The Class AAA high school football landscape will be vastly different in 2018 than in previous years with the addition of two high-caliber programs from other classifications. Benedictine, which moved up from AA, and Jefferson, which moved down from AAAA, will shake up their respective regions and impact the balance of power across the classification. The rankings (listed below) reflect their immediate impact, with Benedictine debuting at No. 5 and Jefferson at No. 6.
But the usual suspects are lurking. At the top of the preseason rankings is defending champion Calhoun. Ranked second is Cedar Grove, which lost to Calhoun 14-6 in the semifinals last year. Greater Atlanta Christian, which lost to Peach County 28-23 in the semis last year, debuts at the No. 3 spot. Peach County, the state runner-up, enters 2018 at No. 4.
Calhoun's Yellow Jackets are as confident as ever following their 10-6 victory against Peach County in the state title game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in December, one of two games played that day before the snow began piling up.
Like last preseason, when asked if his team had the chance to make a deep playoff run, coach Hal Lamb seems confident, but he understands there are hurdles. Lamb must keep his team from becoming complacent. He said the goal has been to build confidence, not complacency. Calhoun opens against Ridgeland Thursday night in the Corky Kell Classic at Rome.
"I think we have a chance," he said of a title defense. "With all of the experience we have coming back, we have a shot. But then again, that can hurt you, too. If your kids get a big head and think they've arrived or think they don't have to work hard or whatnot, then that can bite you."
Calhoun returns most of its moving parts from the title run last year. Quarterback Gavin Gray has led the Yellow Jackets for the past two seasons and will return for his senior season. Wideout and defensive back Brannon Spector, a Clemson commitment, is rated as a 3-star recruit by 24/7Sports. Zack Fuller, who splits his time between running back and linebacker, is a hard-running back who might not be the biggest on the field, but he will "run through a brick wall if you ask him," according to Lamb's comment in an 11Alive Corky Kell preview story.
The Yellow Jackets defensive unit is probably still riding the high from shutting down two of the most prolific offenses in the state last season and being rewarded with a state title for its efforts. Calhoun's smothering defense held Cedar Grove (40 points/game) and Peach County (45 points/game) to six points each. Experienced leadership in Spector and Fuller on the defensive side will only aid to fill any gaps in the depth chart.
At this point, Calhoun is the team to beat.
But there are others who could be up for the challenge:
-- No. 2 Cedar Grove: The Saints were one of two victims of Calhoun's stellar defensive stand in the final two weeks of the 2017 season. Before falling to Calhoun last year, Cedar Grove's last loss game against Westminster on Sept. 23, 2016. That's a streak of 23 victories, a school record. The Saints return UGA commit Jadon Haselwood, the consensus No. 1 overall Georgia recruit by 24/7Sports. Haselwood, a 6-foot-2, 196-pound receiver, has been committed to UGA since he was a sophomore and is rated the third overall recruit in the nation by 24/7.
-- No. 3 Greater Atlanta Christian: The Spartans return in the first season of coach Tim Hardy splitting roles as a coach and an athletic director after replacing Tim Vick as the AD in April. Hardy had been the assistant AD before taking the top job. The Spartans are possibly better than the team that lost to Peach County at home in the semifinals last year. The sour taste still permeates Spartans hopefuls.
GAC appears loaded. If you want depth, glance at the quarterback spot. Two experienced quarterbacks – senior Josh Rose and junior Jackson Hardy (Tim's son) – each saw snaps in all 14 games last year. The biggest offensive concern will be how to weather the loss of backs Kyler McMichael (Clemson) and Alex Boglin. The answers are junior back Montae Bailey, who has experience at the position, and Tyler Bride, a 5-10, 170-pounder.
GAC is stacked on the offensive line with brothers Chris (6-foot-4, 280 pounds) and Myles Hinton (6-6, 308). The behemoths are back for their senior and junior years, respectively. Chris, who helped lead GAC to a state basketball title last year with Shaq-like finesse under the basket, is committed to Michigan for football. Myles is planning visits to Michigan and Stanford as of Aug. 12. Both are listed as 5-stars and among the top five linemen in the nation.
-- No. 4 Peach County: The state runner-up Trojans are entering 2018 with a short memory following its loss in the title game last season under circumstances that the Peach fan base still questions. But coach Chad Campbell, his staff and the players have moved on. Peach is concerned about filling holes and returning to the playoffs. Following the departure of receiver Kearis Jackson (UGA), his cousin, linebacker JaQuez Jackson (Georgia Tech), and quarterback Antonio Gilbert, the Trojans will bring a vastly different team to the field in 2018.
However, there's promise.
The Trojans went through 2017 without receiver Justin Harris, who was injured before the season. With a healthy Harris "filling in" for the departed Jackson at the receiver spot, Peach could weather that storm with little trouble. Jaydon Gibson will lead Peach, replacing Gilbert.
Cedric Hillsman and Ethan Manns will occupy the linebacker spot with hopes of replacing Jaquez Jackson, who already is making waves at Georgia Tech. Manns did not play last year because of an ACL injury, but he is healthy entering the first week of the year. Hillsman has spent the offseason trimming up to prepare for his new role at linebacker.
-- No. 5 Benedictine: The Cadets have been dominant in Class AA for five years. During that span, the Cadets won two state titles and four region titles, including three region titles in a row (2015-17) and a state title when it didn't win the region in 2014. Last year, Benedictine fell to eventual-champion Hapeville Charter in the quarterfinals, 31-17. The last time Benedictine lost a regular season game -- Oct. 17, 2014 against Vidalia. That's a streak of 33 regular-season games without a loss.
-- No. 6 Jefferson: Jefferson's entry into the classification will be more of a reunion after it moves back down to 8-AAA after being in Class AAAA for two seasons. The Dragons lost to Mary Persons (51-32) in the quarterfinals of the AAAA playoffs last season. Senior Zac Corbin (WR/LB) , Colby Clark (RB/LB) and Garmon Randolph (TE) are all players to watch as Jefferson embarks on its quest of 8-AAA against opponents Monroe Area (who beat Grayson in the Corky Kell 7-on-7), Morgan County and Hart County.
2018 Preseason AAA Rankings
1. Calhoun
2. Cedar Grove
3. Greater Atlanta Christian
4. Peach County
5. Benedictine
6. Jefferson
7. Lovett
8. Westminster
9. Liberty County
10. Jenkins
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