The state of Georgia consistently produces some of the top high school football talent in the nation, and Newton County certainly has its fair share. Here are arguably the six top recruits in our area coming into the 2017 season.

1. Darnell Jefferies (Ranked No. 42 in Georgia) —  Jefferies committed to Clemson over the summer, choosing the national champion Tigers over 25 other offers, including Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia and Georgia Tech. That doesn’t mean schools won’t still try to woo The 6-foot-3, 275 pound 3-star prospect. Jefferies will benefit from being "the guy" on Newton's defensive line, but expect to see him showcase other talents on the field as well this year. 

2. Elija Godwin (Ranked No. 84 in Georgia) — Lately the 6-foot, 190 pound defensive back has been burning up the track as a defending state track and field champion in several events. He spent most of his summer trying to qualify for the Junior Olympics. Still, he has seven offers including Ball State, Central Michigan, Citadel, Miami-Ohio and Virginia. Aside from his speed, Division I schools are starting to take note of the safety's football IQ and nose for the ball.

3. Lamarius Benson (Ranked No. 145 in Georgia) — Committed to South Carolina, the 6-foot-3, 330 pound, four-star prospect says he has not and will not backdown from his commitment to South Carolina, despite other schools and recruiting coaches still doing their best to draw him away. Benson should have a huge year as the focal point of both Eastside's defensive and offensive lines.

4. Nuru Tinch (Ranked No. 179 in Georgia) — Tinch committed to UAB late last month. He held several Division I offers from the likes of Ball State, Central Michigan and Troy, although interest from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and Tennessee was increasing. If this young man stays healthy, watch his star rise. Tinch says he’s healed from a pesky high ankle injury. At 5-foot-11, 212 pounds, he’s a physical specimen at running back, and shows a lot of the tools that people look for in big time running back prospects.

5. Quindrelin Hammonds.  – The do-it-all “slash” player from Alcovy just picked up his first Division I offer from Army on the last day of July. He’ll play anything on offense from quarterback to receiver to tailback. He’s versatile enough to star on the opposite side of the ball as well.

6. Adrian and Aundrae Robinson – The Alcovy twins are only sophomores, but Tigers head coach Chris Edgar corroborates the notion that their blips on the recruiting radar grow each time college coaches get a look at them. They starred early as freshman running backs in 2016. With a year of strength and conditioning, as well as maturity, the brothers Robinson are inching closer to a breakout year.