Class of 2022: Stock Risers
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Many prospects across Georgia had breakout seasons in 2020. Many players displayed vast improvements from their previous season. From the class of 2022, we saw many players step up and distinguish themselves all season long. The work many players put…
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Continue ReadingMany prospects across Georgia had breakout seasons in 2020. Many players displayed vast improvements from their previous season. From the class of 2022, we saw many players step up and distinguish themselves all season long. The work many players put in this past offseason showed itself on the field. Today, we are going to highlight players from the 2022 class that improved their stock.
Jordan McDonald Jordan McDonald 6'1" | 215 lbs | RB Milton | 2022 State GA , RB, Milton
The state of Georgia saw some great running back play this season. Junior Jordan McDonald Jordan McDonald 6'1" | 215 lbs | RB Milton | 2022 State GA made great strides this season. His balance and strength improved from his sophomore season. He displayed his strength breaking more tackles in his second season. He was a hassle for other teams to take down, usually taking multiple hits to bring him down. On top of this, his balance allowed him to absorb hits and stay on his feet. This was a recurring theme for him this season, one I’m sure his coaches and teammates loved. The improvements he made prior to the season, combined with his speed, made him a monster. He finished the season with 211 carries, 121.6 yards per game, 24 rushing touchdowns. His speed and acceleration allowed him to break away from second-level defenders all season long. McDonald was a workhorse back for Milton and helped guide them to the playoffs. He definitely drove his stock up this season, and it’s no surprise he’s already receiving offers from schools like Florida State and Georgia Tech.
De’Nylon Morrissette De’Nylon Morrissette 6'1" | 200 lbs | WR Brookwood | 2022 State GA , WR, Brookwood
One of the best wide receivers in Georgia this past season was De’Nylon Morrissette De’Nylon Morrissette 6'1" | 200 lbs | WR Brookwood | 2022 State GA . In 8 games this year Morrissette finished with 48 catches for 690 yards and 7 touchdowns. He showed good strength this season, pushing defenders off him to get yards after the catch. He developed his hands more in between his sophomore and junior season, catching some tough balls this season. He caught high passes and contested passes this season. I was impressed with his ability to hold onto the ball after hits. Morrissette has good field awareness, making sure to keep his feet in bounds on multiple sideline catches this season. He was a beast for Brookwood this season. He proved himself to be a receiver you can’t just let run free off the line. He excelled at running short and intermediate routes. He ran slants, posts, and curls well, getting good separation on these routes. Morrissette’s play this season earned him the right to be ranked among some of the best wide receivers in Georgia.
Qae’Shon Sapp Qae’Shon Sapp 6'5" | 310 lbs | OL Lee County | 2022 State GA , OG, Lee County
Offensive linemen do not always get the love they deserve, but Qae’Shon Sapp Qae’Shon Sapp 6'5" | 310 lbs | OL Lee County | 2022 State GA ’s play this season was too good to not notice. He was one of the best linemen in Georgia this season. He has great size and was a force for Lee County. He excelled at pulling, quickly getting to the other side and clearing the way for the running back. Sapp is the real deal. He contributed largely to Lee County’s 12-1 record. He improved as a run and pass blocker this season. He flashed the ability to move the line of scrimmage. At 310 pounds he was able to impose his will on defenders. He displayed good balance all season long and rarely ended up on the ground. He racked up multiple pancake blocks this season. He definitely improved his stock and I expect it to continue to rise next season.
Holden Staes Holden Staes 6'4" | 210 lbs | TE Westminster | 2022 State GA , TE, Westminster
Many tight ends shined this season in the state of Georgia. Holden Staes Holden Staes 6'4" | 210 lbs | TE Westminster | 2022 State GA from Westminster stepped his game up this season. Staes showed off his strong hands, catching many contested passes. He would just rip the ball out of defender’s hands and make sure he came down with it. His size allowed him to box out smaller defenders, and he did a job using this to his advantage this season. He improved his football IQ prior to the season. He improved at finding the open space in the middle of the field. Staes sat in between linebackers when it made sense, giving his quarterback a nice window to throw in. He would sit far enough behind linebackers but still in front of safeties allowing his quarterback to sling the ball over linebackers’ heads to him. Westminster benefited greatly from having Staes. He was a sight to see in his junior campaign. He garnered some attention prior to the season but really made a name for himself this season.
A.J. Swann A.J. Swann 6'3" | 200 lbs | QB Cherokee | 2022 State GA , QB, Cherokee
Someone who aired it out this season was AJ Swann from Cherokee. He displayed many desirable traits this season. He has great pocket awareness, excelled moving around to avoid pass rushers and extend plays. He was quickly able to move up in the pocket and side to side when needed. On top of that, he did a great job keeping his eyes downfield to find open receivers when extending plays. He’s a smart gunslinger and was not afraid to take shots down the field this season. Despite this, he only threw 5 interceptions this season to 21 touchdowns. He completed 60% of his passes for 219 yards per game. Swann’s excellent play led Cherokee to an 8-3 record. Swann got better as the season went on, throwing no picks in Cherokee’s last 5 games. In that same span, he threw 13 touchdowns. He definitely improved his stock with his performance this season. Swann is a player to keep an eye on next season.
Victor Venn Victor Venn 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Buford | 2022 State GA , RB, Buford
The next prospect is a stud from Buford. Victor Venn Victor Venn 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Buford | 2022 State GA led Buford’s rushing attack this past season. During his sophomore season, he relied mainly on his speed and lacked the toughness to consistently break tackles. Also, he left you wanting more regarding his quickness. He clearly worked on these aspects of his game. He showed much improvement during his junior year. He was quicker in and out of cuts, making defenders miss more often in the second level. This resulted in him having more long runs this season. Also, Venn was decisive as a runner, hitting the whole quickly all season long. As a result, he is a good runner in between the tackles despite not being built like a power back. While Buford did not use him much in the passing game, I believe he possesses the makeup to be a solid receiver out the backfield. He’s the type of player you want with the ball in space. He’s deserving of the offers he has gotten so far and I expect more to come in his future. Victor’s stock rose this season and I expect it to continue to rise.