Preseason all-state: Calhoun, Sandy Creek place three players on 3A public school team

*Best player: Arami Latimer, Sandy Creek. He has more than 2,500 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards and 39 touchdowns in his career. He’s also a capable linebacker when needed. Latimer is committed to Wisconsin.

*Best position: Running back. Latimer and Bryian Duncan are first rate. Left off were Dominique Ball of Westover (1,936 yards rushing last season) and Ty Cummings of West Laurens (1,730) among others.

*Most highly recruited: Ta’Shawn Pool, a safety/wide receiver at Howard, is the consensus No. 38 prospect in the junior class, per 247Sports Composite. He has offers from Georgia, Georgia Tech and others.

*That’s interesting: Sergio Mason (6-26, 265) had never played organized sports until last season, his junior year. “We just found him in gym class,” Stephenson coach Marcus Jelks said. Actually, Mason did try out as a sophomore, “but didn’t make it past March,” his coach said. In his first real season, Mason had 36.5 tackles for losses and caused five fumbles on Stephenson’s 10-4 semifinal team. He now has offers from FIU, Western Kentucky and Miami of Ohio.

*Snubbed: Trace Hawkins led Calhoun to a state title as a freshman quarterback. With immense upside, he has offers from Auburn, Florida, Georgia Tech and others.

*Underrated: Colby Smith has no college offers, but he was a two-way starter with 2,454 all-purpose yards and 22 touchdowns last season while leading Southeast Bulloch to its first state quarterfinal in 51 years. He has started since he was a freshman. He carries a 4.0 GPA.

*What else is news? Defending champion Calhoun and Sandy Creek, the 2022 champion, have the most players represented, with three apiece

Offense

QB - Caleb Hill, Sandy Creek, Jr.

RB - Amari Latimer, Sandy Creek, Sr.

RB - Bryian Duncan, Cairo, Jr.

WR - Justin Beasley, Calhoun, Sr.

WR - Zion Hudson, Peach County, Sr.

TE - Mason Hall, Oconee County, Jr.

OL - Gabriel Jones, Luella, Sr.

OL - Kyson Mallard, Westover, Jr.

OL - Solomon Mathis, Hephzibah, Sr.

OL - Mason McGill, North Hall, Sr.

OL - Mason Townsend, Monroe Area, Sr.

ATH - Colby Smith, Southeast Bulloch, Sr.

PK - McCarty Harrelson, Troup, Jr.

Defense

DL - Dacian Davis, Monroe Area, Sr.

DL - Sager Quinn, Calhoun, Sr.

DL - Sergio Mason, Stephenson, Sr.

DL - Brayden Foster, Whitewater, Sr.

LB - Ace Blunt, Peach County, Jr.

LB - Max Brown, Jefferson, Jr.

LB - Malachi Character, Upson-Lee, Sr.

LB - Alec Upshaw, Calhoun, Sr.

DB - Markel Aguirre, Luella, Sr.

DB - K.J. Deriso, Whitewater, Sr.

DB - Corey Hadley Jr., Sandy Creek, Jr.

DB - Ta’Shawn Poole, Howard, Jr.

P - Jake Collett, Heritage (Ringgold), Sr.