Corky Kell Preview: Buford at North Cobb

High school football season is finally here. After a long off-season, games are here and the pads will be popping across the state starting Wednesday. Once again, the high school season will get kicked off in the annual Corky Kell Classic, a series of games between some of the state’s top programs. One of the biggest games of the Classic will be held on Friday Night as 7A power North Cobb hosts the reigning 6A state-champion Buford Wolves. Both teams are loaded with D1 talent and have some of the state’s top players on their roster. Here are a few players to know about in this big-time game...   <a class="pn-player-link" href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jake-pope/">[player_tooltip player_id="33896" first="Jake" last="Pope"]</a> – ATH - Buford The 6-foot- 190-pounder is a two-way star who will make plays both as a receiver and a defensive back this fall. A recent Alabama commitment, Pope chose the Crimson Tide over UNC, Ohio State, Georgia and North Carolina. As a junior last year, Pope made plays all over the field for the Buford Wolves, catching passes as a receiver, picking off passes as a defensive back, and also helping out on special teams. If a big play was needed, no matter what situation it was, Pope was there to make it. He’s got a great frame on him, but his overall athleticism and versatility is why he’s earned major offers from Georgia, Alabama, Florida, among others. He’s a natural athlete, but more importantly, he’s a playmaker. Pope forced the game-winning fumble that lead to Buford’s incredible state-championship win last year over Lee County. He’ll be one of the more fun athletes to watch in the region this fall.   <a class="pn-player-link" href="https://prepredzone.com/player/marquis-groves-killebrew/">[player_tooltip player_id="33860" first="Marquis" last="Groves-Killebrew"]</a> – North Cobb He may be at a different school for his senior year, but the talent remains the same. One of the top defensive backs in the entire state, Groves-Killebrew has been making a large impact in the secondary since his freshman year. At 6-foot-0 108-pounds, the new North Cobb Warrior could see playing time on both sides of the field as a senior this fall. He’s got length, quickness, and covers a lot of ground down the field. He shows good instincts as a defender, but he’s also dangerous with the ball in his hands. He’s got good speed, vision, and just finds a way to make big plays no matter where he’s lined up. Groves-Killebrew is currently committed to Georgia and ranked as one of the top defensive backs in the state.   <a class="pn-player-link" href="https://prepredzone.com/player/isaiah-bond/">[player_tooltip player_id="95444" first="Isaiah" last="Bond"]</a> – WR - Buford One of the fastest and most explosive players across the country, Bond is another guy who is expected to make plays on both sides of the ball this fall. The Florida Gator commitment had a great state-championship performance last year and found the end-zone multiple times in their final contest. He’s not the biggest wide-out in the region, but his speed tough to handle for just about every DB he goes up against. At 6-foot-0 175-pounds, Bond ran the nation’s fastest 100-meter dash this summer when he ran it in 10.73 seconds. Bond also placed 2nd in the 200-meter dash with a posted time of 21.57 seconds. He’s a dangerous deep-ball threat for any offense at the next level due to his straight-line speed and ball skills. As good as he is as a receiver, Bond can also turn around and hold his own at cornerback. Expect Bond’s speed to help the Wolves make another state-title run in 2021.   <a class="pn-player-link" href="https://prepredzone.com/player/denylon-morrissette/">[player_tooltip player_id="95161" first="De’Nylon" last="Morrissette"] - North Cobb</a> One of the top wide-outs in the entire country, the big 6-foot-2 197-pounder is one of the biggest playmakers in the state. The Georgia Bulldog commitment is an incredibly smooth route-runner and shows exceptional body control and ball skills. He’s dealing with a hand injury, but if he’s good to go this Friday, expect him to make a lot of plays for QB [player_tooltip player_id="34008" first="Malachi" last="Singleton"] and the Warrior offense. Last year for the Brookwood Broncos, Morrissette caught 63 passes for 824 yards and 7 touchdowns. Look for him to be one of the state’s leading receivers in 2020.   <a class="pn-player-link" href="https://prepredzone.com/player/malachi-singleton/">[player_tooltip player_id="34008" first="Malachi" last="Singleton"]</a> One of the top 2023 QBs in the state Singleton is a true dual-threat QB who can really hurt defenses with his legs. He’s still developing as a passer, but he’s getting better and better with each practice. He runs the North Cobb offense well, throws the ball well on the run, and is improving his accuracy each and every day. He still has a lot of potential as a passer, but his ability to make plays with his feet have made him tough to deal with so far in his career. As a sophomore last year, the 6-foot-2 210-pounder went 127/193 for 1,619 yards and 15 TDs. On the ground, Singleton carried the ball 191 times for 1,091 yards and 17 more TDs. He was named 3-AAAAAA Offensive Player of the Year, and if his arm continues to develop over the next few months, he could see his ranking climb more and more in the 2023 rankings. He currently holds offers from Georgia, Miami, Georgia Tech, Central Florida, among others.   Ashton Daniels – QB One of the top QBs in Gwinnett County, Daniels is a poised, strong-armed QB who continues to improve as a passer. Look for the Stanford commitment to have another big year for the Wolves in 2021 and push for a second consecutive state championship. He’s a dynamic, play-making QB with a live arm, and he has no problem making big throws under pressure. Stanford liked what the saw from Daniels in 2020, and they were able to land his commitment this spring. He’s only going to get better as he enters his senior season.