Top 5 Division I Football Players From Williamson County In 2015
With the growth and marked improvement of Williamson County prep football over the past 10 years, more and more Division I talent is coming out of Williamson County schools. Today, we take a look at the best Division I football players this season out of area programs.
Jalen Ramsey, CB – The former Brentwood Academy star has been the most decorated player from a Williamson County school over the past few seasons at Florida State. While Ramsey’s numbers dropped from his 2014 first team All-American campaign, Ramsey still had a huge impact on the Seminoles defense, finishing the season with 43 tackles and 9 passes defended. Ramsey now leads the Seminoles into the Chick Fil-A Peach Bowl on December 31st against Houston. The junior now faces the decision whether to return for his senior season or enter the NFL draft. In his three years in Tallahassee, Ramsey has been honored as 2015 First-Team All-ACC, 2015 First-Team American Football Coaches Association All-American, 2015 USA Today Second Team All-American, 2015 FWAA Second Team All-American, 2014 USA Today First-Team All-American, 2014 First-Team All-ACC, and 2013 Freshman All-American.
CJ Beathard, QB – The Iowa Hawkeyes had a resurgence this year, led by former BGA quarterback CJ Beathard. Iowa had an undefeated regular season before falling just short in the Big Ten Championship game to Michigan State. This season, Beathard completed 61% of his passes for 2,570 yards and 15 touchdowns. CJ added 270 yards rushing and 6 touchdowns on the ground for the Hawkeyes. Beathard now leads the Hawkeyes to their first Rose Bowl appearance since 1991 against Stanford on New Year’s Day. Beathard’s year was awarded with a Second-Team All-Big Ten selection by the Associated Press this year.
Read: Our Interview with the former BGA signal-caller.
Derek Barnett, DE – The top defensive lineman for the Vols this season has overcome offseason surgery to be one of the nation’s best edge defenders. The former BA standout finished the season with 61 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and 9 sacks. Barnett and the Vols will face Northwestern in the Outback Bowl on New Year’s Day. Barnett received Second Team All-SEC honors by both the Coaches and the Associated Press. Pro Football Focus ranked Barnett as the second best edge defender in the nation and First Team All-American by PFF.
Prince Charles Iworah, CB – The former Father Ryan defensive back finished his redshirt senior season at Western Kentucky tied for the Conference USA lead with 4 interceptions this season. Iworah also had 39 tackles for the C-USA champion Hilltoppers. Iworah and the Hilltoppers will face South Florida in the Miami Beach Bowl on December 21. Iworah was named an All-Conference USA Honorable Mention selection.
Graham Shuler, C – Heisman candidate Christian McCaffrey set his record for all-purpose yards at Stanford behind Brentwood Academy’s Graham Shuler. In his senior season at Stanford, Shuler finished with All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention honors. Shuler’s Cardinal will face CJ Beathard’s Iowa Hawkeyes in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day.
