After spending the first thirteen weeks in 2022 at the top of the High School Football America Georgia Top 25, the Wolves begin this year at the top of our statewide rankings, powered by NFL Play Football.
Head coach Bryant Appling had the Wolves in the ’22 national championship conversation, as well. Up until the team’s loss to Walton in the second round of the 7A playoffs, the Wolves were ranked No. 2 in the HSFA 300 national rankings. This year, Buford is the No. 7 team in the country in our national rankings.
Related: ’23 HSFA 300 preseason rankings
Buford is loaded with talent, starting with quarterback Dylan Raiola, the overall No. 1 college football prospect in the nation. Raiola transferred to Georgia shortly after announcing his verbal commitment to play with the University of Georgia, just up to road from Buford.
The talent doesn’t stop with Raiola. Appling, who was a standout collegiate linebacker at Lehigh University, has a great defense led by safety KJ Bolden and defensive lineman Eddrick Houston.
Bolden, who will make his college choice public on August 5, is the No. 7 overall college prospect in the nation. Houston, the No. 23 overall prospect, is also mulling his college choice with Georgia and Ohio State being near the top of his list.
Junior linebacker Jadon Perlotte, the No. 34 overall prospect in the Class of 2025, has already given his verbal to Georgia.
Buford will be able to get itself in the national title talk when it opens against No. 3 St. Frances Academy from Baltimore, Maryland. The game will be broadcast nationally on FloFootball.
Related: ’23 Prep Gridiron Logistics/FloFootball broadcast schedule
No. 2 Colquitt County and No. 3 Langston Hughes will also get big tests in their season openers.
CC, with the nation’s top tight end Landen Thomas, will play South Carolina-power Dutch Fork. The Packers are No. 18 in the nation, while Dutch Fork is ranked No. 11. The Silver Foxes have won seven state championships.
Langston Hughes, the state’s defending 6A champ, will take-on 7A runner-up Carrollton, ranked No. 6 in the Top 25.
Below is the complete Top 25.
High School Football America Georgia Top 25
| Ranking/Team | 2022 Record | Preseason Ranking |
| No. 1 Buford | (11-1) | 7 |
| No. 2 Colquitt County | (13-1) | 18 |
| No. 3 Langston Hughes | (15-0) | 25 |
| No. 4 Mill Creek | (14-1) | 29 |
| No. 5 Walton | (10-3) | 35 |
| No. 6 Carrollton | (14-1) | 37 |
| No. 7 Milton | (10-4) | 59 |
| No. 8 Cedar Grove | (11-3) | 68 |
| No. 9 Gainesville | (14-1) | 84 |
| No. 10 North Cobb | (9-3) | 86 |
| No. 11 Roswell | (12-2) | 93 |
| No. 12 Westlake | (9-4) | 124 |
| No. 13 Creekside | (10-3) | 134 |
| No. 14 Grayson | (10-3) | 138 |
| No. 15 Rome | (12-2) | 148 |
| No. 16 Ware County | (14-0) | 151 |
| No. 17 Benedictine | (13-2) | 169 |
| No. 18 Valdosta | (8-3) | 176 |
| No. 19 Warner Robins | (10-5) | 178 |
| No. 20 Norcross | (8-4) | 193 |
| No. 21 Houston County | (10-3) | 196 |
| No. 22 Northside (Warner Robins) | (7-5) | 206 |
| No. 23 North Gwinnett | (10-3) | 208 |
| No. 24 Parkview | (8-4) | 217 |
| No. 25 Lee County | (8-4) | 241 |
Editor’s Note: The High School Football America national, regional and state rankings are developed using our proprietary algorithm.
