Football: Grayson ranked No. 2 in preseason poll
It’s been 20 years since a Georgia high school football team has won a national championship. Grayson, a returning state champion in Georgia’s highest classification, is poised to make a run.
This week, the Rams were ranked No. 2 in preseason by MaxPreps in the first major national poll. Grayson was 15-0 last season and finished in the top five of several national rankings. This season, 10 of 11 defensive starters return, including defensive end Robert Nkemdiche, the 2011 all-classification player of the year.
‘’Grayson should have the country’s best defense, and their offense, with the amount of skill it returns, will be just fine,’’ said Stephen Spiewak, editor of MaxPreps’ national football rankings. “I do expect them to return to a more run-based offense to which the program has been more accustomed. Not to mention, no matter which team Grayson plays, it will always have the single best player on the field [in Nkemdiche].’’
Ranked No. 1 is Manatee of Bradenton, Fla. Grayson and Manatee will have one common opponent – Central of Miami. Grayson plays Central on Aug. 31 at Grayson.
Another Georgia team is in MaxPreps’ top 25. That’s Colquitt County at No. 18.
‘’Colquitt seems to have a good blend of veteran leadership and talented youth,’’ Spiewak said. “I really think Cole Segraves is going to have a huge senior season. It came extremely close to beating Grayson last year and would give them a game this season as well. Overall, I think it’s going to be a very good year for high school football in Georgia.
The most recent Georgia team to win a national title was Valdosta, which was selected in 1992 by the National Prep Poll and the National Sports News Service.
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229 comments Add your comment
TiftBlueDevils
June 8th, 2012
9:05 am
Do not sleep on Tift this year. Trust Me!!!!!
TJ
June 8th, 2012
10:54 am
I have a few arguments here. I think region 8 is the SEC not Region 1. What is up with Grayson’s offense, are they ground and pound or airing it out this year? Where the heck are all the spring team reports this year? Your slipping AJC.
G-dub
June 8th, 2012
12:32 pm
@sec?… Did you not see the main page. 6 players from Stephenson drafted since 06 and the Irvin kid did not even play football. Yeah you can say sec but we say N F L!!!!!!!! Now that’s what’s up
sec?
June 8th, 2012
2:07 pm
nevermind you dont get it. they have people from d2 to fcs that get drafted. So wgats your point? its still not the highest level..just like 5a you are one level below 6a!!!!! Thats like saying d2 is better than d1 lol
G-dub
June 8th, 2012
2:29 pm
@sec?…I don’t think you get it. That classification is based on number of students not talent level.
sec?
June 8th, 2012
2:37 pm
so since stephenson has nfl players youre the sec now? you cant even win a state title!!!!stephenson sucks!!!!
59bulldawg
June 8th, 2012
6:30 pm
Don’t know how good they’ll be this but I’m a Jefferson Dragon man! LOL!
swagg
June 9th, 2012
9:21 am
This is the year that the Gainesville Red Elephants get over the hump and will win state led by player of the year candidate Deshaun Watson this team will win it all in AAAAA
God Given Ability
June 10th, 2012
5:31 am
How quickly we all forget! Grayson finally wins 1 state title which they got help with against Colquitt Co thank you and people start talking about them Lol are you kidding? Nobody wants to talk about those two late pass interference calls that helped them win! Grayson still isnt apart of the Gwinnett County Kings of the Rings! Ya Know, Parkview 4 time champ, Brookwood, and of course Buford!!!! The Real Champions of Gwinnett! As far as the Nkemdiche Kid goes, every body knows the Kid at Milton,Carl Lawson is 10 times better! Lawson is stronger,more explosive, and way more agressive! I feel sorry that people have just penciled this kid at Grayson in as the number 1 player and he really isn’t deserving. I have watched him play for the last 2 years and he is not the number one player in the country. Yes he is one of the top players in the state but he really just doesn’t do the things that people write about. I have seen him comparried to Bo Jackson, Hershel Walker, and even LT? Are you for real? How dare this childs name be mentioned in the same sentence as these football icons!!! The fact that he tries to run the ball is a joke! Come on Grayson try something else it won’t fly again! His hand will go down in the dirt at the next level and you probably won’t hear from him again cause he is not aggressive enough. Thank God College coaches don’t believe all this hype and actually look at hours of film to see what players can actually do.
God Given Ability
June 10th, 2012
5:48 am
Parkview won football state titles in 97, 2000,2001,2002,lost it 2003 They also won the baseball state title in 2000, and 200. They just won back to back baseball state titles 2011,2012. In football this year they boast 34 seniors. I think they have just as good of a chance to win state as Grayson does again! Lol!
Not this year
June 10th, 2012
1:21 pm
Grayson’s D will be very good this year, but they had better be in shape as well. The O lost the TE and 4 of the 5 linemen plus major RB. Anyone who knows football knows that Grayson’s O line controlled games last year and that will not be the case this year. All of those pre-season polls take the previous season into consideration way too much. Grayson will not even win their own region this year, much less be a #2 team in the country. They lost too many crucial players. They will be well coached and hard to score on, but I think that they will struggle to score just as much if not more than the teams they play. I am interested to see who plays there this year that did not attend the school last year. Good players and their parents will make a legal move to a school for athletic reasons, this happens every year. Can’t wait until this season gets started so all the questions will be answered. I think that with their coach and 30-something returners, Colquitt Co. will win the first 6A football state championship.
5- Time
June 10th, 2012
3:38 pm
Sad news Lowndes fans!! Former Lowndes player Ed Christian, now at Auburn, died in a fatal shooting along with two other Auburn players saturday night. My prayers go out to his family. Ed Christian was part of the 2007 Lowndes state championship team. SMH….
5- Time
June 10th, 2012
3:40 pm
Sad news Lowndes fans!! Former Lowndes player Ed Christian, now at Auburn, died in a fatal shooting along with two other Auburn players saturday night. My prayers go out to his family. Ed Christian was part of the 2007 Lowndes state championship team.
Fred
June 10th, 2012
10:36 pm
@God Given Ability – I don’t know where you have been hiding but the two correctly called interference calls against Colquitt have been discussed till most of us turned blue (there were/are some still green with envy). Just to recap, there is no concept of “un-catchable” in high school. The Packers lost their discipline on the last drive and in their effort to stop the Rams, committed several mistakes. By the way, you are right. College coaches don’t just watch film. They come out to the games and practices and watch which is what they have been doing with Robert. Coaches and scouts show up regularly to see for themselves. As far as Robert running the ball, so far he has been pretty successful. He has been stopped a time or two and is not a long run threat but on shorter runs he has been pretty effective.
I assume you are talking about football championships since this is a football discussion and you talk about Parkview’s 4 rings. You mention Brookwood as a part of the “Kings of the Rings.” I guess you don’t realize that Brookwood has 2 football championships – a total of 1 more than Grayson. I’m not talking down to Brookwood at all because they have a great program and 2 rings are something to be proud of. You also left out Peachtree Ridge who was co-champ in 2006.
G-dub
June 11th, 2012
9:56 am
@sec…What’s the main goal for every high school football player, win a state title or make it to the NFL. Also who cares about sec, big 10 , pac 12, we are talking about high school. Last time I checked the SEC was a college conference. Think before you type.
sec?
June 11th, 2012
10:48 am
to win state and become nfl players..you just mad cause stephenson sucks.good nfl players have won state at least once..what about your sorry region/stephenson?
WILDHAWG2012
June 11th, 2012
11:48 am
First off my heart goes out to to the valdosta family aka lowndes vikings for the lost of one of their own in mr Ed Christian. I will keep his family in my prayers for sure!!!
5AReg6Fan
June 11th, 2012
1:18 pm
@sec? – This fight is between you and G-dub, but Stephenson plays in a region of STATE CHAMPIONS…Tucker, SWD, Lakeside-DeKalb. I wouldn’t say that the region is sorry as well as MANY others.
“WE ARE TUCKER”
REGION 6, the best in GA 2012 5A Football……
sec?
June 11th, 2012
1:59 pm
you are right!!!! i am just talking about stephenson..that region is good no dout but stephenson has all that talent for the nfl and cannot close the deal when it comes to championships. Im done here..yes stephenson produce nfl players and yes that is a tough region but still the little sec!!!!
sec?
June 11th, 2012
2:05 pm
i said i was done..but region1 has 32 championship rings. how many does that region has? camden and lowndes has won 6 of the last nine..so yeah we are the sec of high school football!!!! end of the conversation..
sec?
June 11th, 2012
2:18 pm
i lied 33 championship rings at the highest level Tifton has one!!!!
5AReg6Fan
June 11th, 2012
3:43 pm
@sec? – I believe the current 2012 region6 5A STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS are Tucker (2), SWD (2), and Lakeside-DeKalb (3). Nowhere in comparison to 2012 6A region 1. The lower classifications change so often, teams and some have changed school names, due to many different factors, that it’s difficult to keep track of # of State Championships, per region. EX: Last year the region had Marist (2) and Douglass which would add to that number. I know 6A region 1 has had changes over the years, but most recent, it has been pretty much stable, with this years’ addition of Camden. Soon, the AJC will be breaking the articles in classification sections and we bloggers will tend to stay close to our supported classification. So to squash this augment, we 5A Region 6 fans will be chest beating, that our region is the SEC of GA HS football (LOL) and I do expect the fans of 6A Region 1 to be doing the same, within our own blogs. I would agree with your answer to G-dub about “What’s the main goal for every high school football player?” As an ex HS football player, many-many-many years ago, I played the game to win STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS, with the dream of playing in the NFL and I believe many others would tend to agree.
“WE ARE TUCKER”
REGION 6, the best in GA 2012 5A Football……
G-dub
June 11th, 2012
4:37 pm
@sec…You are living in the past. Wake up, what have you done lately? @5AReg6Fan…I think that the ultimate goal of most little league football players is to play in the NFL. State championship games are great if that’s as far as you can go but I think 90% of players mindset and ultimate goal is NFL. @sec…Who said that I was a Stephenson fan. Dog, I am from Texas so you don’t even want to talk high school football.
sec?
June 11th, 2012
4:38 pm
See you are a good poster..you see where im coming from and i agree where you coming from.there should be more posters like you!!!! if you were in 6a then i would have nothing to say because your region is tough too like the sec but at a level down..good luck to you this season!!!! everybody would love to win state and going to the nfl would be a bonus..for real now, im done here
sec?
June 11th, 2012
4:49 pm
okay g dubs if you are from texas then go post on a texas blog. This is a georgia blog. You may not be a stephenson fan but you sure brought the non winning state championship team up!!!!
G-dub
June 12th, 2012
8:56 am
@sec?…I post all over the country and you are probably one of the worst people that I have replied to, wanna be sec, D1 and D2 you caught up in all the hype.
Camden1981
June 13th, 2012
2:43 pm
I know Camden is the New Kid on the block in Region 1 and I know Camden doesn’t have a chance of competing in this region for 6 weeks each year. With all that said, if people believe Camden is not going to be completive against any team, you have a surprise coming. Yes it will be a challenge in Region 1 but beating us may not be so easy. Looking forward to a great year of High School Football.
I was sorry to hear about the tragedy in Auburn. My Prayers to the families. I want to send a special Prayer to the Lowndes Family and the Family of Ed Christain.
Wildcat Guy
June 14th, 2012
9:26 pm
The Cards are truly stacked in the New Region One Favor! Region One teams would not face each other until the Semi State Championship or State Championship! Grayson has a good team but you will have to get through Region One this year!
bksmith14
June 15th, 2012
3:40 pm
grayson will be solid this year…….but they like any other program that loses as much as they did will take a “step” back probably…….still a strong team and a playoff team no doubt and will not be an easy out come playoff time but they did lose a lot…….i dont expect thme to be as strong as last year……
78Pack
June 19th, 2012
10:37 am
Colquitt vs Grayson has already become a rivalry and
Ga HS football has become the most fun to watch. Not only is top-notch talent spread throughout the state, look at the ledgendary coaches Ga has now. I love the fact that Ga crowns 1 Champ. I have to say that Reg. 1AAAAAA is the toughest and I believe the majority of State Champs WILL come from said region….again I base that prediction on the fact that I have watched every game in every classification in Ga as well as other states and Super 25 games. Noteworthy is the fact Rush Propst has Colquitt turned now and ready to dominate and in case you didnt know Colquitt added Hoover, Al for 2yrs.Can’t wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rock
June 21st, 2012
10:16 am
Do anybody know what the jefferson county warriors are going to be like this season? I hear they have a lot of starters coming bAck plus a bunch of skilled players.
Kayton Samuels
June 22nd, 2012
1:22 pm
Look out for Arabia Mountain Rams this year !….Will be surprising a lot….Dont sleep on them ..TRUST THAT
5AReg6Fan
June 22nd, 2012
2:30 pm
@Kayton Samuels – First, it’s good to hear from a fan of Arabia Mountain and hopefully you along with other Rams supporters will be blogging right along with all the other fans of 5A Region 6. 2012 brings Arabia Mountain two classifications up and into ONE of the toughest region in all of 5A football…this is a MAJOR step for a young football team. Any region victories the Rams receive this year will be a plus and yes, it will be SURPRISING, except maybe on a couple. The best region record I see for the Rams is 3-7 with victories over (1) Clarkston…which shouldn’t count as a region game (W or L), due to Clarkston not playing a true region schedule, (2) North Atlanta, and (3) Lakeside DeKalb. But honestly, is going to be more like 2-8, with potential victories over Clarkston and North Atlanta. The 2012 objective for Arabia Mountain football team, is to learn and try to keep the games close and entertaining, this will be the SURPRISE. The Rams third game of the season will tell it all, facing the Jaguars of Stephenson. Remember the Rams are playing DeKalb and Fulton’s BEST in 5A. Nothing left to say – Welcome Arabia Mountain Rams to one of GA’S HS football POWERHOUSE regions and GOOD LUCK!!!!
“WE ARE TUCKER”
REGION 6, the best in GA 2012 5A Football……
hmmm
June 25th, 2012
4:06 am
Grayson is overrated this year. THEY DID LOSE MANY KEY PLAYERS. I am a gwinnett and grayson fan myself, but the o line this year will be much smaller, but definitely quicker. I expect to see a more fit Grayson team this year, but as for another championship, I highly doubt it.
Camden74
June 25th, 2012
11:32 am
There are probably 7-8 teams who could win the 6A Title this year……..My money is on Region 1!
bksmith14
June 25th, 2012
3:21 pm
with each year there are always suprises………Walton ..the team grayson beat in the state title game was a solid football team………but they in my opinion were not the teams that colquitt …camden …and lowndes were……i think all 3 including valdosta also would have beat walton…….
bksmith14
June 25th, 2012
3:22 pm
walton did not even score on grayson…..at least lowndes did score 17 on grayson at grayson…..amd that was the best d grayson has ever had
5- Time
June 25th, 2012
6:40 pm
The only reason Walton made it to the Title game was because their side of the bracket was not as brutal. Granted, they had a good solid football team, but their road to the Title game was tough, but not brutal. That’s why winning the Region Title is soooo important!! Valdosta won the Region 1 Title last year, but got upset by Newnan. If they would’ve gotten by Newnan, then I believe Valdosta could’ve made it to the Title game. Better yet, If Colquitt Co. would have won the Region Title, It would have been Colquitt Co. vs Grayson in the Title game. The same goes for Lowndes. Lowndes and Brookwood was the only two teams that gave Grayson problems.
bksmith14
June 26th, 2012
12:19 pm
Dosta Dawgs…….the cats won the region yes…….but yall got embarrassed in round 1…….lowndes had a better team……..we put it on cruise control after we dominated yall last year for every min of the game except the last min and a half………..i give it to yall…….yall didnt give up and yall outcoached and outplayed us at the very end of that game……..we were left with a hangover and we didnt care if we beat colquitt or not. if we had beat yall……..then we would have either beat colquitt or it would have been a lot closer…….we were just out of it in that game bc of losing like we did to yall……
i was proud of us going up to stephenson and beating them on their home turf…….shutting them out in the process……..after they had just put up 49 on mlk…….and i was proud of us giving grayson a fight…..we led at one point……we just did not have the experience at qb last year…….thats all we needed to take the next step last year
GoPackGo
June 28th, 2012
1:51 pm
LOL. That’s funny stuff!
SmallBallRegion(4)2A
July 3rd, 2012
10:30 pm
hello…? do you realize Grayson gave up… like, 30yds. rpg last season w/ the “N” kid back this year…?
sportsnut
July 5th, 2012
10:34 am
Those games from a year ago are gone and all is new. New Regions, new classes. For some, not many, new opponents with whom there is no history. Don’t get upset ! Add this to the early regular season competition of high quality non region schedules plus the possible losses in the “Classic” and you can rest assured that a couple “POWERS” will go down and leave many to wonder what happened? Region 1 – 6A will feel the pain of itself. The results of having such a strong group of teams playing for a precious spot in the 2nd. season. I am sure Coffee, Brunswick and Tift are not going to lay down and let the other guy’s walk all over them ! Those three schools will have a lot to say about who makes it to the Dome. Seems as if I am dreaming and it is a memory from this past season where there was predicted an all Warner Robins Final AAAA. Colquit and Grayson are already in the Dome and the season is still 57 day’s away. Gotta love the game !
Camden74
July 6th, 2012
4:53 pm
I believe Region 1 6A will be competitive from top to bottom! This is the BIG BOY LEAGUE, and it will be HELL on the field every week! Go Camden County Wildcats!!!!
Coffee Trojan#44
July 7th, 2012
8:54 pm
Coffee has lost alot os speed this year incuding the fastest high schooler in the country “T
Coffee Trojan#44
July 7th, 2012
9:22 pm
Sorry about the typo above. Coffee has lost alot of speed this year including the fastest high schooler in the country “Tyreek Hill” witch runs a 4.2 and will be representing the USA in the olympics. Well, back to football. Coffee has lost alot of speed from last year, but has gained alot of size and experience on the O and D-line, Coffee has also gained alot of experience at the head coaching position as well including 7 state championships, I like Coffee’s chances this year. Now I’m not saying that Coffee will win region 1-AAAAAA this year, I’m just saying that anything can happen in this region. Go Trojans!
Camden74
July 8th, 2012
12:22 am
@Coffee Trojan#44…….Tyreek Hill in the 2012 Olympics, what event? Didn’t see his name on the team roster………
Coffee Trojan#44
July 9th, 2012
8:18 pm
Sorry, I meant to say Jr Olympics, he will be competing in the 2012 IAAF World Junior Championships in spain.
Mean Dean
July 10th, 2012
10:26 am
1-AAAAAA is the Best Region in Georgia if not the Country, but let’s not forget that Gwinnett County Schools Have won 8 State Titles since 1996. Parkview has won 4, Brookwood 2, Grayson 1, and Peachtree Ridge was Co-Champions in 2006. That doesn’t include Buford’s 8 State Titles in the Lower Classifications…Not Bad.
5-Time
July 10th, 2012
11:26 am
That’s not bad, not bad at all. Since 1996, Region 1-AAAAAA and Region 8-AAAAAA has won the majority of the State Titles. I always thought Region 8-AAAAAA was strong, but not as strong as Region 1-AAAAAA. Everybody and the nation knows about South Georgia Football!! It’s tradition down here baby…!!
how 'bout
July 11th, 2012
4:17 pm
…only 45 more days ’til the true fun begins…