2025 National Signing Day: Recap

It’s been seven weeks since you watched 8 state champions crowned at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on GPB Sports. Much has happened since then. Primarily on the coaching carousel were we’ve seen some of the state’s very best change jobs.

Today marked what I feel is really the last event of the 2024 season and that’s the “second” National Signing Day. As most of you probably remember the first Wednesday of February used to be THE day. The biggest day in recruiting. That all changed in 2017 when the NCAA instituted an early signing period for football.

In the seven years since we’ve watched as most of the nation’s top prospects have elected to sign in December. But that doesn’t mean the February signing period isn’t without importance. It’s really evolved into a “needs based signing period” for most teams. Filling those holes in their signing class that were not addressed two months ago or through the college football transfer portal.

All that said, let’s take a look at some of the notable players from the 2024 season who ended up signing today.

Northside-Warner Robins 4-Star Chastan Brown signed with Florida State. The 6-7, 270-pound Brown is rated the No. 25 OT in the country by 247 Sports and was the highest rated played in the state that remained unsigned after the early National Signing Day. He originally committed to UCF when Gus Malzahn was the head coach but decommitted when Malzahn left to become the Seminoles OC. Sure bet new Northside Coach Daniel “Boone” Williams wish he had Brown for another year.

Langston Hughes 3-Star QB Christian Langford signed with FIU. He might be the biggest steal of the 2025 Class. I fell in love with his game when we first saw him as a sophomore on GPB leading East Coweta to a first-ever win over Lowndes back in 2022. But after his career hit a detour his junior season, Christian landed at Langston Hughes for his senior season and it played out like a movie script as he led the Panthers to the 5A State Championship Game.

The 6-2, 190-pound QB is smart, can make all the throws and as he showed in Hughes’ quarterfinal win over Thomas County Central he can be a threat in the running game. Langford threw for 3,253 yards this season with 38 TD and just 4 INT.  Expect big things from him in South Florida.  He will play for former great QB himself in Panthers new Head Coach Willie Simmons. It should be a great fit for him.

Carrollton 3-Star TE/Edge Zion Cooley signed with East Tennessee State. He might be the second biggest steal of the 2025 Class. After calling many of his games on GPB Sports the last several seasons, I’m all in on Cooley.

Either as TE or playing the Edge on defense.  Not sure which one he does better because he does both well. Maybe a slight edge to the defensive side of the ball. He had 20 catches for 7 TD for the State runners-up this season and while playing sparingly on defense had 8 TFL and 6 sacks out of 16 total tackles.  Originally committed to East Carolina and had 11-plus offers.

Buford 3-Star Nicco Maggio signed with North Carolina. The 6-1, 270-pound Maggio will play for new Tar Heels Head Coach Bill Belichick. If you watched GPB Sports at all this past season you know just how big and impactful Maggio played along the Wolves’ stellar defensive front. Maggio was a long-time commitment to Wake Forest and actually signed with the Demon Deacons in December.  But when Wake Head Coach Dave Clawson resigned and the DL coach retired, Maggio asked out of his scholarship and that opened the door for today’s signing with North Carolina. Bring your cut-off hoodie, Nicco. He’ll do well. Got big time motor.

Douglas County 3-Star DL Laderion Williams also signed with North Carolina. The 6-4, 311-pound Williams reportedly visited Chapel Hill a couple of weeks ago and it came together quickly for the former Tigers star who told reporters he’s really excited to play for Coach Belichick. A three-year starter for Coach Johnny White’s star-studded team that reached the state semifinals the last two seasons, Williams had upwards of 38 offers including Georgia. Massive body should fit right in the middle of that Tar Heels defensive line.

Carrollton 3-Star CB A.J. Cromartie Jr. signed with Florida State. Trojans Coach Joey King had this one pegged from the get-go. I remember Coach King telling us early in this young man’s career that “Cro” was only going to get better and his best days were still ahead of him. When we saw him for the final of what was many times on GPB, he only had a handful of FCS offers when Carrollton played in the 6A State Championship Game. But things changed dramatically for Cromartie over the last couple of months when Seminoles Head Coach Mike Norvell offered him on Christmas Day. His father Antonio played at FSU and was a four-time Pro Bowl selection in the NFL.

Lowndes 3-Star WR Jaylin Carter signed with Southern Miss. Originally committed to Marshall when Charles Huff was the head coach, signed with the Golden Eagles now that Huff is the top man in Hattiesburg. Had a super senior season for Vikings Head Coach Adam Carter’s second round playoff team where he was the highest-rated senior prospect on the team. Carter finished his high school career with 108 catches for 1,601 yards and 12 TD. 

Mays dynamic 6-0, 160-pound WR Clayton Coppock signed with Kennesaw State. Coppock was one of 13 high school seniors to sign in new Head Coach Jerry Mack’s first class with the Owls.  I’ve seen this young man play the last couple of seasons and have really been impressed with his ability to get open and make plays. He had 25 receptions for 539 yards and 6 TD this past season and averaged 21.6 yards per catch for the Raiders. Three-time All-Region and 2023 Region Offensive Player of the Year and 2024 Region Athlete of the Year. You get the picture. Young man can ball.

Ware County 3-Star Edge Jamar Birden signed with Ball State. The 6-2, 225-pound Birden chose the Cardinals over 18+ offers including Duke, Tennessee and Indiana. He had 21 TFL, 9 QB Sacks and 54 total tackles in his third season with the Gators this past season. Birden played as a sophomore on Ware County’s 2022 State Championship Team. He was one of 12 signees today for new Coach Mike Uremovich’s first signing class.

Prince Avenue 3-Star LB Mac Bradley signed with Mercer. The 6-2, 220-pound Bradley is cut from the mold of classic middle linebacker. Originally committed to play for Air Force before changing his mind. Had a huge season for Coach Greg Vandergriff’s State Finals team with 142 total tackles, 11 TFL and 7 QB Sacks.  Said Coach Vandergriff: “Mac is stereotypical linebacker, the only thing missing is the neck roll.  Looks great with no shirt on.” Tackling machine. Finished his career with 328 stops, 23 TFL and 14 sacks.  Even rushed for 1,058 yards with 28 total TD and had 38 catches playing on the offensive side of the ball early on in his career. 

So congratulations to all these young men and all the many others who will have the honor and privilege of continuing their football careers in college. We wish them all continued success and we’ll be watching on Saturdays.  As of right now just 191 days until our next GPB Sports Football Friday in Georgia!