PRZGA Class 5A Mega Preview, Part I

5A regions 1-4 in Georgia are highlighted by legendary senior classes and programs on the rise. Here is how I expect things to shake out in 2026.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Region 1</h2>   Projected Order of Finish   1. Benedictine   2. Ware County   3. Jenkins   4. Richmond Academy   5. Statesboro   6. Evans   7. Wayne County   8. Groves   Preseason Accolades   Preseason Offensive POTY: '27 Benedictine RB Stanley Smart   Preseason Defensive POTY: '28 Richmond Academy DB [player_tooltip player_id='2081479' first='Carl' last='Butler']   Preseason LOTY: '27 Benedictine DL Isaac Scott   Summary   Benedictine finished with a perfect 5-0 record in this region a year ago, and they'll be the overwhelming favorite to win it in 2026. They'll have to nurse the loss of a P4 signee at QB and several premier playmakers. Regardless, they return their top playmakers from a year ago in WR [player_tooltip player_id='2149420' first='Eron' last='Mallard'] and RB Stanley Smart. The likes of '28 Jon Black, '27 Isaac Scott, and '28 [player_tooltip player_id='2151293' first='Jamir' last='Lee'] return to form a solid returning core on defense. '27 QB [player_tooltip player_id='1698105' first='Omari' last='Burse'] is a UAB baseball commit and appears to be next in line to start. He has a plethora of options, strengthened further by the transfer of '27 WR [player_tooltip player_id='2234091' first='Peyton' last='Bean']. Benedictine lost by 3 in the state title game a year ago, but they have the talent to bounce back and win it all in 2026.   The second spot in this region truly feels up in the air between Ware County and Jenkins. Ware County has sustained success at this level, and Jenkins is making the jump up from 3A following an 11-win season in 2025. Ware County suffers losses to its top 2 leading rushers, but they return a senior QB in Isaiah White, who was productive in 2025. They lose a 1,000-yard receiver, but '27 Jalondi O'Hara has tacked on recruiting attention and could double his production from last year. Even with losses across the board on defense, a solid junior class is ready to break out. Jenkins has speed, especially in the form of game-breaking '27 WR [player_tooltip player_id='1827227' first='Jaylon' last='Elliot']. They return all-region talent, such as '27 OL Alexander Harris and '27 LB Ronnie Taylor.   Statesboro and Richmond Academy highlight the next group here. Statesboro is also jumping into a new region this year, and they get the novelty of returning '28 QB [player_tooltip player_id='1652951' first='Beckham' last='Jarrard'], who could be the best QB prospect in this region. '27 TE Davis Harrison was a first-team TE a year ago, and I am excited to see how '28 QB/ATH [player_tooltip player_id='2137455' first='Gideon' last='Fulcher'] enters the mix. Richmond Academy is a real threat here to make some noise in this region. '28 QB [player_tooltip player_id='847869' first='Carson' last='Hand'] is hitting his stride and is coming off a productive sophomore season. He will throw to '27 WR Lo'Than McBride, who is a proven elite playmaker. '28 RB [player_tooltip player_id='1235279' first='Mykheal' last='Smith'] returns as the leading rusher, and the battery between those three will be fun to watch. Keep an eye out for '28 DB [player_tooltip player_id='2081479' first='Carl' last='Butler'] on defense, who I think could emerge as the best defensive player in the region this fall.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Region 2</h2>   Projected Order of Finish   1. Ola   2. Warner Robins   3. Jones County   4. Perry   5. Eagles Landing   6. Locust Grove   7. Union Grove   Preseason Accolades   Preseason Offensive POTY: '27 Ola RB [player_tooltip player_id='1584804' first='Caden' last='Waye']   Preseason Defensive POTY: '27 Ola LB [player_tooltip player_id='1891809' first='Aiden' last='Hogg']   Preseason LOTY: '27 Locust Grove OL [player_tooltip player_id='2077213' first='Timi' last='Aliu']   Summary   Ola finished with 9 wins a year ago and should be viewed as the favorite in this region in 2026. '27 RB [player_tooltip player_id='1584804' first='Caden' last='Waye'] is a bona fide P4 prospect and finished with well over 1000 AP yards. He returns, as do the top 5 leading rushers behind him (!). '27 QB [player_tooltip player_id='662013' first='Caden' last='Worley'] is back for his senior season, as are 3 of the top 4 receivers from last year, including 700+ yard receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1882747' first='Jacoby' last='Parker']. Defensively, '27 LB [player_tooltip player_id='1891809' first='Aiden' last='Hogg'] is a D1 commit and my DPOTY pick. He finished with over 130 total tackles last fall. Their top 4 tacklers are back, their sack leader in '27 DL Alijah Campbell returns, and '28 DB Kaden Driscoll generated 3 INTs as a sophomore. This team is talented and is one of the most experienced teams in the state. They will push their 9-win total yet again and have an opportunity to make the best postseason push in school history.   Warner Robins is my pick to finish second in this region. They are a few years removed from the success we're used to, but they still finished with a winning record a year ago, and should progress in 2026. There's plenty of young talent to get excited about on this team, especially at QB with '28 [player_tooltip player_id='2164057' first='Chandler' last='Dyson'], who is blossoming into a blue chipper. There is some talent sprinkled around him in '27 RB [player_tooltip player_id='2214125' first='Alijah' last='Alexander'], '28 WR [player_tooltip player_id='2217835' first='X'Zavier' last='Cannon'], and '28 WR Makhi Scott-Adkinson. There are several 2028 prospects across the board with P4 offers, so expect this group to break out as juniors. This team will be good in 2026, but I am really intrigued with how they will look in 2027.   Jones County and Perry make up the next group. The intrigue around Jones County is set around what they have coming back at RB. '28 [player_tooltip player_id='1793949' first='Travis' last='Miller'] and '27 Kaden Canty were a productive 1-2 punch a year ago, and should get even more run in 2026. '27 QB [player_tooltip player_id='2079232' first='Jonathan' last='Hurley'] is traitsy and expected to step into the starting role. '27 OL [player_tooltip player_id='2157036' first='Alex' last='Hammond'] returns as a first-team all-region player up front. Perry has solid playmakers returning in '27 Dakarai Felder, '28 RB [player_tooltip player_id='2206527' first='Kam' last='Oliver'], and '28 ATH Bhryson Gordon. '29 WR [player_tooltip player_id='1432917' first='JD' last='Garman'] transfers in, and he has P4 offers under his belt. '27 Jhamard Cobb has D1 offers, and is a traitsy prospect in his own right. It's coming together, but there are some intriguing pieces here for Perry.   Eagles Landing and Locust Grove are hard to place. On one hand, there is some returning talent from a year ago, most notably Locust Grove '27 OL [player_tooltip player_id='2077213' first='Timi' last='Aliu'], who is committed to Nebraska. Still, there are losses across the board, and it's hard to tell what these teams will look like, especially Eagles Landing.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Region 3</h2>   Projected Order of Finish   1. Central Carroll   2. LaGrange   3. Griffin   4. Whitewater   5. Harris County   6. Starr's Mill   7. Lithia Springs   Preseason Accolades   Preseason Offensive POTY: '27 Central QB [player_tooltip player_id='262739' first='JR' last='Harris']   Preseason Defensive POTY: '27 Griffin LB [player_tooltip player_id='810115' first='Paul' last='Robinson']   Preseason LOTY: '27 Central OL/DL Tae Crowder   Summary   Central Carroll won this region last year with an undefeated regular season and finished with 12 wins overall. They return their premier playmakers from that team and are the clear favorite to repeat as region champions. [player_tooltip player_id='262739' first='JR' last='Harris'] is back at QB for his senior season. He has started at Central since his freshman year and is one of the most decorated players in school history. P4 RB prospect [player_tooltip player_id='950879' first='Jacez' last='Walton'] is his battery mate and rushed for over 800 yards while backing up his brother Jonaz Walton. Jacez will break 1,000 yards this year. Harris's leading receiver is back in [player_tooltip player_id='942245' first='Jake' last='Ivester']. Defensively, 3 of the top 5 tacklers return. As does their leader in sacks in '27 Jaden Jones. [player_tooltip player_id='1880647' first='Alanson' last='Simmons'] also played DB and had 3 picks, alongside '28 DB Jaelyn Weingart, who had 2 picks. This team is coming off one of the best years in school history, and they are looking to graduate this prolific senior class the right way.   LaGrange jumps up from 3A, but they made a deep playoff push a year ago, finishing their season with 11 wins. They punched above their weight as well, handing 4A Cass a 27-7 loss to open the season. They will have to replace all of their major stat leaders on offense, including their QB. However, they return some firepower on defense. '27 CB Zy'Corious Huzzie is one of the most decorated players in this region and is committed to Cincy. '27 DB JD Render is one of my favorites and a versatile player. '27 Javien Easter is another D1 prospect and a moveable piece. '27 LB Jamarcus Benton was an all-region player a year ago. This defense was stout for most of the year in 2025, and that should be a trend into 2026.   Griffin finished second in this region with a 5-1 record, with their loss to Central being the difference. They also return their starter at QB in dynamic '28 [player_tooltip player_id='1694524' first='Kelvin' last='Johnson'], who received first-team all-region honors last year. Top playmakers return around Johnson in '27 Delreon Cleveland, '27 Jordan Mays, and '28 [player_tooltip player_id='1694532' first='King' last='Fuller'], all of whom received all-region honors in 2025. '29 [player_tooltip player_id='810115' first='Paul' last='Robinson'] is a breakout candidate on the OL. Defensively, '27 [player_tooltip player_id='2198902' first='Kishon' last='Hastings'] and '27 [player_tooltip player_id='810115' first='Paul' last='Robinson'] are two of the most productive players in this region, regardless of position. Griffin went 1-9 in 2024, 7-4 last year, and should maintain that newfound success in 2026.   Whitewater was an up-and-down team a year ago, but was able to get into the playoffs and returns some important pieces from that team. '27 [player_tooltip player_id='2129350' first='David' last='Duru'] is a valuable player on both sides of the ball. '27 DB Bryce Alexander is a state finalist in T/F, and he is committed to play at SEMO. '28 Case Roberts was a playmaker at QB. They return their top 4 tacklers from a year ago. It was up and down last year for Harris County, but they return most of their production from a year ago, including dynamic '28 WR Jalen Robinson and strong '27 DB Preston Jenkins. You could say the same for Starr's Mill, which returns '27 Navy commit LB [player_tooltip player_id='2142297' first='Nolan' last='Blackwell'] as an impact player.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Region 4</h2>   Projected Order of Finish   1. Stockbridge   2. Jonesboro   3. ML King   4. Eastside   5. Dutchtown   6. Arabia Mountain   7. Forest Park   8. Mundy's Mill   9. Drew   Preseason Accolades   Preseason Offensive POTY: '27 Stockbridge QB [player_tooltip player_id='1544906' first='Joshua' last='Scott']   Preseason Defensive POTY: '28 Stockbridge LB Titus Mapp   Preseason LOTY: '28 Stockbridge EDGE/DE [player_tooltip player_id='2082838' first='Caleb' last='Thomas']   Summary   Last season, Stockbridge finished with a 7-2 region record and won 8 games overall. Their season was cut short in the postseason by a 1-point loss to Blessed Trinity. The nucleus of this team is back on both sides of the ball. QB [player_tooltip player_id='1544906' first='Joshua' last='Scott'] returns for his senior season after accounting for 45 total TDs. '29 RB [player_tooltip player_id='1662080' first='Dominic' last='Tucker'] was the leading rusher as a freshman, and he should outperform his numbers from last year. This WR room is nothing short of elite. They return a prolific duo of 2028 receivers in [player_tooltip player_id='873304' first='Gavin' last='Kinchen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2202951' first='Mason' last='Freeman'], who combined for over 1400 yards in 2025. Defensively, '28 Titus Mapp had triple-digit total tackles and will once again produce in the middle of the Stockbridge defense. '28 EDGE [player_tooltip player_id='2082838' first='Caleb' last='Thomas'] had 8 sacks and 28 TFLs (!) in 2025. Mapp and Thomas received preseason region POTY honors from me. '27 Western Michigan DB commit [player_tooltip player_id='2147495' first='Zyaire' last='Patrick'] returns as the tone setter in the secondary. He finished with 5 INTs as a junior. This team is experienced, talented, and should set the standard in this region in 2026.   Jonesboro must replace its major pieces on offense, but what this team has returning on defense has my attention. '27 DB Mikel Miller, '27 LB [player_tooltip player_id='2097692' first='Jaylen' last='McWilson'], and '27 LB [player_tooltip player_id='2233464' first='Marc' last='Manigault'] were all productive tacklers and all-region players a year ago. '27 WR Aaden Sims and '28 WR [player_tooltip player_id='2114934' first='Jadarius' last='Slaton'] are solid building blocks on offense. Jonesboro has had 3 straight winning seasons, and I don't expect that to change.   ML King won 10 games in 2025, their first time hitting that mark since 2012. Last season was just their 2nd winning season in the last 10 years. MLK will have to replace their QB and top 3 leading rushers from a year ago. They lost 2 of their top 3 leading receivers, but they return their most productive offensive player in '27 WR [player_tooltip player_id='2079372' first='Aaron' last='Graham']. The losses continue on defense, but they return a productive trio at DB in '27 Chase Thornton, '27 Ja'myis Chapple, and '27 [player_tooltip player_id='1719957' first='Drayden' last='Armour'].   Eastside will have to nurse significant losses to Payton Shaw, Myles Sims, Xavier Joseph, and Gavin Gorham. For added context, that's their previous regions' OPOTY, co-POTY, co-DPOTY, and OLOTY. The slate isn't bare, however, as they return all-region performers in '27 DL Decorey Crumbley, '27 DB Cameron Griffieth, and '27 DB Amond Sands.

5A regions 1-4 in Georgia are highlighted by legendary senior classes and programs on the rise. Here is how I expect things to shake out in 2026.