Atlanta, GA
Under Armour Atlanta Camp: Top Performers
CARROLLTON, Ga. – Over 100 of the top prospects in the Southeast made their way to northwest Georgia to take part in the Atlanta stop of the Under Armour Next Series – the second event of the year. The event featured dozens of blue-chip prospects from the 2025, 2026 and 2027 cycles.
On3 was on hand inside Carrollton High School’s indoor practice facility on Sunday to take in the action. Here are On3’s top performers from the day, headlined by an SEC defensive line commitment who turned in an outstanding showing.
On3 MVP: DL Justus Terry – Georgia
Justus Terry turned in a very strong day of work at Under Armour Atlanta, showcasing a high-end combination of size, athleticism and play strength. The 6-foot-5, 285-pounder entered the event as one of the more highly touted prospects on hand and lived up to the billing. Terry carries his size well and made easy work of drills. He’s a light-footed mover. The Georgia pledge was also a clear standout in OL-DL 1-on-1’s. Terry had a number of impressive reps, flashing outstanding first-step quickness. On one occasion, he beat On300 interior offensive lineman Cortez Smith with a nasty swim move. We later saw Terry walk an offensive lineman back to the quarterback with impressive speed-to-power. Terry, who committed to Georgia back in January of 2023, ranks as the No. 9 overall prospect in the 2025 On300.
2. ATH Darrell Johnson
Darrell Johnson worked with the linebackers on Sunday at Under Armour Atlanta and was the clear standout among the group. In a setting that makes it hard for linebackers to stick out, Johnson flashed in a notable way. We saw the Eastman (Ga.) Dodge County break up no less than four passes during running back-linebacker 1-on-1’s. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder is a plus athlete with elite length. The traits showed up on Sunday with Johnson looking like a natural in space. He was able to stay in-phase with small, shifty running backs and showed anticipation in jumping a number of passes. The length and strength at the catch point was also readily apparent. While he’s ranked as an athlete, Johnson’s athleticism and skill level project very well to off-ball linebacker. Florida State is out in front for the top 75 prospect according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.
3. WR Devin Carter (2026)
Devin Carter showed why he’s considered one of the best wide receivers early on in the 2026 cycle at Under Armour Atlanta. The Ellenwood (Ga.) Cedar Grove pass-catcher showed an impressive skill set over the course of the day and had multiple eye-catching reps during the 1-on-1 period. Carter is refined route-runner, showing the ability to separate in the short intermediate areas. We also saw him flash an extra gear on a seam route that went for a long touchdown. The ball skills and ability to finish at the catch point were also notable. The son of former Florida State star and NFL running back Dexter Carter was committed to the Seminoles before opening up his recruitment in January.
4. QB Julian Lewis – USC
Julian Lewis was the top quarterback on the day at Under Armour Atlanta, showing his patented passing polish and high level of consistency. The 6-foot-0.5, 195-pounder is advanced technically and was able to deliver tight spirals with accuracy over the course of the day. Lewis also showed improved arm strength, whipping throws downfield and to the boundary with ease. He was eager to push the ball vertically in 1-on-1’s, connecting with Jerome Bettis Jr. on several occasions. In addition to the overall consistency and deep ball, we liked how quick and advanced Lewis looked in taking drops from under center. The On3 Industry five-star looked very comfortable in a setting that plays to his strengths. Lewis committed to USC in August of 2023 but has several programs in pursuit, including Georgia, Alabama, Auburn and Colorado.
5. WR Travis Smith
Travis Smith looked to have the best combination of size, functional movement skills and consistent hands among the wide receivers at Under Armour Atlanta. The Atlanta (Ga.) Westlake standout was a smooth operator on Sunday. Looking to be around 6-foot-3.5, 200 pounds, Smith has a readymade build with plus length. He impressed with his ability to get off of the line, stacking defensive backs with his releases. Smith is a polished route-runner, effortlessly dropping his weight to change directions and break off defenders mid-route. He also flashed arguably the smoothest ball skills on-hand, plucking the ball away from his body throughout the day. Smith will need to continue adding to his top gear in order to consistently separate vertically, but his overall skill level and size stood out on Sunday. Smith, who ranks as the No. 74 overall prospect in the On300, is trending towards Georgia according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.
6. OT Alex Payne – North Carolina
We didn’t see an offensive lineman move as well as Alex Payne on Sunday at Under Armour Atlanta. The 6-foot-5, 265-pounder showed light-footed athleticism both in drills and during 1-on-1’s. The Gainesville (Ga.) High product carries his weight very well and made easy work of movement drills. He flashed advanced skills in pass protection, quickly getting depth within his set. Payne had two strong reps in 1-on-1’s, beating Tyler Atkinson – a smaller, quick pass rusher – to the edge and showing the ability to anchor on contact. Payne committed to North Carolina on January 17.
7. EDGE Jordan Carter (2026)
We didn’t see an EDGE prospect with more wins in 1-on-1’s than Jordan Carter. The 6-foot-3, 235-pounder had several emphatic wins, using a combination of first-step quickness and violent hands at the point of attack to give offensive linemen trouble. The Douglasville (Ga.) Douglas County product won with an inside rip move and then showed speed to win on the outside. Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, LSU and South Carolina are among the teams after Carter, who tallied 15 sacks as a sophomore.
8. LB Tyler Atkinson (2026)
Tyler Atkinson pulled double duty on Sunday at Under Armour Atlanta, working as an EDGE before switching over to linebacker later in the day. The 6-foot-3, 205-pounder’s effort level and burst stood out in both sessions. Atkinson plays with a palpable energy, going full speed on every rep. Aside from drills, he was at his best during the running back-linebacker 1-on-1’s. We saw Atkinson stick with running backs down the boundary on several occasions. As a former defensive end who converted to linebacker last fall, Atkinson is clearly sound in coverage and impressed with his ability to play in space on Sunday. Georgia, Alabama, Florida State, Auburn, Tennessee and LSU are among the teams in the mix early on according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.
9. RB Akylin Dear
While we don’t always get a great look at the complete running back skill set in this camp setting, Akylin Dear showed big play ability on Sunday. He has readymade size at around 6-foot, 200 pounds, pairing with a high-end burst. Dear blew past linebackers on vertical routes for several touchdowns during running back-linebacker 1-on-1’s. His speed was simply too much for the opposing linebackers. Dear’s ability to present a vertical pass threat adds another dimension to his rushing skills. The Quitman (Miss.) High product rushed for 2,016 yards and 27 touchdowns as a junior and ranks as the No. 129 overall prospect in the On300. Ole Miss is out in front according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.
10. EDGE Isaiah Gibson
Isaiah Gibson showed a versatile and translatable skill set on Sunday at Under Armour Atlanta. The Warner Robins (Ga.) High prospect has EDGE skills and athleticism in the body of a defensive lineman. At around 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, Gibson is a functional athlete and operates with a high level of comfort in working on the edge. He moved very well in drills and carried that over to 1-on-1’s, where he won two easy reps, using initial quickness and a long arm to walk the offensive tackle back to the quarterback. Georgia is out in front according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine.
Additional notes
+ Several touted 2025 quarterbacks were on hand, alongside Julian Lewis. Texas commit K.J. Lacey was accurate over the course of the day and spun the ball well. Notre Dame pledge Deuce Knight was the most physically-gifted signal caller on hand with his high-end size and athleticism. Knight had an up and down day as a passer. Antwann Hill Jr. is another well-built, big pocket passer who had some nice throws on the day.
+ The offensive line was among the deeper position groups on hand. On300 prospect Tyler Miller was among the best of the bunch, showing functional movement skills. Mario Nash came away with the event’s offensive line MVP award and showed nice feet in 1-on-1’s. Tavaris Dice has good size and had an encouraging pass set. Cortez Smith had a positive showing, locking horns with Justus Terry in 1-on-1’s. Juan Gaston was among the bigger offensive linemen on hand. He was playing out of position at offensive tackle, but the stature and mass certainly stood out. Though he was perhaps the smallest offensive lineman on hand, 2026 Alabama commit Zykie Helton took and won several reps, showing nice play strength.
+ Georgia tight end pledge Ethan Barbour had several wins during 1-on-1’s, showing refined pass-catching ability. Barbour isn’t the biggest tight end, but has good length and ball skills. Gabe Daniels, Maurice Gleaton and Lagonza Heyward were three more pass catchers who caught our eye. Daniels and Gleaton showed outstanding speed. Heyward may be best as safety prospect, but looks like a good athlete.
+ The EDGE and defensive line group featured several additional notable names. Though we didn’t see him take a bunch of 1-on-1 reps, Zion Grady showed good movement skills in drills. 2026 defensive lineman JaReylan McCoy and 2025 EDGE Jared Smith were the tallest defenders on hand, looking to be well over 6-foot-6.
+ A prolific rusher on Friday nights, Alvin Henderson had a few wins during running back-linebacker 1-on-1’s. In addition to Darrell Johnson and Tyler Atkinson, 2026 prospect Anthony Davis stood out in coverage at linebacker.
+ The defensive back group wasn’t overly loaded, but cornerback Cortez Thomas made some nice plays in coverage. We also saw Shamar Arnoux come down with a pick during 1-on-1’s.
Atlanta, GA
Young teen killed in southwest Atlanta shooting; 1 detained
Atlanta police investigate the fatal shooting of a 14-year-old boy at the Villages of Castleberry Hills apartments on Jan. 14, 2026. (FOX 5)
ATLANTA – A 14-year-old boy died after being shot at the Villages of Castleberry Hills apartments in southwest Atlanta on Wednesday evening.
One person has been detained.
What we know:
Officers were called just after 7 p.m. to the apartments located in the 500 block of Greensferry Avenue SW near Northside Drive.
According to the Atlanta Police Department, officers found the teenager with at least one gunshot wound.
He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition; investigators say he later died.
An individua was taken to police headquarters for questioning, though their specific involvement in the shooting remains unclear.
What they’re saying:
Witnesses at the scene described a heavy emergency response, seeing medics wheel the teenager out on a stretcher as investigators taped off the building. One neighbor, returning home to the active crime scene, expressed shock at the violence.
What we don’t know:
Police have not yet identified a suspect or a motive for the shooting.
It remains unclear what led up to the gunfire or if the teenager was the intended target.
Investigators have not announced any arrests, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The Source: The details in this article were provided by the Atlanta Police Department. This article has been updated since it was
Atlanta, GA
Birmingham mayor proposes high-speed rail train to Atlanta
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin says a high-speed passenger rail line connecting Birmingham and Atlanta is not just a dream, but a possibility he believes is worth pursuing.
In a Jan. 8 essay titled “Let’s Go for a Walk, Birmingham,” Woodfin said he does not think it is unrealistic to imagine a fast and frequent rail connection between the two cities, calling it an achievable goal.
“I also don’t think it’s crazy to dream about a frequent and fast passenger rail connection from Birmingham to Atlanta,” Woodfin wrote. “We can achieve these things.”
The mayor tied that vision to the launch of a new citywide transportation effort known as the GoBHM Transportation Plan, a partnership between the city and the Birmingham-Jefferson County Transit Authority. The plan is aimed at expanding mobility options and improving public transportation across Birmingham, while also exploring long-term regional connections like passenger rail.
AL.com first reported on the initiative, noting that the GoBHM plan includes studying the possibility of a high-speed rail line linking Birmingham and Atlanta as part of a broader effort to make the city more walkable, bikeable, and transit-friendly.
Woodfin said funding would be the biggest challenge to turning the rail idea into reality. Speaking Tuesday, Jan. 13, after addressing the Kiwanis Club, the mayor said such a project would require cooperation across multiple sectors.
“It would take a state, federal, public, private partnership,” Woodfin said. “It takes a lot of money. We would like to see it. Think of the economic opportunity that would create. It would be beneficial.”
City leaders say the GoBHM plan will rely heavily on public input. Residents who live, work or regularly visit Birmingham are encouraged to participate by visiting letsgobhm.com, where the city will share updates and information about upcoming public meetings over the next year.
Atlanta, GA
Guilty Party’s selvedge denim is built for stylish utility
Photograph by Steve West
In an era of fast fashion, Guilty Party moves slow. Champ Hammett and Heath Ladnier launched the Grant Park boutique in 2023 based on a shared belief that clothes should get better with time. That guiding principle underscores every aspect of the store’s inventory, especially its cornerstone good: selvedge denim, the heavyweight jean fabric largely produced in Japan and long revered in denim cult circles.
Woven on vintage shuttle looms to create a dense weave and a clean “selv-edge,” or self-finished edge, which resists fraying, selvedge denim captures the ethos of Guilty Party. Here, you’ll find a rugged but refined selection of apparel inspired by traditional workwear, in a chummy, come-as-you-are atmosphere that reflects the punk rock world where Hammett and Ladnier came of age.
Guilty Party reads as menswear at first glance—and, yes, most customers are men—but the boutique welcomes all fashion-minded comers. “It really doesn’t matter if you’re a man or a woman; we don’t call ourselves a menswear store,” Ladnier says. “Our store is for anybody. But it’s not for everybody.” Whisk yourself inside while en route to nearby Ria’s Bluebird or Little Tart Bakeshop, and you’ll be welcomed with open arms. Learn a litany about premium fabrics and apparel construction, then leave feeling like one of the initiated.
Hammett, a Georgia native, discovered selvedge while touring the United States with hardcore punk band Foundation in the early aughts, then sought every specialty shop he could find. (The name Guilty Party nods to a 2017 song by The National, and to Hammett’s guilt over dragging bandmates—and, later, his wife—to denim shops from city to city.) He met Ladnier, a fellow punk rocker hailing from Mississippi, through their real-estate careers, and the two eventually turned a mutual obsession into the selvedge-centric shop they felt Atlanta was missing.
The store carries several popular Japanese selvedge brands, including Iron Heart, which draws denim heads from around the region; Guilty Party is the only brick-and-mortar shop selling them in a roughly nine-hour radius. Selvedge jeans, manufactured with methods the mainstream industry abandoned decades ago, soften with wear, developing creases and fades unique to each owner. “The more you live your life in them, the better they get, and the more they look like you,” Hammett says. The store’s fitting process is individualized, and hemming is completed in-house using a chain-stitch machine, an old-school tool—and the only one of its kind in Georgia—that preserves a puckered texture and leads to uneven fading, both signature characteristics of well-altered denim.
Beyond jeans, the selection leans classic utility: twill pants in earth tones, railroad-stripe chore coats, organic-cotton flannels, and knits from Germany and Peru. Guilty Party is also the spot for hard-to-find footwear, such as Red Wing and Alden, the Massachusetts shoemaker that made the boots Harrison Ford was famously shod in for Indiana Jones. The goods on offer, Ladnier says, are built for everyday use, even if the day gets rugged.
“We tell people not to baby these clothes,” he says. “You can wear these pieces out to eat on Saturday night, but you can also go fix a carburetor.”
This article appears in our January 2026 issue.
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