Following the Future: Winston shines again in Rome's 1st-round win
The high school football season has reached the end of the regular season with several members of Georgia Tech’s 2026 class and two 2027 commits across the Southeast reaching the playoffs.
Here is a look at how each of the commits performed in their most recent games in this edition of Following the Future, which will keep up with them throughout their seasons:
2026 Commits
JJ Winston, WR, Rome (Ga.)
Winston had a huge regular season and that momentum carried over into the playoffs on Friday night as the Jackets’ WR commit racked up a huge night on the stat sheet in Rome’s 47-16 win over Lovejoy in the opening round of the Class AAAAA State Playoffs. Winston finished with six catches for 182 yards and two touchdowns as well as throwing for a 10-yard touchdown (his fourth passing TD of the season) and running for 11 yards on one carry. Rome (9-2) will next host No. 2 seed Houston County in the second round of the Class AAAAA State Playoffs this Friday.
Freddie Wilson, DL, Spruce Creek (Fla.)
Spruce Creek outlasted Seminole on Friday for a 23-20 home victory in the first round of the state playoffs. Wilson finished with eight total tackles (three solo), including two tackles-for-loss, and a forced fumble. Spruce Creek (8-2) will now visit No. 2 seed Lake Mary in the second round of the Class 7A Florida State Playoffs this Friday.
Ladarrious “LJ” Crumity, CB, Madison County (Fla.)
Madison County kept its season alive with a 43-8 road win in the first round of the state playoffs on Friday at Chipley as Crumity played a big role. Offensively he threw for 46 yards on 2-of-4 attempts with a touchdown and ran for 38 yards on eight carries with two touchdowns. Defensively he had three total tackles (two solo) and an interception. No. 9 seed Madison County (6-5) will be on the road again in the second round this Friday to visit Blountstown in the Florida State “Rural” Playoffs.
Traeviss Stevenson, CB, Brooks County (Ga.)
Brooks County earned a 21-6 home win in the first round of the playoffs against Taylor County on Friday. Stevenson contributed to the victory on both sides of the ball with three total tackles (two solo), a half a tackle-for-loss and an interception on defense as well as a 38-yard touchdown catch and one rush for three yards on offense. Brooks County (6-5) will next visit No. 1 seed Johnson County in the second round of the Class A Division II State Playoffs this Friday.
Kentrell Davis, WR, Parker (Ala.)
Parker’s season and Davis’ high school career came to a sudden end on Friday with a tight 17-14 loss at Muscle Shoals in the second round of the Alabama State Playoffs. Davis had five catches for 93 yards in the loss. Parker ends the season with a final record of 8-4.
Darnell Collins, WR/S, Rome (Ga.)
Collins finished with two catches for 56 yards in Rome’s 47-16 home win over Lovejoy in the first round of the Class AAAAA Playoffs on Friday while also making an impact on defense at safety. Rome (9-2) will next host No. 2 seed Houston County in the second round of the Class AAAAA State Playoffs this Friday.
Isaac Obrokta, WR, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee (Ga.)
Rabun Gap suffered a season-ending 55-48 loss at home to Charlotte Christian on Friday in the NCISAA Playoffs as Obrokta saw his high school career come to an end. No individual stats for Obrokta were available after the game. Rabun Gap wraps up its season with a 7-5 record.
CJ Gamble, LB, Carrollton (Ga.)
Carrollton opened the postseason with a dominant 58-17 first-round home win over North Forsyth with Gamble contributed six total tackles (one solo). Carrollton (11-0) next host Harrison in the second round of the Class AAAAAA State Playoffs this Friday.
Courtney Heard, OL, East Coweta (Ga.)
East Coweta went on the road and earned the 28-14 upset win over Denmark on Friday in the first round of the playoffs. Heard started on the offensive line and helped the offense rack up 380 total yards (244 passing, 136 rushing) in the victory. No. 3 seed East Coweta (4-6) will now host No. 4 seed Walton in the second round of the Class AAAAAA State Playoffs this Friday.
Courtlin Heard, OL, East Coweta (Ga.)
East Coweta went on the road and earned the 28-14 upset win over Denmark on Friday in the first round of the playoffs. Heard started on the offensive line and helped the offense rack up 380 total yards (244 passing, 136 rushing) in the victory. No. 3 seed East Coweta (4-6) will now host No. 4 seed Walton in the second round of the Class AAAAAA State Playoffs this Friday.
Amier Clarke, DL, Osceola (Fla.)
Osceola battled for a 22-15 home victory in the first round of the playoffs on Friday over Durant. No individual stats for Clarke were available after the game. Osceola (7-4) will now visit South Lake in the second round of the Class 6A Florida State Playoffs on Friday.
Jaedyn Terry, CB, Manchester (Ga.)
Manchester suffered a 55-20 loss in the first round of the Class A Division II State Playoffs as Terry saw his high school career come to an end on Friday. No individual stats for Terry were available after the game. Manchester finishes its season with a final record of 4-6.
Jeffar Jean-Noel, WR, American Heritage (Fla.)
American Heritage won 50-20 in the first round of the playoffs at home against John Carroll Catholic to extend its season. Jean-Noel had four catches for 35 yards in the victory. American Heritage (5-5) will now host No. 6 seed Plantation in the second round of Class 4A Florida State Playoffs this Friday.
Jonathan Genty, P, Blessed Trinity (Ga.)
Blessed Trinity pulled the upset on Friday in the first round of the state playoffs as the No. 3 seed Titans earned a hard-fought 28-27 victory at No. 2 seed Stockbridge. Genty punted five times for an average of 41 yards per attempt, a long of 55 and three of his punts being downed inside the 20. He also handled kickoff duties with three attempts for an average of 57.7 yards and one touchback. He missed his lone field goal attempt. Blessed Trinity (7-4) will now visit Marist in the second round of the Class AAAA State Playoffs this Friday.
Jack Richerson, TE, Marist (Ga.)
Richerson suffered an injury in his team’s win over North Springs on Oct. 3 that will unfortunately cost him the rest of his senior season. Marist (10-1) rolled to a 30-0 home win over Starr’s Mill in the first round on Friday and will now host Blessed Trinity in the second round of the Class AAAA State Playoffs as this Friday.
Kymani Morales, LB, American Heritage (Fla.)
American Heritage earned a convincing 50-20 home win on Friday in the first round of the state playoffs against John Carroll Catholic. Morales missed the game due to an injury. American Heritage (5-5) will now host No. 6 seed Plantation in the second round of Class 4A Florida State Playoffs this Friday.
Nathan Agyemang, TE, Kell (Ga.)
Kell pulled away for a 35-14 win at home over Hampton in the first round of the state playoffs on Friday. Agyemang didn’t record any individual stats in the victory. No. 1 seed Kell (9-2) will now host Southwest DeKalb in the second round of Class AAAA State Playoffs this Friday.
Alex Willis, Edge/DE, The First Academy (Fla.)
The First Academy and Willis finished off its 2025 season with a 35-28 victory at Lakeland in double-overtime on Oct. 31. The First Academy finishes the season with a 5-5 record.
2027 commits
Jordan Christie, WR, Southwest DeKalb
Southwest DeKalb advanced in the state playoffs thanks to a 35-7 home win over Jonesboro on Friday. Christie finished with five catches for 48 yards. Southwest DeKalb (9-2) will now visit No. 1 seed Kell in the second round of the Class AAAA State Playoff this Friday.
Keyon Standifer, Athlete/WR, Athens Academy
Standifer and the No. 3-seeded Athens Academy (9-1) were on a bye in the first round of the the Class A-AAA Private State Playoffs this past Friday. They will host Holy Innocents in the second round this Friday after Holy Innocents defeated Mount Paran Christian 50-7 in the first round.
