Round one in competitive sports usually features mismatches in most tournaments of 32. But in the Best of the Best series, round one is literally a celebrity death match. Each first round matchup in the Best Player of All Time series is literally star-studded. They are all studs at their positions, and their star statuses most times led to collegiate and pro football careers. However, this is the Best of the Best High School Player, so we’ll just highlight what they did here in Northeast Florida as Preps players on the gridiron.
Joey Gatewood vs Ciatrick Fason
Joey Gatewood
Some may argue that it’s too early for Gatewood to be on this list. And there’s no doubt that this selection created serious debate amongst our staff. But one thing that can’t be debated is the fact that Joey Gatewood is a one of a kind athlete, the likes to which this area has never seen. Standing at 6 foot 5, weighing 235lbs, and running a 4.8 sec 40 yard dash, Gatewood is truly a football specimin. He led the Bartram Trail Bears to the Florida state Class 7A finals in 2017, passing for 1,468 yards and 12 TDs while also rushing for 1,100 yards with 16 scores as a senior. He did all of this while splitting time at Quarterback, as Gatewood also showed his triple threat ability in his High School career. His junior campaign saw him rack up 315 receiving yards, and score 6 TDs at wide receiver. He was named Team Spotlight MVP at the Under Armor All-American Game .The No. 38 player on the ESPN 300 list. The Florida Times Union Super 24, and First Team DuvalSports.com All-Area Team. Gatewood is best known for not flipping on his college committment during his High School. Dependent, Durable, and Decisive!
Ciatrick Fason
Back in the day, noone started on varsity as a freshman when playing 4A, 5A or 6A football in Northeast Florida ( only 6 classifications). No one that is, until Fletcher runningback Ciatrick Fason. Fason was a star running back and four-time most valuable player for the Fletcher Senators high school football team. He rushed for over 7,400 career yards—twice for over 2,000 yards in a season— 96 TDs and finished his high school career as Florida’s fifth all-time leading rusher and tops in Northeast Florida history at the time. A Parade and PrepStar high school All- American in 2001, Fason was rated as a five-star recruit by Rivals, and was listed as the top running back prospect in the nation in 2002. Fason is also best known for not flipping on his college committment during High School. Dependent, Durable, and Decisive!
[su_divider]
