Northwest Georgia Breakout Candidates

These prospects have already established themselves on the varsity level. All have drawn college interest and three currently hold offers. The exposure in northwest Georgia isn’t the same as metro-Atlanta but big seasons from these players could help increase their college options. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>D’Ante Edwards (North Murray, RB/Slot), Class of 2021</strong></span> [caption id="attachment_40883" align="alignnone" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-40883" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/08/DAnteTidwellHeadshot-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> Photo: PrepRedzone[/caption] Edwards was an integral piece in helping North Murray to its best-ever season in 2019. He finished the year with 1,091 rushing yards on 162 carries (6.7 avg) while adding 265 receiving yards on 25 catches (10.6 avg). He scored 10 touchdowns and added four interceptions on defense, helping him earn first-team All-Region and All-Area honors. Edwards has earned varsity playing time since his freshman season and added weight to his frame over the past few years. Now measuring at 5’10” and 170 pounds, Edwards has maintained his burst which was always present. https://twitter.com/MikeTidwell23/status/1289349746205704192 <blockquote>I’d say he’s one of the best all-purpose backs in Georgia and certainly under-recruited. Holds offers from Army and Navy along with strong interest from Tennesee-Chattanooga and UCF. He has the ability to play at the FBS level in my eyes.</blockquote> https://twitter.com/RecruitGeorgia/status/1253475877679247368 <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Nick Hanson (Heritage/Ringgold, QB), Class of 2021</strong></span> [caption id="attachment_40884" align="alignnone" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-40884" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/08/NickHanson-300x255.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="255" /> Photo: PrepRedzone[/caption] I saw Hanson multiple times in 2018 and even then he was impressive. In his three-year varsity career, he’s passed for nearly 4,000 yards and accounted for 50 touchdowns. I expect him to be the best quarterback in northwest Georgia this fall. He’s been recognized by Elite 11, QBHitList.com and Can’t Miss Sports and had competed in prospect camps around the state. I’d classify him as a pocket passer but he’s definitely shown the ability to make plays with his feet when needed. https://twitter.com/HHSGeneralsFB/status/1192997870644932609 If he played closer to Atlanta I think he’d be a little better known but regardless I think he has the size (6’2” and 200 pounds) and skills to play at the next level. Currently holds an offer from Birmingham Southern and with another year of solid production, I’d expect more options to come his way. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Jonathan Washburn (Heritage/LS), 2021</strong></span> <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-40894" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/08/JonathanWashburn-300x293.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="293" /> This area may be home to one of the best specialists in the country. Washburn is rated the No. 2 long snapper in the country for the Class of 2021 by Rubio Longsnapping. Big-time programs are only recently finding value in offering full scholarships to long snappers and only the elite draw such attention. Washburn holds offers from UGA, Arizona and UNC Charlotte and has drawn attention from Auburn and other schools around the southeast. Excellent size for the position (6’2” and 215 lbs) Washburn also possesses the athleticism schools look for in this position. Washburn earned first-team All-Region honors at linebacker in 2019. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="33979" first="Gage" last="Leonard"], (Christian Heritage, RB/ATH), Class of 2022</strong></span> [caption id="attachment_40895" align="alignnone" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-40895" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/08/GageLeonard-300x242.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="242" /> Photo: PrepRedzone[/caption] As a sophomore, Leonard earned first-team All-Region and All-Area honors while also being named Region 6-A Athlete of the Year. He finished the year with 1,186 total yards (857 rushing and 329 receiving) and found the endzone 13 times. On defense, he recorded 112 tackles, two interceptions and blocked three kicks. Leonard plays bigger than his 5’8” and 180-pound frame and should be one of the focal points of the Chrisitan Heritage offense again this season. Has been competing in national camps since his middle school days and I fully expect him to play college football. At what level has yet to be determined. <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Anderson Britton, (Heritage, K), Class of 2022</strong></span> [caption id="attachment_40897" align="alignnone" width="300"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-40897" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/redzone/uploads/2020/08/AndersonBritton-300x164.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="164" /> Photo: PrepRedzone[/caption] Along with Washburn, Britton should help Heritage to have one of the better kicking games in the state. Ranked the No. 5 kicking prospect in his class by Sailor Kicking and the No. 33 in his class by Kohl’s Kicking, Britton is certainly on the best in the country. He finished 3-for-6 with a long of 54 on his field goal attempts as a sophomore while connecting on 26 of 28 extra point attempts. He recorded 18 touchbacks out of his 41 kickoffs. I’d expect college opportunities in the near future.