The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Super 11 team, selected each high school football preseason since 1985, is based primarily on the players’ value in high school. But most do well at the next level.
The most recent group to play in college, from the 2013 high school season, produced five players who started at least one game as freshmen last season. Five others played. Only one redshirted.
Gainesville’s Deshaun Watson (Clemson) and Cedartown’s Nick Chubb (Georgia) have been mentioned as Heisman Trophy candidates.
Here are 11 facts and figures about the 2015 AJC Super 11 selections, who will begin their final high school seasons in a few days.
- Six members of this team are the first from their schools — Derrick Brown of Lanier, Tre Lamar of Roswell, Mecole Hardman of Elbert County, Charlie Woerner of Rabun County, Demetris Robertson of Savannah Christian and Dylan Singleton of Archer.
- Robertson is the first Super 11 member from a Savannah or a Chatham County school. He is the only South Georgia player chosen this year. At least one South Georgia player has made all 31 Super 11 teams since 1985. For the first time, there are no Middle Georgia players.
- Three Super 11 players are from northeast Georgia, the most ever. They are Hardman, Woerner and Ben Cleveland of Stephens County. Before, there had been only eight northeast Georgia players, half of those from Gainesville. "It confirms to other areas of the state that northeast Georgia football is very competitive,'' said Lee Shaw, Woerner's coach and a Rabun County native. "The commitment level, athleticism and determination should be taken as serious as other areas for great football.''
- Brown of Lanier and Singleton of Archer play for Gwinnett County schools that have opened since 2009. They bring to 15 of the number of Gwinnett schools with at least one Super 11 player since 1985.
- Five Super 11 players have made their college choices, same as last season when the team was revealed. The trend of early commitments peaked in 2009, when all 11 had committed, although two changed their minds before signing day. The first Super 11 player to commit before publication was McEachern quarterback A.J. Suggs, to Tennessee in 1998. Those committed this year are Lamar to Clemson, Cleveland, Woerner and Julian Rochester of McEachern to Georgia and Charles Wiley of Stockbridge to Ole Miss.
- Defensive tackle is the marque position this season. Three Georgia players are ranked in the top eight nationally at the position. They are Brown, Rochester and Antwuan Jackson of Cedar Grove. Kipp Adams, the national recruiting analyst for 247Sports, wouldn't name a favorite. "Rochester's wingspan allows him to dominate at the line of scrimmage,'' he said. "Jackson is so explosive off the ball for his size. And Brown's upside is off the charts."
- Hardman is the only quarterback, although he's listed as an "athlete" by recruiting services. He'll play defensive back or receiver in college. There was no Super 11 quarterback in 2014. The last traditional quarterback to make Super 11 was Watson of Gainesville in 2013.
- Elijah Holyfield of Woodward Academy is the only running back. The Super 11 has included at least one running back for each of its 31 seasons.
- Holyfield can't be mentioned without noting that his father is boxing great Evander Holyfield. Woerner also has a famous relative. His uncle, Scott Woerner, was an All-American cornerback on Georgia's 1980 national championship team.
- Two Super 11 players have siblings playing college football. Deondre Singleton (brother of Dylan) plays safety for Duke. Bryson Allen-Williams (stepbrother of Jackson) plays linebacker for South Carolina.
- Of 352 previous Super 11 choices, about 80 have played in the NFL. That doesn't include 2010 Super 11 hopefuls Damien Swann of Grady, Xzavier Dickson of Griffin and Chris Conley of North Paulding. Each was taken in the 2015 NFL draft.
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