Top 25 Early Contenders high school football team preview: No. 7 Roswell

Top 25 Preseason Early Contenders - No. 7 Roswell
View a preseason preview of the Hornets from Georgia.


It was only five years ago that the football program at Roswell went 0-10 and was outscored 327-158.

Behind the coaching of John Ford, the Hornets have rapidly risen toward the top, going 15-0 last year before losing in the Georgia 6A title game to Colquitt County, which finished No. 2 in the country. Roswell finished No. 22.

With two players among the top 200 seniors in the country, according to 247Sports Composite Rankings, and five inside the top 900, Roswell enters the 2016 season at No. 7 in the preseason national Top 25 Early Contenders.

With nearby Grayson (No. 2) and Colquitt County (No. 38) and Mill Creek (No. 43) among the nation's top 50, Georgia is a state rich in talent, Ford said. He's coached 14 seasons in Georgia, eight at Roswell and three as the head coach. He was a member of the 1996 Roswell team that won a state title.

"Come late in November you need more than talent," Ford said. "Everyone at that point has a load of talent. It's who can execute and who comes together as a team."

The Players
Ford has elite players scattered among numerous positions, starting with safety Xavier McKinney, a 6-foot-1, 185-pounder who has committed to Alabama.

McKinney is ranked the 109th top senior recruit in the country overall by 247Sports and the 11th-best safety. Ford politely disagrees.

"I'm biased of course, but I think he's the best free safety in America," Ford said. "He's got range, he's physical, has good ball instincts. He's the total package."

McKinney has plenty of help in the secondary, namely from cornerback Leanthony Williams, who has committed to Clemson. He's ranked the No. 186th top recruit overall in the country and No. 20 cornerback.

"He's got every quality you could want from a cornerback," Ford said. "He's long and fast and physical and smart. He has all the tools. He's a Richard Sherman type player."

A third standout in the secondary, Justus Harris (5-10, 170), has 16 college offers.

Other players with top college talent are receiver Jayden Comma, running back Sheldon Evans and tackle Jordan Tucker. Comma (6-2, 200) has 23 college offers and rated the 100th-best senior receiver in the country.

"Jayden is big and physical and really underrated as a blocker," Ford said. "He's an Anquan Bolden type. He's hard to cover one-on-one."

Evans (5-10, 198) rushed for 1,686 yards and 19 touchdowns as a sophomore.

"He's as good as it gets," Ford said. "He's a power back who runs and blocks equally well. He's great in the weight room. I've never had anyone like him."

Tucker (6-6, 325), a Tennessee commit, has 14 college offers.

"For a kid his size, he has incredible feet and athleticism," Ford said. "He had a good offseason in the weight room."

Quarterback Malik Willis (6-2, 188) had a good offseason as well and on June 18 committed to Virginia Tech.

Other returning players who received postseason awards off last year's team include linebacker Sam Diroberto, defensive lineman Max Boyd, offensive lineman Jack Nichols and kicker Turner Barckhoff.

The Hornets appear to have everything covered.

The Schedule
The Hornets have a rematch with Colquitt County at home on Sept. 9, but before that they have tangles scheduled with Central Gwinnett and Buford. Those two squads combined for 21 wins last season, six coming in the playoffs.