Buck Farmer
Pitcher
Farmer, Rockdale High School graduate and Georgia Tech alum, got his Major League Baseball debut in a spot start with the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday. Farmer, who pitched five innings allowing four earned runs, was credited with a no-decision. Farmer accumulated four K’s in the start that saw him pulled up from Double-A. Farmer has since been sent down to Triple A, which according to mlive.com, he considers a promotion since he was in Double-A before his start with Detroit. As a junior at Rockdale, Farmer posted a 1.50 ERA and a 2.02 ERA as a senior.

Demetrius McCray Cornerback
After graduating from Newton High School, McCray went on to have a good collegiate career with Appalachian State University. As a Mountaineer, McCray led the Southern Conference in interceptions on the 2011 and 2012 seasons. He was drafted in the seventh round of the 2013 NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Last season, McCray played only 96 snaps on defense according to rotoworld.com. On the heels of his second year, the Florida Times Union suggests that he has a legitimate shot at earning a starting job.

Akeem Hunt
Utility specialist
Like McCray, Hunt graduated from Newton, but he chose to attend Purdue University. Hunt is entering his senior year at Purdue. He was recently named to the Paul Hornung Award Watch List, which recognizes the most versatile high level performers in college football. Hunt currently ranks second all-time in school history with 1,666 career yards on kickoff returns. In his junior season, Hunt totaled 464 rushing yards, 340 receiving yards and 626 yards on kickoff returns. Hunt wasn’t able to earn the starting job at running back after being Purdue’s leading rusher last season. Hunt told USA Today he wasn’t worried and that the team would find a role for him, which could possibly be as a slot receiver.

Sheldon Rankins
Defensive end
Rankins played for Eastside High School and was a three-star recruit before choosing to play for the University of Louisville in 2012. Coming out of high school, Rankins was ranked as the 43rd best player in Georgia. As a senior at Eastside, Rankins recorded 50 tackles and nine sacks. Now entering his junior season, Rankins has been named a captain of the team, along with two other juniors and two seniors. Through his first two seasons at Louisville, Rankins played in 20 games and earned three starts. Rankins looks to start a full year this season.

If you have any suggestions on athletes to update the public on, please email the sports editor, Shakeem Holloway, at sholloway@covnews.com.