“My recruitment started pretty much my sophomore year, but it really started to pick up during my junior year after Elite 11 and The Opening camp,” Cross told The Crowded Booth. “Ultimately, what led me to picking Troy was Coach Adam, Coach Parker, Coach Kent. They were contacting me every day, just talking about everything, even outside of football.”

Those conversations helped Troy separate itself from the rest of the schools involved in his recruitment.

“We built good relationships where we could just call each other and talk about anything,” Cross said. “Obviously they have nice facilities, a nice stadium, a great community and good coaches, but the relationships are what really led me to choosing Troy.”

One coach who made a particularly strong impression was head coach Gerad Parker. The third year head coach made Makyree a priority in this year’s class and the consistent communication paid off in the end. Parker was different from other coaches because he took time to pick Cross’ brain on what he was looking for. 

“Coach Parker would get on FaceTime calls with me every week and we’d talk for thirty minutes to an hour,” Cross said. “He’s a great guy. I can definitely see how he came to Troy and flipped the whole thing around after they had a losing season in his first year.”

The future Trojan signal-caller is excited about being developed by offensive coordinator Adam Austin. His ability to develop shows up during both the game and camp settings. The two have grown closer while competing against each other in Madden. 

“When I went back and watched Troy’s highlights and games, I could see the development in the offense and the quarterbacks throughout the season,” Cross said. “Even at camp, I could see myself developing as the camp went on just because of the things he was telling me to do and fix. We play Madden together and talk football. He picks my brain a lot, and I like that. I like being able to learn from somebody and know it’s right.”

With the recruitment process now behind him, Makyree is focused on leading Collins Hill to a state championship. The Eagles return multiple key contributors from last year’s roster and Cross believes they’re capable of making a run late in the season.

“State championship is the expectation,” Cross said. “We’re really like a brotherhood and a family. We can go everywhere together and not get tired of each other. I’ve got some dogs at receiver, running back and on the offensive line. We’re looking to have a great season.”

When talking about his own set of skills that make him a dynamic player, Cross looks up to two of the more dynamic playmakers in football. He models his game after an under the radar high school prospect in Cam Ward and one of the more dangerous quarterbacks in the game, Lamar Jackson. 

“Coming through this recruiting process, I felt like I was an underdog and overlooked by some schools, so that gave me a chip on my shoulder like Cam Ward. Then with Lamar, I feel like my play style is similar. I watch him on TV and try to do some of the things he does in games.”

For Andrews, the decision ultimately came down to the people leading the program and the opportunity to grow both on and off the field. A specific person in the building that made the decision easier was defensive line coach Cam Spence.

“I chose Georgia State because I feel like they have great coaches there,” Isaiah told The Crowded Booth. “Coach Bear has developed a lot of great players, he even coached Aaron Donald. He’s put guys in the league, and I feel like he’s going to be able to develop me into a better player and a better person.”

Spence played a major role in Andrews’ recruitment, the Thomas County Central standout said his message remained consistent from the beginning and centered around personal development as much as football development.

“He just continued to tell me each and every day to be a better man,” Andrews said. He’s a man-first coach. He wants you to develop as a man before you develop as a player because he knows that will translate.”

Georgia State head coach Dell McGee also made a lasting impression on Andrews and his family. McGee, a legend around the state of Georgia, made Isaiah feel like a priority and wanted in his recruiting class.

“Coach McGee is great,” Andrews said. “He sends me Bible verses and messages every day. He’s just a great coach. He’s put guys in the league, and he coached under Coach Kirby Smart, so I know he knows what he’s talking about. My relationship with him has been great. He’s shown me nothing but love.”

Andrews now will have the opportunity to suit up for the Panthers not too far from home. He still wants to be able to visit family, but also enjoy living in the city of Atlanta. Luckily, the 6-foot-1, 235 pounder will get to experience college with family right by his side. His twin brother, Isaac Andrews, committed to Georgia State not long after him on June 8th.

“It’s a blessing because most people don’t get the chance to play with their brother for another three or four years,” Andrews said. “A lot of twins and brothers go separate ways, so it’s definitely a blessing. Atlanta is a great city, and being able to stay in Georgia means a lot to me.”

On the field, Andrews believes there is still plenty of room for growth as he prepares for the next level. When he is not studying his Bible, taking care of his grades, or on the football field, he is watching film on some of the game’s top pass rushers.

“I model my game after guys like Cassius Howell, Von Miller, and Khalil Mack,” Isaiah said. “I want to continue improving everything — pass rush, stopping the run, everything. I just want to keep getting better as a player and as a person every single day.”

With a coaching staff he trusts, the chance to remain close to family, and an opportunity to continue playing alongside his brother, Andrews believes Georgia State provides the ideal environment for his future both on and off the field.

As a 6-foot, 175 pound wide receiver from Suwanee, Georgia, his recruitment began to take off following an impressive junior season making countless plays after the catch.

“My recruitment really started picking up after my junior season,” Abernathy said. “My first offer was from Brown University, and then more offers started coming in from schools like UMass, Colorado State, Fordham, Western Kentucky, and others.”

While several programs made a strong push, Western Kentucky ultimately separated itself through its relationships, culture, and consistent communication throughout the recruiting process.

“I love how big they are on Christianity,” he said. “They pray before meetings and practices, and I spent a lot of time praying about my decision. I asked God to open the right door for me, and I felt like Western Kentucky was the place He kept showing me.”

Abernathy also pointed to the personal attention he received from the coaching staff throughout the process.

“They always checked on me, texted me, called me, and came to my school to watch practice,” he said. “I feel like they are a family-oriented program that supports their players mentally and physically.”

Wide receivers coach Jason Barnes was another key factor in Abernathy’s commitment.

“He played college football and made it to the NFL, so he has experience at every level,” Abernathy said. “He’s developing receivers and showed me how I could fit into their offense. I love when coaches can critique me and help me improve instead of just yelling. He teaches in a way that helps you learn.”

As a player, Abernathy models parts of his game after several standout receivers, including George Pickens, Jameson Williams, Jeremiah Smith, Jakobi Lane, and Makai Lemon.

He specifically credited Coach Miles, Coach White, Coach Dorian, and Coach Earl for helping develop different aspects of his game, while also thanking his older brother for serving as a role model. He also showed appreciation to Coach Matt Helmrich and Coach Quartell Wright along with the rest of the Peachtree Ridge staff.