Series
2026 Public Schools Top 100 Preview: No. 9 Buford
Buford opens No. 9 with championship-level defensive talent, but its new quarterback and offensive turnover will set the ceiling.
Top 25 Public HSFB / 6 min read
GA Public School Football
Georgia
Buford will receive immediate answers about its rebuilt roster. The Wolves begin with four consecutive nonregion games, including three opponents with significant state or national expectations. August 22 — vs. Gainesville September 4 — at Mallard Creek (North Carolina) September 11 — vs. Miami Central (Florida) September 18 — at Grayson September 25 — at Seckinger October 9 — at Dacula October 16 — vs. Collins Hill October 23 — at Mill Creek October 30 — vs. Discovery November 6 — vs. Central Gwinnett The August 22 opener against Gainesville will be nationally televised on ESPN. Gainesville reached the 2025 Class 5A championship game and enters a new era under former Grayson head coach Santavious Bryant. That is followed by a road trip to face Mallard Creek before Miami Central visits Phillip Beard Stadium. The Rockets begin the season ranked No. 20 in the T25PS preseason rankings and will bring their usual combination of speed and athleticism from South Florida. One week later, Buford travels to face T25PS No. 15 Grayson in one of Georgia’s most important regular-season games. By the end of that four-game stretch, there should be little mystery surrounding how quickly the defending champions have reloaded. Region play begins October 9 at Dacula, with the October 23 trip to Mill Creek likely representing Buford’s biggest test inside Region 8-7A.
DJ Hunter — QB, Senior Hunter is projected to take over at quarterback following Raiola’s graduation. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound dual-threat quarterback missed the 2025 season while recovering from an ACL injury but has since committed to James Madison. Hunter brings a different skill set to the position. His ability to extend plays and contribute as a runner could add another dimension to Buford’s offense, but he will also be taking his first meaningful snaps for the Wolves. How quickly Hunter settles into the offense is one of the biggest variables surrounding Buford’s season. Ethan Hauser — LB, Senior Hauser is one of the foundational pieces of a defense that could again rank among Georgia’s best. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound linebacker is a three-star prospect committed to Vanderbilt. With so much senior production leaving the defensive front, Buford will need Hauser to become one of the unit’s primary leaders. Brayden Watson — LB, Senior Watson gives the Wolves another experienced and highly recruited linebacker. The three-star prospect is committed to Michigan and should combine with Hauser to give Buford one of the strongest linebacker pairings in the state. Luke Nabors — EDGE, Junior Nabors may have the highest long-term ceiling of any returning player on the roster. The 6-foot-4 edge defender is rated as a four-star prospect by 247Sports and holds offers from programs including Georgia, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Texas, Oregon, Clemson and Tennessee. His emergence will be especially important after the graduation of Perry-Wright and Quinn. Jameer Cantrell — S, Senior Cantrell returns to the secondary after committing to Arkansas. He gives Buford an experienced defensive back who can help stabilize a unit replacing multiple members of its championship rotation. Silas Nuckles — CB, Senior Nuckles is another important returning piece in the secondary. The 5-foot-11 cornerback has attracted offers from several Power Four programs and gives the Wolves experience on the perimeter. Seven Rashad — WR, Junior At 6-foot-5, Rashad provides Hunter with a large target in the passing game. He is one of Buford’s most intriguing offensive players and could take on a significantly larger role following the graduation of Torre Costin and Dream Rashad. Noah Nixon — OL, Senior Nixon is one of the key returning names along the offensive line. With Houston and several other seniors gone, establishing continuity up front will be nearly as important as settling the quarterback position.
Series
Buford opens No. 9 with championship-level defensive talent, but its new quarterback and offensive turnover will set the ceiling.
Top 25 Public HSFB / 6 min read
Series
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