Three Worth County Rams named Preseason All-State

SYLVESTER — Worth County’s championship season may be in the rearview mirror, but the Rams aren’t starting over.

They’re starting with three of the state’s best.

Quarterback Lyndon Worthy, edge rusher Malik Muhammad and place-kicker Brodey Hancock were named Friday to the Georgia High School Football Daily Class 3A Preseason All-State Team, giving the defending state champions three more reasons to believe another championship run is possible despite moving up in classification.

Each player represents a different strength of a Worth County team that enters the season with lofty expectations after last year’s perfect 15-0 record and the school’s first state championship since 1987.

It starts with Worthy.

The 6-foot-3 senior has been under center since his freshman season, quietly putting together one of the most productive careers in Georgia high school football.

He enters his final season with more than 9,100 career passing yards and 92 touchdown passes, numbers that have made him one of the state’s most accomplished quarterbacks, even if recruiting attention hasn’t always matched his production.

Worth County coach Jeff Hammond believes Worthy’s best football may still be ahead.

“Lyndon has progressed quite nicely throughout his career,” Hammond said. “He’s a dedicated worker and has been very successful throughout his career. We may need to lean on him more at times this upcoming year. It will be fun watching him finish his career for sure.”

While Worthy directs the offense, Muhammad has become the face of the Rams’ defense.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound junior already owns 20 Division I scholarship offers, including Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon and Texas — an impressive list for a player who has yet to begin his junior season.

Muhammad announced himself as one of Georgia’s rising defensive stars last fall, recording 71 tackles, including 10 in the Class A state championship game against Toombs County.

Hammond expects an even bigger season this fall.

“Malik has had a great summer,” Hammond said. “He is going to be an important part of our defense.”

The third member of Worth County’s All-State trio often influences games in ways that don’t always grab headlines.

Hancock turned special teams into a weapon during the Rams’ championship run.

The junior converted 11 of 14 field-goal attempts, was perfect on 100 extra points, and totaled 4,803 kickoff yards, routinely forcing opponents to begin drives deep in their own territory.

Having a dependable kicker can be the difference between winning and losing close games, and Hancock proved that throughout Worth County’s undefeated season.

Now the challenge becomes even greater.

The Rams move into Class 3A this fall, where the road to another championship figures to be more difficult. But returning an experienced quarterback, one of the state’s premier pass rushers and one of Georgia’s most reliable kickers gives Worth County a foundation few teams can match.

The preseason honors don’t guarantee another championship.

They do, however, reinforce what opponents across Class 3A already know.

If Worth County is going to be knocked off its throne this season, someone will have to find a way to slow Worthy, keep Muhammad out of the backfield and avoid allowing Hancock to make the difference.

That won’t be easy.

Class 3A Preseason All-State

Offense

• QB – Tucker Parson, Hart County
• QB – Lyndon Worthy, Worth County
• RB – Jaiden Knight, Appling County
• RB – Jae’Veon Williams, Pierce County
• WR – Nick Carroll, Toombs County
• WR – Gavin Green, Rockmart
• TE – Cameron Lear, Hapeville Charter
• OL – Rylan Armstrong, Lumpkin County
• OL – Chris Hector, Columbia
• OL – Patrick Perry II, Carver (Atlanta)
• OL – Jaiden Thompson, Rockmart
• OL – Tre Warren III, Carver (Columbus)
• ATH – Rashaad Silver, Columbia
• PK – Brodey Hancock, Worth County

Defense

• DL – Kingston Brown, Carver (Columbus)
• DL – Kennan Burtch, Franklin County
• DL – Jamarcus Johnson, Toombs County
• DL – Malik Muhammad, Worth County
• LB – Daijon Daniels, Carver (Columbus)
• LB – Bryson Johnson, Lamar County
• LB – Kareem Palmer, Toombs County
• LB – Jaeden Taylor, Carver (Columbus)
• DB – Travion Callaway, KIPP Atlanta Collegiate
• DB – Ronquavious Morris, Burke County
• DB – Dextavion Reese, Hephzibah
• DB – Alex Scott, Toombs County
• P – Juan Aguirre, Sumter County