Small-Town 2023 WRs To Know

Everyone knows that Atlanta and the metro area is one of the biggest hotspots for D1 talent across the country. But in Georgia, you can go anywhere to find impressive D1 talent. Whether you're from small rural towns, to the North Georgia mountains, or down towards the beaches in Savannah, it's easy to see all of the talent in small-towns across the peach state. Here are a few 2023 small-town receivers to know about in 2022... &nbsp; <strong>Za’Quan Bryan - Benedictine</strong> One of the more productive receivers in the state last year, Bryan is an excellent two-way player for the state-champion Benedictine Cadets, making play after play at receiver and defensive back. The Cadets were just about unstoppable offensively, thanks to senior QB [player_tooltip player_id="33932" first="Holden" last="Geriner"] and his weapons, one of them being Bryan. The speedy junior was tough to stop for everyone last year as he hauled in 95 passes for 1,376 yards and 15 touchdowns. He led the team in receptions by 42, and was the go-to option for Geriner in the passing game. He’s exceptional after the catch and can really take off down the field when given some space. He’s a reliable route runner, has great hands, and was a big reason why the Benedictine offense dominated all season long. He’s one of the top playmakers in the Savannah area and will hope to lead the Cadets to back-t0-back title next fall. <div dir="auto"></div> <strong><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/local/player/stats.aspx?athleteid=92381a09-4130-4316-8914-6969a2fd7dbb&amp;ssid=97e3f828-856d-419e-b94f-7f41319fe3d3"><span class="first-name">Camron</span> Lacy – Stephens County</a></strong> An impressive wideout from up in the North Georgia mountains, Lacy was one of the more productive receivers in the area last fall and showed game-changing ability with the ball in his hands. He only caught 44 passes last year, but he took them for 10,23 yards for an average of 23.3 yards per receptions. That’s making every catch matter, and it’s what he did all season long. The 5-foot-10 155-pounder isn’t the biggest guy on the field, a precise route runner and showed he can break off a long run and take it to the house any time he touches the ball. Lacy is quick, shifty, and can make people miss with ease in the open field. He’s obviously an explosive weapon who should see more passes his way in 2022. Expect him to be one of the more productive receivers in all of North Georgia next season. &nbsp; <strong><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/local/player/stats.aspx?athleteid=a8d2da55-7b39-42f1-834f-1af9e39d6eb3&amp;ssid=97e3f828-856d-419e-b94f-7f41319fe3d3"><span class="first-name">Damare</span> Franklin</a> – Veterans</strong> Still an unknown prospect, there haven’t been many more reliable offensive players in Middle Georgia than Franklin. The quick, twitchy receiver had an excellent season last fall, making defenses look silly on a weekly basis. He’s another true weapon with the ball in his hands with burst and explosion. He’s also an excellent route runner and knows how to create separation on his own. He’s fundamentally sound, changes directions well, and knows how to make a big play down the field.  Franklin has shown great hands and put up big numbers last year, catching 63 passes for 1,001 yards and 9 touchdowns. Franklin was named Region 1 5A Offensive POTY to go along with 1st-team ALL-STATE honors. If a D1 school gives him a chance, he won’t disappoint. &nbsp; <div dir="auto"><strong><a class="pn-player-link" href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jalon-kilgore/"><span class="name-pointer">[player_tooltip player_id="34039" first="Jalon" last="Kilgore"]</span></a> – Putnam County </strong></div> <div dir="auto"></div> <div dir="auto">Another explosive athlete who can play on both sides of the ball, Kilgore was a big-play threat all season in 2021 and made</div> <div dir="auto">just about very catch matter on offense. The 6-foot-2 190-pounder from Eatonton is an outstanding safety prospect who made 88 tackles and causes four fumbles, and thats’ where most schools are recruiting him. He’s a hard-hitting, physical defender in the run game, but he has excellent hands as well and knows how to come down with the football. As a receiver, Kilgore caught 37 passes for 921 yards and 11 touchdowns. His ball skills, size, and overall athleticism are why he’s one of the top overall prospects in his regions. He’s a dynamic player and it’s led to D1 offers from Florida, Vanderbilt, Troy, Louisville, UCONN, Indiana, and Eastern Michigan. Don’t be surprised if more come his way in the spring.</div>