Top 10 Georgia High School Football Teams in Class 5A
Preseason – Updated 7/23/2026
Here are ITG Next’s 2026 Georgia high school football preseason rankings for Class 5A.
1. Benedictine
Benedictine is the top team in ITG Next’s 2026 Class 5A preseason poll. According to head coach Danny Britt, the team will be led by quarterback Omari Burse.
“He started on defense for us last year and also started at quarterback in place of Stephen Cannon when he got hurt in 2024,” Britt said. “Omari is a tremendous athlete and competitor and will drive us this year.”
Benedictine will return top rusher Stanley Smart and second-leading receiver Eron Mallard.
“Both of those guys are very fast and athletic,” Britt said.
Everyone is back on the offensive line with the exception of Carlton Hall, who signed with Liberty this summer.
“I expect those guys to be a strength this season,” Britt said.
Defensively, Benedictine returns Gavin Smith and Isaac Scott on the defensive line while speedy linebacker Rasheen Jackson returns. Jon Black is a cornerback whom Britt said has several Division I offers and is a huge player to have back.
2. Blessed Trinity
Blessed Trinity returns five-star edge rusher DJ Jacobs, arguably the best in the country at his position. Jacobs has committed to Ohio State following his high school career.
3. Central-Carroll
Central-Carroll is a team to watch in 2026.
JR Harris is back for his fourth straight season as the starting quarterback for the Lions, and he’s got Walton returning at running back. Not Jonaz Walton, but his younger brother Jacez Walton. The team’s leading receiver Jake Ivester and No. 2 receiver Alanson “Handz” Simmons are both returning this year.
4. Cedartown
Cedartown will bounce back from last year’s two-win season as they return most of their starters and a ton of experience in 2026.
Bulldogs quarterback Wyatt Mosley will return along with the team’s top running back, Jakobe Dorsey. The Bulldogs’ top three receivers are all returning, led by Jaylen Johnson.
The key defensive pieces from last year are all back, so look for a renewal of Cedartown football this year.
5. Marist
Marist and head coach Alan Chadwick should once again make a deep run into the state playoffs in 2026. The Eagles lost to North Oconee in the 2024 Class 4A state title game, but then one year later knocked off the defending state champion North Oconee Titans in last year’s quarterfinals before falling to Benedictine in the semifinals.
Senior tight end Jake McLaren is back, but Chadwick and the Eagles will have to replace top running backs James Lasco, Parks Kaiser, and Jack Edwards, who all graduated.
6. Harris County
I really like Harris County as a team to watch out for this season.
The Tigers return top running back Matthew Love along with their top three receivers: Jalen Robinson, Cade Tyus, and Makyree Vital.
Quarterback Kaiden Harrison and linebacker Preston Jenkins are also back.
7. Jefferson
Jefferson will return sophomore sensation CJ Hays at running back this year after the speedy back ran for over 800 yards as a freshman last season.
Joining Hayes in the offensive backfield once again will be Max Brown.
8. Cartersville
Cartersville loses top wide receiver Brady Marchese and quarterback Nate Russell, but will return running backs Tripp Chatmon and Tyon Coe.
9. Warner Robins
Warner Robins will be led by Class of 2028 dual-threat quarterback Chandler Dyson, who is ranked No. 4 on ITG Next’s list of top 10 quarterbacks entering the 2026 Georgia high school football season. He threw for over 2,100 yards last year while rushing for just over 530 yards.
Head coach Shane Sams led the Demons to a 7-5 season in 2025, so look for him to have this team in the mix once again in 2026.
10. North Oconee
Rounding out ITG Next’s 2026 Georgia high school football preseason rankings for Class 5A is North Oconee. The Titans lose their top rusher, top receiver, and quarterback Harrison Faulkner from last year’s 12-win team, but should still have enough talent to be a top 10 team in 2026.
