Next Take Georgia: Recent Episodes
ITG Next
Join us every week on the Next Take Georgia podcast as we discuss the latest news and topics in the world of Georgia high school sports.
Dr. Doug Rizer, the Houston County School District Director of Athletics, discusses the state of athletics as the county and school system continue to grow in this Season Finale of Next Take Georgia!
Michael Martin joins host Phil Jones to talk about exactly what it is that he does as the Director of Football Operations for McEachern High School.
Top ranked teams face each other as part of an exciting opening week of the 2023 Georgia High School Football Season. GPB Sports anchor Jon Nelson joins host Phil Jones to discuss the must-see games being played in Week 1.
Long-time Georgia high school football announcer Matt Stewart joins host Phil Jones as they pick their top 5 teams in each classification ahead of the 2023 season.
Joe Mamoine of Prep Gridiron Logistics talks about helping the top high school football teams nationwide find compatible interstate opponents.
Lowndes High School Athletic Director Danny Redshaw recalls the accomplishments of Vikings athletics in his first year as AD and shares his vision for the department moving forward.
Tift County High School head coach Noel Dean describes the change in culture with the Blue Devils football program since his arrival in 2021.
Matt Hankins of NE Ohio Big School HSFB talks about his organization’s event that will host 8 teams (including the Valdosta Wildcats) in 4 games at the historic Paul Brown Tiger Stadium beginning August 18, 2023.
Former Milton High School Athletic Director Gary “Sly” Sylvestri talks about the many achievements he oversaw as the Eagles’ AD, as well as his new podcast with ITG Next, “Behind the Bench.”
Guest Travis Jauden from Connect Savannah talks about how, despite most of the attention in Georgia being devoted to players in the metro-Atlanta area, Savannah has some of the state’s top football talent too. Savannah Christian Prep’s DL Elijah Griffin is widely considered the state's top 2025 prospect, while Calvary Day’s TE Michael Smith is a top-10 rated senior recruit.
Head football coach Josh Lovelady talks about the culture that he has been a part of for 19 years at Mill Creek High School, including the last five years as the Hawks’ head coach.
Langston Hughes High School head football coach Daniel “Boone” Williams talks about the mentality that has taken his team to two straight state championship games, resulting in last season's undefeated title run.
Dr. Kevin Collins, a sports medicine surgeon with the Hughston Clinic and team doctor for Valdosta State University and Colquitt County High School, talks about the advancements in sports medicine and the role it plays in keeping athletes in the game.
Jeremy Edwards recalls the long and winding coaching path he took on the way to being named head football coach at Houston County High School and explains the challenge of maintaining the success he and the team enjoyed last season.
Muscogee County Athletic Director Jeff Battles joins Phil Jones on Next Take Georgia and gives a glimpse into the day in the life of an Athletic Director.
Dave Hunter joins Phil Jones to look back on his storied career at Brookwood and what it meant to have his name added to the Corky Kell Classic.
IJ Rosenberg, president of Score Atlanta, talks to Phil Jones about the Georgia High School Hall of Fame; the newly named Corky Kell Classic; and his thoughts on the Name, Image, Likeness proposal that could impact Georgia high school student-athletes and their futures.
AJC sports reporter Todd Holcomb joins Phil Jones to talk about a proposed GHSA bylaw that would make middle school student-athletes ineligible for two years if they attend a high school camp, then transfer to that host school. A vote to add the proposal to the GHSA bylaws could come as soon as April 17 during the association’s executive meeting.
GHSA Associate Director Kevin Giddens talks about high school football realignment, soccer playoffs coming up, and the growth of bass fishing as one of the GHSA’s fastest growing sports in this week's Next Take Georgia podcast.
Adam Clack talks about his path from Milton High School head football coach to joining the European League of Football as the offensive coordinator for the Paris Musketeers.
Camden County head football coach Jeff Herron talks about the misconceptions of the Wing-T offense and how he has been able to win with some form of the run-heavy offense over his entire career.
Georgia Tech receivers coach Josh Crawford talks about how his career as a high school assistant football coach (Colquitt County, Valdosta, Lee County, Jefferson County, Greater Atlanta Christian) prepared him for his current role as an assistant on Brent Key’s staff with the Yellow Jackets.
Milton High School Athletic Director Gary “Sly” Sylvestri tells us how he went from working as an undercover cop in the streets of Miami to overseeing one of the most successful high school athletic departments in Georgia.
Glynn County Athletic Director Steve Waters talks about what he sees as one of the biggest challenges facing high school athletics in Georgia: Sportsmanship.
Fulton County Athletic Director Dr. Steve Craft joins host Phil Jones to talk about the duties and challenges he has overseeing 16 high school athletic directors in the state’s fourth largest school district.
Central Georgia sportswriter Lance McCurley joins us this week to talk about the top football players to watch for in the 2023 season, including those expected to make an impact with their local Georgia high school teams in 2023, as well as those trying to break into the starting lineup with the Georgia Bulldogs.
AJC Sports Writer Stan Awtrey joined us to talk about several issues making headlines in the world of Georgia high school sports, including the GHSA adding instant replay to this year’s state football finals.
GHSA Exectuive Director Dr. Robin Hines talks about several Topics on the table at the GHSA offices, including the use of video instant replay being apprived for the 2023 football state championships.
Next Take Georgia is back! Host Phil Jones is joined by new Lowndes High School head football coach Adam Carter to talk about his plans for the Vikings football team.
Host Phil Jones talks with Thomas County Central football head coach Ashley Henderson about the differences between coaching at a private school and a public school.
Host Phil Jones talks with Tim Downs, Westminster School athletic director, about the success of the school's athletic program. This year, Westminster won GHSA Class 3A state titles in 10 different sports: volleyball, boys swim/dive, girls swim/dive, boys cross country, girls cross country, boys tennis, girls tennis, girls soccer, boys track and field, and boys golf.
Host Phil Jones and Stan Awtrey of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution discuss the football teams and players to watch for in Class 5A.
Host Phil Jones and WALB sports director Paige Dauer discuss the introduction of Shelton Felton to the Valdosta High School football program and the end of the Rush Propst era.
Host Phil Jones talks with Corky Kell Classic co-founder I.J. Rosenberg about this year's lineup of teams and games.
Phil Jones and Todd Holcomb from the AJC discuss recruiting among high school athletics.
Host Phil Jones talks with WALB Sports Director Paige Dauer about Valdosta's unsuccessful attempts to have earlier penalties reversed by the GHSA Appeals Board.
Host Phil Jones talks with Todd Holcomb of the Atlanta Journal Constitution about transgender athletes’ involvement in high school sports and the reaction from those for and against it.
Host Phil Jones and GPB broadcaster and producer Hannah Goodin discuss the effects of the pandemic on high school football over the past year.
Host Phil Jones and WALB Sports Director Paige Dauer discuss the ever changing coaching situation in South Georgia high school football.
We talk to Buford athletic director Tony Wolfe about the success of the Wolves sports program over the last two decades.
GHSA's Ernie Yarborough talks with us about the success, growth, and opportunities of flag football as more schools elect to join the sport in its second season.
We talk to Miami freshman (and Lowndes football alum) Thomas Davis and his father about how the Hurricanes landed the four-star defensive end and how other schools dropped the ball.
HALO provides homeschooled student-athletes in Georgia with the opportunity to play varsity sports in a competitive environment. Jeff VanDeMark describes why he created one of just two homeschooled organizations in Georgia and the benefits it has for students.
GHSA Executive Director Dr. Robin Hines reflects on how the GHSA met the challenge of keeping sports moving forward while keeping its participants and spectators safe.
A frank discussion with Marquis Westbrook (Warner Robins) and Maurice Freeman (Brooks County) about creating opportunities for more black head coaches in Georgia high school football.
Hear Phil Jones talk with Ashley Anders on Tift County Football (7:30). Plus hear from Rome head coach John Reid (26:07) and FCA Southeast Georgia Area Director and longtime football official Bobby Willis (46:52). All this and more on Next Take Georgia.
GPB Sports and Atlanta United 2 Play-by-Play man Jon Nelson on the state of high school football (6:50), how college decisions have affected high school sports. Also hear from Jon on how Atlanta United recovers from the MLS is Back Tournament (24:59). Plus, Cairo head coach Steve Devoursney on how Cairo prepares for a new season and how the Syrupmakers prepared this offseason (48:19).
Your class 7A high school football preview! Kyle Grondin and
Phil Jones break down the top teams in the class, and they make their early predictions for a state champion. Plus, hear from head coaches Bob Sphire of Camden County, Adam Carter of Grayson, and Eric Godfree of Parkview.
Your Class 6A high school football preview! Kyle Grondin and Phil Jones break down the top teams in the class and make their early predictions for a state champion. Plus, hear from head coaches Dean Fabrizio of Lee County and Bryant Appling of Buford.
Your Class 5A preview! Phil Jones breaks down who he believes
are the five most interesting teams in the classification. Plus, hear from coachMilan Turner of Veterans High School and Coach Kareem Reid of Griffin High School.
Your Class 4A preview! Kyle Grondin breaks down who he believes
are the five most interesting teams in the classification. Plus, hear from coach Ashley Henderson of Thomas County Central, coach Niketa Battle of Mays, and coach Jamie Abrams of Cedartown.
Caption: Your Class 3A high school football preview! Kyle Grondin and Phil Jones break down the top teams in the class and they make their early predictions for a state champion. Plus, hear from head coach Miguel Patrick of Cedar Grove High School.
Class 2A is as wide open as ever, with Dublin and Brooks County moving down to class A. Kyle Grondin breaks down the top teams in the class and makes his early predictions for a state champion. Plus, hear from head coaches Zach Grage of Thomasville, Tucker Pruitt of Fitzgerald, and Von Lassiter of Bleckley County.
Week two of our Georgia high school football preview brings us to class A public, with one of the toughest regions in the entire state in region 2-A. Kyle Grondin, Fox Sports Valdosta's Phil Jones and GPB's Jon Nelson break down the top teams in the classification, including Irwin County, Clinch County, Dublin, Brooks County and more. Plus you'll here an interview from Brooks County head coach Maurice Freeman (35:54)
Next Take begins the statewide football previews with the class 1A private preview. Kyle Grondin predicts the top five teams, makes his state championship selections, and interviews ELCA's Jonathan Gess (16:50) and Prince Avenue Christian's Greg Vandagriff (49:17).
On this week's Next Take, (2:17) Georgia Southern's Chad Lunsford talks about recruiting during a pandemic, growing the Eagles in Division 1 football and what he looks for in a Georgia Southern recruit. Also, the rebound: How (18:54) Crisp County and (43:50) Warner Robins plan to bounce back and win state after reaching the final last season with Brad Harber and Marquis Westbrook.
On this week's episode of Next Take, Kyle Grondin Breaks down if the GHSA should come down harshly on cheaters during the pandemic. Matt LeZotte (8:25) comes on to talk about growing the Richmond Hill program, and Jeff Littleton (35:12) comes on to talk about how Bainbridge plans to rebound from a disappointing loss and their talented roster in 2020.
Two of the very best in the state of Georgia this week. Grayson head coach Adam Carter breaks down his team and the newcomers to the program (5:54). Followed by Franklin Stephens of McEachern on his career success, and changeover with the Indians roster (27:59). Kyle Grondin opens with baseball's biggest problem as they hit the deadline to start the season on time.
On the coaches edition of Next Take Georgia, Colquitt County's Justin Rogers (6:23), Oconee County's Travis Noland (29:50) and Pelham's Dondrial Pinkins (43:50) come on and talk about the state of their team and high school football as a whole. They break down the trials of coaching under a pandemic, and answer the question of how much time team's need to be prepared for the season.
On this week's episode of Next Take, sponsored by the Hughston Clinic, John Bednarowski of the Marietta Daily Journal talks about the sports stoppage, reopening of facilities and the success of Cobb County football teams in 2019. JC French joins the show to talk about transferring to Blessed Trinity, and his goals for the upcoming season. Then Trip Block comes on to talk about Lee County sports and his expectations at Lee County.
On Next Take, Kyle Grondin and Phil Jones talk about some of the games to watch this upcoming season (04:53). Then Bleckley County Head Coach Von Lassiter comes on (35:52) to talk about coaching Jake Fromm and what he expects from him in the NFL.
This week on Next Take, host Kyle Grondin breaks down his draft projections for Georgia high school stars Derrick Brown, Andrew Thomas and Jake Fromm for the NFL Draft. (9:00) Then Justin Kyle Haley comes on to talk about his team's to watch, and debate if Thomasville or Fitzgerald will win the AA classification. (48:55) First year head coach at Hillgrove Byron Slack comes on to talk about adjusting to COVID-19 and his talking about his time at Lowndes and Camden County and his goals for Hillgrove this next season.
Next Take host Kyle Grondin talks about the hiring of Rush Propst at Valdosta High School, then GPB's Jon Nelson talks football in the state and they pick their way too early championship favorites and sleepers. Coach Dean Fabrizio of Lee County joins the show to talk about Lee County's offseason, and Coffee native Rodney Johnson on the expectations for Coffee football.
The Next Take is breaking quarterbacks with Valdosta fan Drew Pipkin. (5:18) He and Kyle Grondin debate their favorite between Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields, Jake Fromm's career outlook and look at the other great quarterbacks from Georgia. (38:15) Then Thomasville Head Coach Zach Grage comes on to talk about the Thomasville community and Bulldogs football.
On the first episode of Next Take, Kyle Grondin and Phil Jones talk about how COVID-19 has effected Georgia football (2:05), break down the Valdosta coaching saga and debate if Hal Mumme or Rush Propst should be the next head coach. Carrollton Head Coach Sean Calhoun comes on to talk about the Trojans jump to 6A (33:06), and how the team looks to get over the quarterfinal hump. Then Crisp County star linebacker Chris Paul Jr. talks about his commitment to Nebraska (50:55), and how the Cougars win a state championship in 2020.