CLASS ADI Blog: Athens Christian transfer Layden Bryson named Commerce starting QB

The Commerce Tigers announced their starting quarterback ahead of the 2025 season as rising junior Layden Bryson has been named the starter ahead of the new season.

Bryson, a transfer from Athens Christian, was in his first season as a starting quarterback last season with the Eagles as he led them to three wins against teams such as Heritage-Newnan, Loganville Christian and Riverside Prep.

The former Athens Christian quarterback made the transfer to Commerce over the summer and was named the program's starting quarterback ahead of the season according to Athens Barner-Herald’s Sara Tidwell.

Last season with Athens Christian, the new Commerce quarterback threw for 1,307 yards through the air along with seven passing touchdowns, averaging around 130 yards through the air per game. On the ground, Bryson proved that he was more than capable of using his legs as he posted 477 yards on the ground along with six rushing touchdowns, averaging almost 50 yards per game on the ground.

Bryson isn’t the only new piece to the Commerce football program this offseason as Lenny Gregory has been hired to take over the Tigers football program after spending the two previous seasons at Gordon Central and the six seasons before that at Collins Hill where he led the Eagles to a state championship, coaching now-heisman trophy winner Travis Hunter in the schools only state championship victory.

“Layden is a great player,” said Gregory. “He was our starter during the spring and has been a great leader this summer.”

Gregory is looking to change the Commerce offense as the Tigers have been known for their patented triple option offense.

That will now change with Gregory at the helm now as the team will look to air it out more than ever in the new season.

The former Gordon Central and Collins Hill head coach is replacing Mark Hollars as the head coach of the Tigers after spending four seasons leading the Commerce program.

Commerce has made the postseason in every year since 1997, including a state championship in 2000 under Steve Savage where they managed to win 10-plus games in four-straight seasons from 1997-2000.

Following a 8-4 season a year ago, Bryson, Gregory and the Tigers will look to make their first state championship appearance since 2000 as they open up their season on the road at Wesleyan.

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