FBU National Championship: GFL 8th Grade Tryout Standouts

Every year, some of the top high school football prospects in the country come out of the peach state. It’s a state crazy about football, and each year we see Georgia natives exceed at both the collegiate and NFL level. The state is loaded once again, and there are many in the 2026 class who already look like future D1 prospects. Prep Redzone Next was out seeing some top 2026 prospects last weekend at the GFL tryouts for the FBU National Championship tournament. It's say to say this group of players, that are going for the second three-peat in the tournament's history, did not disappoint. <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-231257 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/JulianLewisPRZ-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />[player_tooltip player_id="206164" first="Julian" last="Lewis"] | Quarterback</strong> A young QB that Prep Redzone Next has heard about for years now, the Carrollton Trojan checks all the boxes you look for in a young QB. He has good size for his age already at 6-foot-1 165-pounds, Lewis has an extremely live arm and knows how to make plays with his feet as well. He has a quick release, he’s accurate, and has all the makings of a five-star prospect down the road. He’s trained to be a QB for years now and we expect him to have a memorable high school career over the next few years. <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-231259 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/JamesMorrowPRZ-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />James Morrow | Athlete</strong> One of the more impressive looking kids at the tryout, Morrow is a guy coaches have been raving about for a couple of years now. He’s a two-sport star who also shines on the basketball court with his impressive 6-foot-3 210-pound frame. He can play multiple positions and is athletic enough to play just about anywhere right now. He was an easy prospect to notice, and as he continues to grow, can easily become a D1 prospect early in his career. He has size, length, athleticism, and impressive ball skills that should translate well to the high school level and beyond. <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-231261 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/TylerAtkinsonPRZ-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />[player_tooltip player_id="212311" first="Tyler" last="Atkinson"] | Edge</strong> Another young player that Prep Redzone Next has heard a lot about, Atkinson is a speedy athlete who can make plays on both sides of the ball. He’s physically gifted at 6-foot-1 180-pounds, The quick pass rusher can dominate at a number of positions at this level, but he looks like an ideal Edge defender and pass rusher at the next level. He’s explosive, twitchy, and trains hard in the off-season. He’s going to be tough to stop on the Edge and all over for years to come. <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-231262 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/DaverinGeraldsPRZ-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Deuce Geralds | Edge</strong> An unstoppable force at his age, Geralds already looks like a high-schooler and can play like one as well. He’s so advanced and physically gifted for his age and has been tough to handle for years now growing up. He’s big, strong, and runs like a young deer. He has all the makings of a guy who can make an instant impact as a freshman at the high school level. He’s a young prospect with D1 written all over him. <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-227200 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/MasonTownsend-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />[player_tooltip player_id="212303" first="Mason" last="Townsend"] | Offensive Line/Defensive Line</strong> Another impressive lineman, Townsend has been on our radar for a while now and more than impressed during the tryout. He has that killer instinct and toughness that you love to see in a young lineman. He was strong, physical, and played with a balanced base. He has all the makings of a tough offensive line prospect over the next few years. The Prince Avenue Christian youngster is a 2020 FBU GFL National Champion and will try to lead this team once again to a championship. At 6-foot-1 and over 200-pounds already, Townsend has a chance to completely dominate once again. <strong><img class="alignleft wp-image-231426 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2021/11/KatrellWebbPRZ-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" />Katrell Webb | Offensive Line/Defensive Line</strong> One of the top linemen in the tryouts, Webb is already a physically imposing young player at 6-foot-2 220-pounds. Webb is a good athlete who can dominate on the basketball court as well. He’s big, strong, and moves really well for his size. He can dominate opposing defensive lineman at this stage and has a chance to keep it up at the next level. He was easy to notice at the tryout and will only get better over the next few years. <strong>Joshua Thomas | Running Back</strong> Thomas was the most impressive back in drill work and looked like a smoother runner overall. He showed impressive footwork along with sudden quickness. He displayed some physicality and balance as well, showing that he has the ability to possibly make a quick impact at the high school level. He was easy to notice, and he’s a 2026 back to know for the future. &nbsp;