Top 10 Georgia High School Football Teams in Class 7A
Preseason – Updated 8/6/2026
Here are ITG Next’s 2026 Georgia high school football preseason rankings for Class 7A.
1. Buford
The Buford Wolves are the team to beat once again in the state’s highest classification.
It’s true that Buford doesn’t have many recognizable names as they take the field in 2026, including at quarterback. That will be senior DJ Hunter, who becomes the first person in three seasons not named Raiola taking snaps for the Wolves.
Buford has a lot of weapons left waiting to make a name for themselves.
2. Carrollton
This could be Carrollton’s best shot to capture that first state championship for Joey King as the Trojans’ head coach.
CJ Cypher, who is ranked by ITG Next as a top 10 QB heading into the 2026 Georgia high school football season, was phenomenal as a freshman last year, and he’s only going to be better.
Watch out for Rontre Welch, who was one of the most electrifying return men in the state last year. He’ll likely become the prominent receiver in the Trojans’ passing attack.
Junior Tyler Boyd is ranked by ITG Next as a top 10 cornerback heading into the 2026 Georgia high school football season and one of the best defensive backs in Class 7A.
3. McEachern
The McEachern Indians snuck up on people last year, blazing through the regular season with 10 straight wins before an upset loss to Walton in Round 1 of the playoffs brought everything to a screeching halt for head coach Kareem Reid’s Indians.
There will be no sneaking up on anyone this year, but that’s not going to prevent McEachern from being one of Class 7A’s top teams in 2026.
McEachern has one of the most talented defenses in any class, featuring the best safety in Casey Barner and new linebacker Joakim Gouda.
4. Grayson
Grayson has a new head coach as Greg Carswell moves to the top spot from his previous role as the Rams’ defensive coordinator. He’s replacing Santavious Bryant, who is now the head coach at Gainesville.
Carswell will have a multi-talented team in his first year and will have the Rams right back where they usually are when the playoffs start: fighting for a championship.
5. Valdosta
There’s good news and bad news for the Valdosta Wildcats.
The good news is that the Cats will have two of the best running backs on the planet in the same backfield in Marquis Fennell and Deron Foster, who are both ranked in ITG Next’s list of top 10 running backs entering the 2026 Georgia high school football season.
The bad news is that Valdosta lost nine starters from last year’s defense.
The Wildcats will also head into the season with a new name at quarterback in Tripp Perry after the graduation of Tyrieke Wade, who was ITG Next’s 2025 South Georgia Offensive Player of the Year.
6. Lowndes
The other team in Winnersville, the Lowndes Vikings, will return quarterback Jayce Johnson for his senior season. Johnson is ranked by ITG Next as the No. 1 QB in the state heading into the 2026 season.
He will have top wide receiver Kaevone “KT” Thomas to help form one of the best duos in the passing game in Class 7A.
7. North Gwinnett
North Gwinnett came close last year, winning its region with an undefeated 7-0 mark and advancing to the semifinals with a 12-2 overall record.
They say it’s defense that wins championships, and head coach Eric Godfree’s Bulldogs will return one of the state’s top defensive units with linebacker Jake Godfree, defensive back Marshall Brown, defensive end Ewan Glass, and defensive back Bryson Ford in 2026.
8. Colquitt County
The Colquitt County Packers will be back with new faces on offense, including quarterback Khi Mitchell and tight end Tucker Saporita, and with some familiar starters on defense, as defensive back Josh Alford and linebacker McKenzie Graham return.
Whether it’s new faces or familiar ones, you can count on head coach Sean Calhoun to have the Packers right back in the mix in Class 7A.
9. Walton
This will catch many by surprise, but the Walton Raiders are ranked in the top 10 for a reason.
Head coach Daniel Brunner is one of the best coaches in the state, as he proved last season by rallying his team to an upset playoff win over the same McEachern team that they lost to by over 30 points in the season opener.
I like what the Raiders are returning with junior quarterback Christion Peacock and sophomore wide receiver Jordan Peacock on offense.
Also watch out for Matthew Manning, who is emerging as one of the top kickers in the Class of 2029.
10. Collins Hill
Head coach Drew Swick and his Collins Hill team have built an identity of strong defense. This year’s unit is no different, led by linebackers Taishaun Henderson and Bryce Hurst and a trio of talented defensive backs in Chandler McCarver, Xavier Sheffield, and Jame’l “Hitman” Davis.
But it’s the offense that has people talking around the Collins Hill program. Three-star offensive lineman and defensive lineman Ronald “Trey” Moore will be paving the way for the rushing attack of running backs Joel Bradford and Maddox Henderson, and quarterback Makyree “Dudda” Cross and wide receivers Maddox Reneau, Jamel Tuff, and Kevin “Rambo” Hughes Jr. will be hooking up in the passing game.
Watch out for the Eagles in 2026.
