Middle Georgia Defenders To Know

The middle of the peach state always produces top talent and there are plenty in the Macon and Warner Robins area who are quickly becoming some of the best in the state. Here are a few Middle Georgia defenders to know for the 2021 season. &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="95462" first="Donovan" last="Westmoreland"] - OLB - Griffin</strong> About 35 miles south of Atlanta is where you’ll find one of the top 2022 linebackers in the South. The athletic 6-foot-2 195-pounder saw his recruitment take off early in the season when he earned offers from Georgia, Georgia Tech, Maryland, among others. He’s long, athletic, versatile, and has great instincts. He led a very strong Griffin defense to a 7-5 record where he made 84 total tackles and 12 sacks. He knows how to attack the quarterback and does it as well as anyone in the 2022 class. Look for him to climb the 2022 rankings more and more as the year goes along. &nbsp; <strong>Jha’Rius Evans - DB - Central Macon</strong> One of the top under the radar defensive backs in the area, the Central Macon star had an excellent junior season where he made 21 tackles and two INTs. He didn’t light up the stat sheet, but that’s a good thing for a defensive back. He’s one of the top cover cornerbacks in Middle Georgia with impressive footwork and ball skills. Evans was named 1st-Team All-Region as a junior and holds an offer from Akron. He’s one of the top overall defenders in the Macon are and could see more offers coming his way sooner than later. &nbsp; <strong>Vic Burley - DE - Warner Robins</strong> Maybe the biggest prospect on this list, Burley is an elite edge defender with great size and length at 6-foot-4 255-pounds with sky-high potential as an impact defensive end. The Demon defender is one of the top 2023 prospects in the country and helped lead the Demons to a 5A state championship. He can rush the passer, he can get off blocks, and he knows how to set the edge against the run. He already looks like a college defender and still has two more years of high school ball to continue adding weight and develop as an overall defender. As a sophomore last fall, Burley recorded 56 tackles and 21 TFLs to go along with 11 sacks. He has five-star potential and could be the best defender in all of Middle Georgia in 2021. &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="33904" first="Elijah" last="Zollicoffer"] - DT - Newton</strong> The Newton Rams are loaded on the defensive side of the ball and one of their top players is the big 6-foot-6 320-pounder in the middle. One of the biggest and strongest defensive lineman in the state, Zollicoffer holds offers Florida, Auburn, Georgia Tech, among others. His length and footwork could make him an offensive tackle for some teams, but his quick burst off the line and overall strength should make him an impact interior defender for anyone on the next level. He has the size and raw potential to climb the 2022 rankings with a big senior season this fall.