Quarterbacks set to shine in 2012

It's shaping up to be the year of the quarterback in Georgia, maybe the best of all time.

Two metro Atlanta signal-callers - Johnathon McCrary of Cedar Grove and Eddie Printz of Lassiter - are within striking distance of the state record for passing yards in a career. McCrary has thrown for 6,098 careers yards, while Printz has thrown for 5,792. The record is held by former Metter quarterback Zach Stanford with 9,062 from 2001 to 2004.

McCrary (committed to Vanderbilt) and Printz (UCLA) are among 11 Georgia quarterbacks who have pledged to FBS (formerly Division I-A) schools. A handful of others, including Cole Segraves of Colquitt County, have offers from FBS schools.

Six Georgia quarterbacks are committed to BCS (major conference) schools. According to Rivals.com, which has online records back to 2002, the most Georgia quarterbacks to sign with BCS schools in one season was eight in 2006.

Georgia has three quarterbacks this year who are rated four stars by Rivals. That's the most since Rivals began publishing its ratings online in 2002. The three are McCrary, Brice Ramsey of Camden County (committed to Georgia) and Anthony Jennings of Marietta (committed to LSU).

The others who have committed to FBS schools are Parker McLeod of Walton (Alabama), Joshua Dobbs of Alpharetta (Arizona State), Taylor Lamb of Calhoun (South Alabama), Justin Holman of Stephenson (Central Florida), A.J. Erdely of West Forsyth (Middle Tennessee), Dominique Allen of Richmond Hill (Air Force) and Brett Sheehan of Collins Hill (Florida International).

"It's more D-I's than I can ever remember," said Calhoun coach Hal Lamb, whose nephew Taylor Lamb led the state in passing yards last season. "I think it's just coincidence, but at the same time there are more spread [offense] teams across the state. This happens to be a tremendous year for quarterbacks in our state."

And keep in mind that the season hasn't started. University of Georgia quarterback Hutson Mason didn't have an offer in the preseason of 2009, when he set the state record for passing yards in a season.

Here is a look at 10 of Georgia's more celebrated senior quarterback prospects:

*Joshua Dobbs, Alpharetta: Committed to Arizona State, Dobbs was 234-for-392 passing for 3,113 yards and 28 touchdowns in 2011 for a team that won its first region title.

*A.J. Erdely, West Forsyth: Committed to Middle Tennessee, Erdely threw for 1,955 yards and 17 touchdowns for a team that had its best finish ever (11-2) in 2011.

*Makail Grace, Wilcox County: Grace is perhaps the best of Georgia's passing quarterbacks who are being recruited at other positions. He has an offer from Louisville, but like his former Wilcox County teammate, Nick Marshall, he could be pegged as a defensive back in college. But he threw for 2,778 yards last season and is a legitimate QB prospect. Other quarterbacks in this mold include Eman Westmoreland of Central Gwinnett, Trevon Jones of Mays and David Whipple of Wilkinson County.

*Anthony Jennings, Marietta: Committed to LSU, Jennings threw for more than 2,200 yards and rushed for more than 500 in 2011 for a Marietta team that advanced in the playoffs for the first time since 2005.

*Johnathon McCrary, Cedar Grove: Committed to Vanderbilt, McCrary is an Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super 11 player. He was 165-of-241 passing for 2,643 yards and 27 touchdowns with nine interceptions in 2011.

*Eddie Printz, Lassiter: Committed to UCLA, Printz is an AJC Super 11 player. Printz was 277-of-442 passing for 3,350 yards and 28 touchdowns for a Class AAAAA semifinal team in 2011.

*Brice Ramsey, Camden County: Committed to Georgia, Ramsey was 80-for-125 passing for 1,308 yards and 17 touchdowns against only two interceptions in a run-based Wing-T offense. He is the consensus No. 1 quarterback recruit in Georgia.

*Taylor Lamb, Calhoun: Committed to South Alabama, Lamb led Georgia in passing yards last season, when he was 269-of-332 for 3,638 yards and 40 touchdowns with nine interceptions. That's after playing wide receiver in 2010 in South Carolina.

*Parker McLeod, Walton: Committed to Alabama, McLeod is ranked the No. 29 quarterback prospect in the nation, according to Rivals, making him one of five from Georgia in the top 30. McLeod's talents at Walton are overshadowed by a run-based offense built around Tyren Jones, a 2,000-yard rusher who also is committed to Alabama. McLeod was 101-for-158 passing for 1,585 yards and 18 touchdowns against only four interceptions for the Class AAAAA runner-up team in 2011.

*Cole Segraves, Colquitt County: Segraves was 160-of-268 passing for 2,115 yards in 2011 for a Class AAAAA semifinal team. Segraves has offers from Central Florida and Marshall. If he accepts either, he would be the 12^th Georgia QB to commit to a D-I school.

Georgia QBs going to FBS

The number of Georgia quarterbacks who have signed with FBS schools, per Rivals.com, since 2002. The totals for 2013 are based on early commitments, as players may not sign until February. It's likely that more than 11 Georgia quarterbacks will sign with FBS schools in 2013.

2013 - 11

2012 - 5

2011 - 6

2010 - 4

2009 - 5

2008 - 5

2007 - 5

2006 - 8

2005 - 5

2004 - 9

2003 - 6

2002 - 8

Georgia quarterbacks who have signed with major-conference teams (Pac 12, Big 12, Big Ten, ACC, SEC, Big East) as quarterbacks since 2002, according to Rivals.com. The 2013 players include commitments only. Those highlighted in blue were rated four-star recruits by Rivals.com.

*2013 (6) - Johnathon McCrary, Cedar Grove (Vanderbilt); Brice Ramsey, Camden County (Georgia); Anthony Jennings, Marietta (LSU); Eddie Printz, Lassiter (UCLA); Parker McLeod, Walton (Alabama); Joshua Dobbs, Alpharetta (Arizona State)

2012 (4) - Greyson Lambert, Wayne County (Virginia); Steven Bench, Cairo (Penn State); Kanler Coker, Flowery Branch (North Carolina); Nick Schuessler, Grayson (Mississippi State)

2011 (1) - Martay Mattox, Clarke Central (South Carolina)

2010 (4) - Connor Shaw, Flowery Branch (South Carolina); Hutson Mason, Lassiter (Georgia); Miles Gooch, Towers (Virginia); Nash Nance, Calhoun (Tennessee)

2009 (2) - Zach Mettenberger, Oconee County (Georgia); Brendan Cross, Chattahoochee (Wake Forest)

2008 (3) - Jaybo Shaw, Flowery Branch (Georgia Tech); Jon Richt, Prince Avenue Christian (Clemson); Justin Tuggle, Northview (Boston College)

2007 (2) - Cameron Newton, Westlake (Florida); Josh Nesbitt, Greene County (Georgia Tech)

2006 (8) - Antonio Henton, Peach County (Ohio State); Justin Roper, Buford (Oregon); David Cone, Statesboro (Michigan); Byron Ingram, Redan (Georgia Tech); Ross Applegate, Walton (Boston College); T.J. Yates, Pope (North Carolina); Zach MacDowall, Harrison (Wake Forest); D'Metres Hill (Tulane)

2005 (2) - Marcus Jones, Southeast Whitfield (Duke); Tray Rutland, Tri-Cities (Mississippi State)

2004 (7) - Joe Joe Brown, Crisp County (Kentucky); Cullen Harper, Sequoyah (Clemson); Calvin Booker, Mays (Auburn); Alex Mortensen, Landmark Christian (Arkansas); Michael Rozier, Henry County (North Carolina); Kisan Flakes, Lovejoy (Illinois); Kyle Manley, Buford (Georgia Tech)

2003 (2) - Blake Mitchell, LaGrange (South Carolina); Reggie Ball, Stephenson (Georgia Tech)

2002 (5) - Joe Tereshinski, Athens Academy (Georgia); Aryhel Freeman, Tri-Cities (South Carolina); Justin Tyler, Jones County (Mississippi State); Joel Statham, Murray County (Maryland); Wesley Hill, Crisp County (Auburn)

Which Georgia school has had each of its past three starting quarterbacks sign with BCS schools? (Answer Wednesday)

Answer to Monday's question: The state record for passing yards in a career is 9,062 held by Zach Stanford of Metter (2001-04).

List

Airing it out

Georgia's all-time career passing yardage leaders:

9,062 - Zach Stanford (Metter, 2001-04)

8,798 - Jonquel Dawson (M.L. King, 2008-11)

8,427 - Drew Little (Henry County, 2005-08)

8,281 - Fabian Walker (Americus, 1996-98)

8,265 - Hutson Mason (Lassiter, 2007-09)

8,226 - Cedric Johnson (Americus, 2001-04)

8,043 - Nick Marshall (Wilcox County, 2007-10)

7,655 - Dwight Dasher (Charlton County, 2003-06)

7,568 - Caleb Horvath (Chattahoochee County, 2006-08)

7,487 - Jeremy Privett (Charlton County, 2000-03)

7,147 - Brent Owens (Dooly County, 1998-2001)

6,616 - Al Pinkins (Mitchell-Baker, 1988-90)

6,496 - Mikey Tamburo (North Gwinnett, 2006-08)

6,473 - Zach Folsom (Cook, 2009-11)

6,098 - Johnathan McCrary (Cedar Grove, 2009-12)

6,062 - Jonathan Carkhuff (Lovett, 2007-09)

5,965 - Kurtis Koester (Cherokee, 1998-2001)

5,792 - Eddie Printz (Lassiter, 2009-2012)

Source: GHSFHA.com

Note: If there are others that should be added, please let us know.

Regular season

Thursday

Johns Creek at Woodstock

Friday

Aquinas at East Laurens

Athens Academy at Glascock Co.

Atkinson Co. at Lanier Co.

Baconton Charter at Brantley Co.

Calhoun Falls, S.C. at Wash.-Wilkes

Calvary Day at Landmark Christian

Campbell at Morrow (T)

Cedar Grove at Tucker (HS)

Clarkston at Arabia Mountain (PV)

Clinch Co. at Brooks Co.

Coffee at Whitewater

Cross Creek at Greenbrier

Dalton at Ringgold

Dodge Co. at Southwest, Macon (H)

East Gadsden, Fla. at Bainbridge

Fitzgerald at Jefferson Co.

Hillgrove at Westlake

Holy Innocents' at Lakeside, Atl. (A)

Jackson, Atlanta at Towers (AV)

Lovett at Woodward Academy

McIntosh Co. Acad. at Glynn Acad.

Mount Vernon at Mount Pisgah

Murphy, N.C. at Fannin Co.

New Manchester at Paulding Co.

Newnan at Marietta

Osborne at Chapel Hill

Prince Avenue at St. Francis

Savannah Christian at Jenkins

South Atlanta at Lithonia (PV)

Sprayberry at Wheeler

Stone Mountain at GAC

Swainsboro at Worth Co.

Temple at Walker

Towns Co. at Hayesville, N.C.

Washington Co. at ELCA

West Hall at Johnson, Gainesville

Westminster at Blessed Trinity

Windsor Forest at Hardeeville, S.C.

Saturday

Alexander at Bremen (WG)

Brookwood vs. Walton (GD)

Camden Co. vs. Peach. Ridge (GD)

Chattahoochee vs. Kell (GD)

Colquitt Co. vs. North Gwinnett (GD)

Darlington at Christian Acad., Tenn.

Grayson vs. McEachern (GD)

Haralson Co. at Central, Carroll (WG)

Heard Co. at Callaway

Thomasville at Thomas Co. Central

Wayne Co. at Brunswick (P)

Scrimmages

Thursday

Carver, Columbus at Central (Ala.)

Howard at Jones Co.

LaFayette at Gordon Lee

Montgomery Co. at Long Co.

North Oconee at Clarke Central

Spencer at Russell Co. (Ala.)

Troup at Auburn (Ala.)

Union Co. at White Co.

Friday

Americus-Sumter at Lee Co.

Appling Co. at Jeff Davis

Berrien at Sneads (Fla.)

Bowdon at Handley (Ala.)

Bryan Co. at Savannah Country Day

Calhoun Co. at Randolph-Clay

Carrollton at Douglas Co.

Centennial at Marist 

Central, Talbotton at Crawford Co. 

Central Gwinnett at West Forsyth

Columbus at Chattahoochee Co.

Dade Co. at Fort Payne (Ala.)

Dougherty at Seminole Co.

East Hall at Dawson Co.

Eufaula (Ala.) at Cairo

Etowah at Sequoyah

First Presbyterian at Hawkinsville

Hancock Central at Putnam Co.

Henry Co. at Ola

LaGrange at Valley (Ala.)

Lassiter at Flowery Branch

Macon Co. at Schley Co.

Madison Co. at Athens Christian

McIntosh at Hughes

Monroe Area at Social Circle

Mount Zion, Carroll at Wadley (Ala.)

North Paulding at Kennesaw Mtn.

Northeast vs. Westside, Macon (ED)

Northgate at Veterans

Rabun Co. at Hebron Christian

Redan at Cross Keys

Riverdale at Carver, Atlanta (L)

Screven Co. at Jenkins Co.

Taylor Co. at Marion Co.

Telfair Co. at Treutlen

Trion at Chattooga

Stadium abbreviations:

(A) Adams; (AV) Avondale; (ED) Ed DeFore Sports Complex; (GD) Georgia Dome; (H) Henderson; (HS) Hallford; (L) Lakewood; (P) Paulson; (PV) Panthersville; (T) Tara; (WG) West Georgia.

Several newspapers from the Atlanta to Gainesville to Augusta to Columbus recently came out with their preseason all-area teams. We take a look at those players below.

Atlanta

Pay special attention to some of the photography and video. You can see Grayson's Robert Nkemdiche in this video at ajc.com for its Super 11 package. A new Super 11 player will be featured each week. And no, it's not "Brookwood Where You At." Nkemdiche stars in his own video this time. Next week, it's Eddie Printz of Lassiter.

The Journal-Constitution also has a slide show of the 11. Our favorite is Demarcus Robinson (11 of 11), the receiver from Peach County.

Atlanta Journal-Constitution Super 11:

DL Montravius Adams, Dooly County

DB Vonn Bell, Ridgeland

OL Shamire DeVine, Tri-Cities

RB/DB J.J. Green, Camden County

RB Tyren Jones, Walton

OL Brandon Kublanow, Walton

DL Carl Lawson, Milton

QB Johnathan McCrary, Cedar Grove

DL Robert Nkemdiche, Grayson

QB Eddie Printz, Lassiter

WR Demarcus Robinson, Peach County

Gainesville

The Gainesville Times' Elite 11, published Sunday, comes with a gunslinger theme (see page 13). Each player is an outlaw, charged with some crime.

As corny as it was, we were compelled to look at each and every outlaw and his crime and grew to like it. No, love it. "Breaking records willy-nilly" was the one for Deshaun Watson, the Gainesville quarterback who heads the list. Watson threw for more than 3,000 yards last season as a freshman.

Gainesville Times Elite 11:

OL/DL Devonte Benton, East Hall

T Blake Manning, West Hall

QB Deshaun Watson, Gainesville

LB Jacob Allen, Flowery Branch

S Fred Payne, Gainesville

B Bryant Shirreffs, Jefferson

QB Tyler Dorminy, Dawson County

C Josh Cardiello, Buford

RB Cedric Harris, Johnson

DB Noel Padmore, Flowery Branch

ATH Darius Curry, Flowery Branch

Gwinnett

The Gwinnett Daily Post's Super Six comes out one player at a time. It started last week. No. 6 is due this morning. We're fairly certain it's Alvin Kamara of Norcross, but you can find out online later today at www.gwinnettdailypost.com.

Meanwhile, the GDP has a tremendous photo of linebacker Trey Johnson guarding the castle at Central Gwinnett. We're tempted to call it the best-ever preseason photo of a single Georgia high school football player at his home stadium.

Gwinnett Daily Post Super Six:

DL Robert Nkemdiche, Grayson

LB Trey Johnson, Central Gwinnett

DL Kelsey Griffin, Mill Creek

OL Josh Cardiello, Buford

DL Antonio Riles, Archer

RB Alvin Kamara, Norcross

Augusta

The Augusta Chronicle's Dream 16 is another of these preseason teams that's fun to look at. In it, you will find Donquell Green, quarterback of 2011 state champion Burke County, ready to shoot a bow and arrow. You think he actually shot it? Best bet is that Green tucked and ran it for a touchdown.

The best shot in Augusta, however, belongs to Lakeside (Evans) running back Jonathan Edwards, dunking a ball in football uniform. Did he use a trampoline? Does it matter? He's 5-8.

Augusta Chronicle Dream 16 (Georgia players only):

QB William Walker, Washington County

QB Donquell Green, Burke County

RB Jamal Cummings, Grovetown

RB George Myers, Laney

ATH Torrie Battle, Thomson

OL Will Jones, Richmond Academy

P Jacob Rizner, Evans

RB/WR Jonathan Edwards, Lakeside (Evans)

RB/LB Brendan Douglas, Aquinas

RB Jeremy Harden, Greenbrier

DB Zireycus Letman, Lincoln County

Athens

The Athens Banner-Herald has a Terrific 10. Look at the arms on North Oconee running back Kawon Bryant. He's just a sophomore.

Athens Banner-Herald Terrific 10:

RB Kawon Bryant, North Oconee

OL/DL Tyler Parrish, Prince Avenue Christian

RB Adrian Washington, Cedar Shoals

TE/DL Bobby Mashburn, Athens Academy

QB Bryant Sherreffs, Jefferson

WR/DB Amir Williams, Clarke Central

QB Connor White, Oconee County

QB Nick Colvin, North Oconee

DE Johnny Thompson, Apalachee

OL Thomas Swilley, Cedar Shoals

Elsewhere

The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer's Dandy Dozen came with a group shot. The Marietta Daily Journal's Dynamite Dozen and the Cherokee Tribune's Super Six won't be out online for another week or two, but they were published in the print edition Sunday. The MDJ's Dandy Dozen is actually a baker's dozen. We've got the lists below, but no photos. The Macon Telegraph will publish its middle Georgia 12 to Treasure on Sunday.

If you find other preseason area teams, let us know.

Cherokee Tribune's Super Six:

DL Tunde Ayinla, Cherokee

RB E.J. Ellis, River Ridge

LB Trey Alexander, Woodstock

QB Hayden Hall, Creekview

RB Blake Ingleton, Sequoyah

DB Michael McCauley, Etowah

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer Dandy Dozen (Georgia players only):

DL/TE Jay Ellison, Harris County

WR Marquis Hawkins, Carver

DB Carlton Little, Shaw

SS/RB Madison McCluskey, Brookstone

MLB Tyler Pouliot Northside

WRDB Ronald Rosser, Hardaway

DT Brandon Smith, Carver

OL John Thomas Carver, Carver

QB Chandler Whittlesey, Shaw

Marietta Daily Journal's Dynamite Dozen:

RB Tyren Jones, Walton