Top Georgia high school football prospects in the 2026 class

Georgia’s high school football talent stacks up against any other state in the country, with dozens of Peach State players considered to be among the nation’s best prospects.

In the 2025 class, the state had a whopping 36 players ranked among the nation’s top 300, second only to Florida (37) and Texas (42). And that’s despite having one-half the population of the Sunshine State and one-third of the Lone Star State’s numbers.

2026 is another banner year for talent, with 13 players among the top 100 in the updated Rivals Industry Rankings and 46 blue-chippers in total. As the state playoffs get going this weekend, Rivals checks in on how the state’s top 10 players fared this fall:

1. EDGE LaDamion Guyton

High School: Benedictine Military School
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 6 (#2 EDGE)
Status: Committed to Texas Tech

At one time ranked as the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2027 class, Guyton moved up a year earlier this fall and is now on track to graduate and join the Red Raiders as part of their 2027 crop. Across his first two seasons at Savannah Christian (Ga.), he totaled 33 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks and 134 tackles. Through eight games this season, he has racked up 49 more tackles, 12 TFLs and 6 sacks for Benedictine. The Cadets begin their pursuit of a state title this weekend.

2. LB Tyler Atkinson

High School: Grayson
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 16 (#1 LB)
Status: Committed to Texas

Atkinson is a multi-time high school All-American already and is one of the nation’s most ballyhooed recruits. He participated as a junior in the Navy All-American Bowl in January after a 2024 campaign where he totaled 166 tackles, (32 TFLs), 46 quarterback hits, 13 sacks, an an interception.

This season, he has followed it up with another dominant year for Grayson, the No. 1 team in the Peach State. Across eight games, he has totaled 67 tackles, 21 tackles for loss and eight sacks.

3. LB Xavier Griffin

High School: Gainesville
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 20 (#2 LB)
Status: Committed to Alabama

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Griffin was an early commitment to USC and another dynamic linebacker from inside the state’s borders. However, he backed off that pledge in May and then chose Alabama a month later. In addition to being a star on the gridiron, he’s also an All-Region basketball pick. Despite dealing with injuries in 2024, he racked up 43 tackles and six sacks.

Healthy this fall, he has taken his game to another level with 68 tackles, 11 TFLs and four sacks while leading Gainesville to an 8-2 record.

4. CB Jorden Edmonds

High School: Sprayberry
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 28 (#3 CB)
Status: Committed to Alabama

Edmonds skyrocketed up the rankings this spring. In February, he sat outside the top 10 in his own state state and now checks in as one of the country’s top 32 prospects. He starred on both sides of the ball as a junior, hauling in 32 receptions for 648 and 4 TD on 20.3 yards per catch on offense. Defensively, he is a lockdown corner who also recorded 30 tackles and 1 TFL. In March, he committed to Alabama over Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC and others.

He has again been a presence on both offense and defense for Sprayberry this year. In nine games, he has hauled in 31 passes for 554 yards (17.9 YPC) and nine touchdowns. On defense, he has been locking down his side of the field with 36 tackles, three pass breakups and an interception.

5. TE Kaiden Prothro

High School: Bowdon
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 31 (#3 TE)
Status: Committed to Georgia

Prothro is a quarterback’s dream, standing in at 6’6 with exceptional leaping ability and soft hands. He was a top performer earlier this month at Under Armour’s camp in Atlanta, and is also a standout baseball and basketball player. He burst onto the football scene last fall with 1,203 yards and 21 touchdowns on 56 receptions for Bowdon. 

This fall, he has seen a bit of a dip in production — 31 catches, 602 yards, 13 touchdowns — but is still one of the biggest matchup nightmares for Peach State defenses.

6. EDGE Bryce Perry-Wright

High School: Buford
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 42 (#8 EDGE)
Status: Committed to Texas A&M

Playing for state and national powerhouse Buford, Perry-Wright has developed a reputation as an elite defensive line prospect. He was extremely disruptive to opposing offenses in 2024, collecting 57 total tackles, 13 TFLs, nine sacks and 17 quarterback hurries. He has followed that up this fall with another dominant season on the defensive front, tallying 66 tackles, 11 TFLs, 17 hurries and three sacks.

7. S Jordan Smith

High School: Houston County
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 65 (#6 S)
Status: Committed to Georgia

Smith checks in as one of the country’s best safety prospects, ranking No. 6 nationally at his position. As a junior, he totaled 85 total tackles, three TFLs, two interceptions, seven pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. He garnered more than two dozens offers, but ultimately chose to stay home and play for the home state Georgia Bulldogs in May.

He has been a defensive menace as a senior, racking up 84 total tackles and an interception.

8. EDGE Tristian Givens

High School: Carver
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 71 (#12 EDGE)
Status: Committed to Texas A&M

Givens is one of the country’s most impressive two-way athletes, playing wide receiver and defensive end while checking in at 6’4 and over 200 pounds. He is primarily projected to play the latter at the college level, and teams across the country are breaking down his door to sign him. He’s been a game-wrecker this fall for Carver, making 61 total tackles (including 16 for loss), to go along with six sacks, two forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions.

9. EDGE Jamarion Matthews

High School: Gainesville
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 80 (#13 EDGE)
Status: Committed to Alabama

Matthews put together a highly productive junior season with 57 tackles, 17 sacks, 29 tackles for loss and 15 quarterback hurries at Sparkman (Ala.). In February, he transferred from Sparkman to Gainesville, and a few weeks later committed to the Crimson Tide despite leaving his home state for the final year of his high school career. This fall, he has followed up by being a dominant force in the highest levels of Georgia high school football, racking up 47 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and eight sacks.

10. WR Aaron Gregory

High School: Douglas County
Rivals Industry Ranking: No. 88 (#10 WR)
Status: Committed to Texas A&M

A 6-foot-3, 170-pound wideout, Gregory is one of a handful of elite prospects on Douglas County’s loaded roster. He hauled in 53 passes, totaling 914 yards and nine touchdowns last fall. That comes on the heels of a strong sophomore campaign where he notched over 700 yards and eight TDs as well. 

As a senior, he’s kept that pace with 55 catches, 905 yards and a trio of touchdowns.