In terms of accomplishment, the 2019 Richmond Hill football team is the best in school history.
In posting a 9-4 record, that group of Wildcats won the school’s second region championship and reached the Final Four in the Class 6A playoffs where they lost to Allatoona, 17-14, in overtime.
That team started the season 0-3 suffering one score losses to Camden County, New Hampstead and Liberty County before rolling off nine straight wins.
It was loaded with good high school talent headed by record setting running back Jalen Rouse and offensive lineman Joe Fusile. Rouse ran for a school record 1,754 yards and 24 touchdowns and signed with Tennessee State. Fusile went to Georgia Tech as an invited walk-on and earned a starting berth as a redshirt freshman.
Those two were among 22 Richmond Hill players on college football rosters this past fall, many of whom were on that 2019 team.
In addition to Rouse and Fusile the list, comprised by the AJC, included: Nick Bliss (Georgia Tech), Tommy Bliss (Mercer), Shaquan Brooks (Berry), Gilbert Brown (Charleston Southern), Jordan Clark, West Georgia), Matt Daniel (Georgia Southern), Andy Ferrer (Ripon), Zion Gillard (Peru State), Dontae Goodman (Ripon), Myleek Gould (Ohio Northern), Ravon Grant (West Georgia), Christian Hubbard (Savannah State), Kenyon Hunter (Dodge City CC), Armon Mason (Clemson), Dar’Vante Menzie (Manchester), Ashaud Roberson (Valdosta State), Ryan Steele (Methodist), Aidan Styan (Mercer), A’lyous Wilkerson (Webber International), Britton Williams (Kennesaw State).
Among Richmond Hill’s Region 1-6A peers, Colquitt County topped the list among region teams with 33 players on a college roster, Valdosta had 29, Camden County 24, Lowndes County 21 and Tift County 11. Locally Benedictine had 22, Calvary 20, New Hampstead 18, Effingham County 14, South Effingham 12, Savannah Christian seven and Bryan County three.
Bryan County players on a college roster were Austin Clemons at Middle Tennessee, Tanner Ennis at Georgia Military and Raul Parrish at Andrew College.
This past season the Wildcats finished 7-3 against perhaps their strongest schedule in Coach Matt LeZotte’s 10 seasons. Unfortunately, they failed to make the playoffs due to being in what is considered the strongest region in the state.
However, talent-wise last fall’s team was every bit the equal of that 2019 team but as of this week only two players had signed to play college football: cornerback Caleb Easterling with Furman and offensive lineman Thomas Zimbalatti with Murray State.
Several players have pending offers but it may not be the school of their dream or at the level they desire.
Which brings up the question of why? The answer, LeZotte said, is the rapidly changing landscape of college football.
“We have a lot of good kids on this team who are deserving of the chance to play college football,” LeZotte said. “The problem right now is not about these kids’ playability, it’s the NCAA. The NCAA is making rules that right now are anti-high school football players.”
Changes—some dictated by the courts—such as the transfer portal and NIL have coaches reevaluating their recruiting. Why sign a high school player when you can go to the portal and get someone who has two-three years of experience that you don’t have to spend time developing. Just let someone else do it for you.
Perhaps the most significant change for high schoolers is one which has garnered little attention.
Beginning this fall player rosters will be capped at 105. Teams normally will carry upwards of 130 players – 85 on scholarship at FBS schools—so there’s a lot of lost opportunities for walk-ons and their chance to eventually earn a scholarship such as Fusile did at Tech.
“Cutting the roster size down to 105 and the transfer portal, just those two, not necessarily NIL money, means fewer spots at the FCS, Division II and down level for high school kids,” LeZotte said. “I’m not in any different situation than any other coach in the country.
“Every single player I’ve had since the transfer portal opened has ended up playing one level lower than they would have five years ago,” LeZotte said. “Shaquan Brooks, one of the best players we’ve ever had, is playing at Berry College. Those guys signing early are doing it essentially to secure a roster spot.”
Joshual Ulrich-Troupe ran for 1,399 yards and 18 touchdowns last fall. He was the second leading rusher in the state among Class 6A backs. He is currently unsigned although he reportedly has offers from Tennessee-Martin and Savannah State. Three or four years ago he would have been snapped up in a heartbeat.
Those FCS and DII coaches, however, are looking at their losses in the portal and where they may go to rob someone else of a quarterback, running back, etc. Plus, now they can have only 105 players. That makes it more difficult for players such as Troupe and several of his teammates.