2026 Georgia QB Darnell Kelly transferring from Peachtree Ridge to Langston Hughes

Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes is bringing in a new quarterback for the 2025 season.

On Tuesday, it was announced that dual-threat QB Darnell Kelly is transferring from Peachtree Ridge (Ga.) High to Langston Hughes for his senior season.

The 6-foot-1, 160-pounder is a major addition for one of the Peach State’s top high school football programs. Kelly is now set to replace Christian Langford, who tallied over 3,800 total yards and and 46 touchdowns as a senior last season.

Langston Hughes went 13-2 last season, losing to Milton in the Georgia 5A state title game. The Panthers finished as the No. 41 team in the nation and No. 6 team in the state, according to the On3 Composite Rankings. They averaged over 45 points per game and rattled off an 11-game winning streak en route to a championship appearance.

As a junior for Peachtree Ridge, Kelly was dynamic, throwing for 2,521 yards and 28 touchdowns while also rushing for 463 yards and five TDs. The Lions went 6-6 in 2024 and finished as the No. 70 team in the state.

Kelly is currently the No. 57 QB and No. 86 player in Georgia in the 2026 cycle, according to the On300. He has over 20 Division I offers, headlined by the likes of Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Tulane, Liberty, Coastal Carolina, East Carolina and James Madison.

Langston Hughes is working through plenty of offseason changes. Its roster lost three Power Four signees and also saw its head coach, Boone Williams, leave to become the new head coach at Warner Robins Northside. The Panthers have since brought back former state title-winning offensive coordinator Andrico Hines to take over at the helm.

The On3 Composite High School Team Rankings is a proprietary algorithm that compiles rankings listed in the public domain by respected High School media and data companies. It includes Massey, Max Preps, Cal Preps, ESPN, and SI, creating the industry’s most comprehensive and geographically balanced High School Team Ranking.