NWGA Report: Week 1 Standouts Pt.1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024 season is finally here and Week 1 did not disappoint, unless you don't like rain. The season started on Wednesday with several teams participating in the Corky Kell Classic and finished up on Saturday with games that had to be postponed on Friday due to the weather. Below is a list of the names that caught my eye over the week. Some are names we have written about multiple times but a few are what makes high school football so addictive, the guys that look like your average high schooler with their pads off but on Friday night they turn it on. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cole Runion - 2025 DB/WR - Ringgold</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6'0 165 ATH was our Prep Redzone Player of the Game in our Live game this week. We had written about him the previous week after his scrimmage performance but he proved to be a ball hawk on Thursday in a 23-13 win over Dade Co. The Senior DB intercepted 3 passes, recovered a fumble, and had a handful of tackles. An All Region selection last season for the Tigers, Runion is proving he is a candidate for breakout Senior of the Year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/jlsimsy/status/1824842208698347842","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/jlsimsy/status/1824842208698347842 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cody Bryan - 2026 WR/DB - Heritage (Catoosa)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Junior WR/DB had a career performance in Saturdays 42-17 win over Christian Heritage. Bryan had 10 catches for 258 yards with 3 TDs and a strip fumble return for a score. Three of his TDs came in the first half helping the Generals to a 35-3 lead at intermission. Multisport kid who puts the work in in the weight room. He got his name on our watch list and I'm sure he caught the attention of several college programs with his performance this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/HHSGenerals/status/1824984309419110445","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/HHSGenerals/status/1824984309419110445 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='422543' first='Jonaz' last='Walton'] - 2026 RB - Central </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 4-Star 5'10 200 RB is a name we are very familiar with here at Prep Redzone. The top RB in the 2026 class at Prep Redzone had a great start to the 2024 season. He accounted for 250 total yards and scored 4 TDs in the Lions win over #4(3A) Spalding. The Preseason Junior All American selection is the total package with speed, strength, quickness, agility and grades. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/JonazWalton/status/1825183454637535386","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/JonazWalton/status/1825183454637535386 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1566569' first='Mason' last='Bryant'] - 2025 QB- Paulding County</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6'4 202 QB was a guy we were high on last Fall going into his Junior year but a injury cut his season short. Bryant is back at full strength this season and he proved it Week 1. Paulding Co came out on the short end of a 48-41 score but Bryant looked good in the opener. He completed 30 of 34 passes with 5 TDs and 285 yards. Athletic guy that can use his feet to buy time, quick decision maker that delivers the ball with some zip across the middle and to the sidelines. Bryant picked up his 1st offer to play at the next level this weekend from Bluffton University. Good upside and will get more looks as the season progresses. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/Mason19Bryant/status/1825332095561961904","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/Mason19Bryant/status/1825332095561961904 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jakai Baldwin - 2025 WR/DB - Cass</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The standout basketball player for the Colonels proved he was also a football player in a 42-7 win over perineal power Callaway on Saturday. He made an acrobatic one handed interception that he returned for a TD, dodging in and out of defenders to get to the endzone. He also led the team in receiving yards. Baldwin has good speed and hands and the coaching staff is high on him as a football prospect. He picked up an offer earlier this Spring from the University of the Cumberlands and I'm sure he grabbed the attention of a lot of programs this weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/bgraham66/status/1825145026759778558","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/bgraham66/status/1825145026759778558 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1275460' first='Xavious' last='Nalls'] - 2025 ATH - Adairsville </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6'2 175 ATH has received a lot of attention from Prep Redzone this offseason and rightfully so. Nalls had an outstanding debut to the 2024 season on Thursday with 6 receptions for 111 yards and 2 TDs. He added an interception on defense to help the Tigers to a 28-27 win over Allatoona. Thomas Moore and Reinhardt have offered him recently and we fill like his recruiting is just picking up. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/XaviousN1/status/1824524865489211569","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/XaviousN1/status/1824524865489211569 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kade Smith - 2025 QB - Trion</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Preseason All State selection had an outstanding opening week. He accounted for over 350 total yards and 4 TDs in the Bulldogs 30-6 win over rival Gordon Lee. The 4-year starter is tough as nails and is a great decision maker with the ball in his hands. Multisport guy that puts the work in in the weight room. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/kade7smith/status/1729251533903331792","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/kade7smith/status/1729251533903331792 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->