ITG Next Hosts 15th Annual South Georgia High School Football Banquet

Valdosta’s Rainwater Conference Center was the site for the ITG Next 2022 South Georgia High School Football Banquet, presented by Georgia Sports Medicine. The top offensive and defensive players from 36 Georgia high schools were recognized for their efforts this season. In addition to those 72 players, there were 10 overall, or main, award winners. These were chosen by the ITG Next staff and included the overall top offensive and defensive players of the year.

Lee County standout sophomore running back Ousmane Kromah was chosen as our Colony Bank Offensive Player of the Year, while Valdosta High junior defensive lineman Omar White took home the award for Valdosta Toyota Defensive Player of the Year.

The Farah & Farah Forward Progress Award, given to the player who showed the most improvement, went to Clinch County senior Patrick Kimple, who played organized football for the first time this season. Kimple is also his class valedictorian.

The ITG Next 12th Man Award, which goes to the fan who shows unwavering support for their team, went to Mark and Connie Mitchell of Bainbridge. The husband-wife duo was nominated by Bainbridge head football coach Jeff Littleton.

Baker's Sports Special Teams Player of the Year honors went to Colquitt County kicker Brett Fitzgerald, the latest member of the Fitzgerald family of kickers. His grandfather and father both kicked for the Packers, as did older brother Ryan Fitzgerald, who currently kicks for Florida State University.

The Wolfson Children's Hospital Middle School Player of the Year award went to two deserving middle school players, with each recognized as Co-Middle School Player of the Year. They were Stratford Academy standout lineman Thomas Gregory and Newbern Middle School running back Deron Foster.

The Preferred Rental Company Community Involvement Award goes to the player who gives of himself to various community groups, clubs, and organizations. Lowndes senior Ronnie Davis, who was described as one of the hardest-working players on the field and in his community, was this year’s recipient.

The TOC Scholar Athlete Award goes to a player who excels in the classroom as well as between the lines. Thomas County Central’s Sam Brown won this year’s award after leading his team to the Class 4A state semifinals while maintaining a 5.6 GPA.

The event’s keynote speaker was Florida State head football coach Mike Norvell, who delivered a stirring and motivational talk. The third-year Seminoles coach spoke for approximately 30 minutes, directing the majority of his comments to the impressionable student-athletes in attendance.

Norvell was the latest in what has become an impressive list of coaches and former players who have served as the banquet’s keynote speakers.

Mark Dykes, ITG Next’s founder and the man who had the idea to create an event where high school players and coaches could come together to honor the game’s top achievers, recalled a few of the coaches and players who have served as speakers at past banquets.

“We have had Mark Richt, Bobby Bowden, Vince Dooley, D.J. Jones, [former San Francisco 49ers lineman and Super Bowl champion] Steve Wallace, Kirby Smart, Mark Stoops, and two years ago Nick Saban,” Dykes said.

Former Valdosta High, University of Georgia, and New England Patriots wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell, also a Super Bowl champion, spoke at last year’s banquet.

Dykes remembers the ITG Next Football Banquet’s humble beginnings.

“Our first banquet was held in 2008 and had around 150 guests with 15 schools,” Dykes said. “It has grown each year, with 450 guests and 36 schools attending this year. Many players who have been recognized at our banquet have gone on to play at major college programs and have been drafted to play in the NFL.”

The ITG Next South Georgia Football Banquet is possible through the support of sponsors like Dr. Kevin Collins, a renowned sports medicine surgeon who is board certified in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine. Dr. Collins works with the Hughston Clinic and has served as team doctor with Valdosta State University for the last 16 years and with the Colquitt County Packers since 2011.

“The ITG Next South Georgia Football Banquet is the culminating event where we come together to honor all the teams from our area and to recognize their outstanding players and coaches,” Dr. Collins said. “We celebrate their achievements and are able to put faces with all of the names that we hear about on Friday nights. This banquet highlights the importance of organized sports for our student-athletes, and that’s one reason why we at the Hughston Clinic have supported the event since its inception.”

Dean Fabrizio, the head football coach at Lee County who led his team to back-to-back state championships in 2017 and 2018, said: “The ITG Next Football Banquet was once again a great event. It is always a very special night for all of these players to be recognized for their accomplishments. ITG Next continues to be a big part of what makes high school football so special in Georgia.”

Lee County High School

Player of the year

Presented by

South Georgia Football Banquet

Valdosta High School

Player of the year

Presented by South Georgia Football Banquet

Colquitt County High School

Player of the year

Presented by South Georgia Football Banquet

Thomas County Central High School