Grayson leads several Georgia teams that could appear in the Xcellent 25 this season, like Colquitt County, Camden County, Lassiter and Walton.
Want to be the best team in Georgia? You'd better be ready to fight Robert Nkemdiche and Grayson for that distinction. The nation's top recruit and his teammates begin the season ranked No. 2 in the nation.
Photo by Dennis Carter
15-0
Head coach: Mickey Conn
Team PreviewGrayson enjoyed a banner year in 2011, finishing undefeated en route to capturing a Class AAAAA state title. This fall, the Rams should be even better, as they are
ranked No. 2 in the Preseason Xcellent 25. The team's defense returns nine starters, including all-world recruit
Robert Nkemdiche. The offense has holes to fill on the offensive line and at quarterback, but it has a slew of capable ballcarriers that should help break in the new faces on offense. A challenging schedule that includes Florida power Miami Central will test the Rams. Grayson is also No. 6 on our June, 2011 list of the
Top 10 Georgia football dynasties.
2. Colquitt County (Moultrie)2011 finish: 11-3
Head coach: Rush Propst
Team PreviewRush Propst knows how to coach in the playoffs, and it showed in last year's narrow 35-31 loss to eventual champion Grayson. The Packers are a threat to Grayson again this year, with dangerous quarterback
Cole Segraves returning. Segraves can be effective both throwing and running, and has the uncanny ability to throw the football accurately with either arm. The defense will be fast and athletic. Colquitt County will look to add its name to the list of
Georgia state football champions for the past nine years.
3. Camden County (Kingsland)2011 finish: 12-1
Head coach: Jeff Herron
Team PreviewCamden County may be the state's most consistent program in recent years, capturing state titles in 2008 and 2009 and losing only three games over the previous two seasons. Head coach Jeff Herron will rely on his nucleus of seniors
J.J. Green,
Brice Ramsey and
J.P. Vonashek to take his team on another deep playoff run. Ramsey doesn't pass much in Camden County's Wing-T, but he may be forced to in order to keep defenses honest in the playoffs. Although he committed to Georgia before his junior season, he's attempted only 150 career passes. Camden County checks in at No. 4 on our list of
Georgia's Top 10 most consistent football programs.
4. Lassiter (Marietta)2011 finish: 10-4
Head coach: Jep Irwin
Team PreviewIt's a good year for quarterbacks in the Peach State, and Lassiter has one of the best in
Eddie Printz. Printz torched opposing defenses to the tune of 3,350 yards and 28 touchdowns. The team's line play should be another strength, as well as its linebackers, led by
Josh Danforth. Search for Lassiter players on our
2011 Georgia All-Region Football Teams list.
5. Walton (Marietta)2011 finish: 14-1
Head coach: Rocky Hidalgo
Team PreviewA surprise team a year ago when it entered the AAAAA title game at a perfect 14-0, Walton will not sneak up on anyone this season. Alabama-bound
Tyren Jones returns for his senior season. Quarterback
Parker McLeod is also committed to the Crimson Tide; that duo will provide Walton plenty of offensive firepower. But will it be enough to overcome the tough defenses it will see in the playoffs? Walton will need to replace two players whose names are on the list of
Georgia Class of 2012 Division 1 signees.
