Georgia’s Finest: The All-State Dream Team of the Modern Recruiting Era
Since the contemporary age of recruiting began in 2002, Georgia has produced 29 consensus All-Americans, ranking fourth most behind Texas (72), California (50), and Florida (48).
Numerous other Peach State products have performed better in the NFL than in college, like eight-time Pro Bowl pick Tyreek Hill and 2023 Walter Payton Man of the Year Cameron Heyward.
It was difficult to choose an all-state squad of 26 players: 11 players on defense, 3 on special teams, and 12 on offense (we added one all-purpose player). We put collegiate achievements All Americans, champs, and award winners above professional success because this was about us as recruits.
(Here is our All-Florida team.)
Offense
Cam Newton, QB, Auburn, five-star (No. 26 in 2007 in the 247Sports Composite): Before being selected first overall in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Westlake product won the 2010 Heisman Trophy and guided Auburn to the national championship. At the start of his senior year, Newton joined with the Gators after pledging his all to Florida. He supported Tim Tebow during his 2007 Heisman campaign. Following a legal issue at Florida, Newton attended Blinn College in Texas before transferring to Auburn, where in 2010 he ran for 1,473 yards and 20 touchdowns and threw for 2,854 yards and 30 touchdowns.
Nick Chubb, RB, Georgia, five-star (No. 33 in 2014): It is shocking, to say the least, that no running back to emerge from the Peach State in the current recruiting cycle has been named consensus All-America. However, Chubb proved to be a valuable addition to the team. He started the 2014 season with 1,547 yards (averaging 7.1 yards) and finished with 2,475 yards after sustaining a significant knee injury in the middle of his sophomore year. Before his senior year at Cedartown, in June, he made a commitment to Mark Richt, picking the Bulldogs over a number of other schools, including South Carolina and Auburn.
Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech, four-star (No. 87 in 2007): Pro Football Weekly named the 2008 ACC Player of the Year, who attended Marietta’s Kell High School, a first-team All-American after he rushed for 1,395 yards and 12 touchdowns in his sophomore season. Dwyer declared he was remaining closer to home after originally committing to the Florida Gators.
Michael Gallup, WR, Colorado State, three-star (No. 1,533 in 2014): In 2017, the product from Monroe Area High was unanimously named an All-American. After attending Butler Community College for two seasons, he went on to catch 176 catches for 2,690 yards and 21 touchdowns in just two seasons. In 2017, he was named a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award.
Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech, five-star (No. 23 in 2004): In his final season in college, the six-time Pro Bowler and No. 2 pick from 2007 was unanimously selected as an All-American for the Yellow Jackets. He finished the season with 76 receptions for 1,202 yards and 15 touchdowns, earning the Biletnikoff Award. Georgia Tech was chosen by the Sandy Creek High graduate over Georgia.
Harrison Bryant, TE, Florida Atlantic, two-star (No. 3,738 in 2016): In the contemporary recruiting era, Georgia has produced two Pro Bowl tight ends (Evan Engram and Jared Cook), but Bryant is the only Peach State alum to win the Mackey Award. At John Milledge Academy in Macon, Bryant switched from offensive lineman to tight end during his senior year of high school. In 2019, he topped all college tight ends with 65 receptions for 1,004 yards and seven touchdowns. Before Lane Kiffin hired offensive coordinator Travis Trickett at Florida, Bryant was on his way to Samford. Atlantic.
Orlando Brown Jr., OL, Oklahoma, three-star (No. 450 in 2014): The 6-foot-8, 345-pound Suwanee native and product of Peachtree Ridge High School was twice voted the Big 12’s Offensive Lineman of the Year in addition to receiving unanimous All-America recognition for the Sooners in 2017. Four-time Pro Bowl selection Brown originally committed to Tennessee before switching to the Sooners.
Mitch Hyatt, OL, Clemson, five-star (No. 23 in 2015): Hyatt started for four years, took home two national championships, and won the ACC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy twice. The Suwanee native and graduate of North Gwinnett High School committed to Clemson before to his senior year.
Marcus McNeill, OL, Auburn, four-star (No. 123 in 2002): The 6-8, 336-pound Cedar Grove High student opened holes for Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown twice, earning All-America accolades. The other finalists for McNeill were Georgia, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia.
George “Duke” Robinson, OL, Oklahoma, (No. 15 OT in 2005): As a guard for Bob Stoops at Norman, the grandnephew of singer-songwriter Smokey Robinson was twice named an All-America selection. The Atlanta Washington graduate, who is rated four stars by Rivals, visited Arkansas, Georgia, and Mississippi State on official visits before deciding on OU.
David Yankey, OL, Stanford, three-star (No. 496 in 2010): Yankey, an Australian native who graduated from Roswell Centennial High School, was named consensus All-America as a guard twice. Prior to his senior year, in July, he committed to Stanford after receiving offers from Clemson, Duke, Florida, and Georgia, among other schools.
Travis Hunter, all-purpose, Colorado, five-star (No. 1 in 2022): Hunter, who was selected a consensus All-American in the previous season and received the Paul Hornung Award, is the epitome of the dual-threat in college football today. While at Jackson State, Deion Sanders talked him out of signing with Florida State, and after the 2022 season, Hunter followed him to Boulder.
Defense
Vic Beasley, DL, Clemson, three-star (No. 812 in 2010): Before Atlanta selected him with the eighth choice in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, Beasley was twice chosen as a consensus All-American and won the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award. Choosing Clemson over Alabama and Auburn, the Adairsville High alumnusus had 30 sacks and 48 tackles for loss during his collegiate tenure.
Derrick Brown, DL, Auburn, five-star (No. 9 in 2016): As a senior, the 2019 SEC Defensive Player of the Year and Lott Trophy winner recorded 11.5 tackles for loss and four sacks, earning him unanimous All-America recognition. The 2020 NFL Draft pick of Sugar Hill Lanier High School, who went seventh overall, choose the Tigers over Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama.
Bradley Chubb, DL, NC State, three-star (No. 733 in 2014): In addition to being selected unanimously for the All-America team, Chubb won the Nagurski Trophy, the Hendricks Award, and the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award as a senior in 2017. The No. 5 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Chubb, turned down offers from Duke, West Virginia, Wake Forest, and East Carolina, among others, in June of his senior year at Powder Springs’ Hillgrove High School in favor of the Wolfpack.
Jarvis Jones, DL, Georgia, four-star (No. 49 in 2009): After signing with USC, the two-time consensus All-American and 2012 SEC Defensive Player of the Year from Columbus’ Carver High School returned home a year later after receiving a release to transfer due to a spinal stenosis diagnosis. Beginning his final two years at Georgia, Jones led the SEC in sacks (13.5) and set a record for the most tackles for loss (24.5) in his final year as a senior.
Will Anderson, LB, Alabama, five-star (No. 17 in 2020): Last season, Anderson—who was selected unanimously for All-America and was the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year twice—was named the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year. Before his senior year, in June, the Hampton Dutchtown product committed to Alabama rather than Georgia Tech. Over 41 games in Tuscaloosa, he recorded 34.5 tackles for loss and 58.5 sacks.
Kevin Minter, LB, LSU, four-star (No. 127 in 2009): Minter, a graduate of Suwanee’s Peachtree Ridge High School, committed to LSU. During his three seasons in Baton Rouge, he recorded 206 tackles, including 18.5 for loss, and was a finalist for the Butkus Award in 2012.
Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia, four-star (No. 48 in 2015): In addition to being selected a unanimous All-American and the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year, the Montezuma native and graduate of Macon County High School became the first Georgia Bulldog to earn the Butkus Award. Originally committing to UCLA on signing day, Smith (who was drafted tenth in 2018) never signed a letter of intent because Bruins defensive coach Jeff Ulbrich left Westwood for an NFL position.
Eric Berry, DB, Tennessee, five-star (No. 3 in 2007): The Fairburn Creekside High alumnus was a two-time unanimous All-American who won the Thorpe and Tatum trophies in addition to SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Among others, he chose Tennessee over Auburn, Georgia, Ohio State, and USC.
Darqueze Dennard, DB, Michigan State, three-star (No. 1,450 in 2010): In 2013, after being selected as a unanimous All-American, the Twiggs County High graduate earned the Thorpe and Tatum trophies and was a member of two All-Big Ten teams. Save for the Spartans and Mark Dantonio, he received only a few offers from Middle Tennessee State and Utah State.
Kyle Hamilton, DB, Notre Dame, four-star (No. 60 in 2019): The star from Atlanta Marist was enticed to leave the SEC by Notre Dame, and he went on to become one of the best defensive players for the Fighting Irish in the last ten years. In his three seasons at Notre Dame, he amassed 138 tackles and eight interceptions. He was selected as a first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft and was a unanimous All-American in 2001.
Christopher Smith II, DB, Georgia, four-star (No. 306 in 2018): at his last season at Athens, Smith was selected as a unanimous All-American and led the Bulldogs to two national championships as a starter. The 2022 SEC championship game saw the Atlanta Hapeville Charter High alum return a blocked field goal 95 yards for a touchdown after having the game’s critical pick six in a 10-3 victory over Clemson early in the season. In May of his junior year, he visited Michigan, his other finalist, and then committed to Georgia.
Specialists
Rodrigo Blankenship, K, Georgia, three-star (No. 1,787 in 2015): at his last season at Athens, Smith was selected as a unanimous All-American and led the Bulldogs to two national championships as a starter. The 2022 SEC championship game saw the Atlanta Hapeville Charter High alum return a blocked field goal 95 yards for a touchdown after having the game’s critical pick six in a 10-3 victory over Clemson early in the season. In May of his junior year, he visited Michigan, his other finalist, and then committed to Georgia.
Drew Butler, P, Georgia, two-star (No. 1,913 in 2007): Butler led the nation in punting average (48.1 yards) in 2009 as a sophomore and took home the Ray Guy Award along with unanimous All-American honors. The Peachtree Ridge High product is the son of former Georgia and NFL kicker Kevin Butler.
Evan Berry, RS, Tennessee, four-star (No. 299 in 2014): As a sophomore, the younger brother of Eric Berry returned three kickoffs for touchdowns, earning him the title of SEC Special Teams Player of the Year in 2015. During his four seasons in Knoxville, he averaged 34.3 yards per return, which is the highest lifetime average for return men since 1976.
Notes
In the current era of recruiting, Peach State has produced 24 players that were invited to multiple Pro Bowls during their professional careers.
We highlighted Heyward (Ohio State, Suwanee Peachtree Ridge High, four-star, No. 191 in 2007) and Hill (West Alabama, Douglas Coffee High, unranked in 2012), but there were other noteworthy Pro Bowl players who were not good enough in college to make our list. Among them were five-time Pro Bowlers Demaryius Thomas (Georgia Tech, Dublin West Laurens High, three-star, No. 602 in 2006) and Alvin Kamara (Tennessee, Norcross High, four-star, No. 42 in 2013) in addition to six-time Pro Bowl selection Darius Slay (Mississippi State, Brunswick High, three-star, No. 1,439 in 2009).
In terms of modern-day Pro Bowl quarterback production, Georgia is fourth behind Texas (11), California (six), and Florida (five). Along with Newton, the Peach State is represented by Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence (Cartersville, five-star, No. 1 in 2018) and Gainsville’s Deshaun Watson (four-star, No. 42 in 2014).
We chose Newton over Watson on this team because Newton won the Heisman and Watson finished as the runner-up to Lamar Jackson in his final season at Clemson.
The biggest defense-related problem was deciding which third linebacker to join with consensus All-Americans Anderson and Smith. In the end, we selected Minter above three candidates: Chase Thomas (Stanford, Marietta Walton High, three-star, No. 394 in 2008), Justin Houston (Georgia, Statesboro High, four-star, No. 246 in 2007), and Raekwon McMillan (Ohio State, Hinesville Liberty County High, five-star, No. 22 in 2014).
The final defensive back was a tough call. Hamilton edged Malaki Starks.
(Top photos of Nick Chubb, Jonathan Dwyer, Eric Berry: Crystal LoGiudice / USA Today; Mike Zarrilli, Andy Lyons / Getty Images)