2026 Public Schools Top 100 Preview: No. 19 Milton
Milton returns 12 starters, Tennessee quarterback commitment Derrick Baker and a talented young offensive line as the Eagles pursue another Georgia state championship.
Top 25 Public HSFB7/21/20268 min read
Milton begins the 2026 season ranked No. 19 in the T25PS Public Schools Preseason Top 100 with a healthier and more experienced roster than the Eagles carried through much of last fall.
Milton finished 8-4 in 2025 and reached the second round of the Georgia Class 5A playoffs before losing 24-19 at Jackson County. The Eagles followed consecutive state championships with four losses, but three came by seven points or fewer against Buford, Roswell and Jackson County.
The season changed almost immediately when quarterback Derrick Baker suffered a hand injury during the Aug. 14 opener at Buford. Freshman Trey Hasan initially replaced him before sophomore Ben Halevi emerged as the primary quarterback. Halevi threw for 1,045 yards and 13 touchdowns without an interception through his first six starts.
Baker is expected to lead the offense again in 2026. The three-star Tennessee commitment will be surrounded by four-star Vanderbilt tight end commitment Grant Haviland, three-star Indiana receiver commitment Jordan Carrasquillo and a young offensive line led by Joshua Evans and Landon Ghea.
Milton’s program submission lists 12 returning starters — seven on offense and five on defense — as the Eagles move into Georgia Class 6A.
Team Snapshot
School: Milton High School Location: Milton, Georgia Classification: Georgia Class 6A Region 7-6A 8-4 4-2 Class 5A second round Ben Reaves Jr. 12 — seven offense, five defense No. 19
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Milton’s outlook begins with the return of Baker after an unusual first season with the program.
Baker transferred from St. Thomas Aquinas in Florida before the 2025 season and won Milton’s starting quarterback job. A hand injury suffered in the season-opening 20-13 loss to Buford prevented him from getting the full season the Eagles expected.
Hasan was pushed into action as a freshman and helped Milton defeat The First Academy and Alpharetta. Halevi later took over as the primary quarterback and provided efficient play during the region schedule.
That experience gives Milton unusual depth behind Baker. Halevi has already directed the offense through important games against Gainesville and Roswell, while Hasan gained varsity experience before most quarterbacks in his class.
Baker now has an established collection of targets around him.
Haviland caught 24 passes for 343 yards and four touchdowns in 2025. The 6-foot-5, four-star prospect committed to Vanderbilt in April after also considering programs that included Georgia, Ohio State, Clemson and Tennessee. His ability to contribute as both a receiver and blocker gives Milton flexibility in multiple formations.
Carrasquillo led Milton with 33 receptions for 586 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior. The 6-foot-2 receiver averaged nearly 18 yards per catch and committed to Indiana in May. His size and proven production make him the leading candidate to serve as Baker’s top outside target.
The offensive line has considerable upside but remains one of the team’s most important variables.
Evans is a Class of 2028 interior offensive lineman with offers from Georgia, Ole Miss, South Carolina and other Division I programs. Ghea started as a freshman in 2025 and has already emerged as one of Georgia’s top Class of 2029 offensive tackle prospects.
Evans and Ghea give Milton two young linemen with national recruiting potential. Their continued development will be essential as the Eagles attempt to protect Baker and establish a dependable running game against the strongest teams on the schedule.
Milton returns five starters on defense after allowing 170 points in 12 games last season. The Eagles held eight opponents below 20 points and recorded three shutouts.
Senior linebacker Blaize Battaglia returns after recording 59 solo tackles through the 2025 regular season. The three-star Boston College commitment provides experience in the middle of a defense replacing several members of the 2026 graduating class.
Keelan Wonsley also returns after intercepting five passes as a sophomore. His ability to contribute at defensive back and receiver gives Milton another versatile player with two-way value.
Players to Know
Derrick Baker — QB, 2027
Baker returns after a hand injury suffered in the 2025 season opener disrupted his first year at Milton. The three-star Tennessee commitment brings arm strength, mobility and significant recruiting credentials to the offense. His return could provide the stability Milton lacked at the position for much of last season.
Grant Haviland — TE, 2027
Haviland caught 24 passes for 343 yards and four touchdowns as a junior. The four-star Vanderbilt commitment can contribute as both a receiver and blocker, making him one of Milton’s most versatile offensive players.
Jordan Carrasquillo — WR, 2027
Carrasquillo led Milton with 33 receptions for 586 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025. The three-star Indiana commitment gives Baker a proven outside target with size and big-play ability.
Joshua Evans — IOL, 2028
Evans is a 6-foot-3, 300-pound interior lineman with offers from Georgia, Ole Miss, South Carolina and other Division I programs. He has the size and talent to become the anchor of Milton’s young offensive front.
Landon Ghea — OT, 2029
Ghea became a varsity starter as a freshman and has already earned offers from major college programs. The 6-foot-5 offensive tackle is one of Georgia’s top early Class of 2029 prospects and could become one of Milton’s most important blockers.
Blaize Battaglia — LB, 2027
Battaglia recorded 59 solo tackles through the 2025 regular season and returns as one of Milton’s defensive leaders. The three-star Boston College commitment gives the Eagles experience in the middle of a defense replacing several veteran contributors.
Keelan Wonsley — ATH, 2028
Wonsley intercepted five passes as a sophomore while contributing at defensive back and receiver. His ball skills and ability to play on both sides of the football make him one of Milton’s most valuable returning juniors.
Schedule Breakdown
Milton will play four non-region games before beginning its first Region 7-6A schedule.
The Eagles open Aug. 21 at home against North Cobb before visiting Blessed Trinity on Aug. 28. Cambridge visits Milton the following week, and the Eagles complete non-region play Sept. 11 at Battle Ground Academy in Tennessee.
Battle Ground Academy went 13-1 and won the 2025 Tennessee Division II-AA state championship. That road game should provide Milton with an important early test before region competition begins.
Region play opens Sept. 25 at Johns Creek. Milton then hosts Lanier before an open week separates the first two region games from the most demanding portion of the schedule.
The Eagles host Alpharetta on Oct. 16 before traveling to Gainesville and Riverwood on consecutive Fridays.
Gainesville ended Milton’s 42-game region winning streak with a 28-16 victory in 2025. The Red Elephants later reached the Class 5A state championship game, making the Oct. 23 rematch one of Milton’s most important games of the regular season.
Milton closes Nov. 6 against Roswell. The Hornets defeated the Eagles 41-39 on a 48-yard field goal with 42 seconds remaining in 2025 and went on to win the Region 7-5A championship.
The games against Gainesville and Roswell could determine the Region 7-6A championship and shape Milton’s path through the state playoffs.
2026 Milton Schedule
Aug. 21: vs. North Cobb Aug. 28: at Blessed Trinity Sept. 4: vs. Cambridge Sept. 11: at Battle Ground Academy (Tennessee) Sept. 25: at Johns Creek Oct. 2: vs. Lanier Oct. 16: vs. Alpharetta Oct. 23: at Gainesville Oct. 30: at Riverwood Nov. 6: vs. Roswell
Biggest Question
Can Milton protect Baker and turn its young offensive line into a championship strength?
Baker’s return gives Milton a talented senior quarterback, but the Eagles must keep him healthy after losing him during the opening game of the 2025 season.
Haviland and Carrasquillo give the passing game two established targets. Halevi and Hasan provide experienced depth after both were forced into meaningful roles last year.
The larger variable is the offensive line. Evans and Ghea have the talent to become nationally recruited prospects, but Milton will need the entire group to provide consistent protection and establish the running game against Georgia’s strongest defensive fronts.
If the line develops as expected and Baker remains available, Milton should have the ability to attack opponents in multiple ways. If the protection remains inconsistent, the Eagles could again be forced to depend on younger quarterbacks in important games.
T25PS Prediction
Regular-season prediction: 8-2 Postseason prediction: Georgia Class 6A semifinalist
Milton’s road games against Battle Ground Academy and Gainesville, followed by the Roswell rivalry, create several legitimate challenges. An undefeated regular season would be difficult, but this roster should be better prepared to handle adversity than it was in 2025.
Baker’s return gives Milton a higher offensive ceiling. Haviland and Carrasquillo provide proven receiving production, while Evans and Ghea give the line the potential to improve throughout the season.
The defense must replace several veteran contributors, but Battaglia and Wonsley provide an experienced starting point.
By November, Milton should be capable of challenging Georgia’s best Class 6A teams. Reaching the state championship game will depend on Baker’s health, the development of the offensive line and the defense’s ability to replace its departed leaders.
Bottom Line
Milton enters 2026 with a stronger foundation than its 8-4 record suggests.
The Eagles played almost the entire 2025 season without the quarterback they expected to lead the offense. Halevi and Hasan gained valuable experience in Baker’s absence, and Milton still won eight games and reached the second round of the Class 5A playoffs.
Baker now returns to an offense featuring a four-star tight end, a productive senior receiver and two of Georgia’s most promising young linemen. Battaglia and Wonsley give the defense experienced playmakers as Milton replaces several starters.
The move to Class 6A creates a difficult postseason path, and Gainesville and Roswell will test the Eagles before the playoffs begin. Still, this is a program that won state championships in 2023 and 2024 and expects to compete at that level.
If Baker stays healthy and the young offensive line continues to develop, Milton will have a chance to outperform its No. 19 ranking and return to the state-championship conversation.
Thanks for reading,
Alex | T25PS
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