Diamond In the Rough: South Georgia Athletes
In the state of Georgia, especially in rural South Georgia, there are diamond in the rough players just about everywhere you look. It may take a little longer to get noticed, but there are plenty of small-town athletes who play…
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Continue ReadingIn the state of Georgia, especially in rural South Georgia, there are diamond in the rough players just about everywhere you look. It may take a little longer to get noticed, but there are plenty of small-town athletes who play all over the field who deserve recognition. Many South Georgia athletes who play on both sides of the ball have made it to the NFL, and there’s reason to believe that will happen more in the future.
These particular players might not play not the NFL one day, but they are currently “diamond in the rough” types who have the potential to have breakout seasons in 2021.
Dontavius Brown – Seminole County
The big-time athlete had a major season last fall and made plays at multiple positions for the small-town school in South Georgia. The 6-foot-2 170-pounder showed good ball skills last year as both a wide receiver and a cornerback. He showed quick feet and fluid hips as a defender with the ability to stay with opposing receivers on the outside. As a receiver, he shows good burst off the line and showed big-play ability with a 78-yard touchdown during the season. He showed the ability to make an acrobatic catch over defenders and was consistently one of the fastest playmakers on the field. He forced multiple turnovers in 2020, forcing fumbles, recovering fumbles, and intercepting passes on a consistent basis. He has a great frame and will take his game to the next level as he continues adding weight and muscle. He’s an interesting up-and-coming prospect to know in South Georgia with college-level potential.
JayT Jackson – Spencer
The Columbus native is primarily a defensive back, but has been known to make big plays on special teams as well. It was a tough year for the Greenwave overall, but Jackson, one of the top athletes in the region, was a bright spot for them in 2020. The 6-foot-2 170-pounder has great instincts as a cornerback with the ability to close well and knock the football away. He has good speed on the outside and knows how to turn around and look for the football when in a good position down the field. He’s a good athlete as well and can be dangerous with the ball in his hands. He’s one of the team’s returners, but is athletic enough to help on offense as well. He may not be the flashiest prospect, but he’s a true under the radar player in the area who just happens to play for a struggling team at the moment.
Colin Jackson – Miller County
Another “diamond in the rough” prospect in Southwest Georgia is Miller County ATH Colin Jackson. One of the top pass-rushers in the region, Jackson is a jumbo-athlete who lines up at both DE and TE, although he was mostly a defender in 2020. His long, lean 6-foot-4 230-pound frame gives him ability to not only attack the ball carrier on defense, but make plays in the passing game as a tight end. He has great burst as a defender and the natural ability to get off blocks due to hiss athleticism. He has a nice spin move that gets him off blocks, but he’s also strong enough to overpower opposing offensive tackles as well. He caught a hand-full of passes as a tight end and reached the end-zone once, but there’s a good chance he’ll get more opportunities to catch passes in 2021. The 2022 prospect is arguably the top returning pass rusher in the area and will have a chance to prove he’s one of the top TEs as well. He’s certainly a prospect to keep an eye on this off-season.