It was the year of the passer in Georgia football, as six quarterbacks threw for more than 3,000 yards. But the quarterback getting most of the postseason honors has been more like Cameron Newton, the Georgia native who won the Heisman Trophy as a dual threat for Auburn.
Timmy Byerly of Chattahoochee was 170-for-249 passing for 2,664 yards while rushing for another 1,509 yards. He's believed to be the first quarterback to have 30 touchdowns passing and 20 rushing.
Byerly is the quarterback on this all-classification team compiled by Georgia High School Football Daily.
OFFENSEQB – Timmy Byerly, Chattahoochee, Sr.: Byerly (6-0, 210) threw for 31 touchdowns and scored 21 while his school won its first state championship. Byerly has scholarship offers from Air Force and Furman and a few schools in the Mid-American Conference. He's hopeful that Wake Forest is close to pulling the trigger on an offer.
RB – Joshua Clemons, Whitewater (Fayetteville), Sr.: Clemons rushed for 2,003 yards and 25 touchdowns for Whitewater (9-3). Clemons (5-10, 205) rushed for more than 200 yards in a 28-21 upset victory over No. 1-ranked Northside of Warner Robins in the first round of the AAAA playoffs. Clemons has committed to Kentucky.
RB – Tevin King, Colquitt County, Sr.: King was one of three Georgia players with more than 2,000 yards rushing in 2010. King (5-6, 148) finished with 2,047 and added 625 yards on 50 receptions and scored a school-record 37 touchdowns. His team reached the AAAAA finals. King has offers from a few mid-major schools including Marshall and East Carolina.
WR – Malcolm Mitchell, Valdosta, Sr.: Mitchell was the Region 1-AAAAA player of the year over several high-profile candidates, including King of Colquitt County. He had 77 receptions for 1,419 yards and 15 touchdowns. Valdosta (11-2) had its best season since 2003. Mitchell (6-3, 185) has offers from most SEC and ACC schools, including Alabama, Auburn and Georgia.
WR – Demarco Robinson, M.L. King, Sr.: Robinson set Georgia records for receiving yardage (1,655) and receiving touchdowns (27) this season for a 9-3 team. He caught 73 passes. Robinson (5-11, 170) has committed to Kentucky.
TE – Jay Rome, Valdosta, Sr.: Rome (6-5, 225) had 45 receptions for 555 yards and seven touchdowns. He's also considered a top blocker. He's a two-time region player of the year in basketball. Georgia and Alabama are thought to be Rome's leaders.
OL – David Andrews, Wesleyan, Sr.: Andrews is a three-year starter on both offense and defense for a team that is 37-5 in that time. Andrews (6-3, 295) has committed to Georgia.
OL – Blake Fussell, Brookwood, 6-1, 290, Sr.: Fussell was the lead blocker for a state championship team with two 1,000-yard rushers. Fussell (6-1, 290) has committed to Air Force.
OL – Donald Glover, Camden County, Sr.: Glover (6-4, 330) was the most consistent performer this season for Camden (10-2), which was ranked No. 1 in Georgia's AAAAA for most of the season. He averaged seven knockdown blocks per game. He is committed to Georgia Southern.
OL – Matt Kiefer, Chattahoochee, Sr.: Kiefer (6-4, 283) was credited with 53 pancake blocks and no sacks allowed for a 15-0 team that scored at least 22 points in each game. Kiefer has offers from Georgia, Georgia Tech and Arkansas, among others.
OL – Xzavier Ward, Colquitt County, Sr.: His coach, Rush Propst, says Ward (6-6, 255) is the best offensive lineman he's coached. He was the left tackle for a team with more than 5,000 yards of total offense – including 609 in the state final. Alabama and Georgia are among the leaders for Ward.
PK – Ryan Kay, Dutchtown, Sr.: Kay made field goals of 51, 54 and 56 yards on the season and tied a state record with five in one game during a 15-0 playoff victory over Thomas County Central. He also averaged 43 yards per punt. Georgia, Tennessee and Troy are recruiting Kay (6-3, 190).
