When No. 11 Buford (GA) steps onto the field on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, the national-champion Wolves will be looking to reset after a season that saw many key players depart. The opening game is a first-ever matchup against fellow Georgia powerhouse Gainesville, and it is part of ESPN High School Football Kickoff weekend.
The biggest change for the Wolves is the roster. Starting quarterback DJ Hunter, a James Madison commit, returned eight games last year, completing 16-of-24 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns while adding 40 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns. “He’s an even-keeled type of kid,” head coach Bryant Appling said. “You don’t want a quarterback that’s too high or too low at any given time. If he makes a mistake, he comes back and fixes it.”
Senior running back Jameer Cantrell, an Arkansas commit, had 43 carries for 303 yards and three touchdowns and also recorded 41 tackles as a defensive back. Silas Nuckles, another senior, brings ground-game experience to the backfield. Junior receiver Braylon Williams, who finished last season with 199 yards and four receiving touchdowns in seven games before an injury, will be a top target for Hunter and a new leader on the team.
Defensively, the Wolves allowed an average of 10.5 points per game in 2025. Key returning defenders include 4-star edge rusher Luke Nabors, Middle Tennessee commit Joshua Echols, and Brady Wagner. The defense will face a tough test against Gainesville’s new coach, former Grayson coach Santavious Bryant, and a roster that includes 3-star Clemson commit Kharim Hughley.
After the Gainesville game, Buford’s schedule will hit the road for Mallard Creek, then face Miami Central and Grayson in back-to-back games. “It seems like our schedule gets harder and harder every year,” Appling said. “Playing national games on a game-to-game basis early in the season just makes you better overall because it reveals some weaknesses you have, and it makes you go back to the drawing board.”
Hunter said the team is ready to prepare for “any other players in the country.” He added, “We have a very good roster - top to bottom - we have really good guys and we brought back a lot of really good pieces.”
Cantrell echoed the sentiment, stating, “The goal is to run it back.” The Wolves are poised to write a new chapter in 2026, building on last year’s championship while forging a fresh identity on the field.
