Week 1 Top Games: Cedartown at Rockmart Players to Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We are only a few weeks away from the start of the 2024 season. The best thing about Week 1 is it gives us plenty of time to discuss a lot of different games. We will start our Players to Know preview with one of the most anticipated matchups in NWGA for Week 1. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#13 4A Cedartown Bulldogs at #4 2A Rockmart Yellow Jackets </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game is always one of the most anticipated rivalries in the NWGA Area. Both teams have appeared the the State Championship over the last 2 years and bring back a ton of talent for the 2024 matchup. What makes this game special is not only are they outstanding coached and talented programs but they are also cross county rivals, adding an extra flare to the contest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cedartown Bulldogs Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='869036' first='Tae' last='Harris'] - 2025 DB - Cedartown</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6'0 195 Clemson commit is one of the Top 10 ranked players in the country by a lot of services and the overall #1 Class of 2025 safety. Harris really took off on the National stage this Spring after putting up an official 4.38 at the Under Armour Camp. Great athlete with a huge football IQ that gets downhill quick and makes plays. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Isaiah Johnson - 2025 RB/LB - Cedartown</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5'11 205 RB/LB has a solid build and plays with a nasty streak. Reads plays quickly and gets downhill fast. Earlier this Spring he was named LB MVP at the Reinhardt Camp and earned a post camp offer. Can get you positive yards out of the backfield, a solid North South runner. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='410508' first='Jakoby' last='Diamond'] - 2025 OL/DL - Cedartown</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6'1 290 Diamond is personally one of my favorite under the radar guys in the 2025 class in this Area. A beast not only on the field but in the weight room where he squats a max of 600. Very fluid and agile on the DL for a guy his size and plays with a mean streak. Its hard for the OL to get a hat on him and he is a finisher when he gets his hands on you. The 2023 Region DL of the Year has an offers from Wofford, Shorter, Reinhardt and Point. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Michael Gibbons - 2025 LB - Cedartown</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The returning 5'11 215 RB/LB was a GACA All State Selection last Fall and is a solid anchor for the Bulldogs in the middle. Great vision with an explosive 1st step and is tough to get a hat on. Excels off the field as well with a 3.8 GPA in the classroom and PC max of 315 in the weight room. Received an offer from Shorter earlier this off season. Big Senior season on tap. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rockmart Yellow Jacket Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1195870' first='Tristan' last='Anderson'] - 2025 WR/DB - Rockmart</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6'3 180 Anderson is one of the top overall WR prospects returning in this Area in '24. He had 66 catches for close to 1100 yards with 15 receiving TDs last Fall. Tall and lean with good speed that can get vertical on you quickly. Great hands, which he showed last year making a spectacular catch in the State Championship going up and over the defender to make the grab. Has a ton of D1 attention including offers from Georgia Southern, Troy, UAB, and Memphis among others. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1121980' first='Luke' last='Parker'] - 2025 QB - Rockmart</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Parker is a highly anticipated new addition to the Yellow Jackets this season. Ranked as a Top 10 Pro Style QB in Georgia, he has had an outstanding off season earning QB MVP at just about every camp he attended this Spring. We had the chance to see him live back in the Spring at the PRZ Camp and was impressed by his arm strength and accuracy downfield. Confident in the pocket that sees the field well and can deliver. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1610586' first='Nate' last='Davis'] - 2026 LB - Rockmart</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5'9 180 rising Junior is an absolute tackling machine for the Yellow Jackets. He was a GACA All State selection last Fall and had outstanding State Championship game where he recorded double digit tackles. Has a good first step and is in the backfield before you know it. A physical, decisive tackler.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1584407' first='Jaiden' last='Thompson'] - 2027 OL - Rockmart</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You don't make the State Title game without having the Hawgs up front. The Yellow Jackets have a great returning group of OL but the one that stands out to us is the 6'4 300 Thompson. The big guy transitions his agility from the hardwood to the football field and sports and 81.5 wingspan. He had an outstanding off season picking up offers from Auburn and UAB after attending their OTAs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->