GPB's 2024 All-Finals Team

On behalf of the entire GPB Sports team, we would like to thank you for watching and supporting Football Fridays in Georgia. To put a wrap on the 2024 season, here is our GPB All-Finals Team from the eight GHSA State Football Championship Games.

Most Outstanding Offensive Player

QB Luke Nickel – Milton: Extraordinary performance and one for the ages in the Eagles 56-35 win over Langston Hughes in the 5A championship game. Nickel was 21-for-22 passing for 413 yards and four touchdowns in leading Milton to their second straight state championship. The Miami signee also ran the ball seven times for 52 yards, totaling 465 yards of offense.

Most Outstanding Defensive Player

LB Tyler Atkinson – Grayson: The GPB Sports Defensive Player of the Year was once again unblockable and unstoppable in the Rams 38-24 win over previously unbeaten Carrollton in the 6A championship. The 5-Star junior rated as high as the No. 1 linebacker in the Class of 2026 lived up to the billing and more with 8 total tackles, 7 solos, 2 QB Sacks, 3 TFL, 1 PBU.

Most Outstanding Two-Way Player

TE/LB – Khamari Brooks – North Oconee: The Titans LB had 8 total tackles, 7 solo, 1.5 TFL and 2 QB Sacks on defense in the Titans 14-7 win in the 4A State Championship Game. The 4-Star junior LB added 4 catches for 52 yards and a TD on offense. His first TD catch gave North Oconee a 7-0 lead in the second quarter and his last two catches came in the Titans fourth-quarter game-winning TD drive including a crucial 19-yard reception on third-and-10 with 5:00 left in the game that gave North Oconee the ball at the Marist 8-yard line setting up the Titans game-winning score.

Offense

Quarterback

Luke Nickel – Milton: GPB Sports All-Finals Most Outstanding Offensive Player.

Matthew Mungin – Carver-Columbus: 19-20 passing for 327 yards with 4 TD and 0 INT in the Tigers 52-14 win over Burke County in the 2A State Final.

Ben Musser – Prince Avenue: 15-23 passing for 159 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT plus 13-176 rushing and 3 TD including an 80-yard TD run. 335 yards total offense and accounted for 4 TD in the Wolverines 56-28 Private Classification State Championship Game loss vs Hebron Christian.

Running Backs

T.J. Lester – Milton: 25-201 yards rushing with 3 TD and an 8.0 yards per-carry average in the Eagles 56-35 win over Langston Hughes in the 5A State Final.

Devon Caldwell – Hebron Christian: 18-180 yards with 3 TD and a 10.0 yards per-carry average in the Lions 56-28 win over Prince Avenue in the Private Classification Final.

Carsyn Baker – Hughes: 14-115 yards rushing with 3 TD and an 8.2 yards per-carry average in the Panthers 56-35 loss vs Milton in the 5A State Final.

Wide Receivers

K.J. Miles – Carver-Columbus: 7-179 yards receiving with 3 TD in the Tigers 52-14 win over Burke County in 2A State Final.

Jarvis Mathurin – Hebron Christian: 6-146 yards receiving in Lions 56-28 win over Prince Avenue in Private Classification Final.

Braylon Jakes – Carver Columbus: 7-90 yards receiving with 1 TD and 63-yard kick return in Tigers 52-14 win over Burke County in 2A State Final.

Mike Polke – Toombs County: 5-103 yards receiving with 47-yard TD catch and 92-yard kick return TD in Bulldogs 38-18 win over Northeast Macon in 1AD1 State Final.

Tight Ends

Ethan Barbour – Milton: 9-139 yards receiving and 1 TD plus one rushing TD in the Eagles 56-35 win over Langston Hughes in the 5A State Final.

Zion Cooley – Carrollton: 5-67 yards receiving and 2 TD in the Trojans 38-24 loss vs Grayson in the 6A State Final.

Offensive Line

Malykie Vickers – Bowdon: 5-10, 205, Senior.

Dontrell Glover – Langston Hughes: 6-4, 312, Senior.

Parker Pritchett – Carver-Columbus: 6-5, 320, Junior.

Brayden Jacobs – Milton: 6-7, 310, Senior.

Carter Mink – North Oconee: 6-5, 255, Senior.

Grant Prine – Calhoun: 5-10, 245, Senior.

Fletcher Turk – Hebron Christian: 6-6, 260, Junior.

Augustus Underwood – Toombs County: 5-7, 277, Senior.

Josh Threat – Grayson: 6-2, 316, Senior.

Defense

Defensive Line

Marquis Williams – Brooks County: 9 total tackles, 6 solo, 1 QB Sack and 3 TFL in Trojans 34-14 loss vs Bowdon in 1AD1 State Final.

Jack Richerson – Marist: 7 total tackles, 6 solo, 1 QB Sack, 3 TFL in War Eagles 14-7 loss vs North Oconee in 4A State Final.

C.J. Kelley – Carrollton: 8 total tackles, 6 solo, 1 QB Sack, 2 TFL in Trojans 38-24 loss vs Grayson in 6A State Final.

Caleb Bell – Milton: 5 total tackles, 4 solo, 1 QB Sack, 3 TFL in Eagles 56-35-win vs Langston Hughes in 5A State Final.

Linebackers

Tyler Atkinson – Grayson: GPB Sports All-Finals Most Outstanding Defensive Player

Tailen Sampson – Northeast Macon: 17 total tackles, 8 solo, 2 TFL and 2 FF in the Raiders 38-18 loss vs Toombs County in the 1AD2 State Final.

Khamari Brooks – North Oconee: GPB Sports All-Finals Most Outstanding Two-Way Player.

Alec Upshaw - Calhoun: 7 total tackles, 3 solo, 1 QB Sack, 1 TFL, 1 FF and 1 PBU.

Dylan McGrinn – Bowdon: 12 total tackles, 9 solo with 1 TFL in the Red Devils 34-14 win over Brooks County in 1AD2 State Final.

Defensive Backs

Jake Jordan – Calhoun: 3 total tackles, 1 solo, 2 INT and 2 PBU in the Yellow Jackets 20-7 win over Jefferson in the 3A State Final.

Vaughn Mitchom – Grayson: 3 total tackles, 2 solo, 2 INT and 2 PBU in the Rams 38-24 win over Carrollton in the 6A State Final.

Trace Gaynes – Marist: 8 total tackles, 8 solo and 1 INT in the War Eagles 14-7 loss vs North Oconee in the 4A State Final.

Dawson Bateman – Marist: 5 total tackles, 4 solo, 1 INT and 1 PBU.

Kicker/Punter

Carlos Lopez – Calhoun: Kicked Field Goals of 39- and 48-yards plus punted for 43.2-yard average with long of 62 yards placing one punt inside the 20 in the Yellow Jackets 20-7 win over Jefferson in the 3A State Final.