Where Will Georgia’s Future Stars Be Friday Night?

Georgia’s 2024 recruiting class is filled with premiere talent from within their backyard. Recruiting within the state of Georgia is something UGA had done well since before Kirby Smart took over the reins of the program, being able to land in-state talents such as Nick Chubb and Nolan Smith.

Recruiting in-state also brings an opportunity for some of your commits to go against each other under the Friday Night Lights. Last Friday, 2024 UGA commit Sacovie White had the chance to take on 2025 UGA commit Tae Harris. Where will some of Georgia's future in-state stars be playing this Friday?

Ny Carr and Colquitt County high school host Dutch Fork high school from Irmo, S.C. in a challenge that both Colquitt and Lowndes are a part of. Last season the two teams faced off against high schools from Florida. This year they get powerhouses from South Carolina. Dutch Fork is led by Tom Knotss, who has won 14 total state championships in North and South Carolina, including one with Dutch Fork last season in the 5A championship. The Packers from Colquitt made it to the semifinals of the 7A state playoffs last season. It will be a true test at Mack Tharpe Stadium this Saturday.

Last season, South Gwinnett stunned Pebblebrook, overcoming a fourth-quarter deficit of 18-6 and winning the game 26-18. Dwight Phillips Jr and Pebblebrook take on South Gwinnett this Friday night with a chance to get revenge against a team they should have beaten a year ago. It should be a good matchup between these two foes.

Daniel Calhoun and Walton play at Mercedes Benz Stadium against Grayson for the Corkey Kell Classic. The Corkey Kell Classic is an annual event amongst Georgia high school football programs that host a weekend-long event to kick off the opening of high school football season. Walton and Grayson are home to some of the nation's top recruits year in and year out and are well-respected programs in the 7A classification. The two powerhouses will face off Saturday night, finishing off the Corkey Kell with a game that should be a classic.

Sacovie White and Cass also have the opportunity to play in the Corkey Kell, except at a different venue. Cass will take on Rome high school this Friday night at Rome's Barron Stadium, the home of the high school, the Corkey Kell, and Shorter University, a Division II program. Rome is another powerhouse program in Georgia, tearing up the 5A classification. Rome will likely line up Appalachian State commit Joe Wilkinson over White. Wilkinson is a 3-star rated safety and ranked 183rd in the state according to 247Sports composite rankings.

The battle of the weekend will be when 2024 UGA commit Dylan Raiola, 2025 UGA commit Jaden Perlotte and Buford host St Frances Academy. Both schools are ranked within the top ten nationally and have premiere talent on both sides of the ball. St Frances, located in the Baltimore area, is home to two Oregon Duck commits, QB Michael Van Buren and CB Ify Obidegwu. Reportedly, the game will be televised on FloFootball this Friday night.

Mountain View and Shiloh have ended their previous two matchups in wild fashion. Last season, the Bears of Mountain View roared victorious after a 95-yard scoop and score from a missed field goal, making the final score 24-14. Justin Grene and Mountain View travel to Shiloh this season and hope to settle the bout with the Raiders early and handily.

Demello Jones and Swainsboro travel to play Metter, a team he and the Tigers have history with. In 2021, Metter defeated Jones and Swainsboro by a score of 32-20. In his senior season, Jones will want to even things out one last time. It should be a good game down in South GA this Friday night.

Quintavius Johnson and Mays play Fredrick Douglass high school out of Atlanta. The two schools faced off last season, which saw Johnson and his teammates coming out of the game victorious, winning 35-0. Jontae Gilbert, the 4-star safety and sixth-rated prospect out of Georgia for the 2025 class, will want to right the ship this season and make the game much closer. This Friday will be a true defensive showdown on the West side of Atlanta.

Malachi Toliver and Cartersville host Cherokee high school this Friday night. Cherokee is a team Toliver and company have handled the previous few years and are expecting to do the same this weekend. The first home game of the year is always important, and the Hurricanes from Cartersville understand that.

Elyiss Williams and Camden County take on Columbia high school. It is a long trip for Jadan Baugh (Arkansas Commit) and company from Decatur, GA, to South GA, but it should be a good matchup between the two teams. Camden County has been producing top football talent year in and year out, having alumni playing from the NAIA level to Division I programs. This Friday night should be a good showdown down south.

Bowden high school and Manchester high school faced off twice in the 2022 season, with Bowdon winning both games. The second game came in the second round of the class A playoffs. Justus Terry and Machester host Bowden this season and will want an opportunity to avenge the previous season's mishaps against the Red Devils.

Tae Harris and Cedartown host Rockmart high school this Friday afternoon and are looking to get back on the winning side against a team that has had their number in the previous three meetings. It will also be an important momentum boost after his squad lost to Sacovie White and Cass in their fall scrimmage last week.

Later on in the season, Ny Carr and Elyiss Williams will face off against each other. Malachi Toliver and Sacovie White will also have a chance to play each other too. Justin Greene will also get a chance to get reps against future teammate Dylan Raiola. Kirby Smart will likely attend one of these future games, but it will be some true competition in Georgia under the Friday Night Lights.

Georgia's 2024 recruiting class

Dylan Raiola, QB
Ellis Robinson IV, DB
Ny Carr, WR
Peyton Woodyard, S
Dwight Phillips Jr., RB
NiTareon Tuggle, WR
Malachi Toliver, OL
Marcus Harrison, OL
Demello Jones, S
Drew Miller, P
Sacovie White, ATH
Ryan Puglisi, QB
Jaden Reddell, TE
Quintavius Johnson, DL
Justin Greene, DL
Chauncey Bowens, RB
Jordan Thomas, DL
Nnamdi Ogboko, DL
Michael Uini, OL
Daniel Calhoun, OL
Joseph Jonah-Ajonye, DL
Nyier Daniels, OL
Marques Easley, OL
Justin Williams, LB
Kristopher Jones, LB
Luke Raab, LS
Nate Frazier, RB

Georgia 2025 Commits:

Elyiss Williams, TE
Micah Debos, OT
Justus Terry, DL
Jadon Perlotte, LB
Jabree Wallace-Coleman, RB
Tae Harris, DB