I said it many times in 2016, and will always contend, there were more state championship caliber teams in this class last season than in any class, ever. The difference entering 2017? Only one team from last season’s “top line” was not hit hard by graduation.

Predicted Playoff Field:

REGION 1…Playoff Teams: Valdosta, Lee County, Northside (Warner Robins), Coffee

REGION 2…Playoff Teams: Glynn Academy, Brunswick, Richmond Hill, Effingham County

REGION 3…Playoff Teams: Heritage (Conyers), Evans, Grovetown, Greenbrier

REGION 4…Playoff Teams: Tucker, Stephenson, Lovejoy, Jonesboro

REGION 5…Playoff Teams: Mays, Hughes, Douglas County, Creekside

REGION 6…Playoff Teams: Harrison, Allatoona, Dalton, Creekview

REGION 7…Playoff Teams: Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Cambridge, Chattahoochee

REGION 8…Playoff Teams: Lanier, Dacula, Gainesville, Winder-Barrow

The Favorite (s)…

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. The Tigers are so talented they feature ten of the top 200 senior players in the state according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. That number leads all programs in the state. Better than even Grayson. Tucker could be the most talented team in the state regardless of classification and should be the favorite to win 6A.

Valdosta has enough talent to defend their state title from last season, but a noticeable drop will need to be stymied through a quick learning curve. The Wildcats strength appears to be on the defensive side of the ball. Back is outside linebacker Zakoby McClain, cornerback Jayce Rogers and defensive back Jalen Everett. Both McClain and Rogers are nationally ranked and Everett was all-state in 2016. Aside from Tucker, the Wildcats return more talent in this class, as far as “top line” teams go, than anyone else.

The Contender (s)…

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. Via a spring and summer circuit where he dominated some of the elite secondary’s in the country, 247Sports vaulted Fields to number one in their ratings. Although he remains #2 in the composite rankings. The right-hander will have his top target returning, wide receiver Steven Peterson. In 2016, they connected 72 times for 1,133 yards and 14 scores. The problem for the Hoyas is the loss of two all-state offensive linemen. Plus, their biggest unknown could be on the other side of the ball.

How underappreciated was Lee County’s defense last season? Very. Through five games last season the Trojans had allowed, pause for dramatic effect, seven rushing yards. Five games; seven rushing yards. Not sure I have ever seen that before. With senior linebacker Otis Reese (4*-Michigan commit) returning with a couple of key pieces, on each side of the ball, Leesburg could be on fire come November.

There is no doubt Glynn Academy will be a talented team in 2017, but how many of the new guys are going to step up? And how quickly? The Red Terrors have lost a lot of talent from the last three seasons. “All-everything” Deejay Dallas is now with Mark Richt in Miami. Senior linebacker Hunter Hall and athlete Randon Jernigan are still around from the state runner-up team of 2015; and both will make a major impact. Are they truly a “re-load” program? This is the year we really find out.

It appears that question has been answered regarding Mays. In the last four seasons, the Raiders have posted a 41-11 record, reached a state championship game, a quarterfinal, and twice been second round losers. Nine of those eleven losses were by one-possession. In 2015, they returned only one offensive starter. They finished 10-2. Entering 2016, Mays lost eight defensive starters and its top three offensive weapons. They finished 11-2. If the Raiders can find a replacement at quarterback, they are a lock for seven wins.

I will probably regret saying this, but I believe Northside (Warner Robins) is going to take a step back in 2017. And by step back I mean they will not be an automatic state championship favorite. A program can be the bluest of blue bloods; the ultimate reload program. Still, after losing this much talent, even Northside will feel the effects. Tobias Oliver will be starting at Georgia Tech in 2018. Tae Daley will be starting at Vandy in 2019. Alright, I could do this for two paragraphs. The point is, the last four years have been special (44-8 record, a state title and a semifinal) and it is time for a new group to seize their moment.

The Challenger (s)…

I am underestimating Dalton. I know it. They are going to make me look dumb. They return a senior starting quarterback (J.P. Tighe), an all-state senior wide receiver (Nasir Love-Porter), an all-state senior offensive lineman (Dylan Cole) and one of the best kickers in the state (Ivan Mora). Still, they lost so much talent I can’t allow myself to accept them as title “contenders”. The Catamounts graduated six players who were at least honorable mention all-state. Just can’t do it. Whatever; I’ve been proven wrong by great programs before. Besides I’m not saying they win five-games or anything. I’m just not sure they get to a state quarterfinal.

Allatoona will draw a long list of differing opinions. The Bucs were dominant in 2013-14 with a 27-2 record, a state title and a semifinal appearance. Last season, with talent depleted and youth pushed to the starting ranks, Gary Varner’s club started 1-4, stayed together and ended 6-6 with a playoff win. So, naturally many believe this year will be a “tick up” type season. The only problem is the loss of talent from last year was notable.

Alpharetta could be the surprise team in the class. Entering the “research” season, our prep time for the upcoming season, I expected to trumpet Alpharetta and their chances to surprise. What I didn’t expect to see was just how many of the Raiders players had developed into highly ranked recruits. Senior defensive back Jaycee Horn is now a four-star, top 25 player in the state. Jacob Nichols group has five players ranked in Georgia’s top 200 for this season.

Watch out for Douglas County. Every year I have the great honor of working the play-by-play of the Rising Seniors Georgia Junior Bowl. That game was dotted by DC players. Running back Uriah West, offensive lineman Lawrence Lagrone and defensive back Charles Gaddie all made the all-star roster. Possibly their best player, outside linebacker Braelen Oliver, is a top 75-80 senior player in the state and recently committed to Minnesota. They are most certainly not a team we are accustomed to talking about here, but that is not the point. I love talking about the surprise teams; even when that means they go from posting a 5-5 record to 7-3 and a playoff berth the next season. That would mean a lot for the DC community. And for the Tigers, that is certainly a possibility.

Coming up tomorrow: the AAAAAAA preview…