POY Watch: State’s leading rusher debuts at No. 4

Nick Chubb, the Cedartown running back who has rushed for more than 350 yards in each of his first two games, both victories, is new to the GHSF Daily/Atlanta Journal-Constitution Player of the Year Watch this week.

Returning to the list this week is AJC Super 11 defensive tackle Montravius Adams, who has helped lead Dooly County to a 2-0 start and top-10 ranking in Class A. Adams was on the list earlier this season but fell out last week.

Chubb and Adams replace Norcross running back Alvin Kamara, who was limited by injury last week in a 20-0 victory over Parkview, and Newnan safety Tray Matthews, whose team lost its first game.

1. RB Tyren Jones, Walton: Did not play last week. Jones, who has committed to Alabama, is second in the state in rushing with 635 yards and nine touchdowns in two games. Walton is 2-0 and ranked No. 3 in Class AAAAAA.

2. DE Robert Nkemdiche, Grayson: Did not play last week. The 2011 state player of the year and the nation’s No. 1 college recruit, Nkemdiche has rushed for 56 yards and four touchdowns on 12 carries and made seven tackles, one for a loss. Grayson is 2-0 and holds eight top-10 national rankings and is No. 1 in Georgia’s Class AAAAAA.

3. QB Eddie Printz, Lassiter: Printz was 14-of-22 passing for 277 yards and four touchdowns in a 49-10 victory over Sprayberry. On the season, Printz is 34-of-48 for 526 yards and six touchdowns. Printz, who is committed to UCLA, has 6,318 yards passing in his career. The state record is 9,062. If Lassiter plays 14 games, as it did in 2011, Printz would break the record by averaging 229 yards per game going forward. Lassiter is 2-0 and ranked No. 4 in Class AAAAAA.

4. Nick Chubb, Cedartown: Chubb, a junior, rushed for 393 yards and five touchdowns on 36 carries in a 42-35 victory over Pepperell. For the season, he has 756 yards rushing and nine touchdowns on 66 carries. Chubb leads the state in rushing. Cedartown is 2-0 and unranked in Class AAAA.

5. DT Montravius Adams, Dooly County: Adams made eight solo tackles, three for losses, and three assists in a 21-12 victory over Class AAAA Americus-Sumter. Adams, the No. 1 defensive tackle prospect in the nation according to Scout and 247Sports, also forced a fumble, knocked down a pass, hurried three passes and scored a touchdown on a 3-yard run. For the season, Adams has 17 solo tackles and six assists, two sacks, a forced fumble and five tackles for losses. Dooly County is 2-0 and ranked No. 8 in Class A.

6. QB Taylor Lamb, Calhoun: Lamb was 23-of-42 passing for 241 yards and two touchdowns in a 55-41 victory over Dalton. For the season, Lamb is 50-of-80 for 525 yards and four touchdowns. He has rushed for 87 yards on 15 carries. Calhoun is 2-0 and ranked No. 1 in Class AA.

7. WR Demarcus Robinson, Peach County: Robinson had five receptions for 82 yards and scored a touchdown on a 68-yard pass in a 21-14 victory over Perry. Robinson, who is committed to Clemson, has nine catches for 213 yards in two games. He has scored four of Peach County’s six touchdowns, one on an interception return. Peach County is ranked No. 1 in Class AAA.

8. QB Malcolm Parrish, Brooks County: Parrish was 18-of-31 passing for 269 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-24 victory over Class AAAAAA Valdosta, which was ranked No. 9 at the time. Parrish threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Deric Herring with 2:40 left that provided the winning margin. For the season, Parrish, a junior, is 49-of-94 for 673 yards and six touchdowns. He has rushed for 241 yards and four touchdowns on 45 carries. Brooks County is 3-0 and ranked No. 2 in Class AA.

9. Makail Grace, Wilcox County: Did not play in a 28-14 loss to Class AAAA Monroe because of an injury suffered in the opener. In his only game, Grace was 19-of-27 passing for 407 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 75 yards on 18 carries in a 43-39 victory over Wilkinson County. Wilcox County is 1-1 and ranked No. 2 in Class A.

10. HB/DB J.J. Green, Camden County: Green rushed for 56 yards on three carries and played sparingly because of an injury in a 55-0 victory over Johnson of Savannah. Green, who has committed to Georgia, has rushed for 181 yards on 15 carries (12.1 ypc) and one touchdown, caught four passes for 54 yards and made four tackles and a sack. Camden County is 3-0 and ranked No. 2 in Class AAAAAA.

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