Early Contenders high school football team preview: No. 2 Grayson

Jeff Herron thought he was all done with big division high school football. The 55-year-old had done it all in Georgia. In 26 seasons, he went 271-51 and won four state titles – including three at AAAAAA power Camden County in 2003, 2008 and 2009.

His plan was to finish his career at Class A Prince Avenue Christian (Athens), where the team went 31-6 the last three seasons. All was good. All was calm. All according to the plan.

But when Grayson coach Mickey Conn, who piled up a 137-48 record since 2000, took a job at Clemson in the spring, the thought of coaching at the highest level suddenly sounded appealing to Herron.

It sounded good to the folks at Grayson too. They offered him the job and with the Rams coming off a 13-1 season, a move up to newly-formed 7A, and with blue chip athletes everywhere, "It was too good an opportunity to pass up," Herron said. 

He admitted his competitive nature took hold. Coaching at the top level was attractive. Everything fit, except maybe this: "Coach Conn had done such a great job I just don't want to mess it all up," he said with a laugh.

See the Grayson Early Contenders photo shoot

No one is worried about that.

Athletic Director Brian DeBerry told reporters: "We're thrilled to have someone with the caliber of coach Herron to lead us. He's a guy whose success on the field speaks for itself."

The Players
It should help Herron and the Rams that a sudden boost of talent transferred to the school as well.

Four four-star recruits, cornerback DeAngelo Gibbs (No. 34 overall senior recruit by 247Sports Composite), cornerback/running back Jamyest Williams (52), offensive tackle Tony Gray (127) and linebacker Breon Dixon (224) all transferred to Grayson in the spring.

Michigan-bound running back Kurt Taylor, also transferred from Newton to Grayson in June.

According to longtime Atlanta Journal Constitution prep writer Todd Holcomb, "High-profile football transfers are not unusual in the state, but Grayson has gained more of them in one off-season perhaps than any Georgia school in history."

As long as families can prove a change of residency into a school zone, there are no restrictions. No sit-outs. No penalties.

Dixon and Gibbs transferred into Grayson before Herron arrived. Williams, Taylor and Gray arrived after. It puts Herron in an awkward spot.

"It's a weird situation and nothing we can really control at this point," Herron said. "Hey, chemistry is a huge part of football. Getting to know each other and bond as a team. That's harder when new kids come in.

"At the same time, if a kid moves in and he's extra talented and works hard and does everything we ask, the other players notice that. There's no problems. They fit in."

Before the transfer onslaught, Grayson was already loaded, led by Clemson-bound quarterback Chase Brice, defensive tackle Ellison Hubbard (16 college offers), Duke-bound center Will Taylor and linebacker Aaron Brawley (two college offers).

The Rams also boasted linebacker Owen Pappoe, a MaxPreps freshman All-American last season.

"There's a lot of talent on this team," Herron said. "We're very good at quarterback, have a real good collection of running backs. My job is to turn an individually talented group into a talented team. We're definitely a work in progress. But I was very pleased what I saw in the spring. Hopefully I'll like it even more in the summer."
The Schedule

The Rams will need to hit the ground running.

They open with one of the national games of the year, hosting fourth-ranked IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), perhaps the only team with more top recruits than Grayson. That ESPN-televised game is Aug. 26.

IMG Academy boasts seven of the top 100 recruits in the country and have had more than 24 players offered FBS scholarships.

Nice way for Herron to be introduced back to big time high school football. "They are unbelievably talented and seem to be very well coached," Herron said. "Our guys are excited about the challenge. I'm excited for our kids."

The schedule doesn't get much easier with McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), Deerfield Beach (Fla.), Ramsay (Birmingham, Ala.) and Hoover (Ala.).

"We definitely have a lot of talented players," Herron said. "Talent alone doesn't win championships. It takes character and commitment and caring about each other. And a lot of hard work."