Tonight in the 7A GHSA Football Playoffs, there is a matchup of epic proportions with major Power 5 prospects galore. The West Forsyth Wolverines play host to the North Gwinnett Bulldogs in the second round of the playoffs in Georgia’s highest classification. Of the aforementioned Power 5 talent, there are a good many UGA targets as well. All of this action can be watched on cable TV live tonight on channel 17, Peachtree TV. Rusty Mansell will be on the call.
West Forsyth is lead by Dylan Fairchild and Oscar Delp. Fairchild is a multi-time heavyweight wrestling state champion at West Forsyth and stars in the trenches for the Wolverines on both sides of the ball. The 6’5″ 300 pounder will likely play offensive guard at UGA, and of the 2021 commits for the Dawgs, Fairchild might be the offensive lineman in the class that is the most mature and ready to play the earliest. You’ll see Fairchild play guard, tackle, and tight end on Friday night and the ball usually follows big number 51 whether it’s on a down block, or if he’s pulling to kick out or wrap as a lead blocker.
Oscar Delp is simply one of the most athletic and fluid tight ends I’ve ever seen at the high school level. At 6’5″ 225, Delp is a tremendous route runner with dexterity to match, and often times he will be paired with Fairchild and flipped from one side to the other of the offensive formation to form a road-grading blocking tandem. Delp is THE GUY for Todd Hartley in the class of 2022. The combination of size and skill, the fact that he’s a Peach State product, and that he’s close with such a sold UGA commit and already DGD in Dylan Fairchild all make it understandable as to why Hartley wants Delp so badly to commit to the ‘G’. Hartley has focused on a singular superstar tight end prospect each of the past 2 class and gotten them in Darnell Washington and Brock Bowers respectively in the classes of 2020 and 2021, and he was instrumental in bringing in grad transfer Tre McKitty. There is mutual interest here for sure. Michigan, Alabama, and a plethora of others are battling Georgia in Delp’s recruitment.
Junior Season
Junior Season
Fairchild and Delp are set to take on Barrett Carter and Jordan Hancock. Carter, a 5-Star ILB and do everything player for North Gwinnett, is committed to Clemson and is one of the more notable misses for Georgia in the class of 2021. Hancock is a lockdown cornerback committed to Ohio State and is another player that Georgia wanted badly. Delp and Fairchild, depsite being primarily offensive guys for West Forsyth, will be used plenty of defense Friday to combat the use of Barrett Carter on offense for North Gwinnett. In the first round of the playoffs, Carter carried the Bulldogs with 17 times for 197 yards and 4 touchdowns to help NGHS beat Meadowcreek 39 – 14.
2023 OL/DL Kayden McDonald is also a player to watch for North Gwinnett. The 6’3″ 325 pound sophomore has an offer from UGA and is very athletic to be so young and so big. Michigan State and Tennessee are also interested in McDonald. I’m sure coaches Tray Scott and Matt Luke will be tuned into the game tonight to see McDonald and Fairchild square off.