2026 Public Schools Top 100 Preview: No. 60 Lee County | Top 25 Public HSFB
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2026 Public Schools Top 100 Preview: No. 60 Lee County
Lee County returns to the national conversation after another deep Georgia playoff run.
Top 25 Public HSFB8/11/20265 min read
Lee County enters 2026 at #60 after another deep Georgia playoff run. The Trojans finished 8-4, reached the GHSA Class 5A quarterfinals and now have a schedule that will test whether the program can stay in the state title conversation.
Team Snapshot
School: Lee County Trojans
Location: Leesburg, Georgia
2026 classification: GHSA Class 6A
2025 record: 8-4
2025 finish: GHSA Class 5A quarterfinalist
Head coach: Dean Fabrizio
T25PS rank: #60
2026 Outlook
Lee County’s defensive strength begins with the amount of proven experience returning at every level. The Trojans are not relying on one or two established players. They bring back enough depth to build the defense around continuity, communication and competition for playing time.
Jace Murray, Greg Batson, Preston Manriquez and Karson Cook give Lee County a deep group in the middle of the defense. Murray and Batson were two of the team’s most productive defenders last season, while Manriquez also made an impact as a pass rusher.
The secondary has similar experience. Trey Bush and Montravious Clay return after starting throughout their first two high school seasons, while Alex “Champ” Brown and KJ Streeter give the Trojans additional options on the back end. Clay intercepted two passes last season and should take on an even larger role in 2026.
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KJ Johnson returns to lead the defensive front after finishing among Lee County’s leading tacklers and tying for the team lead in sacks. With established contributors at all three levels, the defense has the depth to be the foundation of Lee County’s season.
Lee County also returns proven production throughout the offense. Texas A&M commit Jaden Upshaw leads the passing game after catching 47 passes for 902 yards and eight touchdowns, while Clemson commit Carter Blackwell gives the Trojans another dependable target at tight end. Blackwell’s ability to contribute as both a receiver and blocker allows Lee County to use him in several different formations.
The backfield should have similar depth. Jordan Bush can contribute as a runner, passer and change-of-pace quarterback after scoring 14 rushing touchdowns and throwing five touchdown passes last season. Dominique Ball also returns after scoring 15 times on the ground. With Bush and Ball in the backfield and two Division I commits leading the receiving corps, Lee County has enough returning firepower to remain balanced and difficult to defend.
Players to Know
Jaden Upshaw: WR, '27 - Committed to Texas A&M
Upshaw caught 47 passes for 902 yards and eight touchdowns last season. He gives Lee County an established No. 1 receiver and one of the most dangerous offensive playmakers in Georgia.
Carter Blackwell: TE, '27 - Committed to Clemson
Blackwell finished 2025 with 24 receptions for 465 yards and five touchdowns. His size, blocking and ability to work from multiple alignments give the Trojans an important piece in both the running and passing games.
Greg Batson: LB, '27 - Offers from Auburn, Florida, Georgia Tech and Ole Miss
Batson recorded 48 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, one recovery and one interception last season. He is no longer committed to Florida State, but remains one of the leading prospects and most experienced players on the defense.
Jordan Bush: QB/RB, '27 - Offer from Louisville
Bush gives Lee County flexibility because he can contribute as both a runner and passer. He scored 14 rushing touchdowns and threw five touchdown passes during his junior season.
Montravious Clay: CB, '28 - Offers from Miami, Florida, Florida State, Tennessee and Texas A&M
Clay led Lee County with two interceptions as a sophomore while also forcing and recovering a fumble. He enters his third season as a starter and is already attracting major recruiting attention.
Trey Bush: S, '28 - Offer from Liberty
Bush also enters his third season as a starter in Lee County’s secondary. His experience gives the Trojans another proven defensive back around whom they can build in 2026.
Schedule Breakdown
with an in-state contest before hosting a Carol City (FL) squad that has drawn headlines this offseason for bringing in several high end transfers for Florida's "transfer portal". So much so that some rankings, that we will not name, have them in their national top 25... They were 6-5 last year, but that's another story for another time. That opening stretch should give Lee County an early read on its ability to handle speed and physicality before the region schedule arrives.
The most important part of the schedule comes in September and October. Colquitt County and Thomas County Central are clear measuring-stick games, while Coffee, Veterans, Northside and Tift County will shape the region race.
Lee County closes against Houston County on Nov. 6. That is the type of late-season game that can determine playoff position and show whether the Trojans are playing their best football at the right time.
Complete 2026 Schedule
Aug. 21: Hapeville Charter
Aug. 28: Carol City (FL)
Sept. 4: at Sequoyah
Sept. 11: #66 Colquitt County
Sept. 25: #2 Thomas County Central
Oct. 2: at Coffee
Oct. 9: Veterans
Oct. 16: at Northside (Warner Robins)
Oct. 23: at Tift County
Nov. 6: #56 Houston County
Biggest Question
Can Lee County turn a versatile roster into enough consistency to beat the teams that will decide its postseason path?
The Trojans have the program stability and schedule strength to remain nationally relevant. The question is whether the current roster can establish dependable line play, quarterback efficiency and defensive depth before the biggest games arrive.
MISTER F00TBALL’s National High School Football Composite Rankings, partnered with and powered by Prep Gridiron Logistics, are the only rankings to include every national poll and every team receiving a Top 25 vote.
I see Lee County as a team that stays in the playoff mix all year, but the schedule is too demanding for an easy undefeated projection. I expect another quarterfinal run, but with the strength of 6A, it will be tough to see them going further then that.
Bottom Line
Lee County is #60 because the program has already shown it can stay in Georgia’s upper tier and return to the quarterfinals.
The 2026 schedule will ask for more. If the Trojans turn their current versatility into consistent execution, they have a path to make the ranking look conservative by November.
