Top 10 Georgia High School Football Teams in Class 5A
Here are ITG Next’s 2025 Georgia high school football preseason rankings for Class 5A.
Several of the top names that put their teams in position for a successful run in Class 5A have graduated, and some will be playing on Saturdays this season. Their teams will have to turn to their replacements if they are to compete for the grand prize of a state title in 2025.
1. Milton
That begins with the two-time defending state champion Milton Eagles of head coach Ben Reaves, who are our preseason No. 1 choice.
An entirely new skill group is tasked with filling the mighty big shoes of quarterback Luke Nickel, running back TJ Lester, and wide receiver CJ Wiley. There may be enough new faces and returning pieces to allow the Eagles the right to be at the top until proven otherwise.
2. Thomas County Central
Perhaps the most talented Georgia high school football team from top to bottom is Thomas County Central. The Eagles may have lost the fewest major pieces from a year ago, but that doesn’t mean they can go through 2025 on cruise control.
While Justin Rogers has built a program that will have the talent to challenge for a championship, they’ll first have to make it out of Region 2-5A, which I think is the toughest region in the state.
3. Gainesville
Since the final whistle sounded in 2024, Gainesville head football coach Josh Niblett has made this offseason one of redemption.
This 2025 squad could be his most talented and motivated herd of Red Elephants since his arrival four years ago. He’s got one of the best offensive players in quarterback Kharim Hughley and one of the best defenders in five-star linebacker Xavier Griffin.
4. Lee County
Speaking of the competitive Region 2 in Class 5A, the Lee County Trojans are not only the defending region champions from a year ago, but they went undefeated, finishing 5-0 in the region and 13-1 overall. They lost their first game of the season in the state semifinals.
Lee County will have to find a way to replace quarterback Weston Bryan and superstar running back Ousmane Kromah this season, but look for head coach Dean Fabrizio to have his team right back in the mix in 2025 in Class 5A.
5. Rome
Rome and head coach John Reid finished with eight wins after a rough start to the 2024 season that saw the team involved in a school bus crash that injured several coaches and players.
With everyone hoping for better fortunes this year on and off the field, Reid should have the Wolves back in the hunt in Class 5A.
6. Coffee
Coffee will have one of the younger rosters since head coach Mike Coe arrived in 2022.
The Trojans’ primary goal will be replacing Tyrese Woodgett, who set the Georgia high school football single season rushing record with a 605-yard performance in Coffee’s win over Sequoyah in the quarterfinals last season.
Coe always seems to have the next man up and ready to go with his backs, and that’ll be the case this year with KJ DeBruce taking over the primary duties at running back.
A name to watch for will be Class of 2028 running back Bobby Reynolds, whom Coe seems to have high expectations for.
7. Roswell
Roswell will be one of the more exciting teams to watch in 2025 as new head coach JT Thompson brings his high-energy offensive style to the Hornets.
Thompson will have a talented field general to lead that side of the team in Trey Smith. The dual-threat quarterback should be perfectly suited for Thompson’s no-huddle approach.
8. Houston County
Head football coach Jeremy Edwards and the Houston County Bears will have to replace four-year starter AJ Hill at quarterback, and that’s going to be a tall task.
However, Edwards is one of the best offensive minds in the state, and he’ll have several key players back, including the entire rushing attack from a year ago.
Defensively, he’s got arguably the best safety in the state in Jordan Smith.
9. Brunswick
Brunswick has taken care of business in region play under head coach Garrett Grady, winning the Region 1-5A title in three of the past four years, including 2024.
The challenge for the Pirates will be making a deeper run in the state playoffs. With a returning cast that includes the state’s top tight end in Heze Kent and senior Grant Moore entering his third season at quarterback, Brunswick may find that 2025 is their year.
10. Hughes
Finally, the Hughes Panthers are hoping for a return to the Class 5A state title game, where they fell to eventual state champion Milton in 2024.
A lot has changed this offseason, namely the departure of head football coach Daniel “Boone” Williams, who left to take over the Northside (Warner Robins) program.
A name familiar to Hughes fans will be leading the Panthers this year as former offensive coordinator Andrico Hines takes over as head coach. He was the team’s offensive play caller in 2022, when Hughes last won a state championship.
Hines will have offseason transfer quarterback Darnell Kelly to work with in 2025, but there aren’t many starters from last year’s team returning.
After wrapping up spring practice earlier this year, Hines said that he and his team “have some work to do before the season gets here.”
He said that the team has about five of the 22 starters from the 2024 team returning, but he knows what it takes to win at Hughes. He’s literally been here before.
