The annual anticipation for high school football in the region has another reminder that the fall season is approaching: two players from Richmond Hill High School have been named to this year’s Big 22 high school football selections.
Standouts recognised
Wide receiver and defensive back Elias Grant and defensive lineman Tre' Brown were identified among the top 22 high school football players across southeast Georgia and the South Carolina Lowcountry, organisers said ahead of the full Big 22 reveal on Aug. 19.
Grant, a junior-to-become-senior coming off a highly productive season, has already drawn Division I interest and is committed to Liberty University. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound playmaker earned first-team All-Region 6A honours last season after posting the following statistics:
- 45 receptions for 596 yards and 5 touchdowns
- An average of 13.2 yards per catch
- 787 all-purpose yards
- 30 tackles on defence (24 solo), with 5 interceptions and 4 pass breakups
Those contributions on offence and defence helped attract offers from multiple Division I programs, including Georgia Southern and Georgia State, before Grant committed to Liberty. "It felt like home," Grant said of his decision to sign with the Flames.
"He's probably the best all-around player in the area. He plays offence and defence, competes at a high level. Last season, there wasn't a field that he showed up on where he wasn't competitive or maybe the best player on the field."
The comment came from Richmond Hill head coach Matt LeZotte, who praised Grant's versatility and competitive impact across games.
What this means for the Wildcats
Grant's dual-role production — a reliable target on offence and an aggressive presence in the secondary — gives the Wildcats a clear focal point entering the new season. With Grant moving on after his senior season to a Division I programme, Richmond Hill will be working to both maximise his final year in the high school ranks and prepare to fill the significant role he occupies once he departs for college football.
Tre' Brown was listed among the Big 22 selections as a defensive lineman, further underlining the strength of Richmond Hill's defensive personnel returning to the field. The Big 22 recognition places both players among the region's most watched talents as coaches, college recruiters and fans recalibrate expectations for the upcoming high school campaign.
| Player | Position | Notable status |
|---|---|---|
| Elias Grant | Wide receiver / Defensive back | Committed to Liberty; First-team All-Region 6A |
| Tre' Brown | Defensive lineman | Named to Big 22 |
Big 22 and regional attention
The Big 22 list, highlighted each year by WJCL 22, is scheduled to be revealed during a Big 22 High School Football Special on Aug. 19. Recognition on that list brings added visibility for prospects during the recruiting cycle; organisers say the list honours the top 22 players across southeast Georgia and the South Carolina Lowcountry.
For Richmond Hill, the Big 22 selections act as a reminder of the programme’s ability to develop Division I-calibre talent and to produce players who contribute heavily on both sides of the ball. For Grant, the coming season represents a final local showcase before he departs for college competition; for Brown, the selection is a boost to his profile among regional evaluators.
As practices ramp up and the schedule approaches, the Wildcats will be closely watched to see how they deploy Grant on both offence and defence and how the coaching staff leverages returning talent along the defensive front.
Full details of the Big 22 team will be available during the Aug. 19 broadcast and through WJCL’s coverage.
