2026 Public Schools Top 100 Preview: No. 6 Carrollton

Carrollton opens the 2026 season at No. 6 in the T25PS Public Schools Preseason Top 100 after finishing one game short of a Georgia state championship and bringing back one of the most important pieces in any preseason ranking: a returning quarterback.

The Trojans went 14-1 in 2025, finished as Georgia state runner-up, and spent most of the season looking like one of the best public-school teams in the country. Now they enter 2026 with a roster built around quarterback CJ Cypher, offensive line talent, skill-position weapons and enough defensive pieces to stay in the national conversation.

Carrollton’s case is not complicated.

The Trojans have been knocking on the door under Joey King, and this year’s team has the quarterback, schedule and program standard to make another run. In a state as deep as Georgia, there is no easy path. But Carrollton has already proven it can live near the top of that world.

Now the next step is finishing the job.

Team Snapshot

School: Carrollton
City: Carrollton, Georgia
Classification: GHSA 6A
2025 Record: 14-1
2025 Finish: Georgia State Runner-Up
Head Coach: Joey King
T25PS Rank: No. 6

Why They’re Ranked Here
Returning quarterback, offensive foundation and schedule strength.

Carrollton starts this high because the Trojans check several of the most important preseason boxes. They bring back quarterback CJ Cypher, return key offensive pieces, have at least one major confirmed offensive line anchor in Kweli Fielder, and play a schedule that gives them a real chance to build a national résumé.

The quarterback piece matters most. In a preseason ranking, teams with proven quarterback continuity should be valued differently. Carrollton does not have to spend the offseason wondering who is leading the offense. The Trojans know they have a young quarterback with major upside and the type of supporting cast that can help him take another step.

The schedule is also a major part of the ranking. Carrollton is set to face Catholic out of Louisiana, West Charlotte out of North Carolina, Douglas County, Westlake and Rome before dealing with the rest of the Georgia grind. That gives the Trojans multiple chances to prove they belong in the national top 10.

There are still questions to answer, especially with replacing key seniors from last year’s state runner-up team, but the foundation is strong enough to justify Carrollton opening at No. 6.

Players to Know

Christian “CJ” Cypher — QB, 2029
Cypher is a 6’2”, 190-pound quarterback and one of the biggest reasons Carrollton starts this high. Returning quarterback play matters in any preseason ranking, and as a freshman, CJ threw for 2,176 yards and 26 touchdowns while completing 71% of his passes.

That gives the Trojans a clear identity entering 2026. He is young, talented and already trusted with leading one of the top public-school programs in the country. The Class of 2029 prospect has received more than 22 Division I offers and recently announced his commitment to Miami.

Kweli Fielder — OL
Fielder, who also recently announced his commitment to Miami, is one of the most important returning players on the roster and gives Carrollton a major piece up front. With a returning quarterback, having a confirmed offensive line anchor matters. Fielder is a key part of the reason the Trojans’ offensive profile is strong enough to open inside the national top 10.

Rontre Welch — WR
Welch is one of the key names to watch in the Carrollton passing game. With Cypher back at quarterback, Carrollton needs its perimeter weapons to keep the offense explosive, and Welch has a chance to be one of the main pieces in that group.

Tyler Boyd — DB
Boyd is one of the key returning defensive backs for Carrollton and gives the Trojans an important piece on the back end. The 4-star 2028 prospect has received more than 25 Division I offers.

Mike Thomas — DL
Thomas is listed among Carrollton’s returning defensive linemen and gives the Trojans another important piece in the front. Carrollton has to stay physical up front to survive its schedule and compete deep into the Georgia playoffs.

Demetrius Carter — DL
Carter is another returning defensive lineman for Carrollton and should be part of the group expected to help set the tone defensively. The Trojans’ defensive front will be one of the biggest factors in whether they can get back to the state championship level.

In addition to the names above, Carrollton’s roster still has enough talent and program depth to compete with anyone in Georgia. The Trojans will need new players to step into larger roles, but the returning core is strong enough to keep expectations high.

Key Games

Catholic — Baton Rouge
Carrollton’s matchup with Catholic out of Louisiana gives the Trojans a major out-of-state test. This is the kind of game that can immediately strengthen a national résumé and show how Carrollton stacks up outside Georgia.

West Charlotte
West Charlotte gives Carrollton another out-of-state matchup and another chance to make an early statement. Games like this matter when a team is trying to stay in the national public-school conversation.

Douglas County
Douglas County is one of the most important in-state games on the schedule. Carrollton cannot afford to overlook any major Georgia opponent, especially in a season where the Trojans are trying to prove they belong among the top teams in the country.

Westlake
Westlake gives Carrollton another physical Georgia test. This is the type of game that can tell us a lot about whether the Trojans are built to handle the full grind of a championship-level schedule.

Rome
The Rome game is always a major measuring stick. It is an in-state test, a rivalry-style game, and one of the matchups that helps define Carrollton’s regular-season résumé.

Biggest Question

The biggest question is whether Carrollton can turn national-level potential into a championship finish.

The Trojans have the quarterback. They have the coaching. They have the schedule. They have enough talent to start inside the top 10. But after going 14-1 and finishing as state runner-up, the standard changes.

Carrollton is not being ranked here because it is a good story.

The Trojans are ranked here because they have the profile of a team that can win Georgia 7A and compete for the No. 1 public-school ranking in the country.

The challenge is replacing enough senior production, staying healthy through a loaded schedule and finding the right answers around CJ Cypher early enough to make another championship push.

If Carrollton’s offensive line holds up and the defense reloads quickly, the Trojans have enough to be one of the last teams standing in Georgia.

T25PS Prediction

Regular Season Prediction: 10-0
Postseason Prediction: Georgia 7A State Champs - The Trojans will claim their first state title since 1998.

Bottom Line

Carrollton has one of the strongest preseason cases in the country.

The Trojans have a returning quarterback, a proven head coach, a state runner-up résumé, a national schedule and enough roster talent to justify the No. 6 ranking. In Georgia, nothing is guaranteed. The road is too deep, too physical and too unforgiving.

But Carrollton belongs in the national conversation.

The next step is turning close into finished.

Thanks for reading,

Alex | T25PS

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