By: Drayton Hogarth

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

Here at the Southern Sports Edition, we have long been writing about the level of football talent in our area.

We have seen a tremendous uptick in the attention that our kids are receiving from both the national media as well as the college coaches.

It’s not only in the Brunswick area, but this talent boost also includes our surrounding areas too. Other schools in the 912 area are just as loaded with amazing talents.

Places like Liberty County, Pierce County, and Toombs County will be similar to Glynn County in the fact that the eyes of the college football recruiting world will be watching to see how and where some of these high school players will continue their education and playing careers. Let’s take a look at a few of the standouts in our surrounding area.

Liberty County High School is no stranger to being in the football spotlight. Just a couple of years ago, Raekwon McMillan was one of the top high school players in the country. Now his cousin, Richard LeCounte, finds himself in the same spotlight.

LeCounte is one of the top playmakers in the country. While LeCounte plays on both sides of the ball, his best position seems to be safety.

Not only is LeCounte a stand out on the gridiron, but he was also a vitally important player on the basketball court. It is this kind of athleticism and playmaking ability that is needed to take the Bulldogs from really good to elite in the college football world. The newly awarded LeCounte was the first recruiting commitment for new Georgia head coach Kirby Smart.

Smart made him a priority in this 2017 recruiting class. LeCounte has been one of the most vocal and active leaders of the recruiting class and has played a big-time role in helping to recruit more in-state kids to stay home and play for the home state Dawgs. Look for LeCounte to maintain his commitment to Coach Smart and Georgia.

Over in Pierce County, Coach Sean Pender has the Bears rolling. The player who Coach Pender trusts to lead his high-octane offense is quarterback Stetson Bennett.

Bennett is able to make all of the throws in the spread offense that Coach Pender utilizes, but also has enough athletic ability to make plays with his feet when a play breaks down.

Bennett reminds me a little bit of former Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray. While rated a two star, when you take a look at his game film, his playmaking ability shows up time and time again.

Bennett currently holds offers from Georgia Southern, Mercer, and Middle Tennessee State among others. Bennett could be a great fit for new Eagles head coach Tyson Summers, or with the expected great season look for Central Florida coach Scott Frost to possibly come in with an offer. Bennett would be a great fit in Frost’s high-octane offense.

Over in Vidalia, there is linebacker Nate McBride. Usually it is the onions that make opponents cry, now it is McBride.

Simply put, McBride is an athletic freak. The top rated linebacker in the country is 6’2” 225 pounds and was timed at 10.68 seconds in the 100 meters. McBride was forced to sit out last season after breaking a bone in his left hand, and then he broke his right wrist after an auto accident.

McBride has offers from virtually every power five school in the country. Georgia, Alabama, and Oregon appear to be the top schools, but it seems that Georgia has edged just ahead in recent weeks. McBride would be a major cog in the class of 2017 for the Bulldogs.

So, that is a few more of the amazing talents here in the 912 area code. When Friday night high school games arrive, if your local school has a bye week, make plans to go see some of these big-time talents this season.