The 2018 Georgia Elite Classic will showcase a seven-game, two-day all-star lineup that will be played at McEachern High School Dec. 27-28. There will be games exclusive to each grade 7-12 and a Brain Bowl—comprised of highly academically-qualified players from the Class of 2019-21 to round out the seven.
When the Georgia Elite Classic launched six years ago, it set out on a mission to shine a spotlight on the same combination of on-the-field and off-the-field talent that draws college coaches from around the country to recruit from the state of Georgia.
New features were introduced to the games last year, including a halftime kicking contest, instant replay, coaching challenges and the use of 15-minute quarters. The result was an unprecedented look at Georgia’s top stars. This year, NFL’s timing rules will be used and there will be a two-minute warning near the end of each half. The head coach for each team will also be allowed one challenge per half, and the instant replay will have access to three separate camera angles on one of the biggest high school videoboards in the country.
The rosters for this year’s games have been split and are available at GeorgiaEliteClassic.com with the intent to make the opposing sides as balanced and competitive as possible. Already, more than 620 players and over 200 different Georgia High Schools will be represented in this year’s all-star marathon as well as 60 coaches for the high schoolers and another 20 for the two middle school games. The games will be available on web at GeorgiaEliteClassic.com and there will also be a Gametracker with live stats.
The senior game will have 6-foot-6, 295-pound Ridgeland offensive tackle Frederick Norman Jr. starring in the trenches. Denmark’s Ben Whitlock and Mt. Paran’s Niko Vangarelli will quarterback against a secondary in the junior game that features Peach County cornerback Daelan Smith and safeties Kobe Towns and Talique Allen.
McEachern starting quarterback Carlos Del Rio headlines the sophomore game and Blessed Trinity’s Banks Atkins will be under center for the freshman game.
Blessed Trinity junior defensive lineman Grayson Gilder and Parkview senior linebacker Zach Hamilton are among the Brain Bowl participants.
2018 Georgia Elite Classic Schedule
At McEachern
Thursday, Dec. 27
Seventh Grade Elite Classic 4 p.m.
Eighth Grade Elite Classic 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 28
Senior Elite Classic 10 a.m.
Brain Bowl Classic 12:30 p.m.
Junior Elite Classic 3 p.m.
Freshman Elite Classic 5:30 p.m.
Sophomore Elite Classic 8 p.m.