Top Returning Gwinnett County Receiving Leaders

If you’re a college program looking for talent, Gwinnett County is a great place to start looking. One of the most talent-rich areas in the country, it’s home to some of the best programs and best players across the peach state. Many teams in the county have no problem throwing the football around offensively, and we saw plenty of receivers step up and have big seasons in 2021. Here are some leading receivers to know about in 2022 from Gwinnett County... &nbsp; <strong><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/local/player/stats.aspx?athleteid=9da7fce1-1cdb-4f04-8946-834869978200&amp;ssid=97e3f828-856d-419e-b94f-7f41319fe3d3"><span class="first-name">Mike</span> Matthews - ATH - Parkview</a></strong> One of the top two-way players in Gwinnett County last fall, the dynamic sophomore showed why he’s one of the leading receivers in the state for his class, showing great hands along with his 6-foot-3 180-pound frame. While many schools have offered him to play safety, Matthews will likely continue making big plays for the Panthers as a receiver in 2022. He shows good ball skills, the ability to break tackles, and shows decent speed for his frame. He’s a good athlete, and he knows how to get upfield quickly once he has the ball. He can make plays down the field, but he’s a weapon in the screen game and short passing game as well. He was outstanding as a sophomore last fall,  catching 48 passes this year for 764 yards and 7 touchdowns. It has led to offers from Notre Dame, Arkansas, and Georgia Tech. &nbsp; <strong><a class="pn-player-link" href="https://prepredzone.com/player/ethan-davis/"><span class="name-pointer">[player_tooltip player_id="220719" first="Ethan" last="Davis"]</span></a> – TE – Collins Hill</strong> One of the breakout juniors in Gwinnett County, Davis saw his stock rise more and more as the season went on as a junior, leading to some major D1 offers and a commitment to Tennessee.  Davis is a lean athlete at 6-foot-5 with big hands, and due to his size, he can be a giant mismatch on defenders in the middle of the field. He’s great after the catch, and even though he sustained an injury at the end of the season, Davis was a big-time playmaker for the 7A state champion Eagles this fall. Davis caught 61 passes last year for 755 yards and 8 touchdowns, making him one of the leading returners in the county from last fall. Without star receiver [player_tooltip player_id="33861" first="Travis" last="Hunter"], look for Davis to have another big season as a pass-catcher in 2022. As he continues to develop his craft, route running, and overall fundamentals, it’s easy to see him making a big impact as a senior and at thee next level in Knoxville. &nbsp; <strong>Nakai Poole – WR - Norcross</strong> A breakout receiver in Gwinnett County last season, Poole is a big-play wideout who really excels after the catch. The 6-foot-3 205-pounder plays against tough defensive backs every week and Poole proved to be one of the best pass-catchers in the region, catching 40 passes for 703 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has a true nose for the end-zone and made a lot of defensive backs look silly down the field this year. He can stop on a dime, changes directions well, and can be deadly after the catch. He’s a long strider, a smooth runner, and can get behind the defense before they know it. He was a big-play waiting today and his stock is rising by the day. His biggest game of the season came against Lowndes where he proved to be a deep-threat down the field. He’s earning new offers weekly and is currently one of the hottest receiver prospects in the state. &nbsp; <strong><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/local/player/stats.aspx?athleteid=578170f2-c540-46e0-b1ac-979cf518510e&amp;ssid=97e3f828-856d-419e-b94f-7f41319fe3d3"><span class="first-name">Zion</span> Taylor - WR - Norcross</a></strong> Another impressive 2023 wideout, the Parkview transfer had an impressive junior season last fall where ehe caught 48 passes for 700 yards and 7 touchdowns on the season. He’s a jump-ball weapon who can really high-point the ball and come down with it among defenders. He has plenty of size at 6-foot-1 185-pounds and he was a reliable, big-play option for Parkview all season. He’s quick and elusive with the ball and has a knack for picking up yards after the catch. He runs well, and knows how to make defenders miss down the field. He shows impressive ball skills and some of the most consistent hands in the region. He has D1 talent and already holds offers from Duke, East Carolina, UCONN, among others. &nbsp; &nbsp;