Local players make AJC all-state team
Published 9:13 pm Thursday, January 2, 2020
By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY
Daily News
Seven local players, five from Callaway and two from Troup, made the Atlanta Journal-Constitution all-state football team that was announced this week.
From Troup, offensive lineman Royce White was a first-team selection, and he was the only underclassmen to earn that honor on the offensive side of the ball.
The other offensive first-team all-state players are all seniors.
White was an anchor on an offensive line that helped the Tigers put up big offensive numbers last season.
The Tigers had nearly 3,000 rushing yards in 11 games while averaging more than seven yards per carry.
Also from Troup, quarterback Kobe Hudson was an honorable-mention all-state pick.
Hudson, a four-year starter at Troup, was the quarterback the past two seasons.
Hudson, who has signed with Auburn, threw for 1,629 yards and ran for 976 last season, and he accounted for 25 touchdowns.
Among Callaway’s all-state picks are four first-team players.
One of those players is running back Cartavious “Tank” Bigsby, who capped his remarkable high-school career by running for 1,636 yards on 143 carries with 27 touchdowns last season.
In his final game, a loss to Brooks County in the state semifinals, Bigsby had 270 yards on 26 carries with two touchdowns.
Also making the first team from Callaway is offensive lineman Tate Johnson, who helped open holes for Bigsby the past two seasons.
Johnson and Bigsby have both signed with Auburn.
Another first-team player is wide receiver Jacob Freeman, a Georgia State signee who had 11 touchdown catches last season.
Jalin Shephard, a standout defensive back, wide receiver and kick returner, also made the first team.
Demetrius Coleman, who enjoyed a big season at quarterback, was an honorable-mention selection.
Coleman threw for more than 2,500 yards last season with 30 touchdowns.
Shephard and Coleman will return next season.
