Area high school football players make all-star football appearances

His numbers for the game weren't exceptional, but Marquez Callaway's trip to the Army All-American Bowl last week in San Antonio was anything but quiet.

Callaway had two tackles and a pass breakup in the East's 37-9 loss to the West at the Alamodome. But the Warner Robins senior got plenty of attention during the week of practice as one of the few major uncommitted players.

Ohio State has entered the picture, with Buckeyes website www.elevenwarriors.com reporting that Callaway is open to geography, while other reports indicated he prefers wide ­receiver to defensive back.

Regardless, he was an attention-getter during the week with media and scouts.

And commitments from one of Monday night's College Football Playoff participants put the heat on him.

"Every time you turn somewhere, there's someone trying to get you to go somewhere," Callaway told www.SECCountry.com. "Them Clemson boys are the worst, I'm telling you. They just punch me, slap me, take my candy and tell me to go to Clemson. That's about it."

A few days earlier, Veterans' Logan Byrd and Houston County's Darion Anderson were at the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in Carson, California.

Byrd saw limited action in the East's 28-13 win, with a completion and two interceptions, according to Veterans head coach David Bruce. Anderson played only wide receiver, and the one pass attempt to him was underthrown.

The first all-star games involving area players were the Junior Elite Classic and Sophomore Elite Classic at McEachern on Dec. 29.

Middle Georgia underclassmen had a pretty good day in the doubleheader, a collection of top sophomores in one game and juniors in another.

The American teams won both games over National, 38-14 in the junior game and 38-3 in the sophomore game.

Northside quarterback Tobias Oliver was on the American team as an athlete/wide receiver in the junior game, and he showed why.

He ran twice for 92 yards and caught three passes for 82 yards, including a 59-yard touchdown reception on the Americans' fifth play from scrimmage.

Also in the junior game, Fitzgerald running back JD King caught two touchdown passes, a fairly new prospect for King, whose offense had eight passing touchdowns all season and never more than one in a game.

He caught three passes for 93 yards and ran nine times for 33 yards.

Northside defensive back Tae Daley had a solo tackle, tackle for loss and pass breakup for the American team, which got two tackles from Southwest defensive end B.J. Sharpe.

Houston County's Eli Watson had two catches for 17 yards for the National team, which included Vidalia offensive lineman Samuel Collins.

The sophomore game was one-sided, with Taylor County running back Lyn-J Dixon leading the National offense with 47 yards on 10 carries, along with three receptions for 33 yards. The National team gave up seven sacks, including one to Fitzgerald's Kierron Smith.

Taylor County quarterback Gunnar Watson was 5-of-9 for 32 yards, but he was sacked four times. Macon County wideout Trey Brown had one catch for five yards.

Peach County's Kearis Jackson had two kickoff returns for 33 yards.

Upson-Lee linebacker Lazavier Moore had three tackles and Peach County safety Shemarcus Redding one.

Also on the sophomore National roster: Houston County offensive lineman Trey Hill, Warner Robins offensive lineman Christian Armstrong and Washington County offensive lineman Mitchell Lord.

Lamar County defensive end Sean Smith had a tackle for the American team.

Area coaches on staffs: Houston County's Von Lassiter on the junior American and Northside's Kevin Kinsler on the junior National; Warner Robins' Bryan Way and Upson-Lee's Tommy Parks on the sophomore American and Lamar County's Jamie Abrams on the sophomore National staff.

This story was originally published January 11, 2016 at 7:54 PM with the headline "Area high school football players make all-star football appearances ."