Corky Kell Classic top performers: Five-star Caleb Downs among the stars
The 31st annual Corky Kell Classic saw Metro Atlanta teams open their 2022 football season. The big names shined. There were also a few new names that popped onto the scene for the first time.
We attended three days of the four-day event.
On3 MVP: Safety Caleb Downs
Hoschton (Ga.) Mill Creek five-star Caleb Downs, an Alabama commit, stepped up big on Saturday to help Mill Creek win a thrilling 44-41 game.
Downs, the No. 12 overall prospect in the On300 rankings, provided his team with a little bit of everything.
Downs snagged an interception and nearly scored a touchdown after a 35-yard return. He was tripped at the goalline after leaping over a would-be tackler.
Downs also had 4.5 tackles and a pass break-up.
Downs was also productive on offense. He played some running back and wide receiver on Saturday. Downs carried the ball five times for 55 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 33 yards.
2. ATH Mike Matthews
Lilburn (Ga.) Parkview athlete Mike Matthews opened the event with a bang. He caught six passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns. He also intercepted a pass as Parkview rolled to a win.
Matthews is the No. 23 On3 Consensus rankings for the class of 2024. Matthews showed off strong ball skills as he attacked the ball in the air on his interception.
3. DL Stephiylan Green
Rome (Ga.) Stephiylan Green lived up to his No. 81 overall ranking on Friday night. Green was all over the field. He made six tackles and recorded 1.5 sacks, one of which resulted in a safety.
Green’s effort didn’t relent throughout the night. He was still running plays down and rarely came off the field during the Rome win.
4. QB Dylan Lonergan
Snellville (Ga.) Brookwood quarterback Dylan Lonergan, an Alabama commit, showcased a little bit of everything in his game on Saturday.
He threw the game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Lonergan also took a quarterback sneak and turned it into a long gain that seal the Brookwood win.
Lonergan’s stats weren’t eye-popping. He was 12-for-22 for 186 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Lonegan ran for 78 yards and a touchdown. There were winning plays made by the No. 78 overall prospect in the On3 Consensus rankings.
He launched a hail mary to end the half that ended in a touchdown. Lonergan threw the game-winning touchdown and made the game-sealing run on a fourth a short.
5. WR Makhail Wood
Hoschton (Ga.) Mill Creek 2023 wide receiver Makhail Wood one-upped his performance from the Corky Kell Classic in 2021. He snagged eight passes for 181 yards and the game-winning touchdown with 19 seconds remaining.
Wood is an Eastern Michigan commit. He also played a key role in the Mill Creek secondary. Wood was dangerous every time he touched the ball.
He was a threat over the top and he turned a few intermediate routes into long runs throughout.
6. QB Jeremy Hecklinski
Marietta (Ga.) Walton 2024 quarterback Jeremy Hecklinski was on the short end on Saturday. His Walton team fell on a late score to Mill Creek.
Hecklinski had one of the better passing performances of the event. The 2024 signal-caller went 20-33 for 425 yards and four touchdowns and an interception.
Hecklinski made throws on the run, across his body and on the run. He’s a playmaker at the quarterback position.
7. WR Cayden Lee
Kennesaw (Ga.) Kennesaw Mountain 2023 wide receiver Cayden Lee put his fingerprints all over his game on Friday.
Lee, the No. 451 overall prospect in the On3 Consensus, caught five passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns. Lee also broke up Cass’ hail mary attempt to close the game.
8. WR Cameron Lloyd
Marietta (Ga.) Walton 2024 wide receiver Cameron Lloyd had an explosive opening game on Saturday. He caught six passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns.
Lloyd was the recipient of a lot of Hecklinski’s powerful downfield throws on Saturday. He also turned a short pass into a long gain with his speed.
9. QB Bryce Clavon
Marietta (Ga.) Kell quarterback Bryce Clavon was an Oklahoma commit for baseball until recently. Clavon showcased that he is serious about playing football as well.
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On the first day of the Corky Kell Classic Clavon put up 263 yards passing, three touchdowns and rushed for 71 yards and a score.
10. OL Caleb Holmes
Fairburn (Ga.) 2024 Creekside offensive lineman Caleb Holmes caught eyes on Friday as well. Holmes is the No. 109 overall prospect in the On300 rankings for the class of 2024.
Holmes battled with Green all night and more than held his own. Green’s effort turned a few strong blocks by Holmes into tackles but Holmes got movement a bit against the four-star 2023 Clemson commit.
Holmes looks to have good size and he carries it well. He moves like a much smaller player.
Other performances of note
Holmes’ teammate 2024 athlete Roderick McCrary made an impact on Friday night as well. The 2024 athlete ran the ball well. He totaled 105 yards on 22 carries.
McCrary rarely came off the field. He played defense and pretty much every special team unit. Hit recruitment is beginning to buzz a bit. Creekside also got a strong performance from Eastern Michigan commit Malik Tullis. Tullis collected four total tackles and an interception. He was active along Creekside’s defensive front all night.
Rome four-star safety Martel Hight also made his precense known. He added an interception on Friday night.
Clemson commit Jamal Anderson made a big catch as a wide receiver on fourth down to help Mill Creek earn a win over Walton. Anderson had four total tackles on the night.
Walton’s 2024 linebacker duo of Wendell Gregory and Ashton Woods made an impact. Woods had nine total tackles and a few thunderous collisions.
Gregory showed off his versatility. He’s a former wide receiver lining up in coverage as a linebacker. Gregory made four total tackles and recorded a sack. He’s the No. 35 overall prospect in the 2024 On300.
Walton’s 2024 running back Makari Bodiford ran for 144 yards and two touchdowns. There is also some buzz that Bodiford could begin adding a few offers in the coming weeks.
New Miami commit Connor Lew impacted Kennessaw Mountain’s win in multiple ways. He played center all night but he also blocked two extra points and made an important stop on a fourth down in the second half.
Four-star defensive lineman Kayden McDonald made a splash with a rushing touchdown. He added 7.5 tackels. Four-star Kentucky commit Grant Godfrey led North Gwinnett with 10 tackles.
Young players shine
Cass 2024 athlete Sacovie White caught six passes for 59 yards and a touchdown right at halftime. White has offers from Georgia and Maryland.
LSU 2024 commit Joseph Stone made his season debut in the finale game of the event. Stone battled injury most of the offseason but opened with three rushes for 42 yards and a touchdown. Stone also caught three passes for 39 yards.
Grayson’s 2023 running back Joe Taylor had a big game rushing for 116 yards and a touchdown.
A new name surfaced for Parkview. Zelus Hicks, a 2026 safety, snagged an interception late in Parkview’s win on Wednsday.