Fall all-area series: Here are the top 2023 Augusta-area high school football players
Another banner season of high school football in Augusta is in the books.
Westminster Schools of Augusta secured the lone area state championship, steamrolling to the Georgia Independent Athletic Association 8-man title with a 35-14 win over Windsor Academy.
On the Georgia High School Association side, Aquinas and Thomson earned region championships and made it to the second round of the state playoffs, while Laney, Harlem, Burke County and Evans each made postseason appearances. Across the Savannah River, North Augusta also qualified for the South Carolina High School League Class 4A playoffs.
With National Signing Day around the corner, many of these student athletes will cement their futures at the next level, while others will wait until the February signing period. For the underclassmen, it’s back in the weight room after the holidays to begin preparation for the 2024 season.
Cross Country: Here are the top 2023 Augusta-area high school cross country runners
Softball: Here are the top 2023 Augusta-area high school softball players
Volleyball: Here are the top 2023 Augusta-area high school volleyball players
Flag Football: Here are the top 2023 Augusta-area high school flag football players
Top Augusta-area high school football players for 2023
Player of the year
QB Jim Franklin – Aquinas
Franklin shined in what was his first healthy season, completing 68 percent of his passes for 2,692 yards and 31 touchdowns (to six interceptions). He also added 587 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground. The junior led Aquinas to a Region 8-A DII championship and the second round of the GHSA state playoffs.
First team
Offense
QB: Jim Franklin (2025, Aquinas)
QB: Ethan Evangelista (2024, Harlem)
RB: Jeanarion Kamga (2025, Westside)
RB: Telly Johnson (2024, Hephzibah)
RB: Anthony Jeffery (2025, Thomson)
WR: WR Eijah Evangelista (2024, Harlem)
WR: Buddyrow Garrer (2025, Aquinas)
WR: WR Jack Rhodes (2026, Aquinas)
WR: Ronderius Gray (2024, Burke County)
TE: Jack Thexton (2025, Lakeside)
OL: Mason Short (2025, Evans)
OL: Stephen Heard (2024, Evans)
OL: Chance Bush (2024, Laney)
OL: Brian Bailey (2024, Hephzibah)
OL: Taylor Hart (2025, Harlem)
ATH: CJ Holmes (2024, Laney)
K: Jack Stevens (2024, North Augusta)
Defense
DL: Justin Barnes (2024, Lakeside)
DL: Jaden Wuerth (2027, Aquinas)
DL: Nasan Houston (2025, Cross Creek)
DL: DL Jack Herrington (2025, Evans)
DL: Bryce Tillman (2024, North Augusta)
LB: Copelan Thurmond (2024, Aquinas)
LB: Jacob Jackson (2024, Evans)
LB: Brandon Lively (2024, Burke County)
LB: Baylor Davis (2025, Harlem)
LB: Deondre Baskett (2025, North Augusta)
DB: Storm Hunt (2024, Thomson)
DB: Jamere Roberts (2024, Thomson)
DB: Dallas Carter (2025, Augusta Christian)
DB: Zyaire Douglas (2024, Aquinas)
P: Wilson Donnelly (2024, Augusta Christian)
Honorable mention
Aquinas
LB TJ Jackson (2024)
LB Wesley Michaelson (2024)
DB/WR Brandon Ross (2024)
LB Frank Anderson (2024)
LB Christopher Jackson (2025)
RB Christian Kates (2026)
WR Mekhi Quiller (2027)
Augusta Christian
RB Troy Booker (2024)
WR Jackson Williamson (2024)
LB Carson Smith (2025)
LB Elton Wilson (2025)
LB Harrison Fitzgerald (2025)
DL Walter Jones (2025)
RB/WR Tristen Jones (2026)
RB/LB Rod Anderson (2027)
Augusta Prep
LB Fripp McDougal (2024)
ATH Eli McFadgen (2025)
TE/DE Conar Harris (2025)
LB Parker Chavous (2025)
DL K’Vaughn Boxton (2025)
RB Beau Polcha (2026)
QB Carter Chavous (2027)
P Benji Connell (2027)
Burke County
ATH Jensen Brantley (2024)
RB Jeremy Richardson (2024)
DB Jakari Crawford (2024)
LB Markel Kelly (2024)
DB Hasheem Rouse (2024)
DE Harry Newton (2024)
K Blake Burden (2024)
DE Darius Jordan (2025)
RB A’Merre Williams (2025)
LB Cadyn Bracely (2025)
QB Sean Vandiver (2026)
Cross Creek
RB Caron Walker (2024)
DB Tyrek Talbert (2024)
WR Travis Brigham (2025)
WR Cameron Nixon (2025)
QB Brandon Wallace (2027)
Evans
WR Tyler Perry (2024)
ATH Rayshaun King (2024)
WR Dontevious Williams (2024)
DB Anterriyon Moore (2024)
DL Kosygin Huff (2024)
DL Da’One West (2024)
DB Cole Taylor (2024)
K Tyler Wallace (2025)
OL Allen Morris (2025)
TE Camden Myers (2025)
OL Justin Tillman (2025)
QB EJ Hogan (2025)
DB Norman Harden (2025)
OLB Jeremy Howard (2026)
LB Bryson Crewe (2026)
Glenn Hills
QB Caymon Edgar (2024)
WR Jakobi Jones (2024)
LB Judd Brown (2025)
LB Kam Allen (2025)
DE Mihkael Sims Jr. (2025)
Greenbrier
LB Nolan Panzella (2024)
WR Vernon Guyton (2024)
OL DJ Zavala (2024)
OL Jack Kirby (2024)
HB/TE Cameron Lui (2024)
RB Nate Ames (2024)
K Keegan Moran (2024)
DL Nathaniel Rank (2025)
DB Ryan Clayborn (2025)
DB Remer Cobb (2025)
ATH Cole Tripp (2026)
Grovetown
QB Amare Clark (2024)
DB Jaheim Speller (2024)
DB Trent Thomas (2024)
LB Caleb Washington (2024)
RB Jaden Howard (2025)
WR Marques Fobbs Jr. (2025)
WR Jaquez Ivey (2026)
Harlem
RB/OLB Dyson Maddox (2024)
DB Tucker Combe (2024)
WR Kee Williams (2024)
P Will Holder (2025)
DB Ronald Oliver (2025)
LB Banks Young (2025)
DL Marcus Wheeler (2025)
RB Malik Tyler (2026)
ATH Jayden Futrell (2026)
OL/DL Liam Thompson (2026)
DL Ollie Batten (2026)
Hephzibah
RB Jaylon Alford (2024)
WR Antonio Heath (2024)
WR Deonte Singleton (2024)
WR Nate Cogle (2024)
DB Lamar Daniels (2024)
LB Traeon Brown (2024)
DB Devonta Dowdell (2024)
DL Daniel Hargrove (2024)
DL Marcus Kohn (2024)
QB JJ Gant (2025)
LB Logan Heyward (2026)
Lakeside
RB Caleb Jackson (2024)
ATH Steven Pickett (2024)
WR/DB Parth Patel (2024)
QB Mikeal Grissom (2025)
ATH Ty Jones (2025)
RB BJ Grissom (2025)
LB Corbin Velez (2025)
K Will Brandenburg (2026)
Laney
ATH Jarvaris Harris (2024)
ATH DJ Daggett (2024)
RB James Pride (2025)
ATH Angus Myrick (2025)
North Augusta
ATH Beans Hunt (2024)
RB Devin Robinson (2024)
TE Evan Waldhauer (2024)
WR Noah Wyatt (2024)
LB/DB Isaiah Weathersbee (2024)
LB DJ Bookard (2024)
DE Cameron Jackson (2024)
LB Cam Hallingquest (2024)
QB Corey Tillman (2025)
WR Connor Brown (2025)
RB Mike Doe (2026)
LB Donte Bell (2026)
Richmond Academy
RB Elijah Sholes (2024)
LB Donovan Scott (2024)
DE Ty’Shawn Bell (2024)
K Jefferson Murray (2024)
QB Brooks Dickinson (2025)
LB Caleb Boyd (2025)
DE Kenneth Corsey (2025)
WR Ben Wright (2026)
RB Lothan McBride (2027)
Thomson
QB Jahkiaus Jones (2024)
RB Jordan Lane (2024)
WR Kasai Jones (2024)
WR Tyrikus Jones (2024)
DE John Sallywhite (2024)
ATH Jamarion Barnes (2024)
LB Imauri McCallister (2024)
DE Jordan Jones (2025)
DL Danquavious Cummings (2025)
DB Roderick Jackson (2025)
K Sam Amerson (2027)
Westminster Schools of Augusta
ATH/K Caleb Franks (2024)
WR Rader Ketterman (2024)
QB Levi Murphey (2025)
TE/DE Levi Ketterman (2025)
LB Charlie Grinalds (2025)
LB/WR Porter Grinalds (2026)
Westside
QB Xavier Goss (2024)
DB Armani Thomas (2024)
RB/LB Jarius Ogden (2025)
RB Andre Morgan (2025)
LB Desmond Stallings (2025)
DL Nickolas Smalls (2025)
DE Reonte Brown (2026)
LB Jeffery Hughes (2026)
This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Aquinas, Thomson, Harlem headline Augusta all-area football team
