Class 6A State Championship Preview

The state championships are here and w’ve got a great 6A matchup between two teams full of D1 talent in Buford and Langston Hughes. The Buford Wolves are an impressive 13-1 and are reigning state champions. The Panthers have plenty of talent themselves and have won 13 straight. This should be one of the more intriguing games of the weekend. Here are some top prospects to know about in this giant 6A title game... &nbsp; <strong><a class="pn-player-link" href="https://prepredzone.com/player/jake-pope/"><span class="name-pointer">[player_tooltip player_id="33896" first="Jake" last="Pope"]</span></a> – ATH – Buford</strong> One of the top two-way players in the state, the three-star ATH is committed to Alabama for a reason. The 6-foot-1 190-pounder is instinctive at defensive back with the ability to both cover and help against the run. He’s a turnover machine and force the game winning fumble in the championship game last season. He shows great ball skills, playmaking ability, an impressive frame, and overall toughness. He’s an excellent player who can make plays in every aspect of the game. &nbsp; <strong>Printess Noland - QB - Langston Hughes</strong> One of the top 2024 QBs in the state, Noland is a dynamic, talented gunslinger with a live arm. He’s a true passer who taked care of the football and knows how to push the ball down the field. He’s long, has a lean frame, and his arm will only get better. He’s thrown for just under 2,500 yards this season with 33 passing touchdowns. He’ll need to play the game of his life against Buford, but he’s shown he’s capable of running the offense and winning big games. &nbsp; <strong><a class="pn-player-link" href="https://prepredzone.com/player/isaiah-bond/"><span class="name-pointer">[player_tooltip player_id="95444" first="Isaiah" last="Bond"]</span></a> – ATH – Buford</strong> One of the fastest and most explosive players across the country, Bond is another guy who is expected to make plays on both sides of the ball for the rest of the playoffs.. He had a great state-championship performance last year and it helped him reel off lots of D1 offers. He’s not the biggest wide-out in the region, but his speed tough to handle for just about every DB he goes up against. At 6-foot-0 175-pounds, Bond ran the nation’s fastest 100-meter dash earlier this summer when he ran it in 10.73 seconds. Bond also placed 2nd in the 200-meter dash with a posted time of 21.57 seconds. He’s a dangerous deep-ball threat for any offense at the next level due to his straight-line speed and ball skills. As good as he is as a receiver, Bond can also turn around and hold his own at cornerback. Bond is a former Florida Gator commitment who is still open in his recruitment. &nbsp; <strong><a class="pn-player-link" href="https://prepredzone.com/player/terrance-love/"><span class="name-pointer">[player_tooltip player_id="34023" first="Terrance" last="Love"]</span></a> – Langston Hughes</strong> One of the top 2023 defensive backs across the state, the Fairburn native just southwest of Atlanta is an imposing safety at 6-foot-3 195-pounds. He knows how to cover in the back end, but what he does best is strike the ball carrier. He’s one of the hardest-hitting and best tacklers in the state, and QBs are constantly looking for him before each play. He’s got D1 size, he’s physical, loves contact, and can intimidate receivers who try to come over the middle. As a receiver, Love has caught 28 passes for 385 yards and 5 touchdowns. He’s made 58 tackles on defense and intercepted three passes as well. He’s be a player making a big impact on Thursday night. &nbsp; <strong><a class="pn-player-link" href="https://prepredzone.com/player/ashton-daniels/"><span class="name-pointer">[player_tooltip player_id="224867" first="Ashton" last="Daniels"]</span></a> – QB – Buford </strong> One of the top QBs in Gwinnett County, Daniels is a poised, strong-armed QB who continues to improve as a passer. He’s a dynamic, play-making QB with a live arm, and he has no problem making big throws under pressure. Stanford liked what the saw from Daniels in 2020, and they were able to land his commitment this spring. He’s only going to get better as he enters his senior season. He can make plays in a lot of different ways and already has a state title under his belt. He’ll be going up against a tough defense, so even with a lot of weapons at his disposal, he’ll have to play lights out in order to get the victory. &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="33872" first="Antonio" last="Martin"] Jr - RB - Langston Hughes </strong> The four-star running back is a powerful, bruising runner at 205-pounds who ran hard all season long and has been a touchdown machine so far in the playoffs. The Georgia Tech commitment is one of the toughest senior backs in Atlanta and will be relied on heavily against a strong Buford defense. He’s rushed for over 1,00 yards and 14+ touchdowns this season. &nbsp; <strong>Other players to know...</strong> 2024 WR [player_tooltip player_id="137438" first="KJ" last="Bolden"] (Buford) 2022 WR [player_tooltip player_id="133985" first="Rodney" last="Shelley"] (Langston Hughes) 2022 LB [player_tooltip player_id="33901" first="Aubrey" last="Smith"] (Buford) 2022 LB. Michael Watson II (Langston Hughes) 2023 OL Paul Mubenga (Buford) 2023 OL Bo Hughley (Langston Hughes) &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;