Class of 2022: Newcomers

While the top half of the rankings saw several players make significant jumps, the most movement occurred in the back half of the top 100. More than 50 players in the top 100 increased their positional ranking and several made significant jumps. Here’s a look at a few players who are fresh faces to the Top 100 and a few more who saw dramatic increases in their rankings from our initial lists. [player_tooltip player_id="95164" first="Jordan" last="McDonald"] - RB - Milton McDonald enjoyed a breakout junior campaign in 2020. Playing in the highest classification (7A), McDonald finished with 1,338 rushing yards on 211 carries (6.3 average) with 24 touchdowns. He averaged 121 yards per game and as the season progressed the powerful back seemed to get stronger. https://twitter.com/Patrick_J_OShea/status/1327412901129428992 With excellent size (6’1”, 215), McDonald is hard to bring down once he reaches top speed. A one-cut runner, McDonald shows excellent vision and power once into the second level of the defense. He is surprisingly deceptive for a back of his size and his top-end speed makes him a threat each play. He has shown an ability to serve as a threat out of the backfield in the passing game as well, finishing last season with 12 receptions for 141 yards. https://twitter.com/Patrick_J_OShea/status/1327418156034498560 McDonald will return to a loaded Milton team next fall and should be primed for an excellent senior season. He has moved from an unranked prospect on our list to the No. 44 overall prospect in the state. [player_tooltip player_id="33924" first="Rawson" last="MacNeill"] - WR - Walton A player who helped himself in the offseason camp circuit, MacNeill could be a very good find for a Power 5 program. https://twitter.com/Patrick_J_OShea/status/1340759389251223553 With excellent size (6’6” 195), MacNeill looked like one of the better overall players at December’s Georgia Elite Classic event. He finished his junior season with 29 receptions for 493 yards (17.0 average) with three touchdowns but he could be primed for a breakout senior season. He should have an advantage on nearly every jump-ball opportunity and he shows surprising speed once in full motion. He adjusts to the ball well and moves fluidly for a player with his frame. MacNeill holds offers from Iowa State, UNC Charlotte, Princeton, Yale, UPenn and Jacksonville State. I’d expect more Power 5 programs to come calling before his high school career is over. He was ranked No. 67 in our initial rankings and has moved up to the No. 46 overall prospect and the fifth-best wide receiver prospect in the state. [player_tooltip player_id="33958" first="Tyrus" last="Washington"] - TE - Lee County One of the fastest risers in our rankings, Washington could continue to rise over the next few months. In a talented class of tight ends, he is quickly proving himself as on par with the upper echelon of prospects. Washington was a watchlist player in our last rankings release and now sits as the No. 47 overall prospect in the state and the fifth-best tight end prospect. https://twitter.com/Patrick_J_OShea/status/1337556885432578052 A “get off the bus first” type player, Washington certainly looks the part at 6’4” and 230 pounds. Washington is a fluid athlete with excellent hands who could only be scratching the surface of his potential. Was used primarily in a blocking role this past fall in Lee County’s run-first offense but has the skills to adjust to a more pass-happy system. Has received several Power 5 offers since the end of the season and I’d expect more to follow this offseason. [player_tooltip player_id="95445" first="Mumu" last="Bin-Wahad"] - DB - Grayson One of the fastest rising safeties in our rankings, Bin Wahad was a starter on the backend of Grayson’s 7A state championship team. He finished 2020 with three interceptions, eight pass deflections (led team) and one forced fumble to go along with 24 tackles and three tackles for loss. An instinctive player by all accounts, Bin-Wahad is certainly a player to keep an eye on in 2021. Picked up offers from Penn State, Louisville and Georgia Tech in recent weeks and should be well sought after in the coming year. [player_tooltip player_id="95452" first="Amehre" last="Morrison"] (RB) and [player_tooltip player_id="95167" first="Brian" last="Bradley"] (DL) - River Ridge Morrison was one of the most productive players in Georgia in 2020 and continues to prove himself on the field. Although small in stature (5’8”, 165), Morrison has posted impressive numbers for the past two seasons. He enjoyed a true breakout year this past fall as a junior, posting 1,958 rushing yards (7.4 average) with 29 touchdowns. He added 24 receptions for 260 yards (10.8 average) and earned several postseason all-state and Player of the Year honors. He led Georgia’s second-highest classification (6A) in rushing and finished second in the state amongst all players. https://twitter.com/Patrick_J_OShea/status/1337566864612974593 A surprisingly powerful back, Morrison is dynamic once in space. He uses speed and elusiveness to separate from defenders and has become adept at finding the end zone as well. Has shown above-average ability as a receiver and could be a potential steal at the next level. Morrison was unranked in our initial rankings last year and has jumped in the Top 100, currently ranked No. 91 overall and No. 10 among running backs. Morrison holds one offer from Presbyterian College and drawn attention from Georgia Southern and Kent State. Bradley was <a href="https://twitter.com/Patrick_J_OShea/status/1335046190946246657">one of the most disruptive defensive players</a> in both Cherokee County and Region 6-6A. He earned Cherokee County Defensive Player of the Year honors while finishing his junior season with 118 tackles, a county-high 19 tackles-for-loss, nine sacks and one forced fumble. With an excellent frame (6’3”, 225), Bradley projects to continue to improve his strength and speed on the next level. Also an excellent student in the classroom, Bradley has drawn attention from Ivey League schools and holds offers from the Air Force, Troy, Buffalo and Presbyterian. One of the better returning pass rushers in the state. [player_tooltip player_id="96189" first="Carlos" last="Cervantes"] - LB - Marietta Played an integral role in 2019 as a sophomore on Marietta’s 7A state championship team and backed that up with a team-leading 89 tackles as a junior in 2020. Cervantes has flown under the radar up to this point but cracked our Top 100 (No. 100) in the latest rankings. Received his first college offer earlier this month from Presbyterian College and will be one of the most productive returning linebackers in the state in 2021.