When the preseason GPB football rankings were released last week, only two defending state champions were sitting in the No. 1 spot. Traditionally, the titleholders are given the top position based on the old theory that the champion remains the champion until someone beats them.

But GPB Sports' panel of voters (*see below) went against conventional wisdom and voted the preseason rankings based not only on past history, but on potential for the new season. That’s why only reigning Class 6A champion Buford and Class 4A champion Marist were voted as preseason No. 1s.

GPB's Football Fridays In Georgia play-by-play man, Matt Stewart, one of the panelists, carried the banner for Milton to be ranked No. 1 in Class 7A ahead of defending champion Grayson.  Stewart liked the makeup of the Eagles team and said the team was "loaded."

Click here to listen to last week’s Football Fridays in Georgia podcast.

Milton defensive end. L.T. Overton is the No. 1 prospect in the junior class in the nation.

“We saw him last year in the first game of his sophomore year and he’s already become a dominating force. You surround him with all the talent you’ve already got and you’ve got a very good team,” said Stewart. Overton’s father, Milton, played at Oklahoma and is currently the director of athletics at Kennesaw State.

Milton quarterback Devin Farrell (committed to Virginia Tech), running back Jordan McDonald and tight end Jack Nickel (committed to Michigan State) are all Power 5 recruits and Giles Tchio (brother of Georgia signee Paul Tchio) is one of the state’s top-10 defensive linemen. Stewart also ranked Adam Clack as one of the brightest young up-and-coming coaches in the state and compared him with Joey King, who won two titles at Cartersville and is now the head coach at Carrollton. Milton won the school's first state championship under Clack in 2018.

Stewart is also a big believer in Blessed Trinity, which he placed No. 1 in Class 5A – ahead of defending champion Warner Robins, who defeated the Titans in the state semifinals a year ago. Stewart is especially big on junior running back Justice Haynes, the son of former Georgia running back Verron Haynes.

“This kid is going to maybe end up breaking the all-time rushing record in Georgia,” Stewart said. “He’s going to have his choice of where he wants to go to college. Might be the best running back in the country. “

Haynes has rushed for 3,504 yards and 43 touchdowns in two seasons. Georgia’s career rushing record is held by Monte Williams of Commerce, who gained 8,844 yards from 1997-2000.

 

Here’s a look at this week's GPB Sports' Top 10 in each classification in the state:

Class 7A

  1. Milton
  2. North Cobb
  3. Collins Hill
  4. Walton
  5. Lowndes
  6. Cherokee
  7. Grayson
  8. Archer
  9. Camden County
  10. West Forsyth

Class 6A

  1. Buford
  2. Lee County
  3. Hughes
  4. Westlake
  5. Carrollton
  6. Allatoona
  7. River Ridge
  8. Evans
  9. Rome
  10. Valdosta

Class 5A

  1. Blessed Trinity
  2. Warner Robins
  3. Ware County
  4. Coffee
  5. Jones County
  6. Calhoun
  7. Cartersville
  8. Starr’s Mill
  9. Eastside
  10. Woodward Academy

Class 4A

  1. Marist
  2. Jefferson
  3. Carver Columbus
  4. Bainbridge
  5. Benedictine
  6. Flowery Branch
  7. Cedartown
  8. Baldwin
  9. Hardaway
  10. Northwest Whitfield

Class 3A

  1. Cedar Grove
  2. Greater Atlanta Christian
  3. Oconee County
  4. Peach County
  5. Crisp County
  6. Pierce County
  7. Rockmart
  8. Appling County
  9. Cherokee Bluff
  10. Thomson

Class 2A

  1. Fitzgerald
  2. Rabun County
  3. Lovett
  4. Callaway
  5. Thomasville
  6. Vidalia
  7. Bleckley County
  8. Northeast Macon
  9. Jefferson County
  10. Jeff Davis

Class A Public

  1. Brooks County
  2. Irwin County
  3. Metter
  4. Washington-Wilkes
  5. Macon County
  6. Dublin
  7. Clinch County
  8. Commerce
  9. Pelham
  10. Wilcox County

Class A Private

  1. Trinity Christian
  2. Fellowship Christian
  3. Savannah Christian
  4. Eagle’s Landing Christian
  5. Wesleyan
  6. Athens Academy
  7. Christian Heritage
  8. Calvary Day
  9. Prince Avenue Christian
  10. Stratford Academy

*GPB Sports' voting panel of experts is made up of: Jon Nelson, Sam Crenshaw, Matt Stewart, Stephen Graham, Stan Awtrey.