Top 25 high school football players in Georgia

Few states across the country produce as many top football players and recruits as Georgia does. And when you take into account populations, the Peach State ranks at or near the top every year.

Georgia has largely replaced California among high school football’s Big 3, which also includes Florida and Texas. The 2025 and 2026 classes again look to be stacked with talent, including multiple five-star recruits and top-50 national prospects in both age groups.

Below are the top 25 football players in the state of Georgia, based on the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Who are the best Georgia high school football players?

1. DL Elijah Griffin — 98.65

Griffin was named Georgia’s Class AAA Defensive Lineman of the Year and a MaxPreps Junior All-America selection after his junior season in 2023. He finished that campaign with 97 tackles (31 TFL), 17.5 sacks and an INT. He currently ranks as the No. 5 prospect nationally and No. 1 recruit in Georgia in the 2025 class.

2. DL Justus Terry — 98.61

Terry was a MaxPreps Junior All-America second-team selection as a junior, helping Manchester High go 11-3 and reaching their first state title game appearance in 26 years. He racked up 78 tackles (6.5 TFL), 13 sacks, 2 PBU and two forced fumbles as well. Terry is the No. 7 prospect, No. 2 DL and No. 2 player in Georgia in the 2025 class.

3. EDGE Isaiah Gibson — 96.58

A one-time USC commit, Gibson is currently pledged to Georgia as one of the Bulldogs top commitments. The five-star measured in at 6-foot-3.25, 263 pounds at the On3 Elite Series prior to his senior season. He has elite length and a big frame, sporting 35-inch arms and 10.5 hands. Added 25 pounds in the offseason prior to his senior season. As a junior, he led Warner Robins High with 17 sacks and 55 quarterback hurries.

4. QB Julian Lewis — 96.34

Pledged to USC for nearly a year, Lewis has long been one of the top quarterbacks nationally, regardless of class. Last year, he announced he would reclassify to the 2025 class and join the Trojans a season earlier than initially planned. As a sophomore in 2023, he was a finalist for the Gatorade National Player of the Year award and the Region Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive year. Went 11-2 as a starter, helping Carrollton reach Georgia’s AAAAAAA quarterfinals, while completing 186 of 280 passes (66.4%) for 3,094 yards with 48 TD and 2 INT.

5. TE Elyiss Williams — 96.24

The consensus No. 1 tight end nationally in the 2025 class, Williams has been pledged to Georgia since early April. The 6-foot-7, 245-pounder is a dual-sport standout on the gridiron and hardwood, where he was as a 1,000-plus point scorer in just two and a half years of varsity action and was regional player of the year as a junior. On the football field, he finished with 25 catches for 530 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior. 

6. LB Zayden Walker — 96.13

Another Georgia commit, Walker has long been considered one of the top linebacker/EDGE prospects nationally in the 2025 class. He was a two-way player for Schley County High, and racked up 40 tackles (16.5 TFL), 27 QBH, 7 sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a PBU on defense. He also starred at running back carrying the ball 77 times for 518 yards and 13 TD on offense while also catching 10 passes for 169 yards and 4 TD. Walker ranks as the No. 24 overall prospect and No. 1 linebacker in the class.

7. IOL Josh Petty — 95.98

Petty is one of the country’s most versatile offensive linemen, projecting to play at either tackle or guard at the next level. As a junior in 2023, he played both offense and defense for Roswell High, recording 58 tackles, 9 TFL, 5 sacks, 1 INT, and 1 fumble recovery. Petty is also an accomplished wrestler, winning a state championship at 285 pounds as a sophomore.

8. ATH Darrell Johnson — 94.79

Johnson has been a dynamic two-way player for Dodge Eastman County for multiple years now, playing as many as five different positions. As a junior, he was selected to the All-Region team as a defensive back following a season where he notched 103 total tackles. He ranks as No. 47 prospect nationally, No. 2 athlete and No. 8 recruit in Georgia.

9. LB Tyler Atkinson (2026) — 95.75

Atkinson has established himself as one of the country’s top rising junior prospects on the field over the past year. In 2022, he was named a MaxPreps Freshman All-American and helped Grayson go 10-3 and make a deep run in Georgia’s AAAAAAA playoffs. He also totaled 112 tackles (22 TFL), 24 QBH, 8 sacks and 4 PBU. He followed that with an even more impressive junior campaign, where he notched 197 tackles and 10.5 sacks.

10. EDGE Jordan Carter (2026) — 94.50

Much like Atkinson, Carter has blown up onto the national scene over the past year, checking in as a top-20 prospect in the country in 2026. As a junior, he totaled 84 tackles, 13 TFLs, 15 sacks and two quarterback hurries.

11. Xavier Griffin (2026) — 94.45
12. Zelus Hicks (2026) — 94.19
13. Devin Carter (2026) — 94.16
14. Tavion Wallace — 93.85
15. Tae Harris — 93.76

16. Aaron Gregory (2026) — 93.67
17. Travis Smith — 93.40
18. Kaiden Prothro (2026) — 93.39
19. CJ Wiley — 93.15
20. Lagonza Hayward — 93.12

21. Ousmane Kromah — 92.92
22. Cam Brooks (2026) — 92.79
23. Christian Garrett — 92.53
24. Xavier Tiller (2026) — 92.41
25. SAF Jontae Gilbert — 92.37