Rockmart vs Cedartown: Defensive Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Great game between two long time county rivals to start the 2023 season. Cedartown squeaked out a 13-12 win in what was a defensive battle from the start. Here is a list of a few players that stood out to me Friday night. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cedartown Bulldogs </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#33 [player_tooltip player_id='1636867' first='Juelz' last='Davis']-2025-LB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not the biggest when you look at him on paper, listed at 5'10 150, but the kid can move and has a nose for the football. Led the Bulldogs in tackles Friday night holding a very good Rockmart team to around 200 yards. Lean and strong, has that wrestlers build, which he does in the offseason. Hard worker that rarely leaves the field as he is transitioning this year to be a bigger part of the offense at RB. Definitely a Junior to keep an eye on as he develops and gains experience over this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#53 Michael Gibbons-2025-LB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gibbons is another kid that makes you do a double take when you see his listed size. Plays much bigger than 5'10 210. Good closing speed with the strength to fight through blocks from larger offensive players. Wraps up well on contact and is a "nasty" tackler, in a good way. Stayed in the Jacket backfield Friday recording 2 TFLs and had PBU at the line of scrimmage. State qualifier in the shot put in the Spring. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#5 Isaiah Johnson-2025-LB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of my favorite's on both sides of the ball for the Dogs Friday night. The 5'11 195 Junior RB/LB plays on full tilt from start to finish. Muscular build with speed that deliver a shoot. When you ask about Johnson the most common response is "hard nose" and you can see it in the way he plays. Solid lower body that generates power. On the offensive side he is not afraid to dip his shoulder and run through the defense. Was 2nd on the team in tackles Friday with a sack. Tough old school football player that will only get better in the Cedartown system. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Rockmart Yellow Jackets </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#22 Brent Washington-2024-LB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensive Player of the Game Friday night. The 6'0 228 Senior has tree trunks for legs that generate a lot of speed and power. Has good lateral movement and knows how deliver a blow. He had at least 8 solo tackles with a couple tackles for loss Friday, holding the high-powered Cedartown rushing offense to under 3-yards per carry. He added 9 carries for 47 yards on the offensive side including a late 21 yard run to set the Jackets up for a chance at a GW field goal. Washington is the reigning DPOY in Region 7AA and picked up several college offers over the Summer including Middle Tennesse St, App. St and Eastern Illinois among others. A very good linebacker that is set for a huge Senior season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/BrentWasington/status/1633951475972952064","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"twitter","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BrentWasington/status/1633951475972952064 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#26 Nazhir Turner-2024-LB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A guy that caught our attention this Summer on the offensive side of the ball during 7 on 7's. Solid muscular frame at 5'10 180. Turner explodes off the snap and is too quick for larger blockers to get in front of. Didn't pad the stat sheet Friday but all his tackles were behind the line of scrimmage and at crucial times. Good closing speed and can chase sideline to sideline. He had 4 carries and a reception on the offensive side. Real good athlete that will be an impact player for the Jackets this Fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#7 Luke Clay-2025-LB</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5'10 170 LB was a new name to us last night. Has good quickness and flies to the ball carrier. Had several 1v1 tackles last night were he was matched up with stronger faster RB but stopped them in their tracks. Has the ability to get around the OL and cause disruption in the backfield. Had several tackles for loss. Definitely a player we will keep an eye on as the season progresses. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Other Notables:</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Cedartown</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rontae Porter</strong> '24 DB: 5 solo tackles</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='869036' first='Tae' last='Harris']</strong> '25 DB: 2 TT with recovered fumble</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Rockmart</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1610586' first='Nate' last='Davis']</strong> '26 DL: 5 solo tackles</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Raykaylin Glover:</strong> '24 DB: 2 solo tackles PBU</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->