The football season is kicking off, so here is our preseason preview of the GHSA. Underneath we have top 10 rankings for all 7 classifications then a private school ranking for 3A-A. After Week 4, we will start an overall top 25 ranking in the state, so be on the lookout.
The rest of the preview includes a ‘favorite’ to win the championship, a ‘darkhorse’ title contender, an ‘underdog’ team that will switch from a losing record to a winner, the classification player of the year, and the championship game result.
Be sure to check out our Preseason All-State teams HERE. Also, a fun side note, I started off writing 7A when initially doing the rankings. Old habits or just getting old? Either way, get ready for this football season by exploring this preview. – David
6A
1. Carrollton
2. Buford
3. Grayson
4. North Gwinnett
5. Mill Creek
6. Camden Co.
7. Douglas Co.
8. Richmond Hill
9. Valdosta
10. Walton
The Favorite – Carrollton
Carrollton was our preseason favorite in 2023 and returned a lot of last year’s core group that went 11-2. Returning is star QB Julian ‘Juju’ Lewis, who has now reclassified to the class of ’25, and will be playing his final year of GHSA football before flying out to Los Angeles to play at USC. Rising junior receiver Ryan Mosely is a special 6’3″ athlete, who is set for an All-State caliber season along with his QB. SR WR Kiyun Cofer along with the ever-dynamic JR slot receiver, Peyton Zachary, who transfers over from Kell, will be impact receivers. Carrollton is stacked with one of the best offensive lines in the state headlined by All-Stater’s RJ Sizemore and Zykie Helton. JR back Kamarui Farmer is a preseason All-State selection by the AJC. The Trojans have two-way senior Zion Cooley splitting time at tight end and defensive end; he’s an impressive 6’4″ athlete with a lot of upside. Junior linebacker CJ Gamble is a stout tackler at 6’2″ 211 lbs. At defensive back, Carrollton is the deepest team in the state with star cornerbacks Dorian Barney and Shamar Arnoux headlining the group. SR Kai Callen transfers over from Idaho, where he was considered one of the best players in the state, and Antonio Cromartie Jr. has grown considerably in the last year. JR Zelus Hicks moves over from Parkview, where he is widely considered one of the best safety prospects in the country. The Trojans are too good at too many positions, and we think some young 2027 and 2028 athletes will emerge. Considering they have one of the most distinguished head coaches in the state in Joey King, they are the presumable favorites in 6A.
The Darkhorse – Grayson
The fastest team in the state of Georgia is ready to surprise everyone with a championship. You cannot start a conversation about this Grayson team without acknowledging their dominant defense first. Excluding the ridiculous 2023 offenses of Milton and Walton, Grayson allowed just 12.5 points per game last season playing against the toughest competition. As the season unfolded, the Rams started to hit their stride as a team, making it to the state semifinals before losing to Milton. The great defense all starts with All-State junior linebacker Tyler Atkinson. The explosive linebacker has about 300 tackles in just two seasons of football and is among the best football players in the class of ‘26. He is flanked by fellow juniors Lawrence Brown Jr. and Anthony Davis. Davis is a national name in the recruiting world earning P4 offers throughout the summer while the 6’4″ Brown is more under the radar, for now. On the defensive line, Andre Fuller DE and Jojo Victor DT are two seniors set to play in the ACC at GT and Boston College. They have elite speed for athletes their size. SR Jaylen Bell has been a multi-year starter at CB and committed to Indiana. JR Travis Burgess is the assumed starter at QB, taking over after Jeff Davis’ record-breaking season. The 6’5″ passer has the athletic tools FBS programs look for, and the surrounding offensive weapons to shine this fall. SR WR Alex Sanchez is a physical 6’2″ target who could be an All-State pick at season’s end. Amari Alston is a blazing-fast senior playmaker who routinely tests to be the fastest in the program. JR WR Jonathan Stafford is an Archer transfer who is great at high-pointing the football at 5’10”. SR OL Joseph Mbatchou recently committed to Florida, and quickly growing popular among P4 programs. After going 11-3 last year, fast-rising 2nd-year head coach Santavious Bryant is returning so many explosive athletes. At this point, picking Grayson might just be the trendy contrarian state championship pick among pundits in the state.
The Underdog – South Gwinnett
The last winning season for the Comets was back in 2016, but we think the trend is going to reverse this fall. Seasoned head coach Bryan Lamar has been at South Gwinnett for four years now and should have the program trending in the right direction. They have explosive athletes in SR LB Jaiden Braker who just recently committed to LSU along with Kansas WR commit Jackson Cook. Both are long-athletic difference-makers. SR RB Eric Ramey is now up 210 lbs. and is prime for a 1k-yard rushing season. Jaden Holder is a big 6’2″ two-way player. Jalen Shivers is a powerful 6’4″ 245 lbs. defensive lineman prospect. Watch out for explosive juniors Evin McDowell and Mycah Mitchell, both will be FBS targets. South Gwinnett has a lot of size and explosive athletes on top of a more favorable region to play in now; the only question remaining is the QB spot. I’ve been watching 2027 QB AJ Sneed throw the football for a few years, so maybe he is the guy. Either way, they should be a fun team to watch.
Player of the Year – Julian Lewis, Carrollton
Championship Game – Carrollton 45 – 21 Grayson
5A
1. Milton
2. Thomas Co. Central
3. Hughes
4. Gainesville
5. Lee Co.
6. Houston Co.
7. Woodward Academy
8. Coffee
9. Roswell
10. Rome
The Favorite – Milton
Last season, Milton was a step ahead of everyone in the state, winning the 7A title in a thrilling 31-21 game against Walton. Although we picked Milton to be our ‘Darkhorse’ 7A champion, it was still surprising to see the team win a championship quite honestly a year ahead of schedule. Ben Reaves’ Milton squad returns most of their starters from last year’s team and has headline transfers in SR TE Ethan Barbour and SR OL Brayden Jacobs joining the crew. The entire offense starts with SR QB Luke Nickel. The All-State QB was voted the 7A Player of the Year on our site and is the returning leading passer in Georgia after throwing for 3800 yards last fall. His favorite target is senior WR CJ Wiley, who was among the state leaders in receiving yards with just under 1500 yards. Now is 2k yards attainable? We will see. From a recruiting perspective, the two seniors make for a unique tandem with Nickel being a Miami commit, and Wiley committed to FSU. Milton has the best TE tandem in the state with Alpharetta TE transfer Ethan Barbour joining the squad, who is among the most productive pass-receiving TEs in state history. Fellow SR TE Ryan Ghea is an experienced starter and a major factor at 6’6″ 235 lbs. TJ Lester and Amauri Anderson both provide a thunder-and-lightning effect in the running game. Milton does tend to save Nickel’s rushing for the playoffs, where he was the most impactful. SR OL Brayden Jacobs is an All-State pick and Clemson commit who will be paving the way. On defense, SR William Bell has been ultra-effective over the years and gets the All-State nod at DL. SR Caleb Ellis is another rock-solid DL and watch out for Cambridge junior transfer Gage Lawrence coming into the backfield. SR LB Hayden Tummunia returns after leading the team in tackles and fellow SR LB AJ Benton was not too far behind. Milton has two standout SR DBs Ty Redmond and Dylan Lewis, who are both committed to playing at Tennessee. Milton is loaded with so much D1 talent, you can see why so many pundits believe this 2024 Milton squad to be among the best football teams in state history.
The Darkhorse – Lee Co.
This is the 2nd consecutive year that I have picked Lee County to be my Darkhorse state title winner. After going 10-3 in 2023, Lee County is returning two of their top playmakers on offense in SR RB Ousman Kromah and SR QB Weston Bryan. Kromah is widely considered the top RB in the state and Bryan is a steady 6’4″ passer committed to Georgia Southern. On the offensive line, they have SR Dylan Richardson and SR Jace Molden who were All-State honorable mention selections in 2023. Ashton Arnett is a SR WR transferring over from Luella and is set to be a breakout playmaker. Rising sophomore WR Jaden Upshaw is an elite-looking 6’2″ P4 caliber recruit with incredible ball skills. Junior DB LA Jackson is a rangy athlete who explodes toward the football and does a great job of squaring up his tackle attempts. Lee County is not short on explosive offensive talent, but we are still curious to see how the rest of the team transitions after several key defenders graduated. With so much young talent, who will rise up and assist the Lee County senior core to the top of 5A? That’s a question we are not sure about yet, and probably one that head coach Dean Fabrizio often thinks about going into his 16th season at Lee County.
The Underdog – South Paulding
South Paulding went 3-8 last season with first-year coach Maurice Allen but consistently showed flashes of brilliance. They return back in 2024 with a much more experienced bunch headlined by junior QB Kade Wigginton. The dual-threat passer has SR WR Jermaine Tyler, SO WR Joziah James, and JR WR Kole Weisman, who stands 6’5″ tall, to throw to. South Paulding is huge up front on the OL with JR Will Anderton, JR Tyler Chukuyem, and JR Jayce Sanker steamrolling defenses. They will lead the way for SR running back Albert McCoy. On defense, Jeremiah Hughey is a 6’5″ edge who had 5 sacks on the year and SR Eddie Stafford is a patient defender who reads the play consistently well. South Paulding is ready to make a jump and has the right blend of speed, size, and talent to be one of the more dangerous teams in 5A.
Player of the Year – Luke Nickel, Milton
Championship Game – Milton 56 – 31 Hughes
4A
1. Warner Robins
2. Cartersville
3. Blessed Trinity
4. Marist
5. Benedictine
6. Ware Co.
7. Cass
8. Creekside
9. Jonesboro
10. Perry
The Favorite – Warner Robins
By and large, the 2023 season was a little disappointing for the Warner Robins faithful. They went 9-4 on the year, and chief among their problems was the defense, which allowed 337 points. Head Coach Shane Sams enters his 2nd year at Warner Robins and now has his guy in SR QB Skyler Williams. The North Murray transfer has all of the skills that Sams covets in a signal-caller, and his dual-threat ability should provide another element to Warner Robins’ offense. On defense, the Demons are headlined by a pair of seniors in DE Isaiah Gibson and DB Rasean Dinkins who both made Preseason All-State. Dinkins is attempting a rare third All-State selection this year. JR WR Ezra Goins is a name we continue to hear about and big JR Charlie Glover on the OL already has the attention of P4 programs. Now who is going to step up on defense aside from their known stars? SR defender Jhayden Jones is someone prime to take a big jump at LB and Tyquan Brewton is a tough SR DT manning the middle. With so much young talent on the roster, Warner Robins will need more underclassmen to step up. Class 4A is wide-open this year, Warner Robins’ offense should be dynamic enough to push them to the top.
The Darkhorse – Cass
Coach Steve Gates heads into year 5 with his most talented roster yet. Headlined by FBS commits across the roster, this young group won three of the final four games of the 2023 season before falling to Coffee in the quarterfinals. JR Brodie McWhorter recently committed to West Virginia this summer and returns back under center. The junior has a great arm and instinct for the game. On the offensive line, SR Tayvian McKibbins, JR Bear McWhorter, and JR Kail Ellis are some of the best at their positions in the state and have the size to move any defensive line in 4A. JR RB Braylon Hill is looking to build off his strong sophomore campaign and will gash opposing defenses with his speed. JR Josh Love is an explosive two-way player who is ready to take over the Sacovie White playmaker role. On defense, Jeremiah DeRoche’ is a tough MIKE who attacks running lanes. App State commit Kaden Ellis is quickly recovering from an ACL surgery from 3 months back, and is a wild card to be ready for the playoffs. SR defender Ian Williams was the best player at Osborne in 2023 and will be suiting up for Cass this fall. Coach Gates has brought together this group, and maybe this state title pick is one year early, but I thought the same about Milton in 2023, and look what happened.
The Underdog – Hampton
Ever since Hampton’s inaugural 2014 season, Chad Ashley has been the head coach. Going from zero wins the first two years to now a consistently competitive team each season, Ashley has done a stellar job. They are two years removed from a 7 win season, and this 2024 squad looks to be the best team so far. Headline by senior athlete LJ Mann, Hampton has a true difference-maker who has the football in his hands at all times while playing QB, but also, one of the top defenders on the team. Rising sophomore Kamarui Dorsey is a 6’2″ athlete who should get a lot of recruiting attention soon. In fact, GT offered a few weeks back. Markel Ferguson is a lightning-fast JR WR who can break open the defense. On the OL, they have JR Keylen Gleaton and JR Juan Hawthorne to lean on. Rubens Lucius is an impressive sophomore OL/DL who made an impact last season. With some of the more explosive skill players in the classification, Hampton is likely to bounce back after a 4-6 record and is a program you don’t want to face off against this fall.
Player of the Year – Bo Walker, Stockbridge
Championship Game – Warner Robins 35 – 21 Cartersville
3A
1. Jefferson
2. Calhoun
3. Sandy Creek
4. Bainbridge
5. Jenkins
6. Douglass
7. Peach Co.
8. Lumpkin Co.
9. Stephenson
10. Oconee Co.
The Favorite – Jefferson
Jefferson was 13-1 in 5A in 2023, and the consensus among pundits across the state is they are the favorite in 3A. Travis Noland enters his third season at the helm of Jefferson, and although they have lost everybody’s All-American, Sammy Brown, to Clemson, they still have an experienced group. SR QB Gavin Markey is a physical athlete at 6’2″ and 230 lbs. who can lower his shoulder into defender on one play and the next send the ball humming downfield. SR tackle machine Rett Hemphill is joined by up-and-coming SOPH LB Max Brown, the brother of the aforementioned Sammy Brown. Kelan Butler is an All-State edge rusher with 10.8 100m speed and brings the heat each play. SR C Ty Oglesby is among the best blockers in Class 3A. Although Jefferson has been predominantly a run-first team for years, they might have to rely on Markey’s arm more than ever. SR WR Talan Childress and SR RJ Hinton have the size and athleticism to make an impact. Be on the lookout for SR Avery Lynch at CB, he is an explosive player who can be disruptive in cover, and it will be interesting to see if he gets more reps on offense this fall. Jefferson has the talent and toughness to win it all this year; now they just have to make it happen.
The Darkhorse – Jenkins
What is going on? Didn’t expect to see Jenkins in our top 10, let alone the potential 3A State Champions? Jenkins played one of the toughest schedules in 5A last year going 5-8, but managed its best football late, making it to the state quarterfinals. Head coach Tony Welch has been there four years now and should be a major beneficiary of joining Class 3A. Two Preseason All-State picks headline the top of the Warriors roster with JR OL Cam’Ron Thompson and SR DB Marquis Bush. Both dramatically differ in size with Thompson standing 6’4″ 290 lbs. and Bush at 5’8″ 150 lbs., but they each have a major impact on their team. 6’2″ JR defender Aujshawn Izzard is an explosive rusher who could wind up playing more LB this fall. So much of this year’s success depends on the arm of JR QB Demetrius Holloway, who showed flashes during his sophomore campaign. Jenkins has size up front beyond just their All-State OL in Thompson. SR Isaac Smith is a tough run-stopper and physical blocker. SR Deshon Greene is a relentless blocker who could also become an All-State selection by year’s end. Plus, 6’4″ and 315 lbs. JR lineman Jasaiyah Boatright stands ready to make a jump. Not one media outlet in the state has Jenkins ranked, let alone a potential state champion, but I feel like they are missing the mark, badly.
The Underdog – Peach Co.
In 2023, Peach County saw a roster restructuring with new head coach Marquis Westbrook arriving from Warner Robins. The turnover led to a 4-7 season but Peach showed progress as we matured into the fall. Heading into 2024, Peach County is ranked in our top 10, but we also consider them to be an ‘Underdog’ at this moment. Only Score Atlanta has them ranked aside from our pick. SR QB DJ Hudson is a dynamic decision-maker who can dazzle defenses with his feet. Zion Hudson is a JR skill player set to have a big season at both receiver and running back. Although 3-year starter Peyton Joseph transferred to Houston County, Peach County still has one of the best blockers in 3A with SR Jordyn Millerhorne. Keep an eye on incoming freshman Hunter Hill at 6’3″ and 295 lbs., he should be a good one. On defense, junior Bryson Hughley is a 6’3″ DB ready for a big year. JR DL Jamaury Small is looking to take a jump in his productivity. Maybe it’s a safe bet, but Peach County will get back to their winning ways in 2024.
Player of the Year – Cal Faulkner, Lumpkin Co.
Championship Game – Jefferson 28 – 21 Calhoun
2A
1. Rockmart
2. Pierce Co.
3. Carver-Columbus
4. Stephens Co.
5. Burke Co.
6. Appling Co.
7. Crisp Co.
8. Callaway
9. Thomson
10. Columbia
The Favorite – Rockmart
The Class 2A runner-ups are our pick to win it all in 2024. Rockmart played in a slugfest of a championship game against Pierce County where they lost 48-45. The likelihood of a rematch against Pierce County is very high, and in 2024, we give the edge to the Yellow Jackets. Tristan Anderson is an All-State athlete who affects both sides of the football at receiver and safety. JR linebacker Nate Davis is a torpedo in the middle of the defense racking up tackles. One of the more impressive linemen in the class of ’27 is Jaiden Thompson who can blow defenders up. His classmate Caden Mahoney is another promising blocker set to make an impact. SR DT Samuel Brown will be anchoring the middle of the defense. JR athlete Tyree McCrary provides Rockmart some great speed on jet sweeps and is a solid DB too. No doubt, the road to the championship game will be tough for the Yellow Jackets, but they are a disciplined bunch. The likelihood of a rematch against Pierce County is high. How will they respond after last season, and can they overcome adversity to win their first state title since 1950? Stay tuned.
The Darkhorse – Carver-Columbus
Carver-Columbus simply has the most talent of any public team in 2A. They moved down from 3A after reclassification, and the program is honestly not too far removed from competing in a 4A title game. That was back in 2021. All-State JR Tristian Givens is a gifted 6’4″ athlete who is an elite pass-rusher but can equally make a big difference at receiver. 6’5″ JR QB Matthew Mungin is looking to take his game to another level this fall. He has the best WR corps in 2A with speedy JR receiver Jamarcus Davis, who is one of the fastest in the state, along with SR Braylon Jakes and JR Ke’Maurii Miles as targets. Sophomore sensation Zion Mabry will be the primary RB and is an explosive player at 6’1″ and 215 lbs. Another sophomore to watch for is OL Terrance Warren III, who stands 6’5″ and 330 lbs. On defense, SR Anthony Wilson is the returning tackle leader and an AJC Preseason All-State selection. SR DB Korey West has been a consistent stopper. JR Joshua Goshea is a powerful 6’3″ and 250 lbs. DL primed for a big season. Antavius Watts is another Carver-Columbus legacy who is building off a strong sophomore campaign. There is a ton of talent at Carver-Columbus, and if they can come together, they can win the 2A title.
The Underdog – Sonoraville
Sonoraville drops out of 4A after winning 9 games in just two seasons. They will look to rebound off a 3-7 season, and be among the most competitive teams in 2A this fall. All-State receiver Cayman Reynolds provides an X-factor at receiver, and at 6’4″, DBs struggle to contest his catch. He is an East Carolina commit. JR Xai Gilbert is a hybrid linebacker-safety prospect who is among the biggest hitters in the classification. SR DL Ashton Suggs has quality size at 6’1″ and 230 lbs. and hustles his tail off after the ball carrier. Opposite to Suggs is Will Patterson, a JR edge rusher with good quickness off the line and consistently provides pressure. Sonoraville will need more players to step up but have a strong core to make a lot of noise in 2024.
Player of the Year – Caden McGatha, Pierce Co.
Championship Game – Rockmart 24 – 21 Pierce Co.
A Division I
1. Toombs Co.
2. Thomasville
3. Northeast
4. Swainsboro
5. Rabun Co.
6. Fitzgerald
7. Commerce
8. Bleckley Co.
9. Lamar Co.
10. Dublin
The Favorite – Toombs Co.
Year 1 under HC Buddy Martin was an instant success for Toombs County and they went 11-2 on the year, consistently ranking in the upper echelon of 2A. They drop down a classification, but move up to the top of the polls in Class A DI. TJ Stanley is a SR passer who is committed to Georgia State with a powerful arm. He has SR athlete and Preseason All-State selection Lagonza Heyward to target at receiver along with JR WR Gavin Fletcher. Hayden Roy is a JR looking to become a breakout player on offense at RB. He had 350 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2023 and was even more impactful on defense where he had 12 tackles for a loss and 5 sacks. SR lineman Maurice Oglesby is a super under-the-radar player who stands 6’6″ and weighs 255 lbs. SOPH edge Hayden Bullard plays the game like his hair is on fire. Toombs County returns back too many impact players with experience for the rest of Class A DI to handle.
The Darkhorse – Northeast
Northeast’s 2023 football season was derailed after SR RB Nick Woodford suffered a knee injury. The 2025 running back was one of the state leaders in rushing yards in 2022 with 2500 yards. From all accounts, Woodford looks to be healthy and ready to go this fall. SR OL Zantavius Towles will be blocking for the dynamic back. JR WR Kavon Conciauro is one of the most explosive athletes in the classification at 6’3″ and 185 lbs. On defense, they are headlined by All-State JR DL Amari White and JR Tailen Sampson at LB. Both players fly to the football with incredible speed. SOPH DL Hayden Simms and DB Keiland Miley are both dynamic difference-makers who are FBS talents. Northeast has been a team on the precipice of being great for a few seasons. Provided they stay healthy, and a QB emerges at the top of the helm, then Northeast can go special places.
The Underdog – Heard Co.
After winning the 2A state title in 2018, Heard County has seen the program fall back to the median. They went 4-7 last year, the worst season yet for 4th-year coach Shane Lasseter, but the tides are turning. The first wave starts with sophomore QB Ethan Tisdale. The 2027 passer looked so comfortable as a freshman at times and did a great job of commanding the offense. He is set to be the best QB since Emory Jones. JR Antonio Heath hopes for a healthy season where he can bust heads at both RB and LB. SR OL Riley Chapman is an underrated blocker with good hands and tenacity. SR Dereon Pearson should also get some reps at RB this fall and is an equally productive linebacker. Heard County has a lot of dangerous pieces, a great weightlifting program, and not the type of opponent you want to meet in a dark deserted alleyway late at night. Well… at least come prepared.
Player of the Year – Duke Johnson, Dodge Co.
Championship Game – Northeast 28 – 24 Toombs Co.
A Division II
1. Bowdon
2. Brooks Co.
3. Manchester
4. Irwin Co.
5. Greene Co.
6. Trion
7. Schley Co.
8. Clinch Co.
9. Telfair Co.
10. Bryan Co.
The Favorite – Bowdon
Back-to-back state titles; I’m not sure coach Fendley could have imagined a better turnaround from his first season where he went 1-9 in 2018 until now. The program has been built into a Class A powerhouse with the weightlifting program being the pinnacle piece to their success. Bowdon is a well-oiled machine. Elite 6’6″ receiver Kaiden Prothro is a Preseason All-State selection and could break the school record in receiving yards this season. SR Charles Maxell is betting on himself, transferring over from Woodward Academy, and has been blowing defenses out of the water in the preseason with his passing. SR RB Luke Windom is finally back after multiple knee injuries during his sophomore and junior years. He was a sensational playmaker with over 1000 all-purpose yards as a freshman, so the people at Bowdon are very excited. SR Jackson Edwards is an explosive blocker along with fellow SR Xavier Simons. On defense SR linebacker Dylan McGrinn was one of the tackle leaders last year and an All-State selection. While Mason Daniel is an excellent defender, he should make an impact on offense this year with his speed. JR Blayton Marroquin is an important two-way lineman who provides great size at 6’2″ and 305 lbs. Rising sophomore John Harden is a huge 6’4″ 315 lbs. blocker and already benches over 300 lbs. Bowdon is loaded with talent, well conditioned, and extremely well coached. Stopping them from a third straight title might be a task too tall for DII.
The Darkhorse – Greene Co.
Greene County finished 10-2 last season under head coach Terrance Banks. After playing Bowdon in their 2nd closest game in the 2023 playoffs, the well-versed coach has the program focused on the big picture. 2024 is Greene County’s year. FSU commit and 2x All-State DT selection Kevin Wynn has dominated the line of scrimmage since his freshman year. Steve Miller has been a QB for most of his career but is focusing full-time at DB and WR this fall with JR QB Landon Garretson taking over the duties. That allows Greene County’s most dynamic playmaker, Miller, to get out in space on offense while continuing his dominant play at DB. SR LB RJ Monford is an aggressive player who the staff is confident to have a great season. Travez Gibson is an under-the-radar JR RB who makes well-timed cuts and fights for every extra yard. The combination of talent and coaching is there. Greene County can win the state title this year if the pieces come together. This can be their year.
The Underdog – Miller Co.
Tom Causey moves over from Ola to take over the duties at Miller County, and the roster seems perfect for his play style. SR RB JP Powell has been powering the Miller County offense for years and will be well-fed this fall. The GT commit is a Preseason All-State selection and is set for a huge season that could course-correct the program back to its first winning season since 2018. SR Stanley Shephard was an All-State honorable mention selection and one of the bigger LB sleepers still available in this class. Brandon Riggins is a 6’3″ SR TE/DE who is set to make a big impact this fall. JR QB Dru Johnson is no longer entirely under center anymore, and that freedom should be beneficial. Thomas Cooks is a solid JR blocker on the OL. Miller County is set to be the surprise underdog team in DII this year, no doubt about it.
Player of the Year – Zayden Walker, Schley Co.
Championship Game – Bowdon 21 – 20 Brooks Co.
Private Class 3A-A
1. Prince Avenue
2. Savannah Christian
3. Hebron Christian
4. Calvary Day
5. GAC
6. Fellowship Christian
7. Wesleyan
8. Trinity Christian
9. Holy Innocents’
10. Savannah Country Day
The Favorite – Prince Avenue
Prince Avenue is the winner of three of the last four state championships and should be the presumptive favorite once more. The Wolverines have the best OL of any private school team and the group is among the best of any program regardless of classification. SR Jake Atha, JR Mason Townsend, SR Caleb Chandler, SR Cody Mitchell, and SOPH Gabe Prince all can block out of their minds and reasonably could be All-State selections. SOPH QB Ben Musser is a great athlete running an 11.13 100M time this offseason and measuring a 36″ vertical, but aside from Elite JR Classic film, he is unproven. Andrew Beard is another SOPH who will share the backfield at RB. There is high expectations for the two. Preseason All-State receivers Hudson Hill and CJ Dockery are back and ready to repeat another 1k receiving seasons. On defense, SR LB Mac Bradley and Kyler Giddens were among the leaders in tackles last year in Georgia and both are Preseason All-State selections. Miles Garrett is an explosive All-State defensive tackle who can manhandle offensive linemen. SR OL Jake Atha will also flip over to the defense, and help against the run where he is underrated. Gaines Scoggins is another high-IQ SR defender who plays back at safety. Prince Avenue has lost the state’s all-time passing leader Aaron Philo to graduation, and it doesn’t seem like they will miss a beat this fall. They are the favorite each year for a reason.
The Darkhorse – Hebron Christian
After remarkable success at ELCA, Jonathan Gess has been at Hebron now for three seasons and is slowly building a contender. Although the program went 6-5 in 2023, they were among the most competitive teams down the stretch in 3A, taking eventual 3A champions Cedar Grove to the wire in a 30-27 first-round playoff game. Hebron Christian has a lot of talent and is returning most of those players in 2024, so they are a great Darkhorse pick. SR Geritt Kemp is our pick to be the All-State athlete in Class A. The 6’3″ two-way player is committed to playing football at Duke. Sichan John is an App State DT commit who will control the line of scrimmage. Max Steve is a dynamic JR two-way player who plays a whole lot bigger than 5’9″ and 175 lbs. Devon Caldwell is a JR RB hoping to build off his great sophomore campaign. SR defenders LB Nick Wade, DB KJ Thomas, and OLB Carrington Coombs are weapons the staff is excited about. SR OL Adam Cannon has made tremendous strides over the last year and is a Preseason All-State pick. Hebron Christian is not the type of team to underestimate, especially in a year where reclassification has created a lot of parity.
The Underdog – Lovett
Lovett went 6-6 on the year for coach Mike Muschamp. Heading now into his 19th season at Lovett, Muschamp has seen all kinds of success over the years including a state title in 2013. This year’s squad seems to be under the radar with a solid group of seniors. Talen Frett is a smart DB who is lightning-quick and JD Thomason is an aggressive OLB who gets into the backfield fast. Casani Bartlett impacts the game in several ways at receiver or special teams. The 6′ 185 lbs. SR athlete is under the radar. SR Ezra Duffield is a physical two-way player on the LOS for Lovett and is moving to TE this fall. JR linebacker Will Forte is the heartbeat of the Lovett defense and should be set for a huge season. With so much history and great coaching on staff, Lovett seems like the type of team to be a surprise among the 25 private schools competing for the 3A-A playoffs.
Player of the Year – Elijah Griffin
Championship Game – Prince Avenue 42 – 35 Savannah Christian
