Small-Town Sleepers: North Georgia Pass Catchers
Year in and year out, Georgia has some of the best high school football talent in the entire country. That includes the WR position. With that being said, there are always a handful of receivers that fly massively under the…
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Continue ReadingYear in and year out, Georgia has some of the best high school football talent in the entire country. That includes the WR position. With that being said, there are always a handful of receivers that fly massively under the radar at every position.
Here, we scan the northern part of Georgia and highlight some sleeper pass catchers.
Marcus Pike Marcus Pike 6'3" | 200 lbs | WR Pickens County | 2024 State GA – 2024 – Pickens
At 6’4 200 pounds, Pike has god-given size and is unbelievably athletic. When you combine the two, you create a matchup nightmare for defensive coordinators. Pike is all that and more and has the production to back it up. Last season, Pike came out of nowhere for the Dragons. He finished with 668 receiving yards on 34 catches, nearly 20 yards per reception. He also found the endzone 5 times. At 6’4, Pike is obviously a physically demanding receiver that knows how to use his frame to his advantage. He is also a standout on the basketball court, and that explosion from the hardwood carries over to the football field as well. Where he really separates himself from the rest of his pack is his speed. He is incredibly quick off the snap and can get 15-20 yards downfield in a matter of seconds. With the ball in his hands, he is able to make people miss and get up the field. Pike is the complete package at receiver, and with a 6’4 200 pound frame with 2 more years to develop, I think he has D1 upside. There are no offers to his name up to this point, but I think that will change soon. Here at Prep Redzone, Pike is ranked as a top 10 receiver in the state.
Brant Bryant – 2023 – Sonoraville
In 2021, Bryant was quietly one of the most productive two-way players in the state. He finished with 4 INTs at defensive back, and finished with 683 yards on just 32 receptions as a receiver. He could play at the next level at either position, but I project him at wide receiver. To put it as simply as possible, Bryant is a finesse receiver that is a touchdown threat every time he touches the ball. On screens, he shows great vision and awareness by waiting for his blocks to develop before getting upfield, almost RB-like. He doesn’t have elite speed, but he is twitchy and fluid, which gives him the ability to change directions fast and make defenders miss. He shows some potential to develop into a downfield threat as well, as he is a solid route runner that can create separation. If Bryant can produce the same way he did last season, then he should find somewhere to play at the next level.
Hudson Gray – 2024 – Northwest Whitfield
As a sophomore, Gray made an impact on varsity by finishing with 578 receiving yards and 7 TDs. While those are impressive numbers, he will step into a bigger role as a junior and will have a chance to produce at an even higher rate. Gray is an extremely versatile player that can either play outside or in the slot, he even has some punting experience as well. Gray has a large catch radius and great body control when going up to make plays. He has an RB-like build with RB-like vision, which allows him to bounce off tacklers and find soft spots in the defense. With two more years to develop and contribute, Gray should have a fantastic high school career with numerous accolades to propel him into the collegiate level.
Evan Sanders – 6’5 – Adairsville
Sanders is a MASSIVE WR prospect that brings a rare skillset to the table. At around 6’5 220 pounds, we are talking about a prospect that would be a mismatch problem with his size at any level of football. He uses his large frame to box out defenders from making a play on the ball and also happens to have great ball skills. Sanders also makes a big impact as a blocker, which leads me to believe that he could grow into a TE role at the next level with his size. Sanders is such a good athlete, that he even lines up on the defensive side at corner, and he has the speed to run with receivers. Currently, Sanders has offers from Air Force and Army. He has improved in each of his first two seasons, and a breakout junior year could lead to his explosion on the recruiting trail.