Another incredible season of GPB Sports Football Fridays in Georgia comes to a dramatic conclusion next week with the GHSA State Championship Games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in downtown Atlanta.

Our three-day, 12-game coverage of eight Football State Finals and four Flag Football State Finals on GPB-TV Georgia Public Broadcasting, kicks-off Monday at 12:00 p.m. and won’t end until sometime after 10 p.m. Wednesday night.

It’s like Christmas - only one week early!

Here’s a look at the top college football prospects to watch. This is not to be confused with the top players playing in the championship games. They are not always one in the same.

The lists below are the top college football prospects using the On3 Industry Ranking system which is a composite of the four major recruiting services: On3 Recruits, 247 Sports, ESPN and Rivals.

So here you go…

Juju Lewis

Carrollton's JuJu Lewis (L) with GPB's Jon Nelson

Credit: GPB

Class of 2025

  1. Julian “JuJu” Lewis – Carrollton Trojans - 6-1, 181, Senior – Signed with Colorado over 39 other offers after decommitting from Southern Cal – Highest Ranking: ESPN 5-Star QB and No. 2 overall national prospect and QB 2025.
  2. C.J. Wiley – Milton Eagles - 6-4, 195, Senior – Signed with Georgia over 33 other offers including Florida State from which he decommitted – Consensus 4-Star – Highest Ranking: Rivals No. 7 WR 2025 and No.7 overall prospect in Georgia 2025.
  3. Lagonza Hayward – Toombs County Bulldogs - 6-1, 205, Senior – Signed with Florida over 13 other offers including Tennessee from which he decommitted 3 days before National Signing Day – Consensus 4-Star - Highest Ranking: On3 No. 3 Safety 2025 and No. 5 overall prospect in Georgia 2025.
  4. Brayden Jacobs – Milton Eagles - 6-7, 310, Senior – Signed with Clemson over 28 other offers including South Carolina and Alabama – Highest Ranking: 247 Sports 4-Star and No. 8 OT 2025 and No. 8 overall prospect in Georgia 2025.
  5. Christian Garrett – Prince Avenue Christian Wolverines - 6-5, 290, Senior – Signed with Georgia Tech over 21 other offers including Georgia from which he decommitted back in August - Consensus 4-Star – Highest Ranking: ESPN No. 9 DL 2025.
  6. Tavaris Dice – Langston Hughes Panthers - 6-5, 297, Senior – Signed with Florida over 21 other offers including Auburn from which he decommitted 5 days before NSD - Consensus 4-Star – Highest Rating: On3 Industry No. 18 OT 2025.
  7. Zelus Hicks – Carrollton Trojans - 6-2, 181, Senior – Signed with Texas over 33 offers - Consensus 4-Star – Highest Rating: ESPN No. 6 Safety 2025 (90.77).  Hicks reclassified from Class of 2026 where he was No.1 safety in the country to 2025 on November 6.
  8. Joseph Mbatchou – Grayson Rams - 6-6, 296, Senior – Signed with Florida over 19 other offers including Texas from which he decommitted 3 days before NSD – Consensus 4-Star - Highest Ranking: Rivals 4-Star and No. 12 DL 2025.
  9. Luke Nickel – Milton Eagles - 6-2, 210, Senior – Signed with Miami over 26 other offers – Highest Ranking: On3 4-Star and No. 13 QB 2025 and No. 11 overall prospect in Georgia 2025.
  10. Ethan Barbour – Milton Eagles - 6-3, 235, Senior – Signed with Georgia over 34 other offers – Highest Ranking: ESPN 4-Star and #1 TE 2025 and No. 11 overall prospect in Georgia 2025.
Tyler Atkinson

Grayson's Tyler Atkinson is one of the top linebacker prospects in the country.

Credit: 247 Sports

Class of 2026

  1. Tyler Atkinson – Grayson Rams - 6-3, 219, Junior – 51 offers including Georgia – Highest Ranking: On3 Industry 5-Star and No. 1 LB 2026, No. 1 overall prospect in Georgia 2026 and No. 8 overall national prospect 2026.
  2. Kaiden Prothro – Bowden Red Devils - 6-6, 210, Junior – 36 Offers including Georgia, Auburn and Ole Miss – Consensus 4-Star – Highest Rating: ESPN No. 1 TE 2026, No. 2 overall prospect in Georgia 2026 and No. 17 overall prospect in the country 2026.
  3. Tristan Givens – Carver Columbus Tigers - 6-5, 220, Junior – 23 Offers including Tennessee, Louisville and Georgia Tech – Highest Ranking: On3 Industry 4-Star and No. 5 Edge 2026 and On3 No. 2 overall prospect in Georgia 2026.
  4. Xavier Tiller –  Hughes Panthers - 6-5, 224, Junior – Committed to Texas A&M November 4 over 25 other offers including Auburn and Louisville - Consensus 4-Star - Highest Ranking: ESPN No. 2 TE 2026.
  5. Dorian Barney – Carrollton Trojans - 6-1, 170, Junior – 40 Offers including Texas A&M and Alabama from whom he decommitted November 10 – Consensus 4-Star – Highest Rating: 247 Sports No. 7 CB 2026.
  6. Ant Davis – Grayson Rams - 6-2, 197, Junior – 34 offers including Auburn - Rivals 4-Star and No. 7 LB 2026 and No. 11 overall prospect in Georgia 2026.
  7. Carsyn Baker – Hughes Panthers - 6-2, 193, Junior – 19 offers including South Carolina, Auburn and Ole Miss - Highest Ranking: On3 Industry Ranking 4-Star and 247 Sports No. 18 RB 2026.
  8. Ryan Mosley – Carrollton Trojans - 6-2, 197, Junior – 27 offers including Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina - Highest Rating: On3 Recruiting 4-Star and No. 13 ATH 2026.
  9. Khamari Brooks – North Oconee Titans - 6-4, 225, Junior LB – 28 Offers including Georgia – Highest Ranking: On3 4-Star and No. 13 Edge 2026 and No. 15 overall prospect in Georgia 2026.
  10. Zykie Helton – Carrollton Trojans - 6-3, 248, Junior – 20 offers including Alabama who he originally committed to July 2023 but then decommitted March 16 – Highest Rating: Rivals 4-Star and No. 1 Interior OL 2026 and No. 14 overall prospect in Georgia 2026.

Class of 2027

  1. George Lamons – Brooks County Trojans - 6-4, 215, Sophomore – 30 Offers including South Carolina and Alabama – Highest Ranking: 247 Sports 4-Star and No. 6 Athlete 2027 – No. 5 overall prospect in Georgia 2027 and No. 34 overall prospect in the country 2027.
  2. Andrew Beard – Prince Avenue Christian Wolverines - 5-9, 170, Sophomore RB – 11 Offers including Georgia – Highest Ranking: 247 Sports 4-Star and No. 12 RB 2027 and No. 12 overall prospect in Georgia 2027.

So, join us for our Emmy Award-winning coverage of the GHSA State Championships on GPB-TV and all our many social and streaming platforms including online www.GPB.org/sports. GPB Sports App. YouTube. Facebook and Twitch.

Broadcast Teams for Championship Week

Flag Football – Wiley Ballard PBP. Dave Reynolds Color. Jon Nelson Sidelines. Steve Graham Producer.

1AD1, 1AD2, Private Championship Games – Larry Smith PBP, Sam Crenshaw Color. Cody Chaffins Sidelines. Russ Aaron and Steve Graham Producers.

2A, 3A Championship Games – Matt Stewart PBP. Rusty Mansell Color. Autumn Johnson Sidelines. Glenn Diamond Producer.

4A, 5A, 6A Championship Games – Matt Stewart PBP. Wayne Gandy Color. Niki Noto Palmer Sidelines. Glenn Diamond Producer.

State Championship Tailgate Show - Hannah Goodin Host and Anchor. Jon Nelson Host and Championship Podium Anchor. Alima Williams and Lori Cover Producers.

Vice President of Sports Programming – Kevin Gerke.

Enjoy our GPB Sports State Championship Game Coverage!