Coming into the 2020 season, Gunner Stockton grabbed the bulk of the headlines when it came to talking about area high school quarterbacks in northeast Georgia.
And why not? The junior five-star recruit from Rabun County was the No. 1-rated dual-threat quarterback in the nation, committed to South Carolina in the summer and his Wildcats were the preseason No. 1-ranked team in Class 2A.
However, four weeks into the season, Stockton is not the only signal-caller that is now garnering attention in the northeast Georgia area.
Little-known David Renard of Flowery Branch, a junior, leads the entire state, all classifications, in passing with 1,034 yards (6 TD, 2 INT) after the opening three games of the season.
East Hall junior Clete Cooper now sits at 1,013 yards (8 TD, 1 INT) after his first three games, good for third overall and second in Class 4A behind Renard. Dawson County junior Zach Holtzclaw has thrown for 975 yards (11 TD, 2 INT) and leads Class 3A (fifth overall) while J. Ben Haynes of White County has 739 yards (5 TD, 2 INT) to go with 504 yards rushing and another 12 TDs.
And there’s also Malaki Starks at Jefferson. The junior Power 5 recruit -- mainly being looked at on defense or at running back at the next level -- is running the Dragons’ triple-option and has powered his way to 478 yards rushing in the past three games.
Stockton has thrown for 719 yards (9 TD, 1 INT) and rushed for another 434 yards while three of their first four opponents were ranked in their respective classifications. However, his numbers are up compared to the same time last season.
“Regardless of the numbers, Gunner and myself only care about one stat, when it comes to football...winning,” said Rabun County head coach Jaybo Shaw. “I have been very proud of Gunner's leadership. He has tremendous situational awareness within a football game, and how he handles everything when it comes to our offense (protections, in and out of plays, in-game adjustments, etc.). He is always going to put us in a position to win and be successful because of the way he prepares.”
Flowery Branch coach Ben Hall and Shaw both think the quarterback position in the area is in very good hands for the foreseeable future.
“Quarterback play in our area has been impressive so far this season,” Hall said. “I'm familiar with each of the kids, and they definitely have the ability and toughness to be successful at the position.”
“I have heard a lot of good things about the QB's in this area. The only one I have seen play other than Gunner obviously would be Malaki,” Shaw said. “Malaki is a tremendous athlete and it is very evident why he is such a highly touted recruit. Those quarterbacks I am sure do a lot for (their) programs. Anytime you can have that type of trust in your quarterback and know what to expect every day, it is going to give you a chance to be successful.”
Hall also commented on Renard’s physical maturation. But being a year older also has not hurt.
“David is an extremely hard worker and a great student. He did get bigger and stronger in the offseason. (But) his experiences (the past year) have led to his playing with more confidence,” Hall said. “He also plays with composure and (that) has translated to his teammates.”
White County’s Tim Cokely said Haynes has focused more on bringing the Warriors onto the state scene more than individual numbers.
“J. Ben has developed physically in the off-season. He really put in the time in the weight room and (this has) helped his durability,” Cokely said. “But like all of the players and coaches at White County, J.Ben just wants to win. He would sacrifice any statistical recognition for wins and for our team and that is why he and this team are special.”
Dawson County offensive coordinator Andy LeBlanc said Holtzclaw has a similar makeup to former Tigers standout Coey Watson, who led the Tigers to four straight playoff appearances.
“Zach and Coey have a lot of the same qualities that you look for in a quarterback,” LeBlanc said. “They both have the respect of their teammates through their work ethic and are humble. They both have very consistent mechanics and they both have a very good understanding of the offense.
“I think the comfort level that Zach has in the offense has been the biggest positive development. He understands why each play is called. He knows who we are attacking on defense and is doing a great job with situational football. But Zach's biggest improvement this year is his leadership. Zach has always been a tremendous worker so he has always led through his actions. This year he has taken that next step by becoming more of a vocal leader on the field.”
East Hall’s Michael Perry said Cooper is just now grasping what it takes to push into the elite status.
“Clete demonstrated such a great work ethic throughout the long “COVID” off-season. He started taking the weight room seriously, he was throwing every day, and he really started to develop a great passion for the position,” Perry said. “Clete can be as good as he wants to be. He has made strides in his game and understanding of pass protections, coverages, etc. The scary thing about Clete is that he is far from a finished product and if he continues to work and never gets too high nor too low, then the sky's the limit for him.”
What is even scarier, is that all but Haynes will be back next year. If we thought this season may be the newest Year of the Quarterback, we can’t wait to see what 2021 has to offer.
