2024 8th Grade GA Future Stars: WR and DB Selection Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Out off all the positions on the football field, the Georgia Future Stars may have the deepest pedigree at the wide receiver and defensive back position(s). For examples of big time prospects, all you have to do is go back two years to when the class of 2026 was in eighth-grade, when [player_tooltip player_id='283774' first='Aaron' last='Gregory'] (currently No.2 prospect in GA/45+ offers) and [player_tooltip player_id='401490' first='Devin' last='Carter'] (currently No.4 prospect in GA/30+ offers) were on the same team. Often times the athletes selected, or projected, to play these positions are interchangeable. Once the collection of talent gets together on the field, it'll shake itself out. Here's a look at the projected wide receivers and defensive backs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["950971"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"There isn't much left for Freeman to accomplish on the pre-high school level, besides a Future Stars Game MVP Award this upcoming June. Any time the 5-foot-10, 150-pound Freeman has taken the field over the last two years, he's walked away with big time accolades. The reigning  B2C Wide Receiver MVP of the Year in Georgia, he tallied a self-reported 17 catches for 680 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Dream Chasers this year. He followed that up by capturing the 8th MVP of the Gwinnett County Future Stars tryout in Gwinnett County. Following the football season, he ripped up the track this winter by winning the 200M and 400M dash, while helping Austin Road Middle School to 2nd place in Paulding County Championship Meet. The kid has all the tools at this point to become a special playeru002du002dsays not just me, but everyone who has watched him play.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1232023"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"I'm part of the problem as Gartrell performed very well at the Prep Redzone Next Middle School Camp in Georgia last spring and again this January, and it is u003cstrongu003eextremelyu003c/strongu003e rare that I will say that an eighth-grader is being slept on, but Gartrell is about as big of a sleeping giant as you'll find in this 2028 class right now. At 6-foot and 160-pounds, he has good size and more than adequate muscle mass. Additionally, he was clocked at a 4.72 in the forty during the Augusta tryouts for the Georgia Future Star after registering an 8'8u0022 broad jump at our camp this past January. From coaches and scouts I've talked to, he also brings maturity and leadership to the field. Joined by his partner in crime, [player_tooltip player_id='723504' first='Calvin' last='Wynn Jr.'] at running back, the duo were dangerous for Washington Wilkes this past season. At the post-season award ceremony, Gartrell walked away with the Coach's Award and recognition for being an Honor Roll student.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["891920"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='891920' first='Caleb' last='Ivey'] has been a mainstay on the Georgia Future Stars roster throughout his middle school career, making it as a sixth-grader in 2022, seventh-grader in 2023 and now again, as an eighth-grader in 2024. Ivey doesn't have to prove another thing on the middle school level, as he already holds a verbal offer from Arkansas, but he competes every single play. The personification of effort, last year during practices leading up to the Future Stars Game(s), he was blowing people up on scout special teams and making effort plays that really impressed me. He could have easily taken the play off, but he went to work.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66226d3a8b2ba"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Projected Wide Receivers and Defensive Backs</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='950861' first='Niko' last='Anderson'] </strong>- A 5-foot-10, 140-pound wide receiver who makes his return to the Future Stars Game in 2024, after making the team in 2022 as a sixth-grader. He relocated to Texas for a bit, but is back home in the Peach State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1251346' first='Aaron' last='Banks']</strong> - Banks is a new name to me and I don't/didn't have much insight on the Alpharetta prospect. So, I asked Georgia Future Stars Team Director, Valister Wilson about Banks. He went on to say<em>, "He's a competitor that fights for the ball every time it's in the air. He's also deceivingly athletic and will surprise people."</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1231763' first='Thomas' last='Dickey']</strong> - Dickey is a prospect I have not seen or heard of until now, but a selection to the 8th Grade Georgia Future Stars team counts for something in my book. In watching some of his film, he's an intriguing tight end out of Whitefield Academy. While he doesn't appear to be the vertical threat that many of today's NFL offenses are accustomed to, he's nowhere near being the glorified lineman that tight ends of yesteryear were. On a team full of track stars and talent, he could quietly become a reliable target in tough situations.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1231908' first='Cole' last='Fournier'] </strong>- Fornier is another new name to me in this 2028 class, but I'm glad he'll be part of the 2024 8th Grade Georgia Future Stars team. At 6-foot-1 and 155-pounds he was clocked at a 5.15 during the Savannah Future Stars tryout. Also a forward on the hardwood, I'm looking forward to checking out where he fits on this roster. Watching him on film, my gut says possession receiver that could be dangerous in the red zone. That said, he also checks out at as a safety on the defensive side of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1233680' first='Roderick' last='Hill']</strong> - Pesky is the best adjective I can come up with to describe hill as a defensive back. He gives up a lot of size at just 5-foot-5 and 130-pounds, but don't tell him that. He'll be the first defensive back to come up and take your knees out from beneath you. Has the build of a corner, but has played safety and even some outside linebacker during his pre-high school career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1233886' first='Zaydrean' last='Jackson'] </strong>- Wasn't aware of him until Jackson attended the Prep Redzone Next Middle School camp in Georgia this past January and the notes I got back were intriguing--multiple coaches saying he could go. A member of the Douglas County Championship-winning Chapel Hill Middle, he's on the smaller side, but should be a nice option in the secondary for the 8th Grade Georgie Future Stars squad.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1234547' first='Karson' last='Lewis'] </strong>- The Campbell Spartans product is putting a bow on an tremendous eighth-grade season, with his selection to the 2024 8th Grade Georgia Future Stars. While Lewis can play quarterback and wide receiver, he looks like a defensive back destined for big things as he progresses through his career. He was selected to the GMSAA All-Star Game this year, in addition to the Georgia Elite Classic. He's put together pretty well and his size is more than promising, at 5-foot-9 and 140-pounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1234598' first='Noah' last='Mahoney']</strong> - The Stephenson Middle School product was a new name to me when looking at this roster. In evaluating him, he has a tall, slender frame at 5-foot-10 and 130-pounds. Appears to have good initial acceleration and can see him getting the ball on jet sweeps and turning the edge quickly. On the defensive side, he's a long-strider and may be a nice option as a roaming free safety. At the DeKalb County tryout, he was clocked at an identical 4.75 in the forty, as his regular season and Future Stars teammate, [player_tooltip player_id='873304' first='Gavin' last='Kinchen'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1234632' first='Eli' last='Morris'] - </strong>Predating his selection to the 2024 8th Grade Georgia Future Stars team, Morris was on my ever-growing list of prospects in Georgia to go through. The Thomas County wide receiver looks like a very nice complimentary piece to some of the other skill sets in the receiving corps. At 5-foot-9 and 160-pounds, he brings some toughness and grit to the position--making him an ideal slot. He's not above blocking and can get loose if given a chance, with his 4.82 speed in the forty.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='425351' first='Cincere' last='Roebuck'] </strong>- Roebuck returns to the Georgia Future Stars after a year away, following a selection to the 6th grade team in 2022. Roebuck is a really nice looking athlete that has length and speed that translates to a number of positions, as he has played running back, wide receiver and defensive back during his pre-high school days. This past year, he was part of an elite Real Deal Dream Chasers 13U team, that was arguably one of the top travel ball teams in the country. I expect him to play a big role in the defensive secondary on this 8th Grade Georgia Future Stars team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1235329' first='Jayden' last='Tillery'] -</strong> Tillery is listed with the defensive backs/wide receivers, but truth be told, he's somewhere between a strong safety and an outside linebacker. Yet another member of the Real Deal Dream Chasers 13U Team, he looks and hits like a linebacker but covers ground quickly which lends itself to playing the safety position. Regardless, Tilley is a defensive-minded player and could quietly be one of the most important parts of this defense depending on game situation and tempo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1239747' first='Brycen' last='Tolbert'] </strong>- A wide receiver/defensive back prospect out of Chapel Hill Middle School in DeKalb County. I haven't seen much in terms of him of film on Tolbert, but know he had reliable hands that helped propel Chapel Hill to the County championship this year. Appears to give up some size based off the pictures I've seen, but that's why this great collection of talent comes together--it's not always about who looks the part on a screen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='950835' first='Justin' last='Washington'] - </strong>At 5-foot-7 and 120-pounds, [player_tooltip player_id='950835' first='Justin' last='Washington'] returns to the Georgia Future Stars team. He made it as a sixth-grader back in 2022 and did well, but is obviously a bit bigger and the ball skills have improved tenfold. The Savannah Country Day prospect was clocked at an 11.61 in the 100M a year ago and is even faster now. It should be noted that he's the younger brother of 2026 prospect [player_tooltip player_id='681170' first='Joshua' last='Washington'], who is currently ranked as our No.13 wide receiver and No.123 prospect overall in our Georgia 2026 rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->