Scrimmage Preview: Cedar Grove At Buford

The fall is quickly approaching and high school football is right around the corner. Practices are here, school has started, and you can feel football in the air. There are scheduled scrimmages over the next two weeks, and there’s one this week that will feature two of the best teams in the state. Last year’s 6A state champion Buford will host mighty Cedar Grove, one of the biggest and most talented teams not only in 3A, but across the state. There will be major prospects all over the field in each class, and there will be lots of eyes on this scrimmage throughout the state. Here are a few players to know going into the scrimmage... &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="95147" first="Christen" last="Miller"] - DL - Cedar Grove</strong> One of the top interior defensive line prospects in the country, Miller is a big, powerful defensive tackle with quickness and a great motor. One of the most energetic players across the state, Miller gets after it every play and can dominate at times. He’s quick for his size at 6-foot-4 285-pounds and already holds some major offers across the country. He’s the anchor of one of the state’s best defensive lines and has a "Top 4" that includes Georgia, Ohio State, Oregon, and Southern California. He’ll be going up against a tough Buford offensive line, so this will be his first big test of the year. &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="33896" first="Jake" last="Pope"] - ATH - Buford</strong> The 6-foot-1 190-pounder from Buford is easily one of the top overall athletes in the state. As a junior last year, Pope made plays all over the field for the Buford Wolves, catching passes as a receiver, picking off passes as a defensive back, and also helping out on special teams. If a big play was needed, no matter what situation it was, Pope was there to make it. He’s got a great frame on him, but his overall athleticism and versatility is why he’s earned major offers from Georgia, Alabama, Florida, among others. He’s a natural athlete, but more importantly, he’s a playmaker. Pope forced the game-winning fumble that lead to Buford’s incredible state-championship win last year over Lee County. He’ll be one of the more fun athletes to watch in the region this fall. &nbsp; <strong><a class="pn-player-link" href="https://prepredzone.com/player/kayin-lee/"><span class="name-pointer">[player_tooltip player_id="34049" first="Kayin" last="Lee"]</span></a> – DB - Cedar Grove</strong> Maybe the best of the 2023 defensive backs at Georgia, <a class="pn-player-link" href="https://prepredzone.com/player/kayin-lee/"><span class="name-pointer">[player_tooltip player_id="34049" first="Kayin" last="Lee"]</span></a> is a highly-impressive 2023 cornerback who took home Defensive Back MVP honors at the Atlanta Under Armour Camp this spring after showcasing his natural cover skills and in 1-on-1s. He always knew how to cover, and now Lee has put on good weight, he can be physical against bigger receivers. He’s so tough to create separation on and knows how to make a play on the ball when needed. He’s a fluid runner, technically sounds, and knows how to turn his hips and stay with a speedy defender. He’s a true playmaker and someone who can work on an island on the outside. He’s young, but Lee knows how to lock down a defender. He’ll have a big matchup against speedster [player_tooltip player_id="95444" first="Isaiah" last="Bond"] on Friday night. &nbsp; <strong>Ashton Daniels - QB - Buford </strong> One of the top QBs in Gwinnett County, Daniels is a poised, strong-armed QB who continues to improve as a passer. Look for him to have another big year for the Wolves in 2021 and push for a second consecutive state championship. He’s a dynamic, play-making QB with a live arm, and he has no problem making big throws under pressure. Stanford liked what the saw from Daniels in 2020, and they were able to land his commitment this spring. He’s only going to get better as he enters his senior season. &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="95166" first="Rashod" last="Dubinion"] – ATH – Cedar Grove</strong> One of the top overall athletes in the 2022 class, the WR/DB/QB for Cedar Grove is one of the best playmakers in all of metro-Atlanta. The 5-foot-10 185-pounder is a weapon as a running back as he’s very shifty and explosive with the ball in his hands. He’s great in space, can make a defender miss, and always has a chance to find the end-zone. He’s a great athlete and it’s easy to see his D1 talent. He’s currently committed to Arkansas and is bound for a breakout season this fall. &nbsp; <strong><a class="pn-player-link" href="https://prepredzone.com/player/isaiah-bond/"><span class="name-pointer">[player_tooltip player_id="95444" first="Isaiah" last="Bond"]</span></a> – WR - Buford</strong> The explosive athlete has game-changing speed and used it often during the Wolves’ 2020 state championship run. He’s not the biggest wide-out in the region, but his speed makes him one of the biggest playmakers in the entire state. At 6-foot-0 175-pounds, Bond ran the nation’s fastest 100-meter dash earlier this month when he ran it in 10.73 seconds. Bond also placed 2nd in the 200-meter dash with a posted time of 21.57 seconds. Bond uses that speed well on offense as he was able to get behind the defense over and over again last fall. He’s a dangerous deep-ball threat for any offense at the next level due to his straight-line speed and ball skills. As good as he is as a receiver, Bond can also turn around and hold his own at cornerback. Either way, expect the future Florida Gator’s speed to help the Wolves make another state-title run in 2021. &nbsp; Other players to know.... Cedar Grove LB Carlton Madden Jr. Buford RB [player_tooltip player_id="33736" first="Gabe" last="Ervin"] Cedar Grove DE [player_tooltip player_id="33876" first="Joshua" last="White"] Buford DB [player_tooltip player_id="95467" first="Ryland" last="Gandy"] Buford DB [player_tooltip player_id="33778" first="Malik" last="Williams"] &nbsp;