Prep football players are bigger, faster and stronger than ever. Photo by Jon Barash.

Don’t underestimate these kids anymore

Anyone that wakes up today and says, “Oh they won’t be able to do that, they’re just high school kids,” obviously hasn’t been watching high school football in Georgia the last few seasons. For years, save for the elite few, high school football players were clearly a level below the college players that strapped on the pads Saturdays across the country. However with outstanding coaching, improved weight training programs and a year-round commitment by the programs and the players, high school football in Georgia has soared to the top of mountain nationally. Folks should no longer write off high school kids saying they cannot do something. They can pretty much do it all these days and the first month of the high school season has proven that.

Last Friday night I called the Marist 17-14 victory over Southwest DeKalb at Hallford Stadium where the outcome was decided by a 59-yard game-winning field goal by War Eagle junior Austin Hardin with just three seconds left on the clock. The game was a well-played affair until the kick, which was amazing but did not surprise me. I watched this young kicker boom field goal attempts during the halftime warm-up period and I have seen all season long kickers nailing 45+ yard kicks. I was impressed with the result, considering the pressure-situation, but at the end of the day these kids have stepped up their games.

Earlier this season I saw a Hail Mary thrown 65 yards in the air and nearly completed thanks to a tremendous play by a receiver. These young quarterbacks can fling it and they can do it on a dime. These aren’t the same wounded ducks or floaters that used to be seen coming from a prep-ranked signal caller. The QBs are stronger and faster and many can recognize the defensive coverage and change the play on their own.

The offensive lineman are bigger and faster too these days. Gone are the days of the “fat” linemen in Georgia high school football. These kids are muscular and quick. Most, if over 300 lbs, are packed with muscle and can run like anyone toting 300lbs shouldn’t be able to do. These guys use all of the weight instead of just haul it around.

The running backs in Georgia are much faster than in previous generations. While good players have always been around, now it seems EVERY team has a stud running back destined to go to a school at the next level. Last season the state was loaded with top-tier running back talent while this year Isaiah Crowell showed on ESPN2 last Friday that he might just be the top running back in the country thanks to his blend of size, speed, catching-ability and blocking-prowess. Without question, Crowell could step onto a college field and stand out immediately.

And that is the point I am trying to make. These kids aren’t really kids anymore; they are finely tuned athletes that expect to excel on the high school gridiron. A 4.3 forty-time isn’t a shock anymore. A 75-yard Hail Mary isn’t out of the question these days. And a 59-yard field goal shouldn’t surprise anyone. The amazing has become run-of-the-mill in today’s Georgia High School football and we should embrace that these guys can truly do it all.