Statewide standouts: Hawkins breaks own records, West Forsyth RB drives upset of Top 5 team

Welcome to the Athens Banner-Herald’s statewide standouts, where each week recruiting reporter McClain Baxley will highlight 10 Georgia high school players. 

This will feature top recruits, local stars, underrated players and others that positively affected their team’s performance and results. 

Want to recommend one of your players? Please submit their name, position and graduating class via email (mbaxley@onlineathens.com) or Twitter (@mcclainbaxley) by Tuesday morning.

More on local recruiting:Which football players in the Athens area have offers to play at the next level?

Here are the standouts from Week 4:

2022 LB Coleman Cauley, First Prebyterian Day School, Macon

Preseason, Cauley was listed as one of the top linebackers in the state and he has delivered. Improving upon his 13-tackle performance a week before, Cauley put up an astonishing 25 tackles in the Vikings’ 27-2 loss to Aquinas. In three games, the senior has 55 tackles, seven of them for a loss.

2022 DE Justin Ested, Kennesaw Mountain, Acworth

The 6-foot-3 edge racked up 11 tackles, three for a loss, a sack, a forced fumble and he returned an interception 76 yards in the Mustangs 47-3 win against Sprayberry. The next day, Georgia Tech offered Ested. He was on-campus for the Jackets’ win against Kennesaw State this weekend and also holds offers from Marshall, Troy and a few FCS schools. 

2024 QB Gavin Hall, Hebron Christian, Dacula

In just one game, Hall more than doubled his season rushing yards total, rushing for 300 yards in a 43-22 victory against Mount Pisgah. Hall rushed for four touchdowns and had an interception on defense. 

2023 RB Tre Hawkins, Athens Academy, Athens

One of the all-time great performances in Athens history, Hawkins was unstoppable Friday night against Providence Christian. The junior ran for 301 yards on 20 carries, breaking his own school record, and scored seven touchdowns, breaking another Athens Academy record he set in 2020. He only played three quarters. The Spartans won 70-35. 

More:Senior DL Jamarcus Hill a 'quintessential example' of what Jefferson football works to be

2022 RB Dax Reese, Briarwood Academy, Warrenton

The senior had 22 carries for 372 yards and three touchdowns, setting the school record for yards in a single game. Reese's 890 rushing yards this season leads the state, per Maxpreps. Briarwood defeated Trinity Christian 54-17.

2023 CB Dee Oliver, Franklin County, Carnesville

The two-sport star kept his team in the game in unconventional ways Friday night. First by returning an interception 72 yards for a touchdown and then with a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchons. It wasn’t enough though as the Lions fell to Jackson County, 20-19. 

2022 K J.J. Silva, Brookwood, Snellville

Kickers deserve love too, especially when they have a night like Silva. In his team’s first night playing on their new turf field, the senior went 8-for-8 on PATs, drilled a 28-yard field goal and had two tackles on kickoffs. The Broncos defeated Baldwin, 59-34 to improve to 2-1 in 2021.

2022 RB/CB Kobe Stonecipher, Gilmer, Ellijay

In a thrilling victory against East Jackson, Stonecipher contributed in all facets of the game. He played all 141 snaps, rushed for 196 yards and three scores on 15 carries, returned a kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown, broke up a pass and had a tackle. He scored the winning touchdowns with 1:27 left. 

2023 RB Peyton Streko, West Forsyth, Cumming

In arguably the upset of the week, this junior had the game of his career. Facing then-No. 3 in AAAAAAA Walton on the road, Streko carried the ball 22 times for 267 yards and six touchdowns in the Wolverines’ 51-35 victory against the Raiders. With many outlets present at the 7A battle in Marietta, Streko’s name was trending across the state. He doesn't have any reported offers yet, but Streko is definitely a name to look at as the season continues.

2023 QB Fabian Walker, Chamblee, Chamblee

The junior went to work early in the Bulldogs’ bounceback victory against Druid Hills. In the first half, Walker went 13-for-17 for 291 yards and threw seven touchdowns. Through four games, Walker has completed 61.4% of his passes for 785 yards and 14 touchdowns.