Peachtree Ridge High School Football Season Preview

Peachtree Ridge Football: Reloading with Talent, Unity, and a Focus to Finish

The Peachtree Ridge Lions are coming off a strong start last season, but Head Coach Matt Helmerich and his staff are determined to turn early momentum into complete-game success in 2025. The theme this offseason? Finish.

“We got out of the gate really well last year and just didn’t finish games,” Helmerich said. “We’re a talented football team that needs to learn to play four quarters.”

Offseason Focus: Fundamentals and Full Effort

Coach Helmerich isn’t overhauling the playbook—he’s zeroing in on execution. This offseason is all about mastering the fundamentals and keeping intensity high from kickoff to final whistle.

Special Offseason Events: Building Culture on the Road

The Lions are going beyond the weight room to strengthen their team culture.

Annual Campus Tour: The top 40 players will visit colleges across Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, giving athletes exposure to campuses and competition alike.

FCA Camp: A three-day team experience packed with competition and bonding.

Road Trip Game: In Week 2, the Lions travel to Ft. Lauderdale to test their grit against tough out-of-state talent.

Notable Additions & Departures

This offseason brought some key roster shifts:

Departures:

QB Darnell Kelly (27 offers, now at Langston Hughes, committed to Colorado State)

RB Bryce Green, an All-Region back, transferred to Brookwood

Additions:

RayShaun Parks, All-Region QB from Maynard Jackson

Christian Campbell, 6’3 WR, moved in from North Gwinnett

Uniquely, Coach Helmerich returns his entire staff—a rarity that speaks to the program’s stability.

Players to Watch

Peachtree Ridge is stacked with talent—10 players currently hold FBS offers, and more are on the radar:

Kobe Hokes (WR) – Over 12 FBS offers and one of the most explosive athletes in Georgia

Sedric Addison (RB) – Ran a 10.8 in the 100M and holds big-time offers

Tristen Hill (S) – Also clocked a 10.8 and holds multiple ACC offers

Semaj Fluellyn (DL) – 6’2, 280 lbs, benches 410, and shines in multiple sports

Strength Training & Fitness: "Club Ridge"

The Lions have had a record-setting offseason in the weight room:

Semaj Fluellyn benches 410

King Thomas (WR/DB) benches 315

Brayden Paramore (Edge) power cleaned 300 as a sophomore

Their creative approach—highlighted by a Marine-led workout and a viral “Club Ridge” themed weight room takeover—has gained traction online and lifted team morale.

Nutrition & Recovery

Strength Coach Jeremy Muyres leads the charge on nutrition. Players receive guidance on protein intake and diet to support high performance.

Coaching Strategy: Back to Basics

The staff is focused on refining the little things that win big games.

“No major changes—we’re going back to fundamentals,” said Helmerich. “If we master the small stuff, we can finish strong.”

Community Impact: Service with Purpose

Peachtree Ridge prioritizes giving back:

Volunteering at local elementary schools

Helping churches and food banks

Requiring community service as a core part of team culture

Looking Ahead: Talent is There, Focus is Key

With a loaded roster and returning staff, the pieces are in place.

But Coach Helmerich knows the real challenge lies in keeping focus amid the distractions of modern recruiting—and getting more production from the trenches.

“We’ve got talent. Now we need our bigs to rise and our guys to stay focused. If we do that, we can make a serious run at the 6A Georgia State Championship.”