Douglas County hopes super-talented roster can spell state title

Across the state, Douglas County has quickly earned a reputation as perhaps the most talented team in the state. With three senior players ranked in the top 15 in the ESPN300 for Georgia, it’s easy to see where that talk begins.

To put it in perspective, imagine an NFL mock draft with three players in the top 15 from the same FBS college team — except this time, it’s among 415 GHSA football-playing schools, not 134.

“I don’t know about that,” Johnny T. White, the Douglas County Tigers’ coach, said. “I will agree that we have a talented roster, but there are other teams that have (good) rosters as well.”

The three top-15 Georgia seniors are wide receivers Aaron Gregory (committed to Texas A&M) and Devin Carter (Auburn) and defensive lineman Jordan Carter (Texas A&M). Each is rated a four-star prospect.

Douglas County also has two four-star juniors who are top-200 national prospects. They are offensive lineman Joshua Sam-Epelle and safety Kennedy Green. Quarterback Michael Johnson, an all-state quarterback who transferred from Dutchtown, is another key piece. He committed to Utah this month.

Douglas County finished 11-3 last season after another final-four exit, this time against eventual Class 6A champion Grayson 35-28.

White is entering his 10th season with the Tigers with a 71-34 record and won a region championship in 2023. Douglas County has had double-digit-win seasons in back-to-back years for the first time in school history.

This year the Tigers are hoping to get over the final-four hump and win their first state championship since 1964. That was also the Tigers’ only undefeated season.

Offensively, the Tigers return an elite trio of receivers with Gregory, Carter and Marcus Carter (23+ offers). Some have called this one of the most dangerous receiving corps in Georgia high school football history. Gregory and Devin Carter are the most highly recruited pair of senior receivers in GHSA history.

For the Tigers, it’s about belief. White stressed that his players must believe in each other. This is common amongst teams, requesting that the players be the leaders. Player-led teams allow for tougher coaching, which usually leads to success.

You’ll find Solomon Fabian (5+ offers) on the other edge, on a defense that returns six starters. White says senior linebacker Steven Jones, who picked up offers from NAIA Reinhardt and Division II Tuskegee, should be an FBS guy by season’s end.

With so many great players, college coaches have flocked to Douglas County, which has benefited the entire program.

“It’s opened doors for a lot of our kids,” White said.

This is uncharted territory for White, who had just one double-digit win season before 2023. Now, with a roster full of high-level talent, expectations are higher than ever.

White has kept his message simple this offseason - “Find a way.” White says he doesn’t care how they do it, but they need to learn how to be more resilient.

That’s the message, but he felt he needed a different approach this offseason compared to others.

“Apparently, what we’ve been doing ain’t good enough,” White said.

His approach this offseason is not focused on on-field activities, but rather off the field.

First, you’ve got to respect the Football Gods, a reminder to respect the game. He believes that to be blessed by the Gods, you’ve got to do things the right way.

For the Tigers, it’s about belief. White stressed that his players must believe in each other. This is common amongst teams, requesting that the players be the leaders. Player-led teams allow for tougher coaching, which usually leads to success.

Douglas County’s Region 2-6A is the smallest in the class with five schools. This opens the door for a challenging non-region slate. Watch for a Sept. 12 road game to Buford, another team that some say has the most talent. Buford has five of the state’s top 50 senior recruits.

Douglas County opens against North Gwinnett in the Dave Hunter + Corky Kell Classic at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, also the site for the state finals.

“So, we want to start at the Benz and finish at the Benz,” White said.

Douglas County schedule

8/16 North Gwinnett

8/22 at Jonesboro

8/29 Newton

9/5 at Hughes

9/12 at Buford

9/26 Columbia

10/3 East Coweta

10/10 at Westlake

10/24 Chapel Hill

10/31 at Carrollton