Vikings’ 2018 recruiting class has balanced mix
The 2018 class to join the two-time SAA champions features local standouts like Janson Slaughter.
A solid variety of talent and positions are expected to join Berry College on the turf of Valhalla this fall as the Vikings enter their sixth season of competition with some expectations.
The group of 43 recruits will join the two-time Southern Athletic Association Champions for the upcoming year, set to begin at home Sept. 1 against Maryville. Berry head coach Tony Kunczewski said he was pleased with the work his coaches have done on the recruiting trail.
“Our coaching staff did a tremendous job once again bringing in very strong talent on the field and in the classroom,” Kunczewski said. “We were pleased with how we did in our home state and also felt like we finally broke into some other areas we’ve worked hard in over the last couple years.”
The Division III team’s 2018 recruiting class features a total of 43 athletes ready to suit up in Berry blue, 31 of which are from Georgia with others from Florida, Tennes- see and North Carolina. Among the 11 from the Northwest Georgia area, three are from Floyd County schools.
“We are so fortunate to be in arguably one of the best recruiting areas for high school football in the country,” Kunczewski said. “We are especially proud of how many guys are coming in here after serving as captains for their high school teams. That does not go unnoticed in our eyes. We feel confident this group will be a good fit at Berry with an exciting future.”
The positions with the most recruits are linebacker and receiver with nine
From B1
each. Those are also where the new homegrown talent will line up at when preseason practice starts.
Armuchee linebacker JC Burkett will be sliding down U.S. 27 to join the Vikings after his final season with the Indians. The three-time Allregion selection was selected to the Northwest Georgia All-Star game during his senior year completed his high school career with 332 tackles, 24 tackles for a loss and five forced fumbles.
Joining the ranks at wideout for Berry are Pepperell’s TJ Watkins and Unity Christian’s Janson Slaughter.
Watkins joins the Vikings after three all-region selections and a regional title during his junior year. He had 688 yards receiving and six touchdowns on 36 catches in his senior season when he also served as team captain.
Slaughter was a key cog in Unity Christian’s turnaround season as the Lions went 9-1 in the regular season in 2017 and earned a spot in the GICAA state playoffs. The 6-foot-3 athlete from Cedartown had 67 receptions for 1,105 yards and 22 touchdowns during his senior year and was selected to play in the 2018 GICAA State All-Star Game.
The incoming class also features some family connections as brothers Nathaniel Robertson and Nick Robertson are enrolling together, and two siblings of Vikings are also signed up.
Both of the Robertson brothers played their prep careers at University Christian High School in Jacksonville, Florida. Nathaniel Robertson is a linebacker and a two- sport athlete, having competed in cross country. Nick Robertson is an offensive lineman, serving as team captain as both a junior and senior.
TJ Ciresi, a wide receiver out of University Christian as well, is joining the Vikings after helping his team win back-to-back state championships. He is the younger brother of celebrated Berry wideout Trey Ciresi, who graduated earlier this month.
And finally, Habersham Central linebacker Garrett Kinsey is joining his brother, Viking receiver Mason Kinsey, after a high school career that saw him named his team’s Defensive Player of the Year.