The Anderson IndependentMail picks the 2007 high school football all-area team

Tauren Poole

Running back/Stephens County/senior

5-10 200

The Tennessee commit and Anderson Independent-Mail Player of the Year rushed for 2,113 yards on 294 carries for 30 touchdowns. In 2006, Poole had 1,954 yards and 25 TDs. He collected those numbers despite being the focal point of every opposition’s defensive game plan.

Montez Hatten

Running back/Westside/senior

5-7 180

Westside’s all-time leading rusher, the Offensive MVP for the North in the North-South All-Star game, he finished with 5,184 career yards and 53 touchdowns, more than 1,000 yards more than the next closest rusher. He had 1,715 yards and 16 TDs this season. He leaves the Rams holding seven individual school records.

Brandon Owen

Running back/Belton-Honea Path/senior

6-0 183

Perhaps the most versatile back in the area, Owen had 1,380 rushing yards, 10 catches for 232 yards, and a combined 24 touchdowns. Equally adept at running between the tackles, or outside, Owen was one of the first offensive targets for defenses.

Lee Butler

Safety/returner/Westside/senior

5-10 170

The Shrine Bowler and Duke commit could be the fastest return man in the open field. He played receiver and safety for the first part of the season, along with some special teams, before shifting to quarterback in a run-heavy offense. Before a shoulder injury cut short the season finale at Beaufort, he had 1,263 all-purpose yards and 11 TDs.

Joseph Wideman

Linebacker/Belton-Honea Path/senior

6-1 197

A North-South selection who collected an area-high 169 tackles and a team-high six sacks. The undisputed leader of a defense that allowed 12.2 points in region play. He also mentored up-and-coming teammate Nino Woolridge, to form an imposing combination in the Bears’ front seven.

Quinton Payton

Receiver, defensive back/T.L. Hanna/junior

6-4 175

One of the more highly touted prospects of the 2009 class — already with offers from two ACC schools — Payton excelled despite consistent double coverage. He had 51 catches for 822 yards and nine touchdowns. Also had 62 tackles, four pass breakups, and an interception.

Seth Addis

Offensive tackle/T.L. Hanna/senior

6-5 230

The most experienced and talented of Hanna’s front five, the North-South selection had a final blocking grade of 88 percent, with 54 knockdown blocks. He helped Hanna rush for 1,915 yards and 18 TDs.

Tyler Brennan

Quarterback/T.L. Hanna/senior

6-3 190

One of the top five QBs ever to play at Hanna, Brennan finished his three-year career in the North-South game. He collected 2,021 passing yards, 21 TDs and 14 interceptions. His career featured 4,717 passing yards, and a 49 percent completion rate.

DeAndre Hopkins

Cornerback/receiver D.W. Daniel/sophomore

6-2 175

Intercepted an area-high 14 passes (returned for 167 yards), including two returned for touchdowns in his first year playing football. Had 37 tackles. Also caught 12 passes for 271 yards and four touchdowns.

Jerrodd Williams

Cornerback/kick returner/D.W. Daniel/junior

6-1 175

Picked off four passes and returned one for a touchdown, while registering 43 tackles. Returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, and averaged 34.1 yards per kickoff return.

Chaz Jones

Linebacker/Calhoun Falls/senior

6-2 202

Second in the area with 149 tackles including 18 for a loss, and three sacks. An all-Region 1-A selection, Jones was one of the best small-school defenders in the state on a team that finished 2-8.

Damarque Paul

Linebacker/Abbeville/senior

5-3 180

Pound-for-pound the hardest hitter around, Paul led the Panthers in tackles the last three years as he became one of the most respected linebackers in the Skyline region.

Toquavius Gilchrist

All-purpose/Abbeville/senior

6-2 205

One of the area’s best running backs his first three years — topping 4,000 career yards along the way — Gilchrist split time at linebacker this season, which cut his production by about 200 yards. Still, was a key running back in the North-South game.

Darrell Zellars

Defensive tackle/Westside/senior

6-3 260

The North-South pick was a disruptive force to opposing offensive linemen and quarterbacks who collected 108 tackles, four sacks, 19 quarterback hurries, and a blocked punt in the all-star game. Absorbed an increasing number of double teams and countless uncalled holding plays to shift the opposition’s game plan.

Chris Wiley

Linebacker/Westside/senior

6-0 200

A heat-seeking tackler who seemed to be in on almost every play, especially in the playoffs. The Shrine Bowler had 136 tackles, 14 tackles for a loss, and a team-high four interceptions.

B.J. Blanding

Receiver/Pendleton/senior

6-3 180

A game-changing receiver who drew in-game adjustments and double teams (eight catches for 143 yards against Abbeville), Blanding was the Skyline region Player of the Year. Had 42 catches for 692 yards and three touchdowns — averaging 16 yards per catch.

Zachary Sears

Kicker/punter/Pendleton/junior

5-8 152

A versatile specialist, Sears converted seven of 11 field goal attempts including a long of 38 yards. Also had 13 punts for an average of 32 yards per boot.

Duvon Young

Defensive end/D.W. Daniel/sophomore

6-1 235

A disturbing force to opposing offensive lines, and a wide body with plenty of potential, Young had 85 tackles, and was second on the Lions with 14 for a loss. An all-region selection, he created plenty of pressure to help his secondary come up with 29 interceptions.

Cody O’Brien

Offensive line/Westside/senior

6-4 280

One of the more versatile offensive linemen around who saw time at all three positions this season, and was a valuable commodity to the Rams’ juggling front five. He had an average blocking grade of 78 percent with 11 knockdown blocks. A large chunk of the team’s 2,875 rushing yards were behind him.

Tavarres King

Wide receiver/Habersham Central/senior

6-1 173

The Georgia commit was named the state’s Gatorade Football Player of the Year, and Georgia Sports Writers Offensive Player of the Year. He had 100 receptions (a single season state record) this season for 1,641 yards and 17 touchdowns. His career numbers were 207 receptions for 3,270 yards and 37 touchdowns.

Stephon Williams

Offensive tackle/B-HP/senior

6-3 293

The undisputed leader on a young line, Williams had his season cut short by a knee injury in the Travelers Rest game in Week 7. Yet was still selected to the Western AAA team. He averaged an 84 percent blocking grade during his career, with four knockdown blocks per game.

Aaron Hanks

Offensive line/Pendleton/senior

6-0 239

One of three undisputed senior leaders, Hanks helped the Bulldogs rush for 2,403 yards. The three-year starter had one of his best games against Southside with an 88 percent grade and five knockdown blocks as the Bulldogs rushed for 340 yards.

Connor Hawkins

Offensive line/Seneca/senior

6-2 240

A leg injury in the Daniel game ended his season, but he still had an average blocking grade of 88 percent, and was a vocal team leader. The Bobcats’ two 1,000-yard rushers had most of their runs behind Hawkins.

Sam Dixon

Defensive end/Walhalla/junior

6-3 195

Led the Razorbacks in tackles (113.5) and sacks (5.5) while being a menace to Skyline quarterbacks with 13 quarterback hurries. One of the best of 12 juniors who return for Walhalla in ’08.

HONORABLE MENTION:

Abbeville: Dureal Elmore, so. FB, Tomas Evans, sr. RB;

Belton-Honea Path: Nino Woolridge, so., LB, Jacob Tavernier, so. S, Reggie Ballentine, sr., DE; Calhoun Falls: Martavis Bryant, so., WR, David Bryant, sr. WR;

Crescent: Ross Weller, sr. RB;

Daniel: Justin Walker, jr., QB, Michael Wingard, jr., RB, Michael Stone, jr., DL, Brandon Crenshaw, sr., OL, Duane Justice, sr. LB;

Dixie: Yavario Smith, sr. RB/WR;

Walhalla: Rob Middleton, jr. QB, Jacob Lee, sr. WR;

West-Oak: Justin Comeaux, sr. QB/DB, Dillon McKinney, jr., RB/DB

Liberty: Carey Rowland, sr., LB, Ethan Ladd, so., RB

Palmetto: Landon Candler, jr. LB, Stacey Mosley, jr. RB

Pendleton: Davis Owens, sr., LB/FB, Christopher Lee, sr. RB

Habersham Central: Robert Renshaw, sr., RB, Daniel Franklin, sr., LB

Elbert County: Rod Reid, so. RB, Tyheem Newman, so., QB, Trent Veal, sr., OL;

Hart County: Rod Harland, sr., CB, Tametric Hunt, sr., DL, Zack York, sr., LB

Franklin County: Jay Moon, sr. RB, Quan Johnson, sr. LB, Matt Jackson, jr. LB

Stephens County: Ethan Martin, sr., QB, Kadaryl Burtch, so., WR/DB, Jai Holland, so., DB, Quan Trammell, so., WR/DB;

Seneca: C.J. Washington, so., RB, Kevin Bradley, sr., RB, Justin Gilbert, sr., WR

Westside: Mike Webb, sr., CB, Dustin Connor, sr., LB, Lex Butler, jr., S;

T.L. Hanna: Jake Nicolopulos, so., LB, Ladarius Norris, so., FB

Wren: Mikey D’Ornellas, sr., RB, A.J. Millis, sr., WR,