*Editors Note. Teams whose seasons have been suspended indefinitely or cancelled are included in our preseason poll. As the season moves along, slowly those teams will drop from the rankings where necessary. *

AAAAAAA

Grayson is back to apparent “all-star team” status. After returning top-flight talent from 2019, they also received two top-flight transfers in senior quarterback Carlos Del Rio-Wilson (McEachern) and dynamic junior athlete Terrian Williams II (Parkview). We have Lowndes as a close second. It’s a funny thing, analyzing the Vikings. The positives: they return one of the top duel threat quarterbacks in America in Jacurri Brown and he is joined by nine returning all-region players. The negatives: the program is bringing in an entirely new coaching staff in the age of COVID-19 and Jamey DuBose will need to find an entirely new starting offensive line in front of Brown. Meanwhile, Parkview should have one of the better offense-defense combinations in the class. Find a reliable quarterback and the Panthers can win their first title since 2002. For my money, Colquitt County, Camden County and North Gwinnett are dead even in the contention scale and any could be state champions. Camden is about to reach heights not seen by these players; their response to the pressure championship expectations will tell the tale of the season. Colquitt will need to replace eight starters on offensive and five on defense, but the Pack is accustomed to that problem. The last of my “Tier One” teams is North Gwinnett. Losing Jordan Hancock, the nationally ranked defensive back, and Ohio State commit, is big but finding a replacement for JR Martin at quarterback is bigger.

1. Grayson
2. Lowndes
3. Parkview
4. Camden County
5. Colquitt County
6. North Gwinnett
7. Harrison
8. Marietta
9. McEachern
10. Milton
11. Norcross
12. Brookwood
13. Newton
14. Archer
15. Mill Creek
16. North Cobb
17. Alpharetta
18. Walton
19. Denmark
20. Roswell

 

AAAAAA

The AAAAAA classification was as difficult to sort out in the top six of the rankings as any in the state. With a returning quarterback, a returning FBS running back, and a talented, playoff experienced roster, Buford has fewer questions than the competition entering the 2020 season. Thus, they start at #1. Dacula will need to replace Jarrett Jenkins at QB, but with the expectation they will lean on the run game, the Falcons will be fine with Kaleb Edwards and Kyle Efford. Meanwhile, player transfers have helped create a few of the more interesting storylines in 2020. Valdosta lost Rodemaker to graduation, but you knew Rush would find his quarterback. He received an August transfer from California as Jake Garcia, a Southern California commit, decided on the Wildcats. On the Westside of Atlanta, Westlake has become a destination of choice for transfers this offseason and they are a real threat to win the first state title in program history. Finally, the biggest of all transfers involves Carrollton. The Trojans had a chance at number one in our preseason rankings, but after losing nationally ranked signal caller MJ Morris late in the summer, things changed. Still, the Trojans are talented throughout the roster with two of the better defensive players in the state. Lee County, Richmond Hill, Rome and Allatoona are all semifinal caliber.

1. Buford
2. Dacula
3. Valdosta
4. Carrollton
5. Westlake
6. Lee County
7. Richmond Hill
8. Rome
9. Allatoona
10. Lanier
11. Douglas County
12. Kell
13. Tucker
14. Northside, Warner Robins
15. Glynn Academy
16. Riverwood
17. Johns Creek
18. Dalton
19. Brunswick
20. Hughes

 

AAAAA

The storyline which dominates conversation in this classification revolves around one word: quarterback. Warner Robins returns First Team All-State QB Jalen Addie and Blessed Trinity received Wesleyan quarterback transfer JC French in the offseason. Clarke Central has its deepest and most talented roster in ages. When Brock Vandagriff went down at Prince Avenue Christian last season, his backup, Lucian Anderson III, turned into a potential star. His transfer into Clarke has the Gladiators on a potential run to the title. Back down south, Coffee returns a three-year starter under center to run its option offense. Talented, ultra-athletic, experienced, and hungry are all words which describe the Trojans in 2020. After the four leaders in the rankings, we believe there is a group of roughly 10-12 teams who are rather even. Dutchtown and Wayne County both return play making, high impact starting quarterbacks. On the other hand, if Woodward, Jones County, or Cartersville adjust to losing a starting quarterback quicker than the rest of the pack, they will shoot into contention. All three have tremendous rosters where finding no more than a “game manager” will drastically change the fortunes of its season.

1. Warner Robins
2. Blessed Trinity
3. Clarke Central
4. Coffee
5. Jones County
6. Woodward Academy
7. Dutchtown
8. Wayne County
9. Cartersville
10. Stockbridge
11. Griffin
12. Ware County
13. Calhoun
14. Southwest DeKalb
15. Pius X
16. Starr’s Mill
17. Veterans
18. Creekside
19. Lithia Springs
20. Eastside

 

AAAA

Every season, when trying to sort out teams and put them in a proper ranking order, a veteran of high school football reporting will lean on certain questions. This year, in AAAA, the most useful question is: who has the fewest questions to answer? That is why I continued to come back to Bainbridge and Marist. After putting together what might have been the most dramatic state championship run in state history in 2018, the Bearcats lost four of the greatest players in program history to graduation or transfer. After a step back in 2019, they have the experience, talent, and the hunger for another title run in 2020. We always know the answer to the big question when it comes to Alan Chadwick’s Marist club. One of the most consistent programs in modern state history, the War Eagles have reached the quarterfinals 24 of the last 35 seasons. After that, the “tiers” of contention begin to blur. Is this finally the year, behind emerging star Malaki Starks, Jefferson returns to the podium? Stephenson and Mays continue to turn out elite individual athletes, but can they win the big one? Cedartown has a new head coach and lost a running back to Clemson, but feature two of the top positional players in the state. Benedictine is talented but pushed up another classification. Can Hapeville Charter endure the grind of 4A football? Can Jenkins rise up for Savannah? And finally, can Flowery Branch reach former lofty heights with a returning quarterback and running back?

1. Bainbridge
2. Marist
3. Jefferson
4. Cedartown
5. Benedictine
6. Stephenson
7. Mays
8. Flowery Branch
9. Jenkins
10. Hapeville Charter
11. Carver, Columbus
12. Troup
13. Cairo
14. North Oconee
15. West Laurens
16. Burke County
17. Cedar Shoals
18. Thomas County Central
19. Ridgeland
20. Baldwin

 

AAA

Over the last five seasons, Cedar Grove has posted a 64-8 record, with three state titles and two semifinals. And they will be there again in 2020. Crisp County, the team they beat at Georgia State Stadium, should be better this year. Last season, the Cougars were a talented, junior class led club which hit its stride at midseason. After last season’s finalists, the field draws even. Peach County is in reload mode once again. Besides nationally ranked offensive linemen Terrence Ferguson, who will be the newest star who will be a household name come December? GACS is intriguing. They lost a ton of talent from 2019 and they will be good again, but how is their depth? One of my broadcasting buddies said, basically shouting into the phone, “Sandy Creek went down to 3A! They’re gonna dominate!” Not sure about that. They lost so much talent. Sleeper for a deep run: Hart County. Malachi Thomas is the best player in the state you may not know. Last season he laid down nearly 2,900-yards of total yardage. I like Pierce County more than most analysts. The Bears have posted a 24-2 record the last two seasons and return its starting quarterback, running back and a linebacker who accrued 122 tackles in 2019. Finally, if Rockmart quarterback Javin Whatley is back to 100% after his late season knee injury, the Jackets could be a semifinalist.

1. Cedar Grove
2. Crisp County
3. Peach County
4. Greater Atlanta Christian
5. Sandy Creek
6. Hart County
7. Pierce County
8. Rockmart
9. Oconee County
10. Mary Persons
11. Carver, Atlanta
12. Dawson County
13. Westminster
14. Thomson
15. Appling County
16. Burke County
17. Douglass
18. North Murray
19. Monroe Area
20. Ringgold

 

AA

LOVE this classification. For me, it looks like a “Big Four” and everyone else. Will we be the only outlet to place Thomasville at #1? Look, the Bulldogs probably have the best combination of depth and talent. This was a deceptively good team last season which lost five games, but three were to higher classification teams. This year they return: a starting quarterback, the top two rushers, the leading wide receiver, the top tackler on defense and its top defensive back. Just a few weeks ago, Pace Academy received a transfer from one of the top duel threat quarterbacks in America in MJ Morris. He returns to the program where he played his youth ball. At his disposal will be Jayden Thomas, one of the top wide outs in the country. Plus, they return nearly every offensive starter and seven defensive starters. Callaway is the reload juggernaut of the classification and still on a mission for that state title. The Cavs still sport three nationally ranked players but will be working on depth throughout. Finally, Rabun County’s Gunnar Stockton, recently a South Carolina commit, is the one player who can take over a ballgame more than anyone in the classification. By the time his career is done, the top-ranked duel threat signal caller could finish with the highest yardage total in state history.

1. Thomasville
2. Pace Academy
3. Callaway
4. Rabun County
5. Fitzgerald
6. Swainsboro
7. Bremen
8. Pepperell
9. Washington County
10. Elbert County
11. Vidalia
12. Bleckley County
13. Lovett
14. Lamar County
15. Jefferson County
16. Heard County
17. Early County
18. Dodge County
19. Union County
20. Chattooga

 

Single A Public

*Rain pitters and patters on the house. The author sits down at his desk, longing in his eyes, and stares out the window. As he dreams of a cold December morning, he begins to write.* “Dear Football Gods, Please let us get Irwin County versus Brooks County in the state championship game….” End scene. How great of a matchup would that be? The defending champion of 1A Public versus the 2019 runner-up from AA. Tremendous potential. Now, do not misunderstand, any number of teams could upset the dream scenario. This classification is a mix of up-and-comers and retooling winning programs. Still, the truth is, Single A Public is Brooks, Irwin and right now at least, everyone else giving chase. IC will return the Benyard Brothers, Garland and Gabriel, whose growth last season took that team to another level. Plus, underrated LB/RB Kam Ward returns with four of five starting offensive linemen. And remember, entering the state title game last year, the Indians defense had scored more points than they allowed. Ten of their top 15 defensive players are back. On the negative side, it’s never easy replacing a generational player like DJ Lundy; or a starting quarterback in Zach Smith. BC returns senior Nitavion Burrus at quarterback, four of its top five offensive weapons, a 102-tackle linebacker (senior Cameron Priest) and two future stars in the secondary (sophomore Omari Arnold and junior Jamal Sanders). On the negative side, the Trojans will need to replace the entire offensive line and three of four starting linebackers from the state title game.

1. Irwin County
2. Brooks County
3. Clinch County
4. Dublin
5. Mitchell County
6. Commerce
7. Bowdon
8. Metter
9. Wilcox County
10. Marion County
11. Lincoln County
12. Pelham
13. Manchester
14. Emanuel County Institute
15. Macon County
16. Screven County
17. Turner County
18. Claxton
19. Johnson County
20. McIntosh County Academy

 

Single A Private

Incredibly, in 2019, Eagles Landing Christian Academy ended a decade worth of dominance by becoming the first program in GHSA football history to win five-straight championships. Even with major talent loss to graduation, they are favorites to win another title. Athens Academy is a talented, playoff seasoned team. The Spartans will return a player I consider to be one of the most underrated in the state in senior Deion Colzie. He is a highly rated, uncommitted prospect, and will pair with a returning senior quarterback (Palmer Bush), a nationally ranked offensive lineman (Hugh Laughlin) and four other all-state caliber players. Prince Avenue could finally break through the glass ceiling. If the best player in the classification stays healthy (five-star quarterback Brock Vandagriff) the Wolverines have a chance at the state title. He will have a ton of weapons at his disposal, such as new Troy University commit Logan Johnson. Defense will be the key to their season. Finally, do not sleep on the most underrated team of the last four seasons, Fellowship Christian. After a final, a semifinal and a quarterfinal in the last four seasons, dynamic playmaker Murphy Reeves leads the sleeper pick for a state title.

1. Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy
2. Athens Academy
3. Prince Avenue Christian
4. Fellowship Christian
5. Wesleyan
6. Christian Heritage
7. Holy Innocents
8. Hebron Christian
9. Darlington
10. Trinity Christian
11. Mount Paran Christian
12. Aquinas
13. North Cobb Christian
14. Whitefield Academy
15. Savannah Christian
16. Calvary Day
17. Savannah Country Day
18. Mount de Sales
19. Stratford Academy
20. First Presbyterian