By Craig Sager II
Photo courtesy of Sonny Kennedy
It will be exactly two weeks from the conclusion of the 2014 state championships and high school football season that we will see the state’s top juniors check in at McEachern High School for the second annual Elite Junior All Star game (Dec. 27). Amongst this year’s participants in the Class of 2016 showcase are state finalists Kyle Davis, Dylan Singleton and Kobe Smith from Archer. The format will once again be North vs. South and the three teammates will suit up for the North team. Davis is a wide receiver committed to South Carolina and Singleton is a two-way star that received an offer from UGA to add to his list of collegiate fan mail following a three-touchdown performance in the Class AAAAAA state championship. Smith, a defensive tackle, stands 6-foot-4, 295 pounds and committed to N.C. State on Dec. 1. On the South Team, wide receiver Kiel Pollard will represent state champion Colquitt County. Buford defensive lineman Ben Frazier will join the North Team.
There will be plenty of headliners in this year’s classic, including the No. 1 ranked prospect in the state heading into next season, Julian Rochester, a 6-foot-5.5, 280-pound defensive tackle from host McEachern. Rochester will line up on the South Team with his Indians’ teammate, running back Sam Jackson.
Defensive back Marquez Callaway has jumped into the top 5 Peach State prospects for the Class of 2016 on several recruiting boards and will represent Warner Robins on the South Team. West Hall standout Tyquan Statham will take snaps at defensive back for the North Team and will face South Team quarterback Logan Byrd and a deep group of receivers. Byrd is a 6-foot-3 signal caller from Veterans and is committed to Virginia Tech.
Collins Hill defensive end Tomon Fox and Upson-Lee offensive tackle David Marshall skyrocketed in the recruiting ranks this past season and like all the competing players in the Elite Junior Classic, can continue climbing the ranks with a strong showing Monday, Dec. 29.