Top 10 Georgia High School Football Teams in Class 4A
Preseason – Updated 7/20/2026
Here are ITG Next’s 2026 Georgia high school football preseason rankings for Class 4A.
1. Sandy Creek
The defending Class 3A state champion Sandy Creek Patriots are our top pick in the 2026 Class 4A preseason top 10 rankings.
Returning quarterback and wide receiver Corey Hadley will give Sandy Creek a great opportunity to win a second consecutive state title.
2. Stephenson
A team to keep an eye on is Stephenson, which had one of its best seasons in the last decade in 2025, finishing with 10 wins.
The Jaguars will return their leading rusher in senior Jayden Johnson, leading wide receiver Noah Mahoney, leading defender Kwame Green, and quarterback Zabrian Boler. Boler threw for 1,266 yards and rushed for 287 yards with four touchdowns last season.
3. Douglass
The Douglass Astros are coming off a nine-win season and could be poised for yet another solid year in 2026.
The team will return its top two wide receivers in Damarien Parrott and Zalen Green and its top three rushers in Jecori Anderson, Janarius Gooden, and Jamari Smith. Quarterback Kendrick Henderson will return for his senior year.
The Astros will need to find some playmakers on defense to replace Keontae Webb and Akharee Neal.
4. Peach County
Head coach Marquis Westbrook showed just how well he can build a program while at Warner Robins, and now he’s looking to continue that coaching magic at Peach County after 11-2 and 10-2 seasons in 2024 and 2025, respectively, in Fort Valley, Georgia.
Westbrook will bring back the team’s top three leading rushers from last year in Ashton Barton, Zion Ellison, and Deandre Stinson.
5. Oconee County
Head coach Ben Hall’s Oconee County team will bring back its leading receiver in tight end Mason Hall, plus running backs Darius Darden and Josh Woelfl.
Look for the Warriors to be solid in 2026.
6. Troup County
Head coach Tanner Glisson’s Troup County Tigers will bring back eight starters on offense and eight starters on defense in 2026, giving the team another shot at making a deep run in the playoffs.
Chase Mosley will assume quarterback duties this season.
7. Calhoun
Calhoun will return quarterback Trace Hawkins and leading rusher Hudson Chadwick, but graduated top wide receiver Justin Beasley. Hawkins is ranked as one of ITG Next’s top 10 quarterbacks in Georgia entering the 2026 season.
Still, Calhoun will be right in the mix.
8. Mary Persons
Mary Persons will be a team to watch as head coach Brian Nelson’s Bulldogs return a load of talent from last year’s 5-5 squad.
Nelson will have his top rusher, top three receivers, and three starting offensive linemen back. Nelson must replace starting quarterback Mac Nelson this season and plans to turn to Jordan Singleton, who played free safety last year, to lead the offense.
“Jordan has had a good offseason throwing the football, and he’s very capable of playing well there,” Nelson said of Singleton. “Plus, he’s got some good pieces around him.”
Nelson confirmed that Singleton will not play safety again this season.
9. Cairo
Head coach David Coleman has quietly built Cairo into a championship-caliber program, including last year’s 10-3 team that secured the region title in Region 1-3A.
Coleman will have two-year starting quarterback Bryce Puckett and leading running back Bryian Duncan back this year to guide a talented offense as Cairo looks to keep moving through the playoffs.
10. Monroe Area
Monroe Area enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2025 with a 9-3 finish.
With leading wide receiver Bryce Bell, athlete Cooper Shumate, and top defender Cortavious Scott returning, look out for the Purple Hurricanes this season.
