Top 10 Georgia High School Football Teams in Class 2A
Preseason – Updated 6/27/2026
Here are ITG Next’s 2026 Georgia high school football preseason rankings for Class 2A.
Reclassification has brought some major changes to Class 2A for the 2026 season.
One thing that fans will notice is that the classification will not have a defending 2025 state champion. The 2025 Class 2A state champion, Carver-Columbus, has moved to Class 3A. Defending Class 1A-Division I state champion Worth County has also moved to Class 3A for the 2026 season. In fact, Carver-Columbus and Worth County are now both members of Region 1-3A starting this season. Defending Class 1A-Division II state champion Bowdon will remain in the new 1A classification for the 2026 season.
But even with the lack of a 2025 state champion, Class 2A will have several teams who are coming off deep runs in last year’s playoffs, as well as past state championship programs.
1. Fitzgerald
At the top of our Class 2A Top 10 poll to start the season will be the Fitzgerald Purple Hurricane from Region 1-2A.
Head coach Wes Tankersley’s Fitzgerald squad will bring back the team’s leading rusher from last season in First Team All-Region performer running back LJ Devine. The junior rushed for 1,081 yards last season.
Joining him in the backfield will be another All-Region running back from last year in David Davis.
Both backs will have the entire offensive line from last year to run behind this year, including All-State offensive lineman David Ford and All-Region offensive linemen Ja’mikel Smith, Jake Clements, and Liam Luke.
The defense will be led by returning All-Region linebacker Eduan Carter and RJ Stanley, along with All-Region defensive end Trayvis Wallace.
Sophomore defensive back Darryon Devine has already received an offer from Florida State, and he’ll be a player to watch for the Fitzgerald defense this year and beyond.
2. Swainsboro
Our No. 2 team is the Swainsboro Tigers.
The Tigers will return their entire offensive backfield in sophomore Kyle Johnson and seniors Ja’Bios Smith and Marco Danford. They’ll also bring back their top trio of receivers in seniors Shannon Benjamin, Marco Danford, and Jayden Wilcher. Swainsboro returns its starting quarterback in junior Joshua Gray.
On defense, Swainsboro returns top defensive standouts Derek Hughes, Ja’Bios Smith, and Christian Tarver. The entire defensive backfield is back with senior safeties Ashton McCastle and Jayden Wilcher, along with senior cornerback Shannon Benjamin.
3. Brooks County
Brooks County is our third-ranked team in Class 2A.
Head coach Josh McFather’s Trojans will also move to Region 1-2A this season and will feature one of the best receivers in the state in senior and Auburn commit George Lamons Jr. With returning quarterback Junior Burrus, Brooks County will have one of the top passing game duos in Class 2A in 2026.
4. Screven County
Screven County will return many of the playmakers from last year’s 12-1 Class 1A-Division II quarterfinal team, including senior dual-threat quarterback Demarko Ward, who rushed for 1,165 yards and 22 touchdowns last season.
Also back is top running back AB Hilton and top receiver Drayden Roberts.
On defense, Screven County welcomes back defensive end Legend Courtney and defensive lineman Breylon Daniels, who each had 78 tackles last season.
5. Heard County
Heard County finished 13-1 while advancing to the Class 1A-Division I semifinals last season. The Braves will be led by returning senior running backs Darience Coleman and Pope Phillips and senior quarterback Ethan Tisdale. Tisdale and Coleman combined to lead the team in scoring with 38 touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Zaiden Moreland was third on the team in touchdowns with nine.
The entire defensive backfield returns with seniors Amari Heath and Brody Buc Cofield back at cornerback, plus free safety Tripp Curbow returning. The trio combined for eight interceptions last season.
6. Dublin
The Dublin Fighting Irish of head coach Roger Holmes will bring back their top three running backs from last year’s 9-3 team. Dontavious Cannon, Travion Bostic and Jamarcus Knight were also the team’s top touchdown makers in 2025.
Dublin’s top defenders are also returning this year with defensive end Jalen Dardy, outside linebacker Jaydon McRae, and Jamarcus Knight leading the way.
William Wallace is also a returning playmaker to keep an eye on.
7. Commerce
Commerce struggled to a two-win season with a young and mostly inexperienced team last year, but the entire roster is back with a year under their belt, making head coach Lenny Gregory’s team one to watch in Class 2A in 2026.
Leading the Tigers this year will be several juniors, including linebacker Rivers West, quarterback Tate Kirk, defensive back Zymir Huff, and offensive lineman Braden Jolley.
Senior receivers Essian Locklear and Ty Sorrells have made some noise this summer in passing camps, while Demarco Huff and Jace Lyle will once again be the primary ball carriers for Commerce this season.
The defense is returning playmakers like West and junior linebacker Bronc Cash, who led the team with 89 tackles last year, and senior linebacker Caden McWilliams, who had 49 tackles, including three sacks.
8. Dodge County
Dodge County is bringing back several of the playmakers from last year’s seven-win team, including senior quarterback Kain Mincey and his top wide receiver in senior Jauriel Bray. Mincey threw for 2,242 yards with 23 touchdowns last season, with Bray on the receiving end of 10 of those touchdowns. Jerimiah Burns has 59 receptions and 1,198 yards over the past two seasons and will be back to factor heavily in the offense this year.
Linebacker Cam Hughes is a force on the defensive side for Dodge, racking up 104 tackles last season, including nine sacks.
9. Jeff Davis
Jeff Davis returns leading running back Kobe Hill from last year’s 7-4 Yellow Jackets team. Hill ran for 881 yards with seven touchdowns. He also recorded 44 tackles with nine tackles for loss.
Also coming back is junior dual-threat quarterback and athlete Mark Durden, who does everything for Jeff Davis. Last season he ran for over 600 yards and threw for just over 300 yards. He also led the team in interceptions with five picks while making 50 tackles with two sacks.
10. Jasper County
Jasper County football was rebuilt under former head coach Ashley Henderson, including last year’s 10-2 run in Class 1A-Division II. Dondrial Pinkins is now the head coach following Henderson’s departure to East Jackson.
Pinkins, a former South Carolina quarterback, takes over a team with a lot of returning talent from last season, including their leading rushers Chance Ross and Tyrin Epps, along with leading wide receiver Dee Pennaman. Epps is also a defensive standout with 90 tackles to his credit last year and 200 tackles over the past two seasons. He also had six sacks and two interceptions last season.
