Class 5A Blog: Players that will decide the class 5A football championship

The 5A Classification has some of the best talent in the state, and that will be on full display as the playoffs get started on Friday. With that, some of the top players will decide which teams make deep playoff runs.

Xavier Griffin, Gainesville

One of the top players in the class of 2026, the Alabama linebacker commit is looking to put a bow on an amazing high school career. The Gainesville star is looking to help the Red Elephants to their first title since 2012 and only their second ever. His blend of speed, length, and strength gives him a physical profile few players can compete with and allows him to play multiple positions.

Jorden Edmonds, Sprayberry

Sprayberry’s star athlete is one of the biggest weapons in the state on both sides of the ball. The 6-foot-3, 5-star defensive back is one of the best defensive back prospects to come out of the state in some time. On defense, he shuts down one side of the field, while on offense he’s one of the top receivers in the state. He will be the most important piece if the Yellow Jackets are to make a deep playoff run.

Jaden Upshaw, Lee County

Upshaw, an uncommitted junior 4-star, is one of the most dynamic receivers in the class and is a player that Lee County will have to rely on to meet its high expectations. The Trojans are young this season after losing multiple elite players last year, such as Ousmane Kroma and Weston Bryan. This season, they will need the elite receiver play of Upshaw to make a run like they did last year.

Jabari Watkins, Thomas County Central

Watkins, the most highly rated player on the Thomas County Central roster, a 4-star Nebraska commit. While he is part of one of the most dominant teams in the class, he has been an elite player for the team. He is leading the team with nine touchdowns and is basically tied for the lead in receiving yards.

Darnell Kelly, Hughes

Hughes’ star quarterback, Darnell Kelly, has a lot of pressure on him in his first year starting for the Panthers. Kelly is in his third year as a starter but spent the last two at Peachtree Ridge. The pressure comes from the pedigree the program has created over the past half-decade, making the championship game three times in the past four years, including winning the 2022 6A state title.

5A round one playoff schedule

R1 #3 Statesboro at R8 #2 Habersham Central

R7 #4 Seckinger at R4 #1 Woodward Academy

R5 #3 Villa Rica at R3 #2 Northgate

R6 #4 Woodstock at R2 #1 Thomas County Central

R8 #3 Clarke Central at R1 #2 Effingham County

R4 #4 Chamblee at R7 #1 Roswell

R3 #3 Newnan at R5 #2 New Manchester

R2 #4 Coffee at R6 #1 Sequoyah

R2 #3 Lee County at R6 #2 Sprayberry

R5 #4 East Paulding at R3 #1 Hughes

R4 #3 Dunwoody at R7 #2 Gainesville

R8 #4 Winder-Barrow at R1 #1 Brunswick

R6 #3 Creekview at R2 #2 Houston County

R3 #4 Lovejoy at R5 #1 Rome

R7 #3 Milton at R4 #2 Shiloh

R1 #4 Glynn Academy at R8 #1 Jackson County

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