Transfers who could make a big impact in 2012
We reported Monday that more than 6,000 high school student-athletes transferred to Georgia schools in 2011-12. Most don’t play football. But these guys do.
Here are some football players whose transfers could have a big impact this fall. Let us know of any others.
*Orlando Brown, Peachtree Ridge: This 6-foot-7, 340-pound tackle with more than 15 major offers from Alabama to Florida came to Georgia from DeMatha Catholic in Maryland. He’s just a junior.
*LaVonte Cranford and Jordan Dooley, Duluth: Cranford and Dooley instantly upgrade Duluth’s backfield after leaving Norcross, where they would’ve found it crowded with Alvin Kamara, perhaps the state’s top running back prospect. The two have played well on defense, too.
*Kight Dallas, Stephenson: Still a bit of a project, Dallas had fewer than 50 tackles at linebacker last season at Arabia Mountain. But his talent stands out, even at Stephenson. He has committed to South Carolina.
*Rob Farriba, North Oconee: Farriba, the Region 8-A player of the year in 2011, and three other key Prince Avenue Christian players withdrew from school recently after each “made a poor decision over the summer,” according to Mark Farriba, Rob’s father and Prince Avenue’s head coach. Rob, a running back and defensive back, landed at North Oconee, where he reportedly was granted his eligibility this week. Both Oconee County teams were 10-0 in the regular season last year.
*Janier Ferguson, Coosa: Ferguson rushed for 2,063 yards and 18 touchdowns. He rushed for 402 yards in a game last season against Armuchee, becoming one of less than 10 players to break 400 in state history.
*Ty Griffin, McEachern: Griffin is in the running to replace Trent Thompson as the quarterback for this top-10 program. Griffin left what would’ve been a battle between himself and Tyler Queen, the coach’s son, at North Cobb.
*Jermaine Hutchinson, Villa Rica: Temple lost its best player. Hutchinson rushed for 1,478 rush yards and scored 18 touchdowns in 11 games.
*Ryan Jenkins, Lassiter: Jenkins left a run-oriented offense at Milton for Lassiter, where he’ll be a top wide receiver for a quarterback, Eddie Printz, chasing state passing records. Jenkins has committed to Clemson.
*Cortez Leonard, Callaway: Troup’s top loss was Reuben Foster, the top linebacker prospect in the country. He wound up at Auburn High and has committed to Auburn University. But the Tigers also will feel the loss of Leonard, a defensive back and Division I prospect (offers from SEC and Big Ten schools) who went cross-county to Callaway. That’s two years after Callaway lost its best player, Quan Bray, to Troup.
*David McTier, Grayson: McTier grew up in the Grayson system before moving to Greater Atlanta Christian for two seasons. He’s back at Grayson, where he might take over for all-state quarterback Nick Schuessler. McTier is battling junior Tyler Knight for the starting job.
*Demetrius Monday, Pebblebrook: Monday, who recently committed to Cincinnati, comes from Arlington Christian, a GISA school in Fairburn that was coached by former NFL and Georgia player Robert Edwards. He’s a receiver and cornerback.
*Chris Murphy, Lassiter: A cornerback, Murphy came from Harrison. He has offers from North Carolina, Vanderbilt and Purdue.
*Alex Stephenson, Lowndes: Stephenson came from cross-town Valdosta. His move led to a funny exchange between Lowndes assistant Hiram Johnson and Valdosta coach Rance Gillespie at the annual Region 1-AAAAAA media day. At the podium, Johnson thanked Gillespie for the new player. When it was his turn, Gillespie answered: “You’d think, Coach, you have a thousand more students than we do, that you wouldn’t have to come to Valdosta to get your quarterback.”
*Rodney Morris, Alpharetta: Joshua Dobbs, who threw for more than 3,000 yards last season, came from Wesleyan two years ago. Now comes his former Wesleyan teammate, Morris, who had four games with at least 100 yards receiving last season along with 10 touchdowns.
*Kyrin Priester, Brookwood: Priester, the wide receiver who committed to Georgia before reopening his courtship this summer, came from Lake Mary in Florida. He caught 31 passes for 565 yards and five touchdowns as a junior despite missing five games.
*Kristopher Smith, Flowery Branch: Schools from Pitt to Indiana to Central Florida have offered this linebacker who started for Greater Atlanta Christian last season.
*Hector Stanback, M.L. King: Stanback, a linebacker with a handful of mid-major offers, joined M.L. King from Southwest DeKalb, where he was fourth on the team in tackles. Arden Key, a defensive end who played key minutes as a freshman last season at SWD, also wound up at MLK.
*J.P. Vonashek, Camden County: Vonasheck, who has committed to South Carolina, left Glynn Academy for the county south, Camden. Vonasheck’s sister reportedly is a teacher at Camden County. Vonashek has been injured and might not be ready for Camden’s opener.
*Khari Waithe-Alexander, Stephenson: The Jaguars picked up a Southern Miss-bound defensive end from Alpharetta.
*Stanley Williams, George Walton Academy: Williams was committed to Georgia before finishing his sophomore season at Apalachee. Williams rushed for 891 yards as a sophomore, 964 as a freshman.
Thanks to Fletcher Proctor and Stephen Black of Score Atlanta for help in compiling this list.
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47 comments Add your comment
Thats not what she said
August 10th, 2012
10:08 am
Naim Mustafaa (UGA Commit) transferred out of Alpharetta
dekalbcounty1
August 10th, 2012
10:18 am
Thanks for being transparent with this article. Students/Atheletics TRANSFER to a BETTER environment for themselves!!
What a shock
August 10th, 2012
12:38 pm
Kell has gained 2 more transfers from neighboring schools. How many does that make in 2 years? 5 ? I guess they all moved into the same rental house as the 3 from last year. WOW!!!!
Old Gold Panther
August 10th, 2012
2:03 pm
I don’t know where AJC gets there info from but Hector Stanback only had 1 Int last year. Check the stats http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/www/documents/athletics/football/stats/final-(2011).pdf
Old Gold Panther
August 10th, 2012
2:04 pm
*their*
rwdekalb
August 10th, 2012
3:18 pm
With all this talk about transfers it makes you wonder how good some of these coaches really are if a lot of your key players are coming from another school.
sportsnut
August 10th, 2012
3:50 pm
It is a hot topic and I wish it weren’t. If they, all school systems, were to allow students to attend any school under the stipulations that if a school has the room and the student had his/her own transportation, transfers would not make the noise that is being made now. Most schools belong to a system and the parents are the providers of the tax money that enables the system to operate. Civic classes are in order
squirrell
August 10th, 2012
4:44 pm
Considering the above mentioned transfers, why all the negative talk last year about Colquitt Co. and their transfers?
Real Football Guy
August 10th, 2012
4:51 pm
Enter your comments here
Real Football Guy
August 10th, 2012
4:52 pm
That’s not what she said… you are wrong… plain and simple, you don’t know what you are talking about!
Iceman
August 10th, 2012
5:23 pm
The Mauger kid left Cherokee two years ago. He was already playing at Kell last year.
Max Sizemore
August 10th, 2012
5:40 pm
How can Farriba — and, apparently, many of the others — be eligible? My understanding is that their parents have to actually move to a different residence for their kids to be eligible. And Farriba Sr. is still coaching at the same private school.
JP
August 10th, 2012
7:39 pm
@Max Since the coach mentioned a poor decision, they may have been kicked out of the Christian school. If they live in the district already it shouldn’t be a problem.
FAN
August 10th, 2012
7:45 pm
Why is middle and south georgia not mentioned
Tdawg
August 10th, 2012
9:20 pm
The GHSA rule’s clearly states, that a player cannot transfer for the sole intent to play a sport for another school. It’s as plain as the nose on your face that, that is happening and happening often. I know the GHSA can’t possilby police all of these moves, but I settle for them to just investigate some of them. No excuse for just sitting on your arse and doing nothing, while some school’s benifit from the sweat of other school’s.
just bullish
August 10th, 2012
9:56 pm
O stop the hating you never could achieve their status in high school haters!!! If it’s legal and proper, they are not criminals for bettering their chances.
Todd Holcomb
August 10th, 2012
10:52 pm
Reader is correct about the Kell DB who was listed. He transferred last year, not this one. So I deleted him. Sorry for the error.
Todd Holcomb
August 10th, 2012
10:56 pm
”Why is middle and south georgia not mentioned”
There are some from south Georgia listed, but we’ve heard more about the metro ATL guys who have transferred. Perhaps it happens more in metro ATL because schools are closer. The next school district is often right up the street.
But remember also that schools don’t send press releases when they get a transfer, so news of it is often just word of mouth. That’s why we invited readers to post of significant transfers they know about.
Todd Holcomb
August 10th, 2012
10:58 pm
Reader is also correct about Stanback’s INT totals. I misread it on the stat sheet. He had 6 tackles for loss, not 6 INT. Was 4th on the team in tackles.
Todd Holcomb
August 10th, 2012
11:04 pm
”Naim Mustafaa (UGA Commit) transferred out of Alpharetta”
I’ve heard that, but have not confirmed. Have not heard where he might’ve landed.
I do know that all-state RB Janier Ferguson is no longer at Pepperell. Don’t know where he has landed.
Region 3 6A
August 11th, 2012
3:10 am
Mike Willis, younger brother of former East Coweta all-state standout Tay Willis, transferred from East Coweta to Trinty Christian and now to Northgate High. He rushed for 568 yds and 3 TD’s last season at East Coweta. Expected to help fill the role of former Viking Alex Lakes (now at the Air Force Academy) at Northgate.
Thumbody Thed
August 11th, 2012
12:39 pm
I thought Cole Seagraves, QB, was a transfer from White County, or was that last year? Anyway, that was an unusual situation that deserved some checking into. I doubt if anyone even batted an eye at it. The other question is, where is Colquitt Co. getting their excellent place kickers on a yearly basis? Are these recruits, or just drop-ins? They all have something in common, and those familiar with it will understand what I am referring to.
Thumbody Thed
August 11th, 2012
12:40 pm
Should have said, “was a transfer TO COLQUITT CO. from White County”
99 Packer
August 11th, 2012
6:17 pm
Seagraves was the starting QB for Colquitt County last season. His father was hired as a coach for the football team and coached special teams last year. He is still on the coaching staff, but I think he is now a position coach.
99 Packer
August 11th, 2012
6:19 pm
Colquitt County’s kicker from 2010, Tyler Dismuke and the kicker from 2011, Oscar Luna, were both homegrown from Colquitt County.
99 Packer
August 11th, 2012
6:22 pm
Valdosta’s starting quarter back in 2011 and I assume 2012, Shelby Wilkes, transferred to Valdosta from Colquitt County. Alex Stephenson played last year at Valdosta, but not at QB. The Wilkes transfer before the 2011 year is what prompted Stephenson to transfer to Lowndes before the 2012 season.
99 Packer
August 11th, 2012
6:25 pm
Rich Tyndall was also a kicker during the 2009 & 2010 seasons. He kicked almost all of the extra points and did kick a few field goals. He is also homegrown. His father is a local attorney in Moultrie
The Realness
August 11th, 2012
6:43 pm
To all the misinformed HATERS, Naim Mustafaa (Georgia Commit and outstanding player) is an Alpharetta Raider! Quit hating and try to block him!!!
WILDHAWG2012
August 11th, 2012
10:02 pm
Why does Colquit Co have to explain anything to all the haters mainly in our region!!! Well if you must have an explanation i have one for you all. Maybe we have a outstanding coaching staff and we allways play a tough schedule so thats why we are ready come playoff time and our schedule is no different this year. so we have to be ready from the start but our coaching staff will make sure we are ready. Good luck to all this season and GO PACK!!!!!!!
Camden74
August 12th, 2012
2:35 am
I really don’t care who transfers where, you still have to get it done on the FIELD! Ask the former 2A BULLIES!
Thomas Brown
August 12th, 2012
4:49 am
Merritt Hall, all-state selection Class A 2010, given a preferred walk-on to UGA after being recruited by FCS 1-AA, had several injuries back then, what were the injuries ?
I presume with only 4 walk-ons carrying over scholarships from last season at UGA, Merritt Hall has earned one of the 17 remaining open scholarships for 2012, or officially if Kolton Houston remains on scholarship, one of the 16 remaining open scholarships for 2012.
slydog
August 12th, 2012
5:53 pm
Duluth High School got 2 stud RB’s from Norcross. Jordan Dooley 5′9 190 4.44 and Lavonte’ Cranford 5′7 185 4.48.
shabo
August 12th, 2012
7:26 pm
@slydog……they left Norcross 4 a reason. Do the math, great players but we have Kamara and Autry. The Dooley kid would have got reps @ RB and Cranford started @ OLB last year so they are missed as a fan and Dooley like fam but we good though. #TheCross
bucket
August 12th, 2012
9:48 pm
Since the GHSA is so worried about fair play that they took the drastic step to separate public and private A playoffs, then what are they going to do about situations like North Oconee being able to pick up talented players right before the season starts? These transfers are legal because they are in district, but what about the other teams in North Oconee’s district who don’t have the good fortune of being able to transfer talented players in district?
Bruce
August 13th, 2012
7:57 am
I wanted my child to transfer from Duluth to Peactree Ridge…I hate Duluth.
Todd Holcomb
August 13th, 2012
9:17 am
I’ve added two 1,000-yard rushers from 2011 in NW Georgia -
Janier Ferguson went from Pepperell to Coosa. Jermaine Hutchinson went from Temple to Villa Rica.
dekalbcounty1
August 13th, 2012
9:53 am
@Bruce what is wrong with Duluth?
dekalbcounty1
August 13th, 2012
9:58 am
@Old Gold Panther why are you so worried about the missed information about Stanback’s stats from last year? Do you missed him already? He along with (Key) knew the grass were greener on the other side of Snapfinger Rd. They will see on September 8th….
wizard
August 13th, 2012
1:24 pm
This is Stanbacks 3rd transfer. Fact!
dekalbcounty1
August 13th, 2012
4:20 pm
Were your school the first one he left?
Hardhat
August 14th, 2012
8:43 am
@Todd, years ago the private schools had the 1.5 multiplier because of the suppose recuriting. It now appears that the public schools have “caught up”. Do you favor a 1 year sit out rule? These small single A coaches should take their bigger schools cohorts to task for doing what they blame the private schools for. It is hard enough to get rules in place and then enforced if the public schools are doing it to themselves. In Dekalb county you have no district lines you can play anywhere in the county you want to if you live in the county. The haves Tucker,Stephenson and MLK get there pick while Lakeside, Druid Hills now looking like Arabia Mtn lose out.. But hell I guess basketball is worse. South Ga we know Cairo got their QB to transfer in and they had a run in the playoffs and the kid went to Penn State.
Jefferson
August 14th, 2012
3:15 pm
Coosa must not have the same standards as Pepperell when it comes to books.
Metro Fan
August 15th, 2012
12:54 pm
Jordan Ellis is a bigtime back that transfered to Peachtree Ridge from Chamblee in the wake of its 4th head coaching change in 6 years. He will make a name for himself this year.
rwdekalb
August 16th, 2012
3:38 pm
Transfers rarely equate to a state title.
columbia eagle
August 16th, 2012
10:40 pm
Kight Dallas has transferred from columbia to arabia to stephenson. He started off playing RB overall his stats aren’t that good. The only reason he got a scholarship for SC is because of Stepehensons rep HE SUCKS
wolfbait67
August 17th, 2012
8:26 am
well, well, well: now cumdum74 is like calling the kettle black… I thought U had grown up, The Mouth of the South is alive and well , I see…….U must really not have anyting better to do than whine about ou Wolves when you retards are getting as many transfers as anybdy……….
Camden74
August 17th, 2012
1:23 pm
Wolfie, wolfie, wolfie……..I see you’ve started early this season. I extended an olive branch to you and what happens, you bite my hand! I guess IGNORANCE really is BLISS, especially in your case! Camden has a reason for getting TRANSFERS. The former 2A BULLIES however, make getting TRANSFERS, a part of their program! Oh, did I say TRANSFERS, for the BULLIES? I’m sorry, what I should have said is, RECRUITS! People are on to YOU and your BULLY buddies, wolfie! And now, IT’S ON!