Section Branding
Header Content
Recruiting 2023: Cedar Grove vs. Westlake
Primary Content
Join us tonight as we kick off our 2023 GPB Sports Football Fridays in Georgia schedule as the Cedar Grove Saints take on the Westlake Lions in College Park. Coverage starts 7:30 p.m. on GPB-TV.
These are two of the most talent-rich programs in the state, deep with college football prospects but meeting for just the second time ever. Cedar Grove defeated Westlake 30-20 last season.
The Lions are ranked No. 6 in the GPB Sports Class 7A Top 10 and are off to a 2-0 season start, obliterating their first two opponents North Cobb and Crisp County by a combined 102-40. Both games were on the road.
The Saints are ranked No. 1 in the 3A Top 10 but are 1-1 on the season, defeating 2022 5A semifinalist and 10th ranked Dutchtown 34-33 before losing on the road to Monarch 50-42 as part of the Broward County (Fla.) High School National Football Showcase.
Pound-for-pound, maybe the strongest program in the state, Cedar Grove will not play a team in the same classification until their three-game region schedule at the end of the regular season.
The Saints have won four state championships, all in the last seven years, and reached the state finals last year where they fell to region rival Sandy Creek 21-17 in a controversial finish. This will be Cedar Grove’s first televised game since that officiating mistake marred the end of that title game last December. It’s a big reason why the GHSA has adopted officiating replay review for the 2023 championship games.
Westlake has never won a state championship but have been a consistent contender over the last decade. The Lions reached the quarterfinals last year, falling to eventual state champion Mill Creek. Westlake has had four quarterfinal finishes and two semifinal finishes over the last eight seasons.
Few high school programs have put more players in the NFL than the Lions. Stars such as QB Cam Newton, DB Adam “Pac Man” Jones and current Atlanta Falcons CB A.J. Terrell graduated from Westlake.
So, this one should be a lot of fun. Despite the fact this is just the second-ever meeting, in large part because of the two programs’ disparity in GHSA classification, Saints Coach John Adams calls this a big rivalry game because the players in the two programs grew-up playing with and against each other in youth football on the southside of Atlanta.
So that’s the game preview. Now here’s a look at the Top Prospects to Watch.
Westlake Lions – Head Coach Rico Zackery 11-4 in his second season.
Juan Gaston – 6-8, 335, Junior – Highest Ranking: Consensus 4-Star and On3 Industry Ranking No. 3 IOL in the country – 18 offers including Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama
Christian Peterson – 5-10, 185, Senior – Committed to UCF in July over 23 other offers including Mississippi State – Highest Ranking: ESPN 4-Star and No. 26 SAF in the country.
Tomir Bransford – 6-0, 180, Junior – Highest Ranking: 3-Star and On3 Recruits No. 33 RB in the country – 12 Offers including Penn State
Antwan Smith – 6-3, 205, Senior – Committed to Kentucky in June over 16 other offers including Duke and NC State – Highest Ranking: Consensus 3-Star LB
Raemon Mosby – 6-0, 187, Senior – Committed to Louisville July 4th over 16 other offers including Georgia Tech – Highest Ranking: Consensus 3-Star CB
Harper Holloman – 6-3, 265, Senior – Committed to UConn in June over 23 other offers including Georgia Tech – Highest Ranking: 247 Sports 3-Star LB
DeMarius Hines – 6-0, 190, Senior – Committed to East Carolina in June over 18 other offers including Kent State – Highest Ranking: 247 Sports 3-Star SAF
Kendall Farmer – 6-0, 285, Senior DL – Committed to App State in June over 21 other offers including UMass and Army
Tyler McKinstry – 5-11, 181, Senior – Committed to Kent State in June over 10 other offers including UAB and Southeast Missouri State – Highest Ranking: 247 Sports 3-Star CB
John Betts – 6-2, 210, Senior LB – Committed to Air Force over 11 other offers including Western Kentucky and Army
Dominic Steward – 6-5, 265, Senior OL – Committed to Troy July 4th over 7 other offers including Middle Tennessee and Arkansas State
Travis Smith – 6-4, 195, Junior WR – 12 Offers including Georgia Tech and Georgia
Kennedi Bailey – 6-2, 155, Sophomore CB – Five Offers including Arkansas, Texas A&M and Georgia Tech
Carmelo O’Neal – 6-3, 195, Senior FS – Six offers including Navy.
Zion Williams – 5-11, 173, Senior WR – Five offers including UMass.
Sekou Peters – 6-3, 275, Junior DE – Offered by Boston College, Western Kentucky, and Arkansas State
Jabari Harris – 6-3, 215, Junior TE – Offered by UConn and Austin Peay
Deuce Wimberly – 5-9, 174, Junior CB – Offered by Florida State
Cedar Grove Saints – Head Coach John Adams 24-7 in his third season.
Devin Carter – 6-1, 170, Sophomore – Committed to Florida State over 17 offers including Georgia and Auburn – Highest Ranking: 247 Sports No. 5 2026 WR and No. 6 prospect in Georgia.
E.J. Colson – 6-0, 195, Junior – Committed to UCF in July over 8 other offers including Virginia Tech and Cincinnati – Highest Ranking: On3 Recruits 4-Star and Rivals No. 6 QB in the country.
Lakhi Roland – 6-1, 175, Senior – Committed to Maryland in April over 7 other offers including Buffalo and UConn – Highest Ranking: Consensus 3-Star CB – NOTE: Currently not with the team due to a family matter.
Kyle Mosley – 6-1, 286, Senior – Committed to UAB in July over 7 other offers including Georgia Southern and App State – Highest Ranking: 247 Sports 3-Star DL
Bo Walker – 5-8, 190, Junior RB – 12 Offers including Ole Miss and Arkansas
Jakyre Horton – 6-0, 182, Senior ATH – Committed to Western Kentucky in August over 4 other offers including Memphis and UConn
Waylan Wooten – 6-2, 270, Freshman DT – Offered by Arkansas and UAB
Andrew Leslie – 6-1, 195, Junior WR – Four offers including UAB and Toledo
Jaylen Slaughter – 6-4, 240, Senior OL – Five offers including Georgia State
Joseph Slaughter – 5-10, 180, Senior CB – Offered by Army and Samford
Samarius Turner – 5-10, 165, Junior WR – Offered by Akron
Wesley Brown – 6-3, 200, Senior LB – Offered by Southeast Missouri State and Georgetown
Jordan Thorton – 6-2, 280, Senior OL – Committed to Anderson over offer from Clark Atlanta
Chase Kerns – 6-2, 245, Senior OL/DL – Offered by Clark Atlanta
Keith Bass – 5-11, 195, Junior LB – Offered by Clark Atlanta
So, join Wayne Gandy, Jon Nelson, Hannah Goodin and me for our Emmy-winning Football Fridays in Georgia Game of the Week as the Westlake Lions host the Cedar Grove Saints starting at 7:30 p.m.
Now if somehow, you miss it live, don’t worry, we replay the entire Football Fridays in Georgia Game of the Week at 11:30 p.m. You can also watch live on the GPB Sports app or our Twitter or Facebook page from wherever you are or watch it on demand anytime at GPB.org.
Enjoy your Football Friday in Georgia!