Lee County trio earns preseason All-State honors

LEESBURG — Lee County’s tradition of producing elite football talent continues to earn statewide recognition.

The Trojans placed three players on the Georgia High School Football Daily Class 6A Preseason All-State Team, highlighted by senior wide receiver Jaden Upshaw, senior offensive lineman Shavezz Dixon and senior linebacker Gregory Batson.

For Lee County coach Dean Fabrizio, the recognition comes as no surprise.

“All three are very deserving,” Fabrizio said. “They are three-year starters for us and leaders for our team.”

The trio is expected to anchor a Lee County team with state championship aspirations this fall.

Upshaw, a Texas A&M commitment, has developed into one of Georgia’s premier wide receivers. A dangerous playmaker with game-breaking speed, he headlines an explosive Lee County offense after earning preseason All-State recognition alongside Thomas County Central’s Jabari Watkins.

Protecting the offense will be Dixon, one of the state’s top offensive line prospects. The North Carolina commit gives the Trojans an experienced presence up front and was one of seven offensive linemen selected to the preseason team.

Batson rounds out Lee County’s selections after emerging as one of Georgia’s top linebackers. The standout defender is among the state’s most heavily recruited prospects and remains uncommitted after reopening his recruitment earlier this summer following a previous pledge to Florida State.

Lee County’s three selections tied Thomas County Central for the second-most preseason All-State picks among Class 6A schools, trailing only Creekside, which placed four players on the team.

The honors are another reminder of the talent assembled in Leesburg.

According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Lee County has five juniors or seniors with state rankings entering the 2026 season, tying Milton for the third-most in Class 6A. Only Creekside and Gainesville, with eight each, have more ranked prospects. Thomas County Central has three ranked players, while Woodward Academy and Kell also have three apiece.

The preseason accolades extended beyond the playing field.

Georgia High School Football Daily also noted that Fabrizio enters his 18th season as Lee County’s head coach, tying Sequoyah’s James Teter as the longest-tenured head coach in Class 6A.

Since taking over the program in 2009, Fabrizio has transformed Lee County into one of Georgia’s premier football powers, consistently competing for region championships and deep playoff runs while sending numerous players to the collegiate level.

GHFD Preseason Class 6A All-State Team:

Offense

• QB: Kharim Hughley, Gainesville
• QB: Aidan McPherson, Thomas County Central
• RB: Quinterrius Gipson, Kell
• RB: Daylan Maxwell, Jackson County
• RB: Gary Walker, Creekside
• WR: Jaden Upshaw, Lee County
• WR: Jabari Watkins, Thomas County Central
• TE: Grant Haviland, Milton
• OL: Kelsey Adams, Hughes
• OL: Jordan Dillon, Effingham County
• OL: Tyler Ford, Gainesville
• OL: Shavezz Dixon, Lee County
• OL: Jaylon Moore, Creekside
• OL: Miller Westerfield, Roswell
• PK: Leif Hansen, Sequoyah

Defense

• DL: Cassius Burch, Creekside
• DL: Prince Che, Thomas County Central
• DL: Elijah Patmon, Northside (Warner Robins)
• DL/LB: Tavarre Terrell, Creekside
• LB: Gregory Batson, Lee County
• LB: Blaize Battaglia, Milton
• LB: Darryn Williams, Gainesville
• LB: Drew Williams, Sequoyah
• DB: Jernard Albright, Effingham County
• DB: Israel Prince-Oyakhire, Shiloh
• DB: Jai’lil Goley, Gainesville
• DB: Bryce Woods, Woodward Academy
• P: Afton Rowles, Woodward Academy