The 2024 GHSA season will introduce a new statewide landscape following the reclassification so let’s take a wide-ranging shot at creating a way-to-early Top 10 for each of the state’s new-look classifications.
Go easy on us.
In the new highest class, Class 6A will also be the largest class this season. Region 2 opponents Carrollton and Douglas County open this early poll at No. 1 and No. 2 ahead of three Gwinnett programs with Grayson, Buford and North Gwinnett.
No. 1 Milton takes the top spot In Class 5A after a strong spring showing and the dismantling of the Peachtree Ridge Lions in the spring game. Milton has a loaded roster, but it’s not just their stars Luke Nickel, CJ Wiley, and Ethan Barbour. They have young talented guys looking to emerge in new roles this season. No. 2 Hughes will look to replace their former star QB Prentiss Air Noland but will have another talented QB Christian Langford ready to fill his shoes. Hughes will also have one of the best offensive lines in the state with Tavaris Dice (Auburn commit) and Dontrell Glover leading the way. No. 3 Gainesville is one of the top teams in the state regardless of classification and under head coach Josh Niblett has only lost two games and has made deep runs. The Red Elephants will be led by their stout defensive stars Xavier Griffin and Julius Columbus (Duke commit).
No. 4 Thomas County Central and No. 5 Coffee are staples in middle Georgia and are premier programs. Both state champions lost a lot of talent but will surely have something to say this season. No. 6 Houston County will be led by four-star QB Antwann Hill who looks to finish his prep career strong. No. 7 Woodward Academy returns a lot of their talent from their state-champion runner-up team including three-star Lucas Farrington, four-star WR Josiah Abdullah, and three-star Jerome Bettis Jr (Notre Dame commit). No. 8 Rome will be led by their do-it-all linebacker Jaedon Harmon (Alabama commit) and will replace some significant pieces including QB Reece Fountain (East Tennessee State) and safety Joe Wilkinson (Clemson). No. 9 Lee County is a team you can never sleep on, especially when they have one of the best running backs in the country in Ousmane Kromah. When it gets to mid-November and you have a guy you can give the ball to 25-30 times without tiring out, you feel pretty good about your chances to win. No. 10 South Paulding is a major sleeper heading into next season but has a QB (Kade Wigginton) to keep an eye on as the season starts to ramp up.
In Class 4A, defending state champion Perry returns at No. 1 after winning the team’s first-ever state title last year, but will have a much more difficult field this season. Two of Class 4A’s newcomers will be in Perry’s region from Class 5A last year and sit at No. 2 (Warner Robins) and No. 4 (Ware County) in the poll and No. 7 Benedictine is also represented out of Region 1.
Cedar Grove is again the team to beat in Class 3A after winning the team’s fifth state championship last season. Sandy Creek, the 2022 champion, is ranked No. 2. Troup enters the class from 4A and debuts at No. 3. Jefferson (formerly 4A) and Calhoun (formerly 5A) and are No. 4 and No. 5, respectively with Greater Atlanta Christian, another former 5A team, at No. 6. LaGrange entered the Class from 4A and is chased by Calvary Day, Trinity Christian and Monroe Area to round out the top 10.
In Class 2A, Prince Avenue Christian debuts at No. 1, but will be competing in the newly formed Class A-3A Private division. Reigning state champion Pierce County sits at No. 2 and North Cobb Christian rounds out the top 10 after winning its first-ever region title in program history last season.
Class A Division I No. 1 Savannah Christian was a state-runner-up last season before losing to the eventual state champion Cedar Grove Saints. The Raiders have one of the best defensive lines in the state led by five-star Elijah Griffin and highly touted freshman LaDamion Guyton. The duo combined for 27.5 sacks last season. No. 2 Toombs County made a deep playoff run in 2023 and has one of the best athletes in the country returning in Lagonza Hayward. Hayward is elite on both sides of the ball, finishing with 727 receiving yards and seven touchdowns on offense. Defensively, he had 48 tackles and three interceptions. Toombs County will be a team to beat this year. No. 3 Fitzgerald made a deep run to the state semifinals. No. 4 Dublin will return Xavier Bostic who led the team with 15 total touchdowns and a second-round playoff finish. No. 5 Swainsboro will be replacing their star athlete Demello Jones (Georgia) who was a problem last season and put on a show in the state championship game. No. 6 Wesleyan has one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the 2025 class in Ben Brown. Brown had a stellar junior season throwing for 3,324 yards and 42 touchdowns. Brown makes them a team to watch. No. 7 Irwin County was another team that made a deep playoff run before losing to eventual state champion Prince Avenue Christian. No. 8 Fellowship Christian made one of the best trios on offense. On the outside, they can get it to their playmaker Evan Haynes who finished with 671 receiving yards and six touchdowns, or they can run the ball with CJ Givers who had a breakout sophomore season with 1,471 yards and 24 touchdowns. No. 9 Bleckley County has won two region championships in the past three years and has won more than nine games in the last three years. The Royals return all-state player Kam Everett next season. No. 10 Bremen went 9-3 in 2023 and had their best season since 2020 making it to the second round of the playoffs.
Bowdon, the two-time defending champion, debuts at No. 1 in Class A Division II with Schley County at No. 2, Irwin County at No. 3, Telfair County at No. 4 and Macon County at No. 5. Dooly County comes in at No. 6 with No. 7 Clinch County, No. 8 Manchester, No. 9 Johnson County and No. 10 Metter rounding out the top 10.
Class 6A
1. Carrollton
2. Douglas County
3. Grayson
4. Buford
5. North Gwinnett
6. Peachtree Ridge
7. Westlake
8. Walton
9. Colquitt County
10. Newton
Class 5A
1. Milton
2. Hughes
3. Gainesville
4. Thomas County Central
5. Coffee
6. Houston County
7. Woodward Academy
8. Rome
9. Lee County
10. South Paulding
Class 4A
1. Perry
2. Warner Robins
3. North Oconee
4. Ware County
5. Cass
6. Cartersville
7. Benedictine
8. Blessed Trinity
9. Central-Carroll
10. Creekside
Class 3A
1. Cedar Grove
2. Sandy Creek
3. Troup
4. Jefferson
5. Calhoun
6. Greater Atlanta Christian
7. LaGrange
8. Calvary Day
9. Trinity Christian
10. Monroe Area
Class 2A
1. Prince Avenue Christian
2. Pierce County
3. Burke County
4. Rockmart
5. Columbia
6. Carver-Columbus
7. Callaway
8. Thomson
9. Cook
10. North Cobb Christian
Class A Division I
1. Savannah Christian
2. Toombs County
3. Fitzgerald
4. Dublin
5. Swainsboro
6. Wesleyan
7. Irwin County
8. Fellowship Christian
9. Bleckley County
10. Bremen
Class A Division II
1. Bowdon
2. Schley County
3. Irwin County
4. Telfair County
5. Macon County
6. Dooly County
7. Clinch County
8. Manchester
9. Johnson County
10. Metter
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