He caught 73 passes. Robinson (5-11, 170) has committed to Kentucky.

TE – Jay Rome, Valdosta, Sr.: Rome (6-5, 225) had 45 receptions for 555 yards and seven touchdowns. He's also considered a top blocker. He's a two-time region player of the year in basketball. Georgia and Alabama are thought to be Rome's leaders.

OL – David Andrews, Wesleyan, Sr.: Andrews is a three-year starter on both offense and defense for a team that is 37-5 in that time. Andrews (6-3, 295) has committed to Georgia.

OL – Blake Fussell, Brookwood, 6-1, 290, Sr.: Fussell was the lead blocker for a state championship team with two 1,000-yard rushers. Fussell (6-1, 290) has committed to Air Force.



OL – Donald Glover, Camden County, Sr.: Glover (6-4, 330) was the most consistent performer this season for Camden (10-2), which was ranked No. 1 in Georgia's AAAAA for most of the season. He averaged seven knockdown blocks per game. He is committed to Georgia Southern.

OL – Matt Kiefer, Chattahoochee, Sr.: Kiefer (6-4, 283) was credited with 53 pancake blocks and no sacks allowed for a 15-0 team that scored at least 22 points in each game. Kiefer has offers from Georgia, Georgia Tech and Arkansas, among others.

OL – Xzavier Ward, Colquitt County, Sr.: His coach, Rush Propst, says Ward (6-6, 255) is the best offensive lineman he's coached. He was the left tackle for a team with more than 5,000 yards of total offense – including 609 in the state final. Alabama and Georgia are among the leaders for Ward.

PK – Ryan Kay, Dutchtown, Sr.: Kay made field goals of 51, 54 and 56 yards on the season and tied a state record with five in one game during a 15-0 playoff victory over Thomas County Central. He also averaged 43 yards per punt. Georgia, Tennessee and Troy are recruiting Kay (6-3, 190).{PAGEBREAK}DEFENSE

DL – Xzavier Dickson, Griffin, Sr.: Dickson (6-3, 260) completed his second straight monster season. He finished with 19 sacks and seven other tackles for losses. He also played a little tight end and caught 19 passes. Dickson has several offers from SEC and ACC schools

DL – Grady Jarrett, Rockdale County, Sr.: Jarrett's team didn't do as well this season, dropping from a semifinal finish in 2009 to missing the playoffs, but Jarrett (6-2, 280) was solid with 17 sacks and 30 overall tackles for losses. He has committed to Clemson.

DL – Robert Nkemdiche, Grayson, So.: Nkemdiche emerged as one of the top sophomores in Georgia. One opposing coach said Nkemdiche (6-5, 255) would be better than another Georgia player, Ohio State's Cameron Heyward. He had 18 sacks and 15 other tackles for losses for a AAAAA semifinal team.



DL – Stephon Tuitt, Monroe Area, Sr.: Tuitt (6-6, 260) was the top defensive player on a team that went from 0-10 the past two seasons to 10-2 in 2010. He had 11 sacks and 13 other tackles for losses. Tuitt is committed to Notre Dame.

LB – Amarlo Herrera, North Clayton, Sr.: Herrera (6-2, 215) was a tackle machine – making 151 stops, 14 for losses, for a 9-2 team. He has committed to Georgia.

LB – A.J. Johnson, Gainesville, Sr.: Johnson (6-2, 225) had 173 tackles – 10 for losses – for a rebuilding team that went 10-2. He also rushed for almost 500 yards playing quarterback in the wildcat formation. Johnson has committed to Tennessee.

LB – Cameron Lynch, Brookwood, Sr.: Lynch (5-11, 215) led Georgia with 188 tackles – 13 in the state final victory over Colquitt County. Lynch also had 17.5 sacks and five interceptions on the season. He has committed to Syracuse.

LB - James Vaughters, Tucker, Sr.: Vaughters has been a two-way starter for three years on Tucker teams that have gone 36-5. He had 75 solo tackles this season, 18 for losses. Vaughters (6-2, 235) has committed to Georgia.
 
DB – Justin Coleman, Brunswick, Sr.: Coleman was one of the most versatile players in the state. He rushed for 802 yards and caught 21 passes for 520 yards on offense and made 92 tackles and five interceptions on defense. He scored 20 touchdowns. Coleman (5-11, 175) is committed to Tennesse.

DB – Mike Hilton, Sandy Creek, Jr.: Hilton is only a junior and not a top prospect, yet, but many consider him the best all-around player on Georgia's only two-time state champion, Sandy Creek. He's been a starter through the 29-game winning streak. Hilton (5-9, 175) had 68 tackles and nine interceptions on defense and rushed for 720 yards and 12 touchdowns on offense, averaging nearly 10 yards per carry.

DB – Brian Randolph, Kell, Sr.: Randolph (6-0, 190) has made all-state teams since he was a sophomore. He had 152 total tackles this season and rushed for 1,068 yards for a team that went 12-1. Randolph has committed to Tennessee.

DB – Damian Swann, Grady, Sr.: Swann made all-state for the second straight season and was the Atlanta city player of the year. He had 67 tackles, seven interceptions and 45 receptions for 786 yards and 12 touchdowns. Swann (6-0, 175) is choosing among Alabama, Florida and Georgia.

P - Ty Long, Roswell, Sr.: Long averaged 45 yards per punt. He was perhaps better as a kicker. He made 14 of 21 field goal attempts, and his best one - a 53-yarder in the final seconds - beat Parkview in the playoffs. Long put all 61 of his kickoffs in the end zone. Long (6-2, 171) has committed to South Alabama.