Buford High School’s football team has made the 2023 Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 rankings and is ranked one position higher than this time last year.
The Wolves were ranked 11th in the 2022 Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 rankings. They improved a spot to the 10th ranked football team in the nation for the 2023-2024 school year.
After winning three straight state championships in the past three seasons, expectations were high for the 2022 season for the Wolves. Buford started the 2022 season in an all new classification against many unfamiliar opponents after the GHSA voted to increase the out-of-district multiplier to 3.0. The increased multiplier bumped Buford into the highest classification in the state of Georgia, Class AAAAAAA. The Wolves were undefeated all season until Walton upset Buford in the second round of the GHSA Class AAAAAAA state playoffs 42-35 which knocked them out of contention for a fourth consecutive state title. They finished 2022 with a record of 11-1.
Buford will be looking for redemption this season and they are returning several key starters along with a very high profile new player. The Wolves are returning five-star safety KJ Bolden and five-star defensive lineman Eddrick Houston. Bolden is ranked No. 9 in the nation for the Class of 2024 by Rivals while Houston lands at No. 15 nationally. In the Class of 2025, five-star Jadon Perlotte, a Georgia commit, returns at the outside linebacker position for Buford.
The nation’s No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2024, quarterback Dylan Raiola transferred to Buford from Arizona in May and will be an asset to the team’s quest for its first state championship in Class AAAAAAA.
Buford is the highest-ranked team from Georgia in the 2023 Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 rankings. Other Georgia teams on the list include Carrollton (No. 12), Langston Hughes (No. 14) and Colquitt County (No. 20).
On August 18, Buford will kick off its season by hosting No. 6 St. Frances Academy from Baltimore, MD.
To view the entire 2023 Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 rankings, click here.
