Spring football recap: 10 new names on the brain after spring

The pads have stopped popping around Georgia as spring football has concluded. There are a lot of football players with shiny new offers to ponder.

Coaches trouted through practice fields positioned against and behind high schools all around the state of Georiga. The fields now lay quiet but the recruiting buzz of a bunch players is loud. There are a few new names that could tell a big part of the story of recruiting in Georgia and the southeast that began to buzz this spring.

We examine a few names college football fans will need to know that they probably didn’t know before this spring and late winter.

1. Tyler Atkinson, EDGE/LB, Class of 2026, Grayson

New offers: Auburn, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas A&M, LSU, Maryland, Ohio State, Ole Miss, UCF, Campbell, Mississippi State, Penn State, Western Kentucky, Louisville, Florida A&M, Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Akron.

Loganville (Ga.) Grayson edge and linebacker Tyler Atkinson has had a buzz around the Gwinnett area for a few years. His arrival in high school has been highly anticipated.

He had begun adding offers before practices started. Atkinson showed up to the Under Armour Camp in Atlanta and more than held his own against older players.

He was impressive as an off-ball linebacker during Grayson’s spring practices. Atkinson has quickly earned a starting spot with one of the top high school programs in the state of Georgia as a stand-up linebacker though his future could be as a pass-rusher.

Atkinson will likely be a name fans of blue-blood programs in each region of the country will need to know by the time National Signing Day comes in 2026.

2. Nasir Smith, DL, Class of 2024, Grayson High School

New offers: Tennessee, South Carolina, Kentucky, Ole Miss, LSU, Maryland, Akron, Vanderbilt, Nebraska, Colorado, UCF, Mississippi State, Campbell, Alabama State, Boston College, Western Kentucky, Jackson State, Pittsburgh, Louisville, UAB.

Loganville (Ga.) Grayson defensive lineman Nasir Smith had a productive two weeks. He announced multiple offers each day.

Smith now has nearly 20 offers. More could be on the way in the summer and fall.

3. Ricardo Jones, Safety, Class of 2024, Northside Warner Robins

New offers: South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Maryland, Michigan, Notre Dame, North Carolina, Kentucky, West Virginia, Stanford, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Pittsburgh, Western Kentucky, Auburn, Tennessee, Liberty, Nebraska, Georgia Southern, UNC Charlotte.

Warner Robins (Ga.) Northside safety Ricardo Jones has rocketed up into the top 100 in the On3 Consensus and as well as the top 50 in the latest On300.

Coincidently, Jones models himself after former Notre Dame star and Baltimore Ravens first-round pick Kyle Hamilton. As a result, the college ranks have responded to his strong sophomore season. Jones had eight interceptions in 2021. Jones will continue to add major offers as he gets on campuses this summer.

4. Jake Merklinger, Quarterback, Class of 2024, Calvary Day

New offers: Ole Miss, Auburn, Tennessee, South Florida, Duke, Vanderbilt, Rutgers, Minnesota, Arkansas, Austin Peay, Georgia Southern, Boston College, NC State, Coastal Carolina, Mississippi State, Iowa State Pittsburgh, UCF, Louisville.

Savannah (Ga.) Calvary Day quarterback Jake Merklinger has added the offers to match his ranking in the On300. He is the No. 15 overall prospect in the latest rankings.

Coincidently, Merklinger possesses size at 6-foot-3, 185-pounds. As a result, programs from every conference have begun pursuits of the four-star signal-caller. More could be in store. Merklinger plans visits to some major programs this summer.

5. Noah Dixon, Safety, Class of 2024, Troup County High School

New offers: Michigan, Alabama, Texas A&M, Georgia State, Stanford, Notre Dame, Auburn, Ohio State, West Virginia

Lagrange (Ga.) Troup County safety Noah Dixon has added some elite offers this spring. He has also jumped into the top 200 in the On300 for the class of 2024.

Additionally, programs think highly of the four-star’s character and versatility as a safety.

6. Prentiss ‘Air’ Noland, Quarterback, Class of 2024, Langston Hughes

New offers: Miami, UCF, Houston, Vanderbilt, Utah, Duke, West Virginia, Alcorn State, Coastal Carolina, Akron, Grambling State.

Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes quarterback Prentiss ‘Air’ Noland has been a hot name this spring on the camp circuit. He has also added a chunk of offers this spring to go along with his performances.

The summer could see him add even more. As a result, Noland expects to take a few more trips and camp at some major programs. Coincidently, he jumped to No. 52 overall in the On300 in the class of 2024.

7. Justin Baker, Running back, Class of 2025, Buford

New offers: Penn State, UAB, USC, Jackson State, Western Kentucky, Duke.

Buford (Ga.) running back Justin Baker is set to play a bigger role in the Buford backfield as a sophomore in 2022. He has already picked up interest from coaches passing through.

Baker is a combination of shiftiness and power as a young ball-carrier.

8. Jaqualin Birdsong, Edge, Class of 2024, Troup County

New offers: Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Jackson State, Kentucky, West Virginia, Coastal Carolina

Lagrange (Ga.) Troup County Jaqualin Birdsong is at the beginning of his blowup. He added a few Power Five offers at the beginning of spring. He also plans on getting on campuses this summer.

Birdsong is the No. 190 overall prospect in the On3 Consensus in the class of 2024.

9. Elijah Griffin, Defensive lineman, Class of 2025, Savannah Christian

New offers: Alabama, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Boston College, NC State, UCF, South Carolina, Florida State, Iowa State, Virginia Tech, Louisville, Georgia Southern, Nebraska, Kentucky.

Savannah (Ga.) Savannah Christian defensive lineman Elijah Griffin is now a national recruit. He has also added offers from many of the major programs already. As a result, he will be one to watch in the class of 2025.

10. Mike Matthews, ATH, Class of 2024, Parkview

New offers: Georgia, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan, Texas A&M, USC, Tennessee, Nebraska, South Carolina, West Virginia, Kentucky, Stanford, Auburn, Oklahoma, Mississippi State, Louisville.

Lilburn (Ga.) Parkview athlete Mike Matthews has seen his recruitment explode this spring. He was also considering being a dual-sport athlete in college.

He’s now leaning toward pursuing college football only. Additionally, Matthews is the No. 65 overall prospect in the On3 Consensus rankings for the class of 2024.

Players to watch

• Stephen Johnson DL Whitewater High School (2023)
• Caden Williams RB Calhoun High School (2024)
• Jakhari Williams QB First Presbyterian Day School (2024)
• Hilton Alexander WR Douglas County (2023)
• Che Ojarike CB Denmark (2023)
• Nicolai Brooks OL St. Francis (2025)
• Peyton Joseph OL Peach County (2025)
• Brayden Jacobs OL St. Francis (2025)
• Dylan Lewis S Milton (2025)
• Ryan Ghea TE Milton (2025)
• C.J. Hector ATH Collins Hill (2025)
• Keshaun Singleton ATH Meadowcreek (2024)
• Juan Gaston OL Westlake (2025)
• Shamar Arnoux DB Centennial (2025)
• Raemon Mosby CB Westlake (2024)
• Trenton Simpkins OL Newton (2023)
• Jadon Perlotte LB Buford (2025)