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Class 5A Blog: A talented Houston County team looking to continue success
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Houston County is preparing for the 2025 season, a year that brings some uncertainty for the Bears following the graduation of multi-year starting quarterback AJ Hill. While the departure of Hill leaves a significant question mark under center, Houston County remains loaded with talent and should once again be considered one of the top contenders in Class 5A.
The Bears’ top senior is 4-star Georgia safety commit Jordan Smith. At 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, Smith is one of the most physical defensive backs in the state and will anchor the Bears’ secondary. As a recruit, he is a consensus top-105 player nationally, ranked as high as No. 57 in the class by 247Sports.
Another high-end senior is 3-star Duke wide receiver commit Kavon Conciauro. Despite being somewhat under the radar, Conciauro is a consensus top-100 player in Georgia and a true X wideout at 6-foot-3, 170 pounds. He’s currently ranked No. 635 nationally in the class of 2026 according to the Rivals Industry Ranking. With a new quarterback stepping in, Coniauro will be a key part of keeping the offense on track.
Senior linebacker Westen Ard returns to anchor the middle of the defense. A UConn commit, Ard received multiple offers from top Group of Five programs. He’s a technically sound, hard-hitting linebacker and the leader of the Bears’ linebacker corps heading into 2025.
One of the team’s highest-upside prospects is massive junior offensive tackle Braylin Mills. Standing at over 6-foot-6 and weighing more than 300 pounds, Mills has the size and potential to develop into a top-100 national prospect by the time he graduates. He follows in the footsteps of Georgia’s elite jumbo linemen like Daniel Calhoun, Juan Gaston, and Brayden Jacobs.
Overall, Houston County has the pieces to be one of the best teams in 5A. However, they compete in one of the toughest regions in the state and will need their elite talent to step up in order to challenge perennial powerhouses like Lee County and Thomas County Central.
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