While it’s a common occurrence for the senior class to get a majority of the attention annually on the recruiting trail, let’s not forget about the juniors entirely. You know, the players who are “up next” to shine as seniors, but are still good enough as juniors to already begin garnering national attention as recruits.
That is exactly what is occurring for the Class of 2026 in Georgia high school football, as the state already has several players who have burst into the national spotlight, with this actually happening for many prior to the start of their junior seasons.
In a state that produces truly elite talent year to year, let’s take a look at the Top 10 Class of 2026 recruits from Georgia, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, starting with No. 10.
(NOTE: Stats, when possible, mentioned below for the 2024 season are current as of Sept. 17, 2024.)
10. Bryce Perry-Wright, Defensive Lineman – Buford Wolves
A versatile defensive lineman, Bryce Perry-Wright is likely the next great prospect to come out of Buford High School on that side of the ball. The four-star recruit, who holds nearly 40 collegiate offers, is coming off a season in which he had more than 50 tackles and 7 ½ sacks for the Wolves as a sophomore.
Across his first four games of the 2024 season, Perry-Wright boasts a stat line of 20 tackles, five tackles for loss, and two sacks.
9. Dorian Barney, Cornerback – Carrollton Trojans
Arguably Georgia high school football’s top cornerback regardless of class comes in the 2026 cycle in Dorian Barney, who is a four-star prospect out of Carrollton. Barney was a transfer addition for the Trojans during the offseason. He had more than 30 tackles and four interceptions a year ago at Peachtree Ridge.
With nearly 40 collegiate offers, Barney is an Alabama commit who is tops in the Crimson Tide’s 2026 Class.
8. Cam Brooks, Edge Rusher – Thomas County Central Yellow Jackets
Cam Brooks is a highly rated four-star prospect out of Thomas County Central High School who holds over 30 collegiate offers. A multi-year contributor for the Yellow Jackets, Brooks is coming off a sophomore season in which he had 8 ½ sacks for the undefeated Class 6A state champions.
Over his first four games of the 2024 season, the talented pass-rusher has racked up four tackles and two sacks for the Yellow Jackets.
7. Aaron Gregory, Wide Receiver – Douglas County Tigers
The Douglas County Tigers have two wide receivers among the state’s top 2026 recruits, the first of which is Aaron Gregory. A highly rated four-star prospect with more than 45 collegiate offers, Gregory was a two-way player for the Tigers a year ago, when he had nearly 800 yards receiving and 20 tackles.
In his first four games of the 2024 season, Gregory has once again made an impact on both sides of the ball; he has hauled in 18 receptions for 317 yards and three touchdowns on offense and has made 13 tackles defensively.
6. Kaiden Prothro, Tight End – Bowdon Red Devils
Georgia is not only home to one of the nation’s premier 2025 tight ends, but the state also has a top 2026 player at the position in Kaiden Prothro. A five-star prospect with more than 25 collegiate offers, Prothro has seen time on both sides of the ball for the Bowdon Red Devils in recent years. A year ago, he amassed more than 800 yards receiving and more than 10 touchdowns.
Across his first five games of the 2024 season, Prothro has been an impactful two-way player who has 23 receptions for 507 yards and 10 touchdowns on offense, as well as 11 tackles defensively.
5. Zelus Hicks, Safety – Carrollton Trojans
The Top 5 begins with the nation’s No. 3 safety in Zelus Hicks, a five-star prospect out of Carrollton High School. He joined Carrollton this season after transferring from Parkview, where he had 67 tackles a year ago.
Hicks, who is currently committed to Texas, has over 30 collegiate offers.
4. Xavier Griffin, Linebacker – Gainesville Red Elephants
Georgia is home to the nation’s top two 2026 linebackers, the first of which is Xavier Griffin out of Gainesville High School. Griffin had more than 50 tackles and nearly double-digit sacks for Gainesville, one of the state’s top teams, a year ago.
The USC commit, who is also the Trojans’ highest-ranked 2026 pledge, is a five-star prospect with more than 30 collegiate offers.
3. Devin Carter, Wide Receiver – Douglas County Tigers
Arguably Georgia high school football’s most high-profile offseason transfer, Devin Carter joined Douglas County this year from Cedar Grove, and with that move he gave the Tigers one of the top wide receivers in the 2026 Class. Carter, a five-star prospect with over 30 collegiate offers, is currently considered the nation’s No. 2 wide receiver for the 2026 recruiting cycle.
Across Douglas County’s first five games of the 2024 season, Carter has hauled in 11 receptions for 145 yards and one touchdown.
2. Jordan Carter, Edge Rusher – Douglas County Tigers
The next great edge rusher from Georgia in the 2026 cycle is Jordan Carter, a five-star prospect out of Douglas County with nearly 30 collegiate offers, making it back-to-back Tigers in the Top 5. Carter is also considered the nation’s No. 2 edge rusher and is likely set for his second-straight year with double-digit sacks after compiling 15 last season as a sophomore.
To begin his junior season, Carter has amassed 19 tackles, four TFLs, and four sacks for the Tigers across their first four games.
1. Tyler Atkinson, Linebacker – Grayson Rams
Holding the No. 1 spot in the 2026 recruiting class is Tyler Atkinson. The five-star linebacker out of Grayson is considered not only the state’s top player in the cycle, but also the nation’s top recruit at his position.
A player with nearly 50 collegiate offers, Atkinson entered the 2024 season coming off back-to-back campaigns with more than 100 tackles each. He is well on his way to a third straight season of more than 100 tackles and a second consecutive season with double-digit sacks this fall.
Georgia’s top 2026 recruit has been one of the top defensive players in the state so far, as Atkinson has 44 tackles, eight TFLs, and four sacks across his four games this fall.
