2026 7A Region 3 Preview: McEachern Sets the Standard

*Use code "jackson30" for 30% off your PRZ Subscription*   McEachern ridiculous roster, Harrison's puncher's chance, and a rockfight for the final few playoff spots headline a region balanced with productive rising seniors and buzzy youngsters to watch.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2025 Standings</h2>   McEachern 10-1 (7-0)   Harrison 10-2 (6-1)   Hillgrove 9-3 (5-2)   Campbell 6-4 (3-4)   Pebblebrook 3-7 (2-5)   North Atlanta 5-5 (4-3) *Not in region in 2025*   Kennesaw Mountain 2-8 (1-6) *Not in region in 2025*   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Key Returners</h2>   Campbell    Lemire returns not only as Campbell's leading passer, but also their leading rusher. He will be the engine offensively for Campbell once again as a senior. This kid is a playmaker and I have always been really impressed with his speed. He is quick to his top gear, holds it, and can lift off. He is crafty enough in the short areas to dance around traffic and create space for himself. He gets the ball out quickly and flashes good ball placement down the field. Exciting player.     Branden Moore returns as the most productive defender from a year ago and is a tone setter for the Spartans. At his size and with his body type, he projects as a true C-gap to C-gap thumper, using his low center of gravity and mass to sit strong in running lanes and battle with blockers. When you turn on the tape, that is exactly what he does. He is a strong player with some pop in his pads, and you can tell he takes pride in his ability to thump. He isn't a shabby athlete either, really flashing impressive acceleration to contact. Sub D1 programs need to pay attention here.    Harrison    I just highlighted [player_tooltip player_id='1697962' first='Aiden' last='Watson'] last week, who has since picked up even more recruiting traction. Here is a snippet of my recent write-up:   "He doubles as a baseball prospect, and specifically, a middle infielder, so there is the natural ability to work different arm angles and platforms, plus the natural arm. Watson is an explosive, compressed athlete with impressive vision and bounce in the short areas, allowing him to dance around contact and find space to operate."     It has been well documented up to this point, but Olrick Johnson has been one of my favorite 2027 LB prospects in Georgia, and he is firmly on the P4 radar now. Johnson moves exceptionally well for his size, flashing impressive range and elite closing speed. He is a truly electric pursuer of the football with violence at the point of attack. I am expecting things to continue heating up here.    Hillgrove    Moore, perhaps quietly, was one of the most productive rushers in the state last year, and he will once again be the tone setter for Hillgrove as a senior.He is a tall, loose, leggy RB prospect with long strides and plenty of space to fill out and pack on more mass. He is a slick, smooth runner who can weave. Even without a thumper build, he is tough against contact and strains the most out of each rep. Moore has added several D1 offers this offseason, getting the ball rolling on his recruitment.     Fisher was the leading receiver for Hillgrove a year ago, and he is expected to play an even bigger role as a senior. Fisher is a speedy, true YAC threat in the slot who contributes at each level. Can be relied on in the short game and has the burst to make plays with the ball, but he plays up to the size of DBs, proving capable of making physical grabs above the rim. Keep an eye on Fisher this fall.    Kennesaw Mountain    It feels like Miller has been playing at Kennesaw Mountain forever, and he still has two years ahead of him, which is a product of being a noteworthy name as an eighth grader. He is firmly on the FBS radar now, and his marked improvements every year tell me this kid isn't close to hitting his peak. Miller is a big, commanding presence in the pocket with a quick release and easy horsepower on the ball. He continues to improve, but this fall should be where we see his biggest jump and see him start to climb closer to that ceiling.     Hall was a highly productive player as a sophomore for Kennesaw Mountain and has played himself directly onto the radar as a result. A D1 offer from Wagner has landed this offseason, but more should be on the way. Hall is an instinctual, sudden player with some twitch, but he is also big and capable of thumping. He plays hard, and checks a lot of the boxes college coaches are looking for in an MLB thumper. Hall's true breakout should come this fall.    McEachern    Shockley is just an easy eval and an extremely well-regarded recruit nationally at this point. Shockley is a prototype prospect at 6'3 185 with the size and speed to act as a natural mismatch. He can roll, win above the rim with ease, and he is still just a puppy. Shockley will be a blue-chipper and is expected to develop into a premier WR prospect in the country, which he already has.     [player_tooltip player_id='1201242' first='Casey' last='Barner'] has been ranked as our No. 1 player in Georgia's 2028 class for a few updates now, and the added buzz and attention this spring don't lead me to believe that will change here soon. He is settling in as a DB projection, but will still play all over the field for McEachern. He is cut from rare cloth athletically, but the violence and sheer energy this kid plays with just jump off the tape. That is what I will be watching this fall, because you can't make many cases against the traits he brings to the table.    North Atlanta    Goodman broke onto the scene last fall for North Atlanta, producing as both a passer and a runner. I think he has more to give and should have an even more productive fall. Goodman is a live arm, gunslinger-style QB who plays fearlessly. He has plenty of horsepower thanks to his stout, strong frame, and he looks like a max effort thrower, so that ball is coming out and arriving quickly. He is an explosive athlete with plenty to offer in the QB run game, which just ties his game together.     Herring is a downhill, strong, true C gap to C gap LB who was highly productive as a junior. Downhill player who plays with good pad-level and technique as a tackler, not to mention the thump he offers at the POA. I wouldn't consider him a burner, but he is instinctual, putting him in the right place at the right time, even in coverage. Yet another prospect that sub-D1 programs should keep their fingers crossed about.    Pebblebrook    Carter enters his upperclassman years after two productive years as a youngster. An offer from Jax State in January put him firmly on the radar. Carter is a smooth athlete with a patient pace, and he can tap into multiple gears. He tracks the ball really well and flashes excellent hands through traffic and outside of his frame. I would like to see more juice flash this fall, because the production, hands, and patience as a route runner is a good launching point for his development.     Kehinde set the tone up front for Pebblebrook, leading the team in sacks as a sophomore. Back as a junior, Kehinde is due for a breakout. The combination of a motor and POA skills is what sets the stage here. He battles with his hands, rips himself into the backfield, and can bend around blockers. He plays through the whistle and remains engaged on the QB, even when he is in retreat mode. He is still raw, so he is only going to get better. This guy gets after it and lives in the backfield as a result.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">X Factors</h2>   Campbell    Mwati jumped onto the D1 radar with a West Georgia offer this spring, and at his size, he has the chance to develop into a gamebreaker if he can play close to his ceiling. He is still a puppy and is raw, but you can see the intrigue when this kid moves. He gets down the field in a hurry, and he is a natural mismatch when the ball is in the air. If things click for this kid this fall, watch out.    Harrison    I have been on Huggins before he even sniffed the recruiting radar, and now, several P4 programs are in hot pursuit of his signature. He plays bigger than listed and should add more weight. Truly elite bounce and short-area quickness, some of the best in the entire country. A truly electric player who I think will be a difference maker at the next level, given the right circumstances.    Hillgrove    Several D1 and FBS offers have come Montford's way this offseason, making him one of the best DL prospects in Cobb County. He can play up and down the line, but I think he projects best on the interior. He is listed at 275, but he is still skinny in the legs, so there is room to add more weight. He effortlessly anchors down and creates easy push and penetration in the middle of the DL. He is explosive off the snap, but even if he gets beat to the point, he just grinds his way until he gains control. He doesn't need much flash, he is just stronger and more controlling than almost everyone he lines up against.    Kennesaw Mountain    Kennesaw Mountain loses leading receiver Dylan Green to Kennesaw State, leaving plenty of yards on the table for someone to step up. Ashtyn Thomas appears to be next in line and a strong candidate to step up. Thomas is a seam threat and is explosive off the line, helping him cut through cushion and set up his routes. He has good hands and focus in a crowd, making him a reliable target down the field. He has tacked on some D1 buzz this offseason, and I think there is a real opportunity to double his production from a year ago.    McEachern    [player_tooltip player_id='2132380' first='Brenton' last='James'] transferred into McEachern this offseason, and there is hope that his play can push them over the edge by making a state championship push. He certainly doesn't have a lack of talent around him to work with. Extract him from the tools around him, and he is a good prospect in his own right. He is a long, skinny player with a lot of space to fill out. Whippy, over-the-top delivery with natural buzz on the ball. He has a calm demeanor in the pocket with speed and strides to take off and move the chains. He might not have as much juice, but the body type and delivery reminds me of Deuce Knight.    North Atlanta    Willingham, one of the best 2028 DBs in the state, is the true X factor for North Atlanta. He is a true corner prospect with prototype traits. He is listed around 6'0 185, but broad shoulders and length allow him to play and look even bigger than that. He physically attaches to routes, can accelerate to the ball, and still has tread on the tires in his development. I think he can find an extra gear, and that is what I will be looking for this fall.    Pebblebrook    [player_tooltip player_id='2151394' first='Tyree' last='Carter'] was the leading receiver for Pebblebrook, but Griffin was right behind him as a freshman and has the traits to break the game with another offseason of development. Griffin is a long, lean strider who can work all parts of the field. There is an extra gear he will find, but he has plenty of giddy up, which he pairs with strides that are hard to match. Griffin also plays basketball and baseball. When factoring in future growth, we are beating others to the punch here by ranking Griffin amongst the best receivers in Georgia's 2029 class.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Region Risers</h2>    A couple of offers from Gaddy this offseason tossed him onto my radar. He is a true breakout candidate and should grow into a wrecker this fall for Hillgrove. Gaddy is a long, rangy edge defender with the speed to play off the ball, but he will make his money as a pass rusher. He is explosive off the line and has a hot motor. He can really get after it, consistently chasing the QB across the field and working through the whistle. There is real potential to turn speed to power here as he grows. Gaddy has a chance to really explode this fall.     Nolan has emerged not only as a breakout candidate this fall, but one of the best 2029 RB prospects in the state, evidenced by several major P4 offers coming his way this spring. This kid is built beyond his years. He is a long, leggy prospect who carries his weight really well. He plays squared to running lanes, has good vision, and uses his long strides to drive downhill. I use this comparison a lot, but he reminds me of Kerryon Johnson, and he should continue to develop his way towards a true bell-cow back.     Page might be subtly overshadowed, but it's important to understand and acknowledge that he is also a major P4 prospect in his own right. Page is a natural mismatch with the ability to develop into a true X receiver on the outside. He is an obvious threat over the top at 6'3 185, which naturally opens up opportunities underneath. He has a massive catch radius, and he makes the most of that by proving capable of reaching across his body and making grabs on the edge of his radius. He is still a pup, but when you watch the flashes and factor in future growth, you have a true blue-chipper on your hands.     Pierce was productive as a sophomore, and there is still another level his game can go to. Pierce is a leggy prospect with room to creep closer to 200 pounds. He is quick than he is fast, relying on his short-area quickness to create his own yards and find open space. He flashes solid contact balance and keeps his feet firing, an area of his game that will come around even more as he adds weight. Pierce will be tested big time this fall.    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Contenders</h2>   McEachern   McEachern has not lost a regular-season game since October 2024, and with the talent they have returning this fall, they are the clear favorite to win this region and a strong candidate to go undefeated, yet again. McEachern is loaded not only with some of the best 2028 and 2029 talent in the state, but in the entire country. [player_tooltip player_id='1201242' first='Casey' last='Barner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1398509' first='Jacorey' last='Shockley'] were difference makers a year ago as youngsters. [player_tooltip player_id='1307365' first='Ty' last='Nolan'], [player_tooltip player_id='1201662' first='Zyon' last='Robinson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1694555' first='Keenon' last='Verkerk'], Amare Hartsfield, and Jarvaris Reed are other notable prospects to track offensively. The defense is anchored by [player_tooltip player_id='2189300' first='Michai' last='Rowe'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1669907' first='Joakim' last='Gouda'] at LB, [player_tooltip player_id='2010325' first='Cole' last='Pollock'], [player_tooltip player_id='1651437' first='Quinn' last='Pollock'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2077400' first='Nash' last='Johnson'] at DB, and an abundance of college talent littered everywhere else.   Keeping track of the P4 talent on this team is a bit overwhelming, so in an effort not to leave anyone out, just take a gander at their <a href="https://x.com/McEachernFtBall">X page</a> to stay updated. There have been few times I can't keep full track of the number of offers flying around a program, but McEachern is doing just that. This is one of the most talented individual teams I have seen since starting my career.   Sheer talent alone won't get it done. McEachern was upset in the first round by Walton last year, so they will look to avenge that loss this fall. Newcomer at QB [player_tooltip player_id='2132380' first='Brenton' last='James'] might be the key to making a deep run.   Harrison   Harrison should emerge as the main challenger to McEachern, a position they earned after dropping their game against McEachern in 2025, which was their only region loss. The combination of Aidan Watson at QB and [player_tooltip player_id='1568052' first='DJ' last='Huggins'] at WR is one of the best duos in the state. They are both good in tandem, but extracted from each other, they are playmakers in their own right and can break the game.   They're anchored defensively by Olrick Johnson, one of the premier LB prospects in GA. Anyone who has followed along with me for the last year or so knows how I feel about Johnson, who isn't getting enough love nationally. There are plenty of underrated players on defense who help tie things together, including [player_tooltip player_id='1847691' first='David' last='Dieudonne'], Neill Ratliff, and [player_tooltip player_id='1952838' first='Evan' last='Tillmon']. Tillmon, the ball hawk of the group, finished with 5 INTs last fall.   We will learn a lot about Harrison quickly, who opens the year on the road against North Cobb.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Darkhorse</h2>   Hillgrove   Hillgrove quietly won 10 games last year, and while they lose a lot of production at QB and on defense, they return their leading rusher, leading receiver, and have some breakout candidates ready to emerge defensively. [player_tooltip player_id='2044031' first='Jaiden' last='Moore'], who rushed for over 1300 yards last fall, is the tone setter on offense and will be the center of attention offensively for the Hawks. Keep an eye on QB [player_tooltip player_id='1606346' first='Trey' last='Hasan']. He was thrown into the fire last year at Milton. He had to grow up in a hurry, and a year under his belt with a softer schedule could yield better results.   Whether or not they can catch a groove defensively could be the difference maker this year. Regardless, between Aidan Montford and [player_tooltip player_id='2124933' first='Caiden' last='Gaddy'], they should be able to disrupt and get after the passer.   Hillgrove opens the year with a gauntlet, stacking matchups against Collins Hill, North Cobb, Westlake, and Northgate.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Rest</h2>   Kennesaw Mountain   Kennesaw Mountain has a chance to emerge as the most improved team in this region. [player_tooltip player_id='289475' first='Chris' last='Miller'] returns yet again to bring some continuity. [player_tooltip player_id='1942109' first='Joshua' last='Hall'] returns after a triple digit TOT season and is set to takeover as the leader on that side of the ball. Underrated players like Ashtyn Thomas and Eric Darden will need to emerge, as the Mustangs must replace Dylan Green and Kemari Butler, two highly productive and prolific players.   Their schedule opens up fairly lightly compared to the rest of the conference, giving them time to catch their stride before they enter a critical stretch of October games that will shape their playoff chances.   Campbell   Campbell finished above .500 last year, and did so perhaps quielty. Davin Demire is the focus here offensively. He is a true dual-threat at QB, but he can really break the game as a runner. He is a chain mover and can keep the offense on schedule. Corey Mwati didn't produce much last fall, but he has emerged as a D1 target at TE, and offers a rare body to give chances to down the field.   Branden Moore is the leading returner on defense, acting as a true thumper between the C gaps.   The Spartans have narrowly missed the playoffs two years in a row, so they have a lot to prove this fall. October 2nd-23rd is when you really need to pay attention here.   Pebblebrook   Pebblebrook might be a year away, but the young talent on this team can't be overlooked. [player_tooltip player_id='2151394' first='Tyree' last='Carter'] and Demetri Griffin are a potent 1-2 punch at receiver. Griffin should emerge as an FBS prospect here shortly. Dontavious Pierce is their leading returning rusher, and he is just now creeping into his upperclassman years.   Flip around to defense, and you can just see on their maxpreps page how much production returns from underclassmen and rising seniors. Even if a true push is a year away, they return most of their production from a year ago, which is what they bring to the table of the playoff push that will occur in the middle of this region.   North Atlanta   The leading rusher and top 3 leading receivers from a year ago depart North Atlanta, but they have the advantage of a returner at QB in [player_tooltip player_id='2070522' first='Weston' last='Goodman'], who has the tools and experience to make a jump as a junior. They also have returning talent and production on defense. [player_tooltip player_id='2113169' first='Sebastian' last='Myles'] is a bonafide FBS prospect, [player_tooltip player_id='873930' first='Bryce' last='Willingham'] is one of the best DBs in the state and will be important to corral some of the elite receivers in this conference, and Quinn Herring returns after leading the team in tackles a year ago.   Their defense will set the tone, and they'll be tested early against Langston Hughes in week 1.

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