By Barry Every
SouthernPigskin.com

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SP Recruiting Expert Barry Every highlights some of the top prospects from the Georgia HS playoff matchup between Dacula and Lee County.

Leesburg, Georgia – Two-time defending GHSA-AAAAAA Champion Leesburg (Ga.) Lee County struggled to stop the Falcon power rushing attack. Dacula (Ga.) marched for over 500 yards on the ground while holding the Trojans to a mere 11 rushing yards. The result was a shocking lopsided victory for the visitors as they raced to a 56-21 win.

More amazing was the 725 yards of total offense the Falcons generated even with a running clock in the fourth quarter. Junior athlete Kaleb Edwards and super sophomore Kyle Efford combined for 25 carries for 489 yards and four scores.

Georgia Southern baseball commit, Jarrett Jenkins, also had a very efficient performance completing seven of 12 passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns. Seniors Konata Mumpfield and Chris Scott were the main recipients hauling in four passes for 168 yards, each hauling in long touchdown passes.

Region 1-AAAAAA Champion Lee County ends the year (11-2/4-0). Over the last three seasons the Trojans have captured three Region Championships and back-to-back State Championships (2017-19). This span encompasses an impressive (40-3/11-1) record, look for the Trojans to make another run in 2020.

Dacula (13-0/5-0) is now set to host Kennesaw (Ga.) Harrison (13-0/8-0) in the GHSA-AAAAAA Semifinals. These teams entered the playoffs ranked #1 and #2, respectively. Clint Jenkins has been masterful in his first two seasons at the helm of Dacula Football.

He has guided the Falcons to a (24-3) mark and two Region 8-AAAAAA Championships.

Below are my top performers from each squad based on their performance and athletic potential. Though only eight players were chosen, more than a dozen players from this contest were included in the weekly XOS Digital Prospect Report. This report is distributed to over 200 DI through DIII colleges.

Dacula Falcons

Kaleb Edwards, 6-0/195, ATH (2021)

Offers: (4) Georgia State, Iowa State, Louisville, Memphis
Comments: College recruiters’ better plan on visiting Dacula very soon, before it’s too late. Edwards put on an all-round dynamic show for the century, rushing the ball nine times for 217 yards and three scores.  He also added three catches for 47 yards while recording five tackles and four PBU’s. Most schools have been looking at Edwards as a defensive player; make no mistake he has the athleticism and ball skills to project as a receiver or running back at the next level. He proved to be ultra-dangerous running from the wildcat formation and his short one handed catch just before the half was insane.
This season the two-way standout has rushed for 1,032 yards and 14 touchdowns on just 55 carries while snagging 28 passes for 562 yards and three scores. Defensively he has racked up 69 tackles, three TFL’s, nine PBU’s and four INT’s. Edwards will soon be a household name!

Kyle Efford, 6-1/210, OLB/ATH (2022)

Offers: (1) Vanderbilt
Comments: It’s hard to fathom that this jumbo-athlete is just a sophomore. In the win he toted the rock 16 times for 272 yards and one score while recording four tackles, one sack and one QBH from his outside backer position. He most likely projects as linebacker in college but did display an uncanny cutback running style and the ability to break tackles. Efford has excellent length and is a deadly pass rusher. On the season he has recorded 55 tackles, five TFL’s, three sacks and 14 QBH’s. Offensively the gifted athlete has carried the ball 99 times for 904 yards and 16 scores. Look for Efford to also end up a household name on the recruiting front.

Dylan Hand, 6-1/193, OLB/SS (2021)

Offers: None
Comments: Hand started the game off with a bang, batting down a pass attempt on the very first play from scrimmage. He looks like a hybrid SS/OLB body that can run sideline to sideline. Hand possesses good closing speed and a frame that will easily house more muscle mass. He ended the evening taking part in seven tackles and one PBU. His skillset will also be coveted on special teams as heat seeking coverage warrior. On the season the junior has recorded 56 tackles, three TFL’s, two sacks, five QBH’s and four PBU’s.  All FCS and FBS schools should put this recruit on their board because he passes the eyeball test and has the desired athleticism to be a difference maker.

Vernon Porte, 5-10/173, FS/CB (2020)

Offers: None
Comments: How does this young man not have a single offer at any level? Though Porte plays mostly safety he demonstrated the foot quickness and the closing speed to project as a cornerback. Versus Lee County he recorded seven tackles and two PBU’s, but what really stands out to me is his ability to come up in run support.  He is an incredible open field tackler that closes the gap quickly. Through 13 games he has recorded 54 tackles, one TFL and 11 PBU’s. He should be a full qualifier with a reported 900 SAT.  Porte could be a late find for some DII or FCS school looking for an aggressive free safety/cornerback. 

Adam Watkins, 6-0/285, DT/OL (2021)

Offers: None
Comments: You don’t usually see two-way lineman at this level; that’s exactly what this young man did alternating from defensive end to offensive guard. Watkins most likely projects as an interior defensive lineman at the next level. He is a powerfully built quick-twitch tornado that knows how to use his hands. He recorded two TFL’s and three QBH’s while paving the way for 522 yards on the ground. Trust me when I say he has enormous pop coming from the hips. As a sophomore he won the GHSA-AAAAAA State Shotput Title while coming on fourth in the discus. Something else recruiters need to know is the fact that Watkins has already scored a 19 on the ACT. Despite not having the coveted height he does have the ideal body type to play defensive tackle at the FBS level.

Theodore (TJ) Young, 6-2/205, OLB/ILB (2021)

Offers: None
Comments: Young is the third underclassmen on Dacula’s roster that has a chance to be a national level recruit. He has ideal length and a frame that will allow him to play at 235-pounds in college. On the night he racked up ten tackles, three sacks and one QBH. A tenacious defender that never gives up the chase and he demonstrated the ability to breakdown in space on punt coverage. On the season he leads the Falcons with 126 tackles to go along with six sacks, nine TFL’s and 11 QBH. He will most likely be an inside linebacker at next level, but could possibly be a 3-4 outside backer.

Lee County Trojans

Baron Hopson, 5-11/220, ILB (2021)

Offers: (8) Duke, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Louisville, Michigan, Nebraska, Pitt, Vanderbilt
Comments: Time and time again Hopson impresses with his affinity for contact and hustle. He was one of the few bright spots for Lee County, recording a dozen tackles and recovering a fumble for score. Hopson made tackles on coverage teams, inside the box, down field and along the boundaries. 
This stout interior backer is hard to knock off his haunches and will simply bury ball carriers. He is a very instinctual player that was born to roam the tackle box and pummel his opposition. Hopson currently sits with eight offers; any school regardless of academic requirements can recruit this striker because he boasts a 4.33 GPA and an 1190 on SAT. All this despite the fact that he will not turn 18 years of age until September of his freshman year in college.

James Hopson, 6-0/180, WR (2020)

Offers: None
Comments: Hopson has been the go-to-guy offensively all season for the Trojans. Versus Dacula the speedy slot receiver caught five passes for 91 yards and one score. He showed a serious burst of speed after the catch on his 35-yard touchdown reception. Later in the game he was able to find the open spot on the field when the initial route was not available. Despite his stellar senior season he has yet to receive an offer at any level; which is strange considering his academic and football prowess. Hopson maintains a 4.26 GPA with a whopping 31 on the ACT.