CALHOUN YELLOW JACKETS
Head coach: Clay Stephenson (9-3 in one season here and overall)
Returning starters: 2 offensive; 4 defensive
Key players: RB Jerrian Hames (5-8, 170); OL Kendrick Kirby (6-0, 230); WR/DB Cole Speer (5-10, 170); WR/DB Quin Smith (6-0, 165); LB Jake Prather (6-2, 195); DE Carson Griffin (6-1, 205); FS Will Seamons (5-9, 160).
Team strengths: Having elite skill players is nothing new for the Yellow Jackets, and this season is no different. Hames had 1,500 yards in 2019, getting at least 100 yards in each game during Calhoun's nine-win season. Speer and Smith have, according to Stephenson, great ball skills and each will also be a big part of the return game. Year one of the Stephenson regime ended with nine wins and a loss to Peach County in the second round of the state playoffs.
Team concerns: The move up two GHSA classifications is coming at a difficult time for the Jackets, who will have 16 new starters and are now in a region with Blessed Trinity and Cartersville. While there are playmakers on offense, quarterback was a question mark heading into preseason practices. The offensive line has some talent but is small by Calhoun standards and may have a tough time holding up in Class AAAAA.