Canes' O-lineman Hurst named preseason All State; Canes tabbed early favorite to win Region 7-5A

Cartersville’s Shadre Hurst has been named 2021 Pre-Season All-State in Class 5A by Georgia High School Football Daily. Hurst, an offensive lineman, received the selection to the 26-member squad in Wednesday’s edition. He joins several other members from Region 7-5A on the squad.

Blessed Trinity junior running back, Justice Haynes, has been one of the state's most highly recruited players. Dynamic perimeter threat Cole Speer of Calhoun and Yellow Jackets' offensive lineman Kendrick Kirby also made the list along with Calhoun linebacker Christopher Lewis.

In addition, the Maxwell ratings for Region 7-5A were released Wednesday and have the Cartersville Hurricanes as the preseason favorites.

State Rank / Class Rank / Team / Maxwell Rating / Proj. Record / Playoff Prediction

The Maxwell Ratings, compiled by mathematician and Georgia High School Football Historians Association founder Loren Maxwell, have projected the region finishes of all 423 football-playing schools in the GHSA. The projections are based on historical scores, with the most recent season weighing most heavily. Teams that did unusually well, or poorly, in 2020 are projected to regress toward the mean. The ratings do not consider changes in player personnel or coaching staff. Below are Maxwell’s projections for Class 5A.