The Mooneyham Poll has legally changed its name. Let the second guessing and bashing begin…

AAAAAAA

1. Grayson
2. Colquitt County
3. Lowndes
4. Brookwood
5. Parkview
6. Roswell
7. Mill Creek
8. Hillgrove
9. McEachern
10. South Gwinnett

Honorable Mention: Newton, Tift County, North Gwinnett, Norcross, Marietta

The defending state champions from Grayson lost a ton of talent; yet have the most talented roster in the state. They boast six defensive players who rank among the top players in the state for the next two seasons. Colquitt County is the ever-present contender. Senior linebacker JJ Peterson will lead a unit that will be more physical than any of their competitors in 2017. Over in Snellville, Brookwood and South Gwinnett will enjoy tremendous seasons via contrasting storylines. The Broncos three-some of Angelo DiSpigna, Matthew Hill and Dante Black lead one of the finest offenses in the class. The Comets will feature one of the finest defenses in the class. Robert Cooper (Florida State commit) and Justin Mascoll (Clemson) lead the group of five seniors who are ranked in the 247Sports Georgia Composite Top 200 rankings for this season. Parkview will score in bunches. The transfer of Fred Payton, from Peachtree Ridge, takes the Panthers offense to a new level. Speaking of dual-threat quarterbacks, Lowndes signal caller Michael Barrett could end up the player of the year in the classification. Roswell and Mill Creek, despite major losses of talent, will not drop too far. Hillgrove and McEachern will be neck-and-neck all season. Tift County, Marietta and Newton will be the surprises of the season.

AAAAAA

1. Tucker
2. Valdosta
3. Lee County
4. Northside, Warner Robins
5. Dalton
6. Mays
7. Harrison
8. Glynn Academy
9. Alpharetta
10. Hughes

Honorable Mention: Coffee, Allatoona, Stephenson, Northgate, Douglas County

When trying to determine a future state champion we always ask the same questions. Who has the most talented roster in the class? Who is the team on a mission? Who is the most physical or most athletic? The answer to each of these questions might belong to one team…Tucker. Valdosta has enough talent to defend their state title from last season, but a noticeable drop will need to be curved through a quick start. The most talked about player in America resides in 6A as Harrison will be led by the #1-ranked dual threat quarterback in the country, Justin Fields. Glynn Academy has lost so much talent the last two seasons. Are they truly a “re-load” program? It appears that question has been answered regarding Mays. If the Raiders can find a replacement at quarterback, they are a lock for seven wins. Allatoona should tick up a bit and Northside-Warner Robins should tick down just a bit. Meanwhile, Alpharetta and Douglas County will be the surprise teams in the class.

AAAAA

1. Rome
2. Buford
3. Stockbridge
4. Ware County
5. Carrollton
6. Kell
7. Bainbridge
8. Carver (Atlanta)
9. Clarke Central
10. Woodland (Stockbridge)

Honorable Mention: Arabia Mountain, Thomas County Central, Jones County, Griffin, Villa Rica

This class could be described as “the big four and everyone else”. At least, that appears to be the case to start the season. Rome was ahead of schedule last season; losing by two-points to Harrison and by three-points to Kell. The defense allowed 61-points in their last 10 games. And they should be better overall in 2017. Buford lost a great head coach in Jess Simpson and promptly replaced him with another great head coach in former Roswell man, John Ford. The Wolves also lost two dynamic playmakers, but will see the return of two 1,000-yard rushers in Anthony Grant and Christian Turner. It’s Buford. Ware County will be led by a tremendous defense. Senior linebackers Ernest Jones and Trey Cobb form one of the best tandems in the state. Head Coach Franklin Stephens will need to replace his quarterback, but a stable of running backs will certainly take the load off. Stockbridge is in my “Big Four” despite losing more talent than the teams listed above. Replacing three-year stars at quarterback and running back will be tough. Returning for the Tigers is Brenton Cox (Ohio State commit), Marquez Ezzard (Florida State), and a group of players who know nothing but success.

AAAA

1. Cartersville
2. Blessed Trinity
3. Jefferson
4. Woodward Academy
5. Thomson
6. Mary Persons
7. Cairo
8. Oconee County
9. Ridgeland
10. Sandy Creek

Honorable Mention: Marist, Eastside, NW Whitfield, Burke County, Stephens County

As the owner of a 30-game winning streak, the two-time defending champions from Cartersville are now five wins away from reaching into the top ten longest streaks in state history. With Trevor Lawrence, the consensus top rated player in America, the ‘Canes certainly have a shot. There appears to be a short list of challengers to the crown. Besides Lawrence, the top offense weapon to return in the classification is most likely running back Colby Wood of Jefferson. The senior has rushed for over 3,800-yards and nearly 60-touchdowns the last two seasons. Blessed Trinity returns two of the top linebackers in the state (Georgia commit JD Bertrand and Jake Rudolph) and two of the top athletes in the state (Steele Chambers and Ryan Davis). With a great combination of athleticism and physicality, Thomson stormed through their competition in 2016. I had the pleasure of working the play-by-play for their semifinal victory over Jefferson and was impressed with their sheer “in your face” nature. They lost a good bit of talent from last season, but return senior defensive back Christian Tutt and junior running back Bubba Murray.

AAA

1. Cedar Grove
2. GAC
3. Peach County
4. Calhoun
5. Westminster (Atlanta)
6. Pace Academy
7. Crisp County
8. Liberty County
9. Lovett
10. Pierce County

Honorable Mention: Westside (Macon), Dawson County, Morgan County, Jenkins, Cook

Both combatants from the 3A championship game last season, Cedar Grove and Greater Atlanta Christian, could accomplish the relatively rare feat of meeting each other for a second consecutive year for the title. It is true, the Saints and Spartans lost so much talent, but because of incredible depth and blowout wins in 2016, each team will return incredible talent, with big game experience. Pace Academy disappointed a lot of people last season. The Knights had so much young offensive talent in 2015 when they won a title that people expected dominance in 2016. Injuries, a tough schedule and the loss of seven defensive starters derailed the repeat. If this team doesn’t win seven ballgames in 2017, I owe you five-dollars. This could be the year for Peach County. Sure, they have one of the top players in America in senior athlete Kearis Jackson, but it is the complimentary pieces that will take this team into the state semifinals. Finally, Crisp County features two of the top defenders in the state (linebackers Quay Walker and Ahdarrious Gee) and will be a tough out, come quarterfinal time.

AA

1. Fitzgerald
2. Benedictine
3. Callaway
4. Hapeville Charter
5. Screven County
6. Jefferson County
7. Rabun County
8. Pepperell
9. Heard County
10. Brooks County

Honorable Mention: Elbert County, Vidalia, Thomasville, Model, Washington County

Benedictine over the last four years: 53-4 record, two state titles, one semifinal and one quarterfinal. Why start with stats? Because each year they lose so much talent that some pundits count them out. I do believe they take a slight step back this season, but I would caution against underestimating the Cadets. Throughout that same timespan, Fitzgerald and Benedictine have met three times in the playoffs. The Purple Hurricane (not a typo; it’s Hurricane and not Hurricanes) have won 38-games the last three years with two runner-up finishes and a semifinal appearance. The ‘Cane won its only state title way back in 1948; this, I believe, could be the year the drought ends. Screven County has a shot at a state title. The Gamecocks return their two-year starting quarterback, three of the top four ball carriers, number-one wide receiver and top three defensive players. Some members of the media are going to count out Callaway because of three key graduations. Still, the Cavs return a 2,000-yard rusher (senior DJ Atkins), an “all-everything” type player with major DI offers (sophomore Cartavious Bigsby), one of the top junior offensive linemen in America (Keiondre Jones) and one of the top defensive tackles in the state (senior Lichon Terrell).

 1A Public

1. Clinch County
2. Macon County
3. Emanuel County Institute
4. Manchester
5. Taylor County
6. Commerce
7. Charlton County
8. McIntosh County Academy
9. Pelham
10. Marion County

Honorable Mention: Mt Zion (Carroll), Irwin County, Lincoln County, Turner County, Claxton

The defending champs from Macon County will be replacing one of the greatest quarterbacks in state history (K’hari Lane), but have championship talent returning in senior wide receiver Trey Brown (24 touchdowns in 2016 was second all-time), senior offensive lineman Christian Meadows (a Florida State commit) and running back Akeevious McLendon (nearly 2,000-yards total offense in career). When Clinch County hits the field in 2017, the one-two combo of Trezman Marshall and Charles McClellan will be difficult to contain. Word out of camp is that kids are still angry with the upset loss in the state semifinals to MCA; a team they beat 32-7 during the regular season. If Emanuel County Institute can find a replacement for long-time starter Rhett Gay, the Bulldogs could be a dark horse to win a state title. Now, that is a big “if” and they did graduate four other all-state players, but make no mistake, ECI can make a run. Manchester and Pelham are on the fringe. The Blue Devils could have the best defense in the class, but will need to find a slew of new starters. The Hornets hope hangs on the right arm of a future star quarterback (Kendrick Patterson); who is still only a sophomore.

1A Private

1. Eagles Landing Christian Academy
2. Wesleyan
3. Prince Avenue Christian
4. Mount Paran Christian
5. Landmark Christian
6. Darlington
7. Stratford Academy
8. Fellowship Christian
9. Tattnall Square
10. Aquinas

Honorable Mention: Calvary Day, Savannah Christian, Athens Academy, Mount Pisgah Christian, Pinecrest Academy

No defending state champion has a better chance at repeating than Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy. ELCA returns four players that have played significant snaps for three years. They boast the best linebacker group in the class, led by seniors Harrison Taylor (the AJC’s Defensive Player of the Year), Caleb Dallas and George Shockley (1^st Team All-State). Plus, junior Johnathan Youngblood (2^nd Team All State). One team who could hang with the Chargers this season is Wesleyan. In 2017, the Wolves return four-year starting quarterback Banks Ramsey, 43-reception man Zach Peterson and a ton of big-game, playoff experienced players. Toss in transfer Tommy Tremble, one of the top tight end prospect in the country, and perhaps they can dethrone the champs. Next, we find a group of questions and even teams. Stratford Academy, in a heavy run-based offense returns three of their top four backs. Darlington will be led by Tijai Whatley, who combined for 1,500-yards and 20 touchdowns last season. Prince Avenue returns starting quarterback Grant Roland behind possibly the best offensive line in the class.