2021 GACA All-Star Game: Senior Standouts
Every year, the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association puts together senior, junior, and sophomore teams that consist of some of the best players in the state of Georgia. Those teams are split into North and South teams, and then will compete.…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingEvery year, the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association puts together senior, junior, and sophomore teams that consist of some of the best players in the state of Georgia. Those teams are split into North and South teams, and then will compete.
Here, we take a look at some of the most impressive players from the senior game.
Thad Dixon | DT | South Team | LaGrange
First of all, Dixon is HUGE on the interior IDL. Because of that, he demands attention on every play and imposes his will on the OL. Dixon spent all 4 quarters collapsing the pocket and putting pressure on the QB. On the night, Dixon finished with 2 sacks, but you watched him bully the opposing offensive line all night. The South offensive line dominated all night, and largely thanks to Dixon.
Nyqua Lett | QB | South Team | Creekside
Lett came out of this game as the top performer at the QB position. He flashed his creativity and ability to hurt you with his legs, but he also showed off his arm. Even on his misthrows, Lett showed he has some serious arm talent. He has a laser for an arm, which allows him to pick apart defenses in the short and intermediate passing game, which is where he excelled during this game.
Qua Ashley | S | South Team | Dublin
Ashley lined up all over the field for the South Team, and made plays just about everywhere. He came downfield and made some huge hits on ball carriers. He is a form tackler, so once he hones in on someone, he is taking them down. He also came away with an INT on a tip drill, where he showed off his awareness and focus. Later in the game, he actually got a carry at RB, which he took for a solid gain. Ashley does a lot of things right, and he showed that based on his performance.
Curtis Head | LB | South Team | Perry
Head seemed to be in the right place at the right time all day. It felt like the announcers were calling his name every play. Head showed off his ability to come downfield and be disruptive in the run game, which is what makes him great at the LB spot. However, it was his play in coverage that stood out to me. He came away with a pick, and almost had another. He also had a PBU against a much bigger defender. Head is versatile and is someone you want in the middle of your defense.
Zech Ellis | WR | South Team | Glynn Academy
Ellis came out of the game as the top performer at the WR position. He was extremely quick and twitchy, which allowed him to get off the line quickly and find space. He was also a super impressive route runner, which again, helped create space. The passing game dwindled as the game went on for the south team, but Ellis was a go-to guy early in the game.
Michael Watson | LB | North Team | Langston Hughes
The North team came out on the losing end, but Watson was super productive on the defensive side of the ball. Watson is overwhelmingly aggressive, which allows him to come downfield and be super disruptive in the run game. He has the ability to line up anywhere on the field and run sidelines to sidelines, which makes him versatile. He came away with a big-time interception late in the game, which he almost took back for a pick-six. Physically, Watson might have been the most impressive prospect on the field.
Kanye Varner | DE | North Team | Jonesboro
Varner had a huge second half in which he made multiple plays behind the lines of scrimmage. He is not the biggest DE, but he is unbelievably physical and plays with a high motor. He uses his aggression to overwhelm blockers and get off them. Once he wraps his long arms around a ball carrier, it is game over. Varner played with a lot of heart, and it showed.
Tae Snead | QB | North Team | LaGrange
Snead’s performance will not be the most impressive on the stat sheet, but he played with a lot of heart and effort. Despite being under pressure all game, he was able to make plays with his legs. He overcame a slow start with his arm and threw a long TD pass in the 4th to get his team back in the game. He came out on the losing end, but his pocket prescience and ability to extend plays was impressive to watch as the game went on.