Allatoona's Ponder among 54-man Reinhardt signing class

Griffin Callaghan, Marietta Daily Journal, Ga.
Updated ·3 min read

Feb. 3—Reinhardt's football team brought in a multitude of new faces during Wednesday's National Signing Day.

Among the 54 signees — all from within Georgia's borders — were Jayden Ponder, a workhorse running back from Allatoona, and a heavy focus on defensive backs.

Reinhardt coach James Miller brought in 12 defensive backs, looking to continue the program's reputation of strong defenses. With key defensive players Kenneth Lowery, Jon Perry and others leaving, the Eagles also added eight linebackers and four defensive linemen.

Among those defensive backs was Etowah's Jamir Maxime, who recorded 35 tackles, 14 pass breakups and two interceptions during the 2022 season.

On the offensive side, the Eagles signed nine offensive linemen, eight receivers, seven running backs, two tight ends and two quarterbacks. They also brought in three athletes.

"First and foremost, I like to thank my staff — Greg Blue, Forrest Jackson, Mike Peeples, Chet Pobolish, Cliff Matthews and Randall Owens — for all the hard work they have put into making this great class come together," Miller said in a release. "We are blessed to sign 54 players, all from the great state of Georgia. I truly believe this is the best high school football in the country from the players, families, communities and facilities."

Ponder and Elbert County's Quan Moss highlight the incoming running backs. Moss led his team with 1,900 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2022, while Ponder led Allatoona with 1,703 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Ponder is set to join three other former Allatoona players in Waleska — defensive linemen and brothers Cameron and Eric Carty, and defensive lineman Ty Thompson.

After going heavy at quarterback last season, Reinhardt took a lighter approach to the position, signing Hampton's Connor Tolley and Coahulla Creek's Kace Kinnamon.

Two of Reinhardt's five early signees from its signing class were quarterbacks, and with 2022 starter Hunter Arters, a Hillgrove alum, graduating, a new quarterback will be under center for the second straight year.

Reinhardt upped its recruiting this year after signing 32 players during the 2022 cycle.

"We put a major emphasis on hard work, toughness and grit," Miller said. "We want guys that getting a degree is just as important as playing great football. I feel like we have added speed at skill positions and beef to our guys up front. We have state champions and young men that made deep playoff runs. Excited to add them with the players currently busting their tails on campus with coach Gillespie, our strength coach."

Reinhardt Signing Class OL RJ Bellflower, Northside-Warner Robins LB Jaron Benjamin, Veterans LB Braxton Blakey, Briarwood Academy RB Trey Bowles, East Coweta DB DJ Brown, Fitzgerald DB Otis Burley, Lovejoy OL Jayden Calhoun, Southeast Whitfield WR Tyler Cheatwood, Heritage-Catoosa WR Eddren Chester, Jones County DB Nyreon Cooper, Rockmart WR Cam Curtis, Calhoun TE Austin Davis, Dalton DB Harlem Diamond, Cedartown OL Charlie Flemng, Pickens WR Collin Fletcher, Cartersville DB JD Calligan, North Forsyth ATH Jordan Ghant, Peachtree Ridge WR Zach Giddens, Alexander OL Preston Gilbert, Sonoraville OL Cam Gonsalves, Ware County DB Joshua Hale, East Paulding DB Cassius Hann, Walnut Grove DL Julian Harper, Colquitt County LB Jack Hawkins, Chamblee DB Namari Jenkins, Evans DB Braylon Jones, Rockmart WR Dustin Kerns, Calhoun QB Kace Kinnamon, Coahulla Creek OL Logan Long, Fannin County DB Jamir Maxime, Etowah RB Ian McGill, Brookwood LB Riley McKee, West Forsyth DL Miller Meeks, Chamblee DL TJ Morrison, Valdosta RB Quan Moss, Elbert County LB Tristan Mullins, Sonoraville RB Trent New, North Paulding LB Kamari Poindexter, Salem RB Jace Presley, Hiram RB Jayden Ponder, Allatoona DB Kamari Pough, Mundy's Mill DB Brandon Rangel, South Paulding DB Ilyas Rashid, Archer OL Andru Ray, Lowndes OL Dane Rish, Coffee County WR Gentry Sherman, Carver-Columbus ATH Andrew Shockley, Banks County LB Julian Stevenson, Wheeler QB Connor Tolley, Hampton LB Gavin Van Dyck, Paulding County OL Xavier Walker, Fitzgerald DL Aiden Watkins, Langston Hughes DB Jeremy Williams, Norcross ATH Peyton Williams, Ringgold WR Tyon Williams, Northgate TE Brandon Wilson, Northside-Warner Robins