NWGA Report: Defensive Players with Outstanding Opening Week

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I'm a huge fan of defense and I'm always on the search for those guys that love to hit and mix it up. I found 8 guys that had big opening Week 1 performances. The list includes several Seniors that have earned a look at the next level and a few underclassmen with good upside potential. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Fannin County Rebels</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Cooper Born</em></strong><a href="https://x.com/cooperborn14"><strong><em> </em></strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://x.com/cooperborn14">X Profile</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I feel like Born is a player we have, or at least should have, highlighted on this site several times over the last few years. The 6'1 215 Class of '25 LB is a returning 1st Team All Region, Region DPOY, 107 TT in 2023 guy. He started the season out with a bang in Saturdays win over rival Gilmer County with 14 TT, 11 solo, with 1 TFL. Born is a gym rat and an outstanding student with a 4.0 GPA in the classroom. He is hearing from Navy, Yale, and Mars Hill among others. A true diamond in the rough in the North Georgia Mountains.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Adairsville Tigers</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Colt Sanford </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://x.com/co1t2x">X Profile</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sanford is a guy we have mentioned several times over last few months as his stock has been steadily rising. The '26 5'9 160 is playmaker on both sides of the ball for the Tigers. He earned the team's Defensive Player of the Week in a 28-27 win over Allatoona with 2 interceptions and a handful of tackles. Sanford has added weight since his freshman season and has the speed and athleticism combined with a high football IQ and toughness to make him an outstanding player. He has caught a lot of attention lately and is one to watch this Fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Kolt McCord </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://x.com/koltmccord8">X Profile</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The '25 LB is one of those guys you love to have on your team. The 5'11 200 has good vision at the LOS and loves to mix it up. Another Adairsville Tiger that likes the weightroom and brings that toughness to the field. He had an outstanding opening week with 10 TT and a TFL in a win over Allatoona. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Cedartown Bulldogs</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Sam Smith </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5'10 185 Senior LB/RB is a throwback, old school, type football player. He is one of those guys that is hard to find on social media, just one of those players that go out on Friday night and get it done on the field. Tough that does a great job at sniffing out the play and has deceptive speed to get to the ball. He had an outstanding Week 1 in a win over in county Rival Rockmart. Smith led the Bulldogs in tackles with 12. Good high school football player that has the speed and on the field IQ to get some looks at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='492889' first='Chris' last='Johnson']</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson is a new name for me and his Game 1 film got me excited. The '27 6'3 215 DE is a ball player. Gets out of his stance quickly and gets around bigger offensive linemen. Has the speed to run down QBs from behind and is a violent tackler when he wraps you up. Uses his hands well to keep the blockers at bay and slide off quick to make plays. He had an outstanding Week 1 with 6 TT with 2.5 sacks in a win over Rockmart. <strong>Alan Popadines</strong> said last year that he thought Johnson was a can't miss prosect at DE and after watching the film I agree 100%. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Creekview Grizzlies</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Kevin Meade</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://x.com/kevin_meade56">X Profile</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Not a flashy guy on social media and I had to dig deep into the team film to see some clips on this guy, just an old school, hard nose football player. The '25 6'1 215 OL/DL brings a lot of energy to the field. He is hard to get a hat on, constantly moving those feet and has the upper body strength, a 405 team leading bench press, to toss blockers off and make plays. The Grizzlies Team Captain had 8 TT with 3.5 TL and 1.5 sacks in an upset win over powerhouse Calhoun opening Week. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Central Lions</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>[player_tooltip player_id='1570635' first='Khaven' last='Cochran'] </em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6'3 180 DB made a good transition from the basketball court to the football field. Athletic guy that consistently puts up triple doubles on the basketball court showed Week 1 that he has the talent to be an outstanding DB. He intercepted 2 passes in a win over a highly ranked Spalding team last Friday. Cochran showed his ups going up high to snag one the INTs and had a decent return. Add him to your watch list. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/LIONSTRONGFB/status/1825914819133718544","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/LIONSTRONGFB/status/1825914819133718544 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>North Paulding Wolfpack</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Marcus Roach</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://x.com/Roach_M17">X Profile</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6'5 185 DB is a guy I wrote about last Fall as a "Diamond in the Rough". The long rangy DB's recruiting caught on this Spring and he committed to Cornell University earlier this off season. Roach has good cover skills and a nose for the football, but I think his strong his strong suit is in run support. Great vision that reads plays well and quick to the ball. A violent tackler that lets you know he has been there. He had an outstanding 1st Week with 9 TT with 2 TFL helping the Wolfpack hold powerhouse Parkview to just 6 points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->