Several college football coaches recently stopped by Putnam County High School to check on its players.
Coaches from in-state institutions Kennesaw State, Georgia Tech, Georgia State, and Albany State, as well as Liberty University in Virginia, made trips to Eatonton last week.
Putnam County football head coach Joel Harvin was happy to host the coaches who visited the high school. Harvin said he’s not surprised to see college colleges coming to make inquiries about his players.
“We’ve had a lot of the local schools come through. Georgia State and Georgia Tech, you name it,” Harvin said. “With the days of the transfer portal, a lot of schools are looking into that, but it still means a lot to see these colleges come through here and to meet our guys. It also helps when a former player (Jalon Kilgore) goes and signs with an SEC school. Other programs start to take notice.”
Jalon and his brother, Gerald Kilgore, play for South Carolina. Jalon signed with the Gamecocks out of high school, with Gerald originally going to Tennessee Tech for two years before landing at USC.
A few other former War Eagles who now play at the collegiate level include DJ Bland (Georgia Military College), Tamarion Peters (GMC), Michael Crumbley (GMC), Cedrion Brundage (Gordon State), Malik Thornton (University of the Cumberlands), and Detravius Smith (Union College).
These former players, among others, have helped the future of the program immensely. They have laid the groundwork for current and future Putnam County players to earn college offers.
Harvin just finished his first season at PCHS but can see the talent he has in his current locker room.
“A lot of schools are coming in here to check on our guys. We’ve got a really big junior class that has a lot of good talent,” Harvin said. “We’ve got guys in that group that have been getting attention for a couple of years, so (the coaches) are mainly coming to touch base and meet them in person. They’re evaluating them, watching their game film, and learning their names as well.”
One of the premier prospects at Putnam County right now is junior running back and linebacker Rashod Daniel, who currently has offers from Appalachian State, Troy, and Ole Miss.
Daniel, a 5-foot-11, 205-pound prospect, has earned All-Region honors the past three years for Putnam County. He also was named as a preseason Recruit Georgia All-State selection last August.
Another player receiving college interest is senior running back and defensive back Kaleb Crawford, who has offers from the University of the Cumberlands, Birmingham Prep, and Union College.
Crawford rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and over 10 touchdowns as a senior this past season. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound athlete was named an All-Region 4-AA First-Team selection last month.
Harvin highlighted with his current players receiving so much attention, more schools are bound to make a trip to Eatonton to check them out and that National Signing Day at PCHS could be an event.
“We’ve got talent here and these college coaches understand that Putnam is a place that’s growing,” Harvin said. “We’ve got a lot of kids coming through our system that have a lot of size, and speed, and are really good football players. The program speaks for itself after being able to win the past few years. When you’re winning, you’ve got some talent here and coaches know that.”
National Signing Day is Wednesday, Feb. 7, when Putnam County could have a few students sign letters of intent.