Collins Hill opens the season at the top of the Class 7A poll. The Eagles return their core talent from last year’s run to the state finals and were the clear choice for No. 1 because that core includes Travis Hunter—the No. 1 rated Class of 2022 player in the entire country. Milton earned the No. 2 slot and it is the team’s disruptive defensive front—that includes the No. 1 Class of 2023 player in the nation, LT Overton, and balanced offense that gives this year’s Eagles all the attributes needed to make a run at this year’s state title. North Cobb comes in at No. 3 after bringing in tons of offensive weapons this offseason and Walton comes in at No. 4. Walton’s 2021 roster was described by head coach Daniel Brunner as “the most complete team” he has had over his five seasons at the helm. Marietta rounds out the top 5 and is a team that should not be overlooked this year; The Blue Devils relied on underclassmen this past season and have a state-high 20 returning starters coming back and that doesn’t include their kicker or punter. Parkview, Roswell, Lowndes, Archer and defending state champion Grayson round out the top 10.
Class 6A’s Lee County joins Collins Hill as another state runner-up from last year that is debuting at No. 1 this year. The Trojans are absolutely stacked, especially on the defensive side of the football where they have four starters ranked in the the state’s top 70 prospects. Westlake comes in at No. 2 after their incredible semifinal run this past year and will be led by junior quarterback RJ Johnson—who is coming off a sophomore season that included 3,197 passing yards and 24 touchdowns. Two-time defending state champion Buford returns at No. 3 and Hughes and Allatoona round out the top 5. River Ridge, Valdosta, Rome, Carrollton and Dacula solidify a loaded Class 6A poll.
Blessed Trinity debuts at No. 1 in Class 5A and Ware County, Warner Robins, Coffee and Starr’s Mill comprise the top 5. Jones County holds down the No. 6 slot and Cartersville, Calhoun, Creekside and St. Pius round out the top 5.
In Class 4A, Jefferson opens the year at No. 1. The Dragons fell to No. 2 Marist in last year’s championship game but will be returning an outstanding roster this year. Not only does Jefferson have five-star athlete and Georgia-commit Malaki Starks back at quarterback, but the Dragons will also have Sammy Brown in the backfield—a Class of 2024 transfer from Commerce that will be able to bolster Jefferson’s triple option attack while also adding to the Dragons’ experienced linebacking corps. Marist is back at No. 2 and Benedictine, Carver-Columbus and Flowery Branch round out the top 5. Cedartown, Troup, Baldwin, Bainbridge and Perry round out the top 10.
At the moment, Peach County opens the season atop Class 3A with Region 2-3A rival — Crisp County — close behind. However, with 3A being one of the deepest classes in the state, it doesn’t matter who is at the top. Defending-champion Pierce County, Oconee County and Greater Atlanta Christian round out the top 5 and could stake claims to higher poll positions easily. Crisp County has a new coach — Miguel Patrick, the former Cedar Grove head coach – after Brad Harber left to join the Bleckley County staff. Speaking of Cedar Grove, it enters the year at No. 6 ahead of Sandy Creek, Cherokee Bluff, Thomson and Carver-Atlanta. This season, Cedar Grove will be led by head coach John Adams, who was promoted from within the system.
Defending-champion Callaway enters the season on top of Class 2A ahead of Fitzgerald, Rabun County, Thomasville and Lovett. Northeast-Macon, Pace Academy, Vidalia, Bleckley County and Jefferson County round out the top 10.
Brooks County leads Class A Public ahead of defending-champion Irwin County, Dublin, Commerce and Turner County. Clinch County is No. 6 and leads Trion, Wilcox County, Lincoln County and Chattahoochee County to round the top 10.
Trinity Christian tops the Class A Private poll and leads Eagle’s Landing Christian, defending-champion Prince Avenue Christian, Fellowship Christian and Athens Academy in the top 5. Wesleyan – at No. 6 – leads North Cobb Christian, Savannah Christian, Calvary Day and Christian Heritage.
Class 7A
1. Collins Hill
2. Milton
3. North Cobb
4. Walton
5. Marietta
6. Parkview
7. Roswell
8. Lowndes
9. Archer
10. Grayson
Class 6A
1. Lee County
2. Westlake
3. Buford
4. Hughes
5. Allatoona
6. River Ridge
7. Valdosta
8. Rome
9. Carrollton
10. Dacula
Class 5A
1. Blessed Trinity
2. Ware County
3. Warner Robins
4. Coffee
5. Starr’s Mill
6. Jones County
7. Cartersville
8. Calhoun
9. Creekside
10. St. Pius
Class 4A
1. Jefferson
2. Marist
3. Benedictine
4. Carver-Columbus
5. Flowery Branch
6. Cedartown
7. Troup
8. Baldwin
9. Bainbridge
10. Perry
Class 3A
1. Peach County
2. Crisp County
3. Pierce County
4. Oconee County
5. Greater Atlanta Christian
6. Cedar Grove
7. Sandy Creek
8. Cherokee Bluff
9. Thomson
10. Carver-Atlanta
Class 2A
1. Callaway
2. Fitzgerald
3. Rabun County
4. Thomasville
5. Lovett
6. Northeast Macon
7. Pace Academy
8. Vidalia
9. Bleckley County
10. Jefferson County
Class A-Public
1. Brooks County
2. Irwin County
3. Dublin
4. Clinch County
5. Turner County
6. Commerce
7. Trion
8. Wilcox County
9. Lincoln County
10. Chattahoochee County
Class A Private
1. Trinity Christian
2. Eagle’s Landing Christian
3. Prince Avenue Christian
4. Fellowship Christian
5. Athens Academy
6. Wesleyan
7. North Cobb Christian
8. Savannah Christian
9. Calvary Day
10. Christian Heritage
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