Milton's 8-4 finish last season stung a program accustomed to state championship trophies. Head coach Ben Reaves called it "a good cleanse" at the Fulton County Schools media day July 24 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, and the Eagles are bringing back the roster to prove it.

Fifteen of 22 starters return for Milton, which enters 2026 ranked No. 46 nationally in the MaxPreps preseason Top 100. The four seniors Reaves brought to media day have committed to SEC, ACC and Big Ten programs and are ranked in 247Sports' Top 200 players in Georgia's senior class.

The headliner is quarterback Derrick Baker, a Tennessee commit who missed nearly all of 2025 after injuring his wrist in the season opener against Buford. Baker set the OT7 California seven-on-seven league's all-time records this spring with 105 passing touchdowns and trained with Cam Newton's squad during the offseason, according to Appen Media.

Four-star tight end Grant Haviland, a Vanderbilt commit, is expected to see a bigger role in the passing game after new additions to the offensive line free him from blocking duties. Junior cornerback Keelan Wonsley already holds a Tennessee offer and could become the third Eagle recruited by the Volunteers' defensive back staff, following Milton alumni Dylan Lewis and Ty Redmond.

Kicker eligibility in limbo

One wild card: sophomore placekicker Ryan Jung, the No. 1 ranked kicker in the Class of 2028 per Kohl's Kicking and a Michigan commit, transferred from IMG Academy in Florida this summer. The GHSA ruled him ineligible, citing no "bona fide move" because his family members relocated from different addresses. Reaves is leading the appeal, and Jung still has multiple attempts to gain eligibility before Milton's Friday, Aug. 21 opener. Jung's 2025 stats at IMG: 4-of-5 on field goals with a long of 46 yards, 50-of-52 on extra points and 36 touchbacks on 66 kickoffs.

Cambridge's young Bears

Across town, Cambridge head coach Tyler Jones told media day his Bears are ready to compete at a high level despite being the newest school in Fulton County. The program opens at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the Corky Kell Classic against Brookwood in Week 1.

Senior running back Brooks Malone carries the offense after star receiver Craig Dandridge graduated to Georgia. Malone rushed for more than 1,150 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior.

The defensive line belongs to senior Luke Huffman and junior K.J. Biermann Jr., son of former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Kroy Biermann. The elder Biermann recorded 23.5 sacks across eight NFL seasons. K.J. made the all-region second team as a freshman and told Appen Media at practice that his father didn't let him play football until seventh grade. His motivation now? A drive to "be better than" his dad, with his athletic awards hanging on the wall next to his father's NFL trophies.

"Get ready to see a lot of sacks, and great defense and a great offense this year," K.J. said.

Cambridge also faces a new region opponent this fall: Marist, which went 12-2 last season and reclassified into Region 6-5A, visits Oct. 9.

What's ahead

Milton scrimmages Grayson before opening the regular season against North Cobb on Friday, Aug. 21. The Eagles travel to Battle Ground Academy in Franklin, Tennessee, on Sept. 11. Cambridge kicks off against Brookwood at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the Corky Kell Classic to open the season.